Current and Past Projects

Smithers Rapra (UK) participates in a number of information-focussed European-funded projects.

Current Projects:

KTRM - Knowledge Transfer of Rapid Manufacturing.

Rapid Manufacturing is seen as one of the most important emerging technologies that will drive the future manufacturing economy. RM products and services are an important feature of EU industry with clear potential for the future.

The KTRM project aims to put together to a comprehensive training program helping users to improve their methods and systems for Rapid Manufacturing, from design through development to the manufacture of products in polymers, aluminium, titanium and steel. KTRM will develop an elearning platform and training materials for those working in the Manufacturing industry on Rapid Manufacturing methods. The project will use a "blended learning" approach, offering interactive on-line modules and supporting "hard-copy" resources. The course will have four entry points: processes, materials, design and business models.

REACH for polymers - understanding legislation: Innovative instruments and methodologies to provide the European polymer industry with a solid technical background in support of REACH

REACH FOR POLYMERS aims to increase and consolidate the knowledge base of the European polymer industry, in particular SME's, by applying new techniques, technologies, instruments and methods that offer environmental as well as economic advantages to the industry when complying with the REACH regulation.

The main result of the project is a REACH toolkit for the European polymer industry. The toolkit will be a new, interactive, innovative software application capable of guiding users through the entire REACH process, from understanding their individual requirements through to tests to perform, registration and best practice.

Past projects:

ENER-Plast - From Design to Manufacturing: Instruments for reducing the energy consumption and carbon emissions of the polymer industry and its supply chains

The ENER-Plast tools and resources will lead a company through designing a product and purchasing equipment to manufacturing, whilst addressing the energy efficiency at each stage when developing new, or redesigning existing products and component parts. ENER-Plast will go beyond energy management, enabling organisations to consider both their operations and revenue in the context of climate change.

The results will be cost saving, clarity of responses to existing and pending legislation, operational improvements, corporate reputation and brand enhancement. Factsheets, software applications, case studies and best practice guides will be made available through the ENER-Plast website.

RECIPE - Reduced Energy Consumption in Plastics Engineering

The European plastics processing industry faces intense competition from lower wage economies and an alarming rise in energy prices. To remain competitive a business must have an effective energy management process, good market knowledge and an awareness of technology and support mechanisms.

The RECIPE project designed materials to provide the plastics processing industry with the information and tools necessary to make energy wise decisions. Factsheets, benchmarking tools, case studies and best practice guides are available through the project website.

e-SeSME - Electronic Services for SMEs in the plastic supply chain

e-SeSME was an 18-month market validation project (July 2005 - Dec 2006) to assess the potential of the web portal 'Virtual Centre for Plastics' (CVP). The CVP aimed to sell high quality, specialised technological services to SME European companies via a simple to use and functional Internet platform.

e-SeSME, co-financed by the eTen programme involved 11 partners from 5 European countries (France, Spain, Portugal, Poland and UK).

ENERGYWISE Plastics - energy management training for European plastics processors

ENERGYWISE Plastics is a two-year project funded by the Transfer of Innovation strand of the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme. It will develop an elearning platform and training materials for those working within the plastics industry to increase their knowledge and understanding of energy management.

Using a 'blended learning' approach ENERGYWISE Plastics will provide interactive online modules and supporting hard-copy resources focusing on three different areas within an organisation: management, processing and peripherals. The content for ENERGYWISE Plastics will be adapted from materials and resources developed in the European funded project RECIPE (Reduced Energy Consumption in Plastics Engineering, EIE/04/153/SO7.38646), a 3-year project to provide the European plastics processing industry with the tools needed to reduce their energy consumption through the implementation of best practice and the introduction of new technologies.

iPolyCond - training materials and resources on Conductive Polymers

iPolyCond is based on the results of the PolyCond project which developed eco-friendly, cost effective and high added value conductive plastic composites. These composite materials protect against the effect of Electromagnetic Interference and Electrostatic Discharge and therefore have a great deal of potential. However, the benefits of these materials are not currently widely known, so the iPolyCond project aims to integrate state-of-the-art knowledge with the experience of the companies involved to develop training materials and resources. These will highlight the potential of these materials and thereby benefit the industry as a whole.

iPolyCond will embed the necessary skills within European SME converters to take full advantage of these advanced and emerging technologies. It will focus on the needs of SMEs and provide EU plastics converters with the tools and resources for effectively improving their knowledge base, competitiveness and innovativeness.

Polymer REACH - Innovative training for increasing the knowledge base of the European polymer industry in relation to REACH

The overall objective of Polymer REACH is to develop an elearning platform and training materials for the European polymer industry to learn and understand how to manage their obligations under the European legislation, REACH. The project will use a 'blended learning' approach, offering interactive on-line modules and traditional 'paper-based' materials, focusing on the needs of SMEs.

The overall impact will be an increase in the knowledge base of the polymer industry on REACH, which will in turn help to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector.

To find out more about our current projects click on the links above to visit the relevant project websites. Smithers Rapra also participates in a number of technical projects – you can find out more about these projects here.