Meet the University (6th November 2024)
'Meet the University' is a unique event organised by the British Plastics Federation enabling its members to meet with some of the UK's leading academics working in the field of plastics. The academics are all members of the recently launched 'BPF University Network', a group consisting of 18 Universities at the cutting edge of polymer research in the UK.
How It Works?
Each academic is available for 4 meeting slots between 11am and 1pm on Wednesday 6th November 2024. Simply choose a meeting(s) slot from the list below and you will instantly receive a diary invite with a Zoom link to the meeting on the day where you will meet directly 1-2-1 with the academic in question. If you have any questions simply email [email protected]
Univeristies Taking Part...
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Birmingham City University
www.bcu.ac.uk/
Description of plastics work currently being carried out at the University...
Use of digital tools such as simulation studies and digital twins for plastic processing as well as design and development of plastic composites for enhanced properties.
Academics who will be on the call...
 Javaid ButtProfessor of Manufacturing and Product Design |
 Sara HassanSenior Lecturer in Software Engineering |
Professor Javaid Butt is an expert in the domains of Additive Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 with a robust portfolio of externally funded projects amounting to over £6.5 million since 2017. These projects have been sourced from diverse funding streams including Innovate UK, Erasmus+, Interreg North Sea Region, KTP, and KEEP+. Majority of his work has been in collaboration with industrial partners where he has successfully delivered impactful and innovative projects leading to patent applications, derogation claims, and commercial value in the form of new products and services.
Professor Butt's expertise extends to the design and development of diverse manufacturing systems to various manufacturing readiness levels. These systems have been used to manufacture bespoke plastic, metal, and composite products for different industries. Professor Butt’s current research focuses on the development of digital twins for plastic extrusion processes using data-driven models and machine learning algorithms.
SOLD OUT
(if you would like to set up a meeting directly email Angela Fredericks - [email protected])
University of Birmingham
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/plastics
Description of plastics work currently being carried out at the University...
We are an interdisciplinary team of over 60 researchers, working together to shape the fate and sustainable future of plastics. The Birmingham Plastics Network aims to create a sustainable future for plastics that enhances the positive contributions they make to our social, economic and environmental well-being whilst minimising the negative impacts across their life cycle. In turn, plastics would be compatible with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Our recent Policy Commission that collated evidence from a wide range of private and public sector experts has laid the groundwork for such urgently required change and presents a series of policy recommendations poised to guide the UK Government towards a future where plastics are used sustainably. The recommendations contained within our Policy Commission report include revalorising plastic ‘waste’ to support green growth and incentivise the emergence of next generation plastics production and recycling technologies. The report also shows that there is a significant opportunity for the UK to invest in chemical recycling to meet the demand for circular products, generating new job opportunities, and keeping plastic in the economy for longer. Other recommendations included:
- Harnessing tax systems to promote sustainable decisions and create a ‘demand’ pull for sustainable options.
- Setting targets and incentives to reduce waste incineration and landfilling
- Ensuring closer regulation of compostable and biodegradable plastics, including stronger oversight of marketing claims
- Encouraging best practices in public sector procurement, including protocols on plastics life cycle assessments.
- Incentives for waste management bodies to recirculate plastics, fostering the growth of new production and recycling technologies.
- Investment in robust evidence on the human and environmental harms caused by plastics
- Establishment of a national sustainable plastics innovation research centre to drive innovation and encourage long-term, ambitious thinking.
Funded by UKRI EPSRC and BBSRC, and working with regional partners such as University Hospitals Birmingham, the Birmingham Plastics Network is also working to find innovative, sustainable circular solutions for medical testing plastic challenges, in both home and clinical environments. The challenge is broad, but deeply necessary for our changing environment, and help us to take one more step away from a ‘throwaway’ culture towards plastics, even in medicine.
Beyond this work, there is a broad range of activity related to sustainable plastics ongoing throughout the Network, and we would be happy to discuss this and link industry stakeholders directly to the appropriate researchers.
Academic who will be on the call...
