WMG and Barkley Plastics collaborate on Christmas gift

WMG's SME Team worked with Birmingham based Barkley Plastics and Tier one supplier to Marks & Spencer PBFA (Peter Black Footwear & Accessories) to create these items. Polymer experts from the WMG SME team worked with Barkley Plastics and PBFA to design and undertake materials testing for the product. They were particularly looking to develop novel approaches to the design and manufacture. The first stage involved making parts in a rubbery material using innovative additive manufacturing technology. After review from PBFA, the next stage involved creating two designs before the final approved design could be manufactured. This helped Barkley Plastics win an order from PBFA to manufacture them and subsequently sell in M&S stores. Maurice Cassidy, technical director at Barkley Plastics, said: "The SME Team's knowledge and ALM equipment coupled with our expertise and long heritage in the injection moulding industry has won us a contract. It is great to see products manufactured and designed in the UK on sale on the high street." Dr Ben Wood, technology transfer specialist at WMG, added: "Working collaboratively with universities creates a real advantage for UK SMEs and our funded programme of support still has a year and a half left to go. So far we have worked with over 50 SMEs on dedicated projects to take product and service ideas through development to market." WMG's SME Programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the International Institute for Product and Service Innovation.