Smart Coating Systems for Process Control and Increased Wear Resistance in Processing of Natural Fibre Reinforces Polymers (CORNET SmartNFR, call No. 01_15_007 Cooperation – Clusters – Call I – Collective Research, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/15_007/0001161)

Development "Centre for Modeling of Plastic Products" (Plastr 2015 – Infrastructure, call No. 01_15_008 Cooperation – Clusters – Call I – Shared Infrastructure, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/15_008/0001226)

Research and Development for Plastic Production (Plastr 2015 – R&D, call No. 01_15_007 Cooperation – Clusters – Call I – Collective Research, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/15_007/0002305)

Plastr 2015 – Cluster Development (Plastr 2015 – Development, call No. 01_15_012 Cooperation – Clusters – Call I – Cluster Development, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/15_012/0001230)

Plastr 2017 – Internationalization (call No. 01_16_081 Cooperation – Clusters – Call III – Internationalization, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/16_081/0008704)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_16_081 Cooperation – Clusters – Call III – Internationalization
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/16_081/0008704
Preliminary project application submitted: 17.1.2017
Expected starting date: 1.1.2018
Expected closing date: 31.3.2019
Expected duration: 15 months

Summary: The project focuses on the fulfillment of the internationalization strategy "Internationalization of Plastr activities in the period 2017 – 2020". The Strategy's Action Plan defines the following key activities:

• Intensification of cooperation with the Slovak Plastics Cluster
• International trade (raw materials, energies)
• Cooperation in preparation of international projects of SMEs – Horizon 2020, CORNET
• Activities in committees (recycling, construction) of the EuPC association
• Benchmarking of European plastics clusters

Objective:

1. Fulfillment of the Action Plan of the “Internationalization of Plastr activities in the period of 2017 – 2020” strategy
2. Networking of plastics clusters
3. Increasing the success of obtaining subsidies from international calls for projects

Plastr 2018 – Shared Infrastructure (call No. 01_17_151 Cooperation – Clusters – Call IV – Shared Infrastructure, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/17_151/0011814)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_17_151 Cooperation – Clusters – Call IV – Shared Infrastructure
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/17_151/0011814
Preliminary project application submitted: 20.10.2017
Expected starting date: 1.1.2018
Expected closing date: 30.11.2019
Expected duration: 23 months

Summary: The project follows the previous Plastr investment projects and aims to:

• Equip the existing "Centre for Plastic Products Modeling", which serves the needs of cluster members
• Provide technological and instrumental background for new R&D projects realization 

Objective:

The objective of the project is to broaden the cluster development infrastructure resulting from:

• The need to have a compounding technology that meets new trends in R&D
• The necessity of simulation of plastics processing technologies (injection moulding, extrusion, etc.) for both optimization of technologies and construction of processing tools

Overall, the goal can be defined in such a way that Plastr completes the equipment of its own R&D infrastructure to the level that ensures synergies with the regional R&D centers and enables the use of this background for new research projects.

Industrial Development in the Field of Plastic Waste and New Applications of Plastics (Plastr 2018 – R&D, call No. 01_17_103 Cooperation – Clusters – Call IV – Collective Research, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/17_103/0011804)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_17_103 Cooperation – Clusters – Call IV – Collective Research
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/17_103/0011804
Preliminary project application submitted: 19.10.2017
Expected starting date: 1.1.2018
Expected closing date: 31.12.2019
Expected duration: 24 months

Summary: This R&D project is divided into 2 subprojects: "Waste" and "Application". The solution will focus mainly on the development of polymer blends based on recyclates and natural fillers and on the development of new applications of plastics.

