Foresight - Polymer Composites Sector

Markets & Customers

Globalisation of suppliers and customers,
Little industry "clout" as mainly SME's,
Ageing infrastructure Energy savings

SME's need central support or work together in trade federations,

As above,

Many opportunities for repair and strengthening, Lightweight, corrosion proof, low thermal conductivity need to be capitalised on.

Business practice and economics

Advantages not always apparent.
Lower (cleaner) cost of manufacturing.
Research Targeting

Encourage whole life costing approach rather than first cost.
Need for manufacturing demonstrators, promotion of new materials and processes.
Improved technology transfer of existing knowledge.
Need for more applied research, in consultation with industry.

Education / workforce / image

Lack of skilled staff.

Lack of professional engineers.
Lack of appreciation by potential end-users.

Develop approved laminate training courses (CPA, Polymer NTO?).
Agreed composite materials module in engineering courses (IoM?).
Develop schools module within Key stage 3 (IoM?). Industry targeted dissemination as by Network Group on Composites in Construction.

Information Technology

Use of Internet

SME's are slower to implement, need to show how other SME moulders etc. are using appropriate IT to best advantage

Regulations and Standards

European Directives











International and Quality Standards

Recycling - need for a single reference point clearly stating the options available, end-of-life advice needed,
Need to negotiate centrally (BPF, GPRMC?),
Clean manufacture - need to research but main need is to publicise more widely + use demonstrators to show benefits of new processes,
Energy savings - industry to take advantage of opportunities (eg wind-power, lightweight transport),
Need for better dialogue with existing and end customers.
Companied need to insist on using suppliers using available technical and quality standards,
Need for more guidance documents while product standards design codes are developed and published.

Quality, reliability and durability

Quality -as above
Durability

As above,
Need to demonstrate the long-life advantages available in many applications.