Four European Plastic Industry Associations joined forces in January 2003 to launch a new Research and Development Project being supported by the European Commission.

Working with a SME core group made up of ; prime proposer DKI Plast (Denmark), UPM Machinery (UK), BM Biraghi (Italy) and AEMSA (Spain) and, RTD Partners PERA (UK), FHG-TEG (Germany), AIMPLAS (Spain) and CESAP (Italy) the project will develop a previously discovered benefit which was identified during an earlier project that DKI Plast (Denmark) were working on at producing highly filled parts. It was found that the flow of polymer into a mould cavity could be increased by using Ultrasonic energy.

The aim of the project, with the knowledge and experience from Association member companies is to produce a prototype for a low cost ultra-sonic melt system which can either be tool-mounted or retro-fittable for the promotion of additional plastic flow during injection moulding.

Although the initial study will focus on injection moulding, it is envisaged that this application can be developed for plastic extrusion and in fact will be a consideration throughout the project.

Take a look at Development to find out the latest progress of the project.