Objective:

• Increasing the competitiveness of Plastr member companies
• Increasing the flexibility of Plastr members (especially SMEs) in developing new plastic products
• Increasing the volume of processed internal technological wastes
• Development of technology for heterogeneous technological wastes processing
• Interdisciplinary use of external industrial or non-industrial wastes as a secondary raw material for processing in Plastr member companies
• Harmonization of R&D processes with evolving legislation

Plastr 2018 – Cluster Development (call No. 01_17_149 Cooperation – Clusters – Call IV – Cluster Development, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/17_149/0011818)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_17_149 Cooperation – Clusters – Call IV – Cluster Development
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/17_149/0011818
Preliminary project application submitted: 20.10.2017
Expected starting date: 1.1.2018
Expected closing date: 31.12.2019
Expected duration:  24 months

Summary: The project addresses the further development of Plastr activities in the following areas:

1. People – education, technical conferences
2. Plastr promotion – websites, publication in professional journals, compulsory publicity
3. Interdisciplinary cooperation of Plastr
4. Joint use of professional databases and portals
5. Joint purchase (energy, selected types of raw materials, overhead materials)
6. Professional groups activities

Objective:

• Increasing the active participation of member companies in individual subprojects implemented by Plastr
• Increasing the competitiveness of Plastr member companies by applying new raw materials and additives; Introduction of new technologies in Plastr member companies; Eliminating the weaknesses of SME members that do not have an infrastructure to test new materials
• Increasing the professional level of employees of Plastr member companies; Transfer of R&D outputs to operators and technologists; Presentation of plastics processing innovations; Focus on secondary school/university students through joint activities (professional excursions, internships, etc.)
• Increasing the competitiveness of cluster member companies by cutting costs (joint purchase of electricity, gas, selected raw materials and overhead materials)
• Ensuring the functional administrative Plastr facilities (operation of Plastr's office, promotion and publicity)
• Sharing experiences and examples of good practice with other partners through international cooperation, especially by means of:
• - Plastr membership in the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) association, which aims to promote the interests of plastic processors at European level
• - The active cooperation with the multinational platform PlasticPortal, which runs an specialized internet catalogue of companies and manufacturers in the field of plastics, including the labor market in the given sector

Plastr 2020 – INFRASTRUCTURE (call No. 01_19_313 Cooperation – Clusters – Call VI – Shared Infrastructure, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/19_313/0018805)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_19_313 Cooperation – Clusters – Call VI – Shared Infrastructure
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/19_313/0018805
Preliminary project application submitted: 23.8.2019
Expected starting date: 1.1.2020
Expected closing date: 30.11.2021
Expected duration: 23 months

Summary: The project follows the previous Plastr investment projects and aims to:

• Equip the existing "Centre for Plastic Products Modeling", which serves the needs of cluster members
• Provide technological and instrumental background for new R&D projects realization 

Objective:

The aim of the project is to address the additional investments in the Center for Plastic Products Modeling, which is a part of Plastr development infrastructure. In previous projects (OP EI and OP EIC) a quality base of R&D infrastructure was built, which now needs to be supplemented in order to ensure competitiveness and completeness of investments for the solution of existing and planned R&D projects.

Overall, the goal can be defined in such a way that Plastr completes the equipment of its own R&D infrastructure to the level that ensures synergies with the regional R&D centers and enables the use of this background for new research projects.

Plastr 2020 – R&D (call No. 01_19_263 Cooperation – Clusters – Call VI – Collective Research, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/19_263/0018804)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_19_263 Cooperation – Clusters – Call VI – Collective Research
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/19_263/0018804
Preliminary project application submitted: 23.8.2019
Expected starting date: 1.1.2020
Expected closing date: 31.12.2021
Expected duration:  24 months

Summary: The project is based on previously implemented R&D projects. Its main activities will be solved in the context of current trends and requirements of sustainability and circularity - tasks in the field of recycling, efficient technologies, use of raw materials from renewable sources etc. will be addressed. The project is divided into two sub-projects: "Preparation and Testing of Polymer Blends Based on Post-Consumer Plastic Recyclates" and "Advanced 3D Technologies". 

