PDM Conference: Sustainable product design that prevents plastics pollution

Sustainable and reliable product design that is resource-efficient and prevents plastics pollution is a strong theme throughout this year’s PDM Conference programme.

Taking place at the Telford International Centre on 19th and 20th June 2018, the free-to-attend PDM Conference will tackle a range of key topics pertinent to today’s plastics product designers and engineers.



Delegates will be given updates on the latest performance polymers and processes which offer exciting new design possibilities, as well as practical advice on how patents and marques can be used to create differentiation.

Meanwhile on the exhibition floor, visitors can see the latest 3D printing technology and discuss their material, masterbatch and compound requirements with leading suppliers.

A popular feature of previous shows that returns for 2018 is the Plastics Consultancy Network’s Plastics Surgery.

Visitors are invited to bring along questions they may have relating to plastics design and moulding and PCN’s consultants will be on hand to offer effective, creative and cost-effective advice and solutions.

Conference highlights for designers

Putting circular thinking into practice will be tackled on day one by Keith Freegard, director, Axion Consulting.

He will show how sustainable product design puts materials together into recyclable products in a way that means they can be recovered at end of life.

He will be followed by Dr Andrew Hulme, principle consultant, Smithers Rapra who will explain how understanding the long term performance of a plastic material can help designers to predict the durability of a product.

In other sessions Jason Lessard, partner, HGF will advise how you can protect your competitive advantage in three simple steps and John Pearce, chief executive, Made in Britain, will talk about the benefits of using the Made in Britain marque.

Material developments will be covered by Plastribution who will introduce the new Vistamaxx performance polymers and EMS-Chemie who will talk about the advantages of using EMS-GRIVORY long fibre technology.

Sustainability returns as a key theme for day two with Dr Terence Cooper, chief executive officer, ARGO Group International giving an update on world bioplastics technology.

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) Recycling Group will explain how to design a product to maximise resource efficiency and Logoplaste will look at the future of recycled materials.

The design challenge of finding a sustainable solution for non-clear packaging waste will be explored by Tony Gaukroger, director, Colour Tone Masterbatch.

Process innovations in adhesive bonding, assisted moulding technologies and rotational moulding techniques will be covered in the afternoon with expert speakers from the likes of 3M Centre, Helix Polymer, Uniqeroto and Rotomotive.

They will highlight the new design opportunities provided by these developments and offer practical advice on increasing the reliability of designs.

Dr Paul Shipton, consultancy director, Smithers Rapra will address the challenges of selecting plastics for use in medical devices and Pantone will look at the future of colour in the plastics industry.

The full conference programme, sponsored by Distrupol, can be viewed HERE.