Looking back over previous editions, Paul Hackney, Polymer Cluster Champion, is delighted that the first wave of the Cluster’s success stories have made its presence felt in the region and, looking forward, Paul is even more delighted that this tenth edition finds the Polymer Cluster in the process of guaranteeing its funding beyond 2008.

The Cluster’s current funding is awarded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is set to run out in June 2008. A new proposal, allowing the Polymer Cluster to continue its activities until 2010, sees the Polymer Cluster focusing on a number of specialist areas, such as advanced materials, packaging and also environmental and energy saving products.

The Polymer Cluster for the West Midlands is reporting feedback figures of nearly 99% from the community of plastics and rubber firms that it has assisted with services in recent months.

Approximately 90% of the companies assisted by the Polymer Cluster over the past three years have rated the services as good, very good or excellent.....

If you’re confused by the various terms used when dealing with packaging that breaks down, our partner Rapra Technology provides some definitions:

Degradable: a polymer that goes through a chemical change when it breaks down. A photodegradable polymer is degraded by ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. A 5% additive to the polymer speeds the process. Biodegradable: assimilated by natural means back into elements such as carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. There is no standard for biodegradable products...

The UK Compostable Packaging Group Steering committee has devised the seed logo (shown), which will ensure that the public recognises and knows what to do with this new packaging.

DEFRA requires that, when composting any packaging, the resulting compost must be of good quality – some degradable polymers not only cause very poor quality compost but may, in some cases, stop the compost from working and may contain traces of heavy metals...

“From design to prototyping to series production” is the basis for the concept of the 14th EuroMold exhibition, the world fair for mouldmaking and tooling, design and application development, which takes place this year, from 5th – 8th December in Frankfurt.

At EuroMold 2007, more than 60,000 trade visitors are expected to be welcomed by around 1,700 exhibitors for Europe and abroad. As an official UK Trade and Investment Accredited Trade Organiser (ATO) the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce is offering a grant of £1,800 to eligible exhibitors – the deadline for applications is 17th October 2007....

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Polymer Cluster is a Wolverhampton Telford Technology Corridor project. The Cluster Centre aims to encourage technologyled innovation, increase the competitiveness of existing companies and provide support for new business start-ups. Through a team of experts, the Cluster Centre offers access to packages of specialist, practical support and collaborative opportunities to eligible companies.