Objective:

• To define and materially describe the emerging types of plastic waste - for these categories to perform analytical evaluation and propose processing methods and implement pilot testing on specified products
• To develop and implement in practice a methodology for evaluating the properties, surfaces and quality of final products based on recycled materials and fillers
• To implement in practice the methodology and procedures using the background and capabilities of 3D advanced methods of evaluation and prototyping
• To apply projects outputs 

Plastr 2021 – INFRASTRUCTURE (call No. 01_20_335 Cooperation – Clusters – Call VII – Shared Infrastructure, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_335/0023648)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_20_335 Cooperation – Clusters – Call VII – Shared Infrastructure
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_335/0023648
Project application submitted: 30.9.2020
Expected starting date: 1.6.2021
Expected closing date: 31.5.2023
Expected duration: 24 months

Summary: The project follows the previous Plastr investment projects and aims to:

• Equip the existing "Centre for Plastic Products Modeling", which serves the needs of cluster members
• Provide technological and instrumental background for new R&D projects realization 

Objective:

The aim of the project is to address the additional investments in the Center for Plastic Products Modeling, which is a part of Plastr development infrastructure. In previous projects (OP EI and OP EIC) a quality base of R&D infrastructure was built, which now needs to be supplemented in order to ensure competitiveness and completeness of investments for the solution of existing and planned R&D projects.

Overall, the goal can be defined in such a way that Plastr completes the equipment of its own R&D infrastructure to the level that ensures synergies with the regional R&D centers and enables the use of this background for new research projects.

Plastr 2021 – CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT (call No. 01_20_333 Cooperation – Clusters – Call VII – Cluster Development, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_333/0023621)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_20_333 Cooperation – Clusters – Call VII – Cluster Development
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_333/0023621
Project application submitted: 22.9.2020
Expected starting date: 1.1.2021
Expected closing date: 31.12.2022
Expected duration:  24 months

Summary: The project addresses the further development of Plastr activities in the following areas:

1. People – education, technical conferences, increasing the expertise of cluster team and cluster members' employees 
2. Plastr promotion – websites, publication in professional journals, compulsory publicity
3. Interdisciplinary cooperation of Plastr
4. Joint use of professional databases and portals
5. Joint purchase (energy, selected types of raw materials, overhead materials)
6. Professional groups activities

Objective:

• Building a coherent and communicative membership base
• Increasing the competitiveness of cluster member companies involved in join purchaising subprojects leading to cost reduction
• Offering attractive educational events (workshops, seminars etc.) on current topics 
• Operation of a cluster Center for Plastic Products Modeling  
• Support for regional technical education with the aim of increasing the interest of primary/secondary students in studying plastics 
• Sharing experiences and examples of good practice between cluster members and with other partners through international cooperation, especially by means of:
• - Plastr membership in the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) association, which aims to promote the interests of plastic processors at European level
• - The active cooperation with the multinational platform PlasticPortal, which runs an specialized internet catalogue of companies and manufacturers in the field of plastics, including the labor market in the given sector

LCA Study on the Technology Food Packaging (LCA Study, call No. 01_18_215 Innovation Vouchers – Call IV, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/18_215/0017832)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_18_215 Innovation Vouchers – Call IV
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/18_215/0017832
Project application submitted: 2.5.2019
Expected starting date: 1.7.2019
Expected closing date: 31.12.2019
Expected duration: 6 months

Summary: The project focuses on elaboration of the study of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of food packaging technology in disposable plastic and paper packaging and a comparison with other packaging materials such as glass and Tetrapack. The research team will process material and energy input and output models in GaBi's dedicated LCA software for the above food packaging methods. Practical data and current LCA database values of generic processes will be used to develop the models.

Objective:

The project aim is to set method of calculating the real life cycle and carbon footprint for a particular group of frequently used disposable packaging mostly made of PS and PP (yoghurt cups, chilled food, etc.) so that the convenience of using this package from different materials (plastic, glass, aluminium, Tetrapack) can be easily verified on a comparable basis.

Quality Assessment of Post-Consumer Recyclates (Forte-Q-Post, call No. 01_18_215 Innovation Vouchers – Call IV, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/18_215/0021862)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_18_215 Innovation Vouchers – Call IV
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/18_215/0021862
Project application submitted: 15.5.2020
Expected starting date: 1.9.2020
Expected closing date: 14.5.2021
Expected duration: 8.5 months

Summary: Development of a methodology for evaluating the composition of materials using LIBS method and application of innovative approaches to waste evaluation and quality evaluation of plastic recyclates in general.

