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Interesting results from tilemaking trials using recycled plastic waste
‘Parry News’, issue 36, August 2003
To put together two bad things and come away with one good thing must be one of technology’s better moves. There are mountains of plastic waste in the world arising from packing materials, fast food containers, scrap car interiors, manufacturers waste and broken toys. Offer this to the plastics manufacturer and he will turn up his nose unless he can be sure of the origin of the component materials and that the spec suits his product. Meanwhile while this plastics scrap needs to be disposed of, the cost of extracting natural aggregate such as fine gravel continues to rise because of the restrictions on quarrying.
Parry Associates, encouraged by contacts with plastics specialists from University Of Warwick, have begun a programme of experimental work to determine to what extent scarce gravel can be substituted by shredded and graded plastic waste.
The first results have been promising and have attracted the interest of overseas visitors from Barbados and elsewhere. Plastic waste is not just a problem for the UK and to have a means of converting it into a concrete aggregate could be a winning proposition for many countries.
UK local authorities are being advised about these developments as potentially helpful to their current plastic waste disposal problems.
Help for SMEs
‘Extract from: International Bottler & Packer’, June 2003
The University Of Warwick, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), and Rapra Technology (Tel:01939 250 383) have secured £2m to help West Midlands plastics companies invest in new technology, environmental improvements and waste reduction activities.
The initiative, Plastics West Midlands, charges the partners, led by WMG, to undertake over 470 separate projects with West Midlands based small and medium sized businesses. Each of these will involve at least five days of direct support, provided free of charge to the companies who participate, to help them in adopting new technologies, in materials and waste reduction and to further enhance their approach to environmental issues.
Qualifying companies must employ under 250 staff, must not be part of a larger group and must be located within the West Midlands Objective 2 region.
Plastics West Midlands
‘Machinery Market’, 22 May 2003
The University Of Warwick’s Warwick Manufacturing Group and Rapra Technology, the leading polymer research and testing consultancy, have won £2 million of funding to help West Midlands plastics companies adopt new technology, environmental improvements and waste reduction activities.
The new money will benefit small and medium-size businesses (SMEs) involved in plastics materials, processing and products in the region. The new European Regional Development Fund money was won by the Government Office of the West Midlands.
The initiative, which is called Plastics West Midlands, will involve the Warwick Manufacturing Group undertaking work at over 470 SMEs in the West Midlands. Each of these will receive at least five days of direct support.
This will be provided free of charge to the companies that participate, helping them to adopt new technologies. Qualifying companies must employ under 250 staff, must not be part of a larger group and must be located within the West Midland Objective 2 region.
Malcolm Harold of the Warwick Manufacturing Group, said: “This funding will help us work in partnership with local SMEs, to give them easy access to the latest technology, eliminate unnecessary waste and provide environmental enhancements.”
Richard Walton, marketing manager at Rapra Technology said: “Other than being based in the geographical area, all you need to qualify is to be involved in plastics product design or manufacture and wish to implement technological improvement. No case commitment is involved.”
News digest…Improving plastic waster reduction
‘Heartland Evening News’, 9th May 2003
Residents can begin to breathe easier as a £2 cash injection will boost the environment and improve plastic waste reduction.
Small and medium sized businesses across the region associated with plastic materials, processing and products will benefit from the cash boost.
The University Of Warwick’s Warwick Manufacturing Group and Rapra Technology have secured the funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
‘Plastics West Midlands’ will pave the way for better adoption of new technology, environmental improvements and waste reduction among local businesses.
Midlands plastics companies win £2 million worth of free new technology support
‘www.engineering-uk.co.uk’, Thursday, 8th May 2003
The University Of Warwick’s Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and Rapra Technology have won £2 million of funding to help West Midlands plastics companies in their adoption of new technology, environmental improvements and waster reduction activities.
The new money will benefit small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) involved in plastics material, processing and products in the region. Ht European Regional Development Fund award was won for the project by the Government Office of the West Midlands.
The initiative entitled Plastics West Midlands charges the partners, led by the Warwick Manufacturing Group. To undertake over 470 separate projects with West Midlands SMES. Each of these will involve at least five days of direct support and will be provided free of charge to the companies who participate to help them in adopting new technologies, in materials and waste reduction and to further enhance their approach to environmental issues.
Qualifying companies must employ under 250 staff, must not be part of a larger group and must be located within the West Midlands Objective 2 region.
Malcolm Harold, Warwick Manufacturing group researcher, and project general manager, said: ‘This funding will help us work in partnership with local SMEs to give them easy access to the latest technology, eliminate unnecessary waste, and provide environmental enhancements.’
Richard Walton, marketing manager at Faraday Plastics says other than being based in the geographical area, all you need otherwise to qualify is to be involved in plastics product design or manufacture and wish to implement theological improvement. No case commitment is involved!’
University group leads projects
Birmingham Post, May 6th 2003
Warwick Manufacturing Group and Rapra Technology have won £2 million of European funding to help West Midlands plastics companies adopt new technology, environmental improvements and better waste reduction.
The new money will benefit small and medium-sized businesses involved in plastics materials, processing and products in the region.
The European Regional Development Fund award was obtained by the Government Office of the West Midlands.
The initiative, entitled Plastics West Midlands, requires the partners, led by WMG, to undertake more than 470 separate projects with West Midlands SMEs. Each of these will involved at least five days of direct support and will be provided free.
Qualifying companies must employ less than 250 staff, not be part of a larger group and be located within the West Midlands region.
Plastics advice
‘Professional Engineering’, 7th May 2003
Warwick Manufacturing Group and Rapra Technology have been granted £2 million of European funding to provide plastics firms in the West Midlands with free advice on adopting new technology, environmental improvements and waste reduction.
Euro funding helps plastics firms in West Midlands
‘by Richard Stirling, www.PRW.com’ May 2003
2 May 2003 – the University Of Warwick in the UK had won £2 (E2.86m) of European funding to help support local plastics firms with new technology, environmental improvements and waster reduction.
the University Of Warwick’s Manufacturing Group is the Plastics West Midlands scheme with research and technology firm Rapra Technology.
Project general manager Malcolm Harold, of the Warwick Manufacturing Group said: ‘We are targeting any company, from materials suppliers to tolling firms, to firms that do injection moulding and nothing else.’
‘We can draw on a body of resources. We can run trials and tests on the machinery and are employing additional people on the technological aide,’ he added.
The scheme intends to carry out 470 projects. Each project involves at least five days of direct support provided free to qualifying firms. The project is aimed at firms with fewer than 250 staff, provided they are not part of a larger group.
European cash for West Midlands moulders
‘British Plastics & Rubber’, May 2003
A £2 million technology boost is being given to West Midlands plastics companies by the University Of Warwick’s Warwick Manufacturing Group and Rapra Technology. They are to administer a grant from the European Regional Development Fund to help West Midlands plastics companies adopt new technology, environmental improvements and waste reduction activities.
The scheme, entitled Plastics West Midlands, will cover more than 470 projects with West Midlands companies. Each of these will involve at least five days of direct support and will be provided free of charge to the companies who participate.
To qualify companies must employ fewer than 250 staff, must not be part of a larger group, and must be located within the West Midlands Objective 2 region.
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