PDM 2016: UK plastics design, recycling and manufacturing take centre stage

Speakers at the PRE conference in 2015.

Machinery, ancillary and mould equipment manufacturers and distributors will return in force to this year’s Plastics Design & Moulding Event (PDM Event 2016) in June.

The PDM Event will provide visitors with an opportunity to meet key players in the industry on the show floor at the exhibition, as well as attend a variety of PDM and Plastics Recycling conference sessions covering innovations in injection moulding, additive printing and automotive to where the recycling market is going.

This year plastics moulders will also have the opportunity to vie for glory in a Quick Mould Change Competition taking place over the two days. Teams will have 60 minutes to change a mould correctly, safely and as quickly as possible on an Engel machine. Judges from plastic moulding training and technology consultancy RJG Technologies will oversee the competition.

Plastics moulding companies are invited to enter a team of two technicians for the competition. Entrants will compete to be the fastest to complete the tool change under the judges’ scrutiny to ensure safe working methods. The final installation will be inspected to ensure correct installation including mould operation, set up of water pipes, clamp positioning and torque settings. Judges will also check that the tool is demounted correctly and the work area left tidy.

Richard Brown, managing director of RJG Technologies, says: “Fast tool change in production can increase both injection mould availability and safety levels during mould changeover. The Quick Mould Change Competition at the PDM Event 2016 is a great opportunity for mould technicians to prove their skills against the clock to find the fastest and safest tool change team within the industry.” Anthony Goff of RJG Technologies will be using his vast experience to evaluate technique and adherence to safe practices to find the eventual winner.

Engel UK is supporting the PDM Quick Mould Competition by providing one of its machines for moulders to use at the show.

Graeme Herlihy, Engel UK’s managing director, says: “Our tie-bar-less design will certainly make it easier for competitors to carry out a mould change quickly, safely and accurately. It will also be an effective showcase for our flexible, cost effective and highly energy efficient machines.”

Among the leading industry names booked for the PDM Event are Negri Bossi, Billion, Romi, Boy UK, Arburg, Motan Colortronic and Plastics Machinery Sales.

Exhibitors, keen to share optimism about the industry’s future as the shift by OEMs towards sourcing from the UK continues, see the PDM Event as the ideal platform to highlight their innovations among key decision-makers in the plastics industry.

Neil Bathard, Romi’s UK national sales manager, tells PRW: “We are exhibiting at this year’s PDM show as it attracts good visitors who are looking to purchase machines in the near future. It gives them a good opportunity to get close and personal with the equipment and the manufacturer.

“They can discuss the machinery and see it in operation while being able to discuss business in a friendly environment. PDM helps us manufacturers to boost our enquiries to help achieve improved sales.”

Kart Miller, Motan Colortronic’s UK managing director, says: “PDM has continued to be a successful show for us and we hope to continue to touch base with both existing and new contacts and demonstrate our continued investment in the market with leading products and support.”

The PDM Event is supported by the British Plastics Federation (BPF); the Gauge and Toolmakers Association (GTMA); the Institute of Materials; Minerals and Mining (IOM3); The Polymer Society; The Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA); Smithers Rapra; Polymer Training; Wrap; Rapra; Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (Larac); Recoup; Composites UK, and PRW.

PDM Event takes place at the Telford International Centre on 14-15 June. There will be free conference sessions running alongside the exhibition.

Opening Times:

Tuesday 14 June 9.30- 4.00

Wednesday 15 June 9.30 - 4.00

Pre-register free of charge at www.pdmevent.com where you can find about more about exhibitors

The event is organised by Crain Communications, publishers of Plastics News Europe and PRW.