WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) at the UK’s University of Warwick (www.warwick.ac.uk) has established a National Plastics Processing Centre (NPPC) to provide a hub for innovation and research in plastics processing. NPPC said it brings a fully integrated approach to plastics design, manufacturing and disposal, embracing multifunctional design and low environmental impact.

WMG has an extensive range of plastic design, manufacture and research technologies across its facilities that will work together with those of the centre. It has an established track record in innovation and technology transfer in plastics processing and of working with large global companies and SMEs across a variety of sectors. It offers expertise and capabilities across the plastics industry’s most widely used processes including extrusion/compounding, injection moulding, thermoforming, blow moulding and rotational moulding.

NPPC will have its own bespoke building by 2017, with facilities for training, research and development, and will also house a fully equipped elastomer technology laboratory. NPPC director Tony McNally said: “Our new centre’s research will be built upon four principles for materials processing: innovating the manufacturing process, added functionality to material and component, full integration into structure, and sustainability and holistic environmental design, including end of life.”