Project to strengthen thermoforming technology

Te UK's GTMA is actively involved in obtaining R and D resources to help UK companies strengthen their technological base through its latest project, T-ForM.

Once again GTMA is actively involved in obtaining R and D resources to help UK companies strengthen their technological base.

The latest project, T-ForM, which held its kick-off meeting in September, is being supported by the European FP6 Collective Research programme with a budget of EUR 4.8million.

T-ForM will assist thermoforming companies, mould makers and design agencies to improve competitiveness through the development of a predictive mould design and manufacturing system, which will reduce throughput times and increase right-first-time production.

The T-ForM project is being undertaken by a consortium of European companies and trade associations, including representatives from the Netherlands, Belgium, German, Spain, Austria and the UK.

TNO Science and Industry is the overall European project coordinator and GTMA is coordinating T-ForM activities for the UK.

Benefits to companies participating in T-ForM include the opportunity to guide the direction of the research and development as well as early access to the resulting guidelines for thermoforming, predictive mould design system and optimal thermoforming process parameters - which together are expected to reduce throughput time by as much as 40% and reduce costs by 35%.

Eric Benfield, technical manager, Linecross, comments: "We strongly believe that the T-ForM concept is the way forward, which is why we are keen to be involved in the project.

GTMA is undertaking the role of disseminating the project information and will be raising awareness of simulation as a design iteration tool and also ensuring that thermoforming companies fully understand the technology that is being developed by the project.

A number of dissemination activities have already been planned, including three-monthly meetings, where SMEs are invited to discuss latest results and are given the opportunity to suggest further directions and improvements.

In addition, annual dissemination days will be organised, a training module will be developed and a demonstration facility will be established in each country." GTMA CEO, Julia Moore, explains: "It is GTMA's objective to encourage companies in the sector, from the smallest to the largest, to adopt new ways of working to enable the full use of the possibilities of the T-ForM approach.

We would welcome the participation of thermal forming companies into the project.".

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