Plastics in Automotive Applications 2014 Speakers

Vittorio Bortolon, Nissan

Vittorio Bortolon studied Chemical Engineering in Italy. He founded IGATPLAST special compounding and master batch company in 1982. In 1989 he moved on to managing the European specialty business for Cabot corporation. Vittorio founded Pgroup in 1993, and was the President until 2010 when the company was acquired by Softer. Now he is  the Managing Director of Pgroup Softer Deutschland GMBH, and Business director of the chemistry division of Softer. He is the co-inventor of Dolphin technology and Since 2007 responsible of all the research activities  in PLA.

His team developed  polymerization technology and special compound for durable goods named PLANTURA™ . 

Mark Ellis, Nissan

Mark’s initial career was in the automotive turbocharger industry, working on advanced bearing systems and ceramic material applications.  Mark then completed a master’s degree in automotive  engineering at Cranfield Institute of Technology, before joining Nissan’s European Technical    Centre in 1991, initially assigned to the engine design department.

Mark then transferred to the materials design department. Following formation of the Nissan-Renault alliance, Mark worked on material synergies and European / Global polymer strategy.

After a secondment to Nissan’s technical centre near Atsugi in Japan, Mark was promoted to the position of manager within the materials department, taking responsibility for all material types, from new material development to ELV aspects – a ‘cradle to grave’ responsibility. 

Keith Freegard, Axion Recycling

Keith is a Director of Axion Recycling Ltd, with over 25 years of operational management experience in a wide range of production environments. As a Chartered Chemical Engineer, Keith believes in applying the best processing technology to extract maximum yield and value from plastic waste streams. In recent years he has been developing Axion’s unique plastics recycling business in Manchester with a focus on sales and marketing of high-quality polymers made from recovered WEEE plastic waste.

Dr Kevin Lindsey, Far-UK

Kevin is Far-UK’s Technical Director and brought together our team of engineering experts, who are ready to make our clients ideas a reality. Kevin understands how to combine complex designs and advanced technology to meet customer expectations. He has previous experience starting several engineering consultancies, with clients ranging from Aston Martin and Lotus to start-ups in advanced technology areas. He has also led a number of vehicle projects, creating truly unique vehicles from concept to completion.

In his first engineering position after achieving a PhD in Composite Materials, Kevin applied his knowledge of technology and manufacturing capabilities to reduce the weight of Land Rover vehicles by 650kg with no on-cost for production.

Kevin has twice led a team designing a vehicle from a clean sheet of paper through to the road ready product. At both Axon Automotive and Gibbs Aquada Kevin saw his design ideas through to road going reality.

Professor Peter Wells, Cardiff University

Peter Wells is a Professor of business and sustainability at Cardiff Business School where his work has ranged across spatial industrial development, economics, organisational theory, industrial ecology, technological change, transitions theory, business models and sustainability – all through an applied focus on the global automotive industry. He teaches themes of transport, mobility and business sustainability on the MBA and MSc programmes, as well as to a wide range of companies and organisations.