Research centre for €2bn plastics industry opens at Athlone Institute of Technology

Post-graduate researcher Paddy Doran (right) shows Minister for Research and Innovation Seán Sherlock, TD, the process of extruding strands

Designed to deliver technology-based solutions for companies in Ireland

A new research centre for the development of new plastic technologies with far-reaching applications across multiple sectors has opened at the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT).

Minister for Research and Innovation Seán Sherlock, TD, opened the Applied Polymer Technology (APT) Gateway at AIT, as part of an international plastics conference attended by more than 100 delegates.

APT Ireland is part of an Enterprise Ireland-funded nationwide network of technology gateways, designed to deliver technology-based solutions for companies in Ireland.

The All-Ireland New Technology Forum and Society of Plastics Engineers annual conference has been co-hosted by AIT and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), in association with IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Plastics Ireland and IBEC.

“The research centre will create practical and pragmatic solutions to the problems facing the plastics industry, which includes sectors as diverse as medical devices, pharmaceutical, automotive, packaging, renewable energy, construction and recycling.”

Dr. Seán Lyons, APT Ireland’s Manager

Joe Robbins

(Director) BBS (Hons), MBPICS – Shannon Office

Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.

He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.

He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.

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