The Elastomers project, in collaboration with Technology Strategy Board (TSB), started in October 2013.

It aims at developing innovative composite end effectors for handling lightweight, flexible elastomers.

Elastomers are often used as a basis for various pieces of protective clothing, intimate apparel and gloves. In medical applications and in medical environments the elastomer objects have to be sterile.

The production of elastomers is highly automated with the exception of the last part when products are taken from the production line and packed or specially treated. It is very often done manually, by human labour, whereby there is a risk of potential contamination of the objects and products. The Elastomer project will create a range of innovative end effectors that will help in the last part of the automation process.

One of the examples is automating the removal of elastomers from a dip moulding line.