The RKT Centre for Polymer, Micro and Nano Technology at the University of Bradford (Bradford / UK; www.brad.ac.uk) is increasing its capacity for producing micro polymer components with the addition of a fifth injection moulding machine. The high precision machine from Wittmann Battenfeld (Kottingbrunn, Austria; www.wittmann-battenfeld.com) will be delivered in November, after it has featured at the company’s stand at the “K 2010” (www.k-online.de) fair. It will be the fourth Battenfeld micro-moulding unit at the university and will be used for research before going into production. RKT centre manager Ben Whiteside says micro injection moulding is starting to take off as companies become aware of what it can achieve compared with other more expensive production techniques.

The university established the RKT Centre for Polymer, Micro and Nano Technology in 2007 in order to develop a leading position in micro-moulding research and assist in the development of commercial projects. By now the centre has become a small production unit, Whiteside explained, because of a shortage of companies with suitable manufacturing facilities. The centre has invested some GBP 5m (EUR 6m) in machinery and equipment, which includes a clean room environment.

The materials moulded at the centre are mainly engineering thermoplastics, such as PEEK and higher grade polycarbonates. The centre plans to invest more into research of nano polymer compounding, pharmaceutical drug delivery systems and reactive polymer processing. Another likely development is the spin-off of production operations into external sites.