Robyn Macpherson |
University of Bradford – Polymer IRC
www.bradford.ac.uk
The Advanced Material Engineering and the Centre for Polymer Micro and Nano Technology (Polymer MNT) at the University of Bradford is a leading research centre in polymer science and engineering. To our partners, we offer an unmatched range of equipment and expertise to help drive innovation in key areas:
- Materials preparation and characterisation
- Process design and optimisation
- Tool design
- Product inspection and handling
- Modelling and simulation
- Proof of concept and low volume manufacture
Academic who will be on the call...
.jpg) Cristina Tuinea-BobeResearch & Innovation Manager |
Brunel University London
www.brunel.ac.uk
Brunel leads groundbreaking research in plastic innovation and pollution prevention, pushing the boundaries on transforming the plastics value chain. Our team of experts merges polymer processing with sustainability to address diverse needs, spanning from packaging to automotive, construction, and agriculture. We're dedicated to revolutionizing plastic waste management through evidence-based research and policy initiatives aimed at transforming the entire plastics value chain. Our research interests and outreach activities extend to shaping plastic policies and legislation, both domestically in the UK and on the international stage. We're actively engaged in projects aimed at reshaping the plastics value chain, while also conducting thorough assessments of chemicals in plastics to promote sustainable and safe design principles, particularly in food packaging materials.
Other Academics in the University: Fabrizio Ceschin, Eujin Pei and Susan Jobling
Check out also: https://www.piscespartnership.org
Academics who will be on the call...
Eleni Iacovidou |
George Fern |
Loughborough University
www.lboro.ac.uk
Description of plastics work currently being carried out at the University...
A key strength of the Department of Materials’ research profile has always been the ability to conduct investigations across the entire breadth of polymer technologies, from chemical synthesis to mixing / dispersion of novel additives, upscaling to industry-scale processing and progressing to component testing and characterisation.
- Activities we address include but are not limited to:
- Processing of stimuli-responsive nano-scale fibres using electrospinning
- Orientation of disentangled ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
- Characterisation of rheological behaviour of polymers for additive manufacturing
- Melt-state blending of biodegradable plastics to enhance mechanical performance
- Novel materials and process technologies for specific industrial sectors
- Manufacturing processes to produce additives with enhanced functional performance
- Influence of processing on microstructure and mechanical performance of modified thermoplastics
- Novel routes to manufacture polymer nanocomposites
- Elastomer mixing & processing: novel fillers and their effects on mechanical and ageing properties
- Polymer-clay nanocomposites: compounding and thin-wall injection moulding
- Polymer rheology, process simulation and component optimisation
The scope of equipment and Staff resource available provides enormous opportunity for collaborative research programmes, for supporting student projects and also for short-term contract and consulting-type development activity with the Department of Materials. Whilst much of our research is sponsored by public-sector authorities (research councils, Innovate-UK etc.), we also collaborate in partnership with many companies along the component supply chain, including suppliers of polymers, additives and intermediates, component manufacturers and end-users.
Academic who will be on the call...
Sarah Helmore |
Dr Yi Liu |
SOLD OUT
(if you would like to set up a meeting directly email Angela Fredericks - [email protected])
Website: www.port.ac.uk/plastics
Description of plastics work currently being carried out at the University...
The University of Portsmouth is working on plastics in many different ways, including the study of microplastics in nature and workplace and domestic settings, plastics policy including supporting the global plastics treaty process, the use of enzymes to digest plastics, the development of advanced materials, the use of arts-based methods to engage communities with action to tackle plastic pollution, the transition to a circular economy, and the use of citizen science to develop large scale datasets on plastic distribution.
Academics who will be on the call...
Cressida Bowyer |
Andy Pickford |
Associate Professor Cressida Bowyer's areas of speciality include plastics and the arts, plastic pollution in the global south, plastics policy, plastics capacity development.
Professor Andy Pickford's areas of specilality include the use of enzyme digestion to recycle waste plastics.
The Retail Institute at Leeds Beckett University
https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/the-retail-institute/
Description of plastics work currently being carried out at the University...
Working with plastic companies, suppliers and retailers as part of a collaborative group around The Future of Packaging. Providing membership services to member companies including those working in plastic.
Research into consumer behaviour in relation to sustainable packaging. Specialism - applied research in consumer and packaging perceptions.
Academics who will be on the call...
Ben Mitchell |
Olga Munroe |
Queen's University Belfast
www.qub.ac.uk/about/belfast-region-city-deal/amic/
Description of plastics work currently being carried out at the University...
