E-Weekly
Jul 27th, 2007                                Print this article

Safety, security highlight design competition

By Robert Colvin

For this year’s Design Innovation in Plastics Award competition in the U.K., product and engineering design students were challenged with conceptualizing ideas for safety and security products using polymers from the portfolio of Bayer MaterialScience (BMS, Leverkusen, Germany), a contest sponsor. Judging criteria also included an understanding of environmental and social sustainability issues.

A record 102 entries were received from 326 college and university students ranging from biometric entry systems, tagging devices, and personal security and communications systems to sports protection and smart mattresses.

Taking the top prize was Sara Bellini, a graduate of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, with a security accessory for handbags. The “Keepsafe Personal Bag Security Accessory” uses a suction cap that is activated by pulling down the tail of the device to secure bags to tables or chairs, preventing purse snatching. Bellini won £1000 and an internship with BMS at its headquarters plus a £500 college scholarship for the design, which applied Bayer polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

Second place went to Daniel Biddle from the University of Huddersfield for his “Roof Angel”, which is a roof- or road-mounted flashing replacement for a standard warning triangle used in emergencies. The frame is made from six polyurethane reaction injection molded compounds with the LED wiring and circuit board imbedded in a flexible conduit. Third place was taken by Carl Needham’s “Arm Cast”. The University of Northumbria student designed a waterproof, breathable system of components to replace plaster casts using a polycarbonate blend and polyurethane foam. Three other developments from students at the University of Northumbria received exceptional awards.

“I’m impressed regarding the broad range of entries concerning security. This year’s entries are really high quality,” says Martin Sixsmith, senior country representative of BMS for the U.K. and Ireland who handed over the awards. The competition is organized biennially by the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining with sponsorships from BMS, the Worshipful Company of Horners, and several other organizations. The jury consisted of plastics, product design, and security and crime prevention specialists.—bcolvin@modplas.com

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