BEST PRACTICE CASE STUDY
POLYCARTA LTD
About INDEX
INDEX (Innovation Delivers Expansion) is a unique demand-led innovation voucher scheme led that invites Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to apply for a voucher to purchase academic support from one of the 13 Higher Education Institutions in the West Midlands. The project is funded by Advantage West Midlands (AWM), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Innovation Vouchers allow SMEs to purchase academic expertise knowledge to develop their innovation and enhance their business.
The Innovation Voucher scheme aims to build links between Universities and SMEs to create a demand led approach to innovation.ABOUT THE BUSINESS: Polycarta Limited
Polycarta Limited
Unit A, Slippery Lane
Hanley
Stoke-On-Trent
ST1 4JA
Telephone: 01782 210 650
Email: rwsmith@polycarta.co.uk
Website: www.polycarta.co.uk
Main Contact: Mr Robert Smith
Polycarta was established in 1997 and is based in Stoke-on-Trent. The initial core business was the supply of decal papers to ceramic printers in the local area.
With the considerable reduction in the pottery industry over the last few years, Polycarta has diversified into other business areas. One major area of interest is now the supply of wide format inkjet media.
INNOVATION
Innovation (9) Manufacturing
THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Polycarta was established in 1997 and its core business has been the supply of waterslide transfer paper to ceramic printers in the Stoke-on-Trent area. This paper is used for printing ceramic transfers for the decoration of glass and ceramics.
With the considerable reduction in the pottery industry over the last few years, Polycarta has looked at diversifying into other business areas. One area of particular interest has been the permanent multi-coloured decoration of flat glass for both interior and exterior architectural use in the construction industry.
Polycarta’s involvement in this area has been the provision of suitable release papers to enable the automatic application of coloured prints to sheets of flat glass by the application of heat and pressure. The glass is subsequently fired in a tempering oven to yield a permanent decoration.
The technology for this process exists with the decoration being produced by the traditional screen print process. There has however been no commercial exploitation of this process, one reason perhaps that large numbers of the same print have to be produced to make the process economically viable.
One way round this problem was to print the design by a digital method using a modified laser printer with ceramic based toners substituted for the normal organic based toners. Printing digitally would mean that small runs or one-offs would be viable commercially.
Polycarta has done some work in this area and has a granted European Patent which covers the basics of the automatic decoration of flat glass by using a digital print on a release paper.
Help was required to develop this further, with assistance in the following areas:
• Development of suitable ceramic toners
• Formulation of coatings with the necessary heat activated adhesive properties
• Modification of the existing types of release papers
ABOUT THE HEI: Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University
College Road
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
ST4 2DE
ABOUT THE ACADEMIC
Professor P J Ogrodnik
Teaching Interests: Medical Devices Design, Biomechanics, Engineering Design, Solid Mechanics
Responsibilities: Award Tutor MSc and Ba Honours Medical Engineering
Research Interests: Medical Engineering, Engineering Design, Machine Desig