Plastics innovations receive funding

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Oct 28, 2004

The Faraday Plastics and Polymers Partnership has had recent successes in helping West Midlands-based companies secure additional research funding for plastics and polymeric-based innovations.

The Faraday Plastics and Polymers Partnership (FPPP), the UK's plastics research and development centre, has been enjoying recent successes in helping West Midlands-based companies secure additional research funding for their plastics and polymeric-based innovations.

The latest to see the benefit is Aldridge-based Integrated System Technologies (ISTL) which, helped by expert input from Faraday Plastics on funding, is now receiving financial support from Advantage West Midlands under the DTI-based SMART award scheme.

A total of £45,000 in aid is being used to accelerate the introduction of ISTL's patented Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology into the marketplace.

Dr Umar Daraz of Faraday Plastics notes that 'part of our Faraday mission for the West Midlands lies in helping local manufacturing there attract the funding support that it deserves.

Most companies in general are somewhat wary of funding application processes and procedures.

Based on a successful track record, we help applicants cut to essentials and maximise their chances for success.' The recent success with ISTL will help the firm develop its patented Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) LED driving and control system: By using a working model of the lighting, and its suitability for applications in a variety of settings - architectural, security, medical, automotive, ISTL intends to demonstrate the superiority of the LED system as a suitable alternative to other traditional lighting sources such as tungsten, or metal halide used in conjunction with filter gels.

Keith Anderson, ISTL Director, says that 'as a UK business we are delighted to now have the prospect of international competition within a short space of time.

The worldwide growth potential for LED applications is huge and with this funding we hope to put ISTL at the centre of the industry.' ISTL are now seeking manufacturing partners to aid implementation of their proprietary technology to provide technology advantages into products ranging from new medical devices to aerospace and lighting applications.

Among the benefits offered from ISTL's LED technology are: No heat No UV emissions Low power consumption Ability to produce and control over 16 million colours Long life, low maintenance - typical 50,000 hours DMX control enabled Full photometric independent analysis (verified by Aston Photonics) The model building work will be carried out at the company's premises and at locally based Photonics Application Centre.