A TECHNOLOGY firm has been supported by a North-East university to boost its manufacturing ability.

Plaxica, which has a pilot plant at the Wilton Centre, near Redcar, has received help from Teesside University.

The company has used software to construct a programme allowing it to simulate how different operating conditions affect manufacturing.

Plaxica develops biodegradable plastics used in food and drink packaging, furniture, car bumpers, and carpets, with its Wilton plant converting lactic acid into high performance plastic.

Bosses say the software has the potential to save the firm money and increase efficiency.

The partnership was developed with the help of a knowledge exchange internship (KEI), a specialist graduate programme for business run by the university.

A KEI, which are unique to Teesside University aim to help companies solve problems and implement projects by recruiting a graduate, with financial support, for up to a year.

Dr Samantha Gooneratne, chemical engineering lecturer, supervised the internship.

She said: “Teesside prides itself as a business-facing university that is able to work with companies and look at ways in which we can help them to succeed.

“This was a very interesting project, and we are delighted that the KEI has been able to provide Plaxica with the research expertise to help the company identify ways to operate more efficiently.”

David Gibney, a Cambridge University chemical engineering graduate, had a key role in creating and setting up the software, which is typically used in process engineering settings.

He said: “The simulation allows Plaxica to test process modifications prior to implementation on the pilot plant.

“The pilot plant is configured to only run at a small scale, but using the simulation you can estimate process variables at world scale.”

Andrew Langton, Plaxica senior process engineer, added: “The model is able to prove to potential clients and investors that the process is viable and capable at commercial scales.

“It’s also now part of our knowledge base and can be used for other projects.

“We knew we wanted to recruit a graduate, and the KEI helped to fund that and also gave us the academic support with the university, which was fantastic.”