Published: 25.01.08

A new Product Development Centre (PDC), co-financed by the European Regional Development fund, Seaspace and the University of Brighton, was opened today (25 January) by local MP Michael Foster. Based in St Leonards, this new concept will help local businesses and schools by offering state-of-the-art equipment to demonstrate best practice in product development.
 
The centre is staffed by members of the South East Knowledge Exchange, a collaboration of three universities; the University of Brighton, Buckingham and Chiltern University College, and University of Portsmouth. Brighton will be the lead for the PDC.
 
There is a 15-seat computer suite to demonstrate 3D modelling using CAD (Computer Aided Design) software such as: SolidWorks, Rhinoceros and Pro-Engineer. This can be displayed on an advanced interactive whiteboard for making changes and capturing images.
 
The outputs from any of these software packages can be sent over the network to what looks like a coffee vending machine. But that is where any similarity ends. In fact it is an innovative piece of equipment called the Dimension SST 1200. The process which takes a 3D software model design and then makes it into an ABS plastic model, involves melting threads of plastic and then builds the model up, layer by layer, without stopping. This will carry on over night or through the weekend until it has finished. Just soaking the end results in a special tank is all that is needed to finish the process.
 
Other equipment includes a high-tech laser scanning arm that can be used to ‘reverse engineer’ products that do not have drawings. The strangest and largest item which has been scanned is a six-foot eco-friendly coffin.
 
Paul Sayers, from the University of Brighton, is the project manager responsible for getting the centre up and running. He said: "We have fantastic equipment and a very talented team with a desire to help local businesses and schools. This is a very different initiative to help businesses and schools."
 
The centre has a comprehensive schedule of courses planned (many free) covering areas including:

• New product development
• Rapid prototyping
• Stress analysis
• Electronic design and testing
• Polymer/plastic
• Strategic and operational management

 
The centre is already working with local businesses and entrepreneurs producing creative designs, drawings and prototypes. But it is not just the business industry that will benefit from the PDC. The centre is also keen to inform students at schools and colleges that modern manufacturing is not just about 'bashing metal', and so they will run many initiatives in 3D modelling and rapid prototyping to engage students and help then develop an interest in engineering and manufacturing.
 
Design students from the Hastings College are already working with the centre. Ashley Hemingway said: "The staff at the PDC have been excellent and have gone out of their way to help us. We are looking forward to a long-term relationship with them." It is not only students who can take advantage of the PDC, teachers can also use the centre to develop their skills. William Parker School was quick off the mark with a training session planned for some of its teachers in February.
 
Peter Adlington is the managing director of Plastipack, a successful local company which has been involved with the Product Development Centre. He said: "The Product Development Centre gives businesses, schools and entrepreneurs in the Hastings and surrounding areas a fantastic opportunity to rapid prototype their ideas to reality."
 
Contact details have been removed as the PDC is no longer running.