Objective:

The aim of the project is to test the LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) method for in-line evaluation of plastic waste under real conditions, both from the point of view of the polymer base itself, but mainly to identify such material contaminants (heavy metals, etc.) that limit possible further use of plastic recyclates in many products. The method will be based on LIBS technology and will allow immediate and continuous determination of predetermined contaminants in the polymer. An application working with a predefined database will be included so that the measurement is detailed but at the same time legible and determining for separation operations; in other words, the operator must immediately and easily see into which branch/line of further processing can (or must) be a given type of plastic waste released. The main advantage of LIBS is its speed, one measurement takes place essentially in milliseconds and it is therefore possible to perform dozens of measurements in a very short time and thus achieve statistically reliable results.

Homogenisation of Raw Materials to Prepare Antimicrobial Treatment Products (call No. 01_20_319 Innovation Vouchers COVID-19 – Call V, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_319/0022334)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_20_319 Innovation Vouchers COVID-19 – Call V
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_319/0022334
Project application submitted: 17.6.2020
Expected starting date: 1.9.2020
Expected closing date: 31.5.2021
Expected duration: 9 months

Summary: Developing a prototype solution for homogenising raw materials to prepare antimicrobial treatment products for polymer surfaces.

Objective:

Developing a prototype solution for homogenising raw materials to prepare antimicrobial treatment products for polymer surfaces, including testing the anitimicrobial efficiency of semi-operationally prepared products on a prototype device. Project aims also to develop a marketing study and design.

Evaluation of bio-degradable packaging (call No. 01_20_358 Innovation Vouchers – Call VI, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_358/0025469)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_20_358 Innovation Vouchers – Call VI
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_358/0025469
Project application submitted: 1.3.2021
Expected starting date: 1.4.2021
Expected closing date: 15.12.2021
Expected duration: 8,5 months

Summary: The subject of the voucher will be the evaluation of bio-degradable packaging based on PLA-waste paper composite according to the methodology described in EN 13432 and the optimisation of this measurement for specific bio-degradable packaging materials under home-composting and industrial-composting conditions.

Objective:

Methodology for assessing the compostability of plastic products (especially packaging!) LIBS is a relatively new phenomenon and makes it possible to apply an innovative approach to evaluating the approach to solutions in general and here with a focus on life-cycle impact assessment of composition, impacts on unwanted soil contamination, evaluation of carbon footprint, etc.  For the time being, this cannot normally be done in the framework of the activities of a manufacturing company, because the essential instrument is a protected and defined laboratory environment with specific conditions, which is available in the Czech Republic only to the supplier of the TBU-CPS service.

Evaluation of bio-degradable packaging (call No. 01_20_358 Innovation Vouchers – Call VI, project No. CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_358/0025469)

Programme title: Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness
Call: 01_20_358 Innovation Vouchers – Call VI
Project number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_358/0025469
Project application submitted: 1.3.2021
Expected starting date: 1.4.2021
Expected closing date: 15.12.2021
Expected duration: 8,5 months

Summary: The subject of the voucher will be the evaluation of bio-degradable packaging based on PLA-waste paper composite according to the methodology described in EN 13432 and the optimisation of this measurement for specific bio-degradable packaging materials under home-composting and industrial-composting conditions.

Objective:

Methodology for assessing the compostability of plastic products (especially packaging!) LIBS is a relatively new phenomenon and makes it possible to apply an innovative approach to evaluating the approach to solutions in general and here with a focus on life-cycle impact assessment of composition, impacts on unwanted soil contamination, evaluation of carbon footprint, etc.  For the time being, this cannot normally be done in the framework of the activities of a manufacturing company, because the essential instrument is a protected and defined laboratory environment with specific conditions, which is available in the Czech Republic only to the supplier of the TBU-CPS service.