Mould manufacturing to be predictable The development of a predictive mould design and manufacturing system will reduce throughput times and increase right-first-time production.

The development of a predictive mould design and manufacturing system will reduce throughput times and increase right-first-time production. GTMA members and other participants in the T-ForM EU-sponsored thermoforming R and D project recently attended a meeting kindly hosted by JCB at its World Headquarters in Staffordshire, to discuss the progress and direction of the project. A JCB spokesman commented: 'It can only be a good thing in the long term to have the complete spectrum of the industry from materials companies, through toolmakers and moulders, to OEMs around the table and talking to one another.' Paul Tulloch, Business Development Manager, ABCD Plastics, was also enthusiastic, adding: 'It is not often you get the opportunity to sit down with your competitors to discuss genuine concerns within the sector.

This initiative gives us all the opportunity to push the design envelope of the thermoforming process and therefore potentially increase the size of the thermoforming market - which is good for everyone in the industry.' T-ForM, which is being supported by the European FP6 Collective Research programme with a budget of EUR 4.8 million, 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.

At the meeting current work being undertaken at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, including a survey of the SME thermoforming environment, and Dutch research establishment, TNO, which has been developing prototype mould design software, were reviewed.

One of the outcomes of earlier T-ForM project meetings was the expressed desire, on the part of many attendees, for a UK Thermoforming forum, which would provide considerable opportunities and mutual benefit to companies throughout the thermoforming supply chain, from materials suppliers to OEM customers, enabling improved communication and understanding between companies within the industry.

As a result of those suggestions, it was proposed and formally agreed at the TForM meeting at JCB to launch the new Thermoforming Forum, which GTMA has agreed to sponsor and co-ordinate.

As GTMA CEO, Julia Moore explained: 'It made sense for the new forum to be created within the GTMA framework as the thermoforming industry is so closely aligned with our own sector.

Companies interested in joining the T-Form project and the Forum should contact Scott Phillips at GTMA.

* T-ForM participants are as follows.

ABCD Plastics.

Algram Group.

Belgrade Polymer Products.

Cimatron UK.

E P Packaging.

GBW Panels.

J and A Kay.

Linecross.

Midas Pattern Company.

New Pro Foundries.

Plastics Manchester.

Process Plastics.

Senoplast (UK).

Sertec Plastics.

Shelley Thermoformers International.

Surface Generation.

Swanstone.

Techni-form.

TP Group.

Thermoforming Solutions.

Vacform Group (Yorkshire).

W H Smith and Sons (Tools).

VTS Doeflex.