SPRA hosts a meeting with Shanghai Society for Advanced Materials

Leaving the best to the last, a delegation of polymer technologists from the Shangai Society for Advanced Materials rounded off their week-long mission to the UK with a visit to Edinburgh. After travelling by train from London, the party, led by Steve Shaw and Ivy Lue of Rapra Limited, arrived in Edinburgh on the Saturday afternoon. On Sunday they did the tourist route around Edinburgh. With Dong Sun acting as local guide and interpreter the highlights included Edinburgh Castle and the Whisky Heritage Centre.

On Monday 28 June they joined SPRA members and guests in the Boardroom at Merchiston Tower (Edinburgh Napier University) to learn more about the academic and industrial polymer community in Scotland.

After a welcome to Edinburgh Napier University by Colin Hindle, and an introduction to the Scottish Plastics and Rubber Association by SPRA President Fergus Hardie, there followed a few short technical presentations aimed at trying to answer some of the questions the delegates had posted. Prof Nick Christofi gave a presentation on the use of biotechnology to devulcanise and thereby recycle rubber. A presentation by Dr Patrick Falvey of Scottish Development International on the chemical/polymer industry in Scotland and Chemical Sciences Scotland answered many of their questions from a Scottish perspective at least. Grant Leslie explained the role of EDTC as a conduit between industry and academia. Grant also addressed the specific question of flame retardants for ABS.

After a very brief tour of some of the facilities at Merchiston and an early lunch it was time for our new found friends to climb aboard their coach and head south for Birmingham and their flight home. The invitation to SPRA to make a return visit is an open one - anyone fancy an SPRA meeting in Shanghai?

Colin Hindle, SPRA Education Officer  June 2010