Research in various aspects of polymers, including their processing, has been carried out at Queen’s University Belfast for over 25 years, during this time substantial investment has been made in establishing and maintaining state of the art processing and analytical facilities. Building on the long-established processing expertise in rotational moulding and polymer extrusion and extending into injection moulding, blow moulding and thermoforming, PPRC was established in 1996 to conduct and support leading edge, industrially exploitable, fundamental and applied R&D to demonstrably improve industrial competitiveness. Now part of the BRCD Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, the Centre continues to work directly with companies on commercially relevant problems. The research, development and innovation is underpinned by a strong team of specialised and highly experienced Project Engineers who work side by side with industrial and academic partners from across the world in developing new processes and innovative products and provide input to the implementation of new technologies. From brainstorming new ideas for projects to developing entire new processes right through extensive pilot plant trials before ultimately implementing these new developments into full scale production plants.
Within the Centre there is the expertise and facilities required to meet the priorities of the polymer industry and to carry out both fundamental and applied research in polymer processing. The laboratories are equipped to undertake most aspects of polymer processing including studies on morphology, micro-structure, process control, rheology and physical properties and generally provide an essential service to those companies who do not have their own R& D facilities. Research staff in the Centre work side by side with industrial and academic partners across the world in developing new processes and innovative products and provide input to the implementation of new technologies. From brainstorming new ideas for projects to developing entire new processes right through extensive pilot plant trials before ultimately implementing these new developments into full scale production plants. The range of services offered to industry include the following: Consultancy Process design and assessment - process development and characterisation Process troubleshooting – identification and correction of processing problems to improve manufacturing operations Analytical services - methods development and contract analysis and testing of polymeric raw materials and products Co-development partnerships - offering early access to development technologies Education and Training - production of customised training materials and delivery of customised technical training courses for all levels of scientific and engineering staff, research seminars and technology updates
Academic who will be on the call...
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Mark Kearns |
SOLD OUT
(if you would like to set up a meeting directly email Angela Fredericks - [email protected])
University of Sheffield - Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)
www.armrc.co.uk
Description of plastics work currently being carried out at the University...
Developing new composites materials and processes. In recent years we have focused on developing new intermediate thermoplastic composites materials and bringing them to the market. In particular, the development of fibre reinforced thermoplastic tapes for subsequent use in the areas of Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) and Filament Winding (FW). Sectors include, aerospace, automotive, marine, hydrogen storage/pipes, etc..
The AMRC has substantial experience of CR&D projects, as well as infrastructure funding and commercial work. We can assist your business by helping to secure grant funding for new developments in the area of thermoplastic composites. In relation to fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites we are focused on developing new materials and processes for AFP, filament winding, compression moulding, braiding and weaving.
Academics who will be on the call...
Gary Foster |
Robyn Elliott |
WMG, Warwick University | Centre for Polymers and Composites
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/research/research-areas/polymers
Description of plastics work currently being carried out at the University...
We work closely with industry partners to develop innovative, sustainable solutions using polymers and polymer-based composites. Our research focuses on topics such as:
- Lightweighting for low emissions mobility - development of multi-material solutions based on polymer composites following the “right material at the right place” approach.
- Sustainability & circularity: – development of holistic, environmentally conscious solutions based on sustainable and recycled materials.
- Added functionality: – development of multifunctional plastics and composites through the use of hybridisation and nanotechnology.
- Process & structural simulation – the development, validation and application of simulation tools and 'end-to-end' workflows for processing and performance predictions of polymers and composites.
We continue to work on initiatives to support the transition to circular plastics, focusing on innovative recycling technologies and biodegradable or compostable materials. Projects like “RecyPlast” use machine learning to improve sorting and compounding to produce high-spec plastics with high recycled content. Research on sustainable manufacturing of circular economy elastomer products, fully recyclable self-reinforced polymer composites, and mono-material-based packaging solutions, including all-polyolefin high-barrier films, is also ongoing. We do support projects with injection moulding, compounding, and cast film extrusion. Recently granted an IUK project with a seaweed company in development of compostable cometic pots.
Academic who will be on the call...
Samson Gnanadass |
Kylash Makenji |
Overview of Specialisms of the Universities Taking Part in 'Meet the University'
