“Interplas has always been a beacon of innovation in the plastics industry, and this year's event is especially significant as it marks its 75th anniversary,” said Mark Wrigley, SVP sales & marketing, Rosti Group.

Celebrating its monumental 75th anniversary, Interplas has long been the heart of innovation and change in the plastics sector. This year, it will boast over 500 exhibitors, providing a platform for 12,000 attendees to gain insights into the latest advancements in plastics manufacturing processes, technologies, materials, and services.

Rosti Group, a global plastics injection moulding company and contract manufacturer, announced its European business development technical director Tony Austin, will take the stage during Interplas 2023 on 26th September from 14.00 - 14.45pm at the NEC in Birmingham.

“The automotive and commercial vehicle industries are investing heavily in fuel cell technology as a solution to meet low- and zero-emission government regulations, but current compressed gas storage systems are big, heavy and inefficient,” said Chris Kondogiani, principal, Noble Gas Systems. “Our solution not only addresses the storage challenge, but efficiently and safely stores compressed hydrogen or CNG fuel onboard a vehicle without impacting passenger or cargo space.”

Global demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles continues to grow. However, large-scale adoption of these alternative fuel technologies requires safe, efficient, high-pressure gas storage. To address this challenge, Noble Gas Systems was founded to create a safe, conformable, lightweight compressed gas storage and delivery system. Today, the company has demonstrated its latest generation of conformable gas tanks, which can be configured into existing vehicle architectures. The new tanks, with working pressures of 350 bar (5,000 psi), are lightweight and less than 80-mm (3.1-in) wide.

The Noble Gas high-pressure, lightweight storage and delivery system can accommodate the most common compressed gases, including natural gas, air, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. It features a tank comprised of a thermoplastic polymer liner, woven reinforcement and protective outer shell. A safer alternative to other options, the system currently meets burst and hydrogen permeation requirements for 350-bar working pressures and has a leak-before-burst failure mode to eliminate the opportunity for a catastrophic, instantaneous release of high-pressure gas.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 2019: "Welcome to the NEC" on a giant LED screen outside the entrance to the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre.

The pivotal roundtable debate and discussion will delve into the post-COVID manufacturing landscape, where Austin and fellow panelists will shed light on reshoring, contract manufacturing, and what lies ahead for the industry.

In addition to Interplas session participation, Rosti representatives will highlight the company’s role in precision moulding and contract manufacturing, including:

Designed with conformability in mind, the gas storage system can be fabricated in a variety of shapes and sizes to be easily integrated into unique and existing product configurations. In addition to the transportation industry, it has applications in defense, aviation, marine and industrial gas industries.

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia, and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking his bike on overseas business trips, and is a proud dachshund owner.

“We're honoured to have Tony Austin represent Rosti in such a critical discussion on reshoring and the future of contract manufacturing. It's not just about understanding the changes in the industry but actively shaping its future. At Rosti, we believe in driving the conversation forward, and Interplas 2023 is the perfect platform that allows us to do this in conjunction with other thought leaders.”

Wrigley added, “Interplas 2023 stands out as a unique opportunity for leaders in the plastics industry to come together. We are immensely proud to have Tony Austin represent Rosti, offering invaluable insights and sparking meaningful discussions that underscore the industry's ongoing evolution."

“We are optimistic about the impact our gas storage system can have in transportation and other industries,” added Kondogiani. “We are currently working on a number of development projects with customers and have completed our own proof-of-concept vehicle – a retrofitted 2019 Polaris Ranger EV – to demonstrate the tank in real-world conditions. Although there is additional work to be done to make the storage system production ready and viable for additional markets, we have achieved very important milestones. We have a solid road map to complete the commercialization process and continue to develop solutions for higher pressures.