The Mould Making Industry in Europe is producing more than 8.000 M€ per year. Its importance is not only reflected on their market share, it is a strategic sector that directly influences the competitiveness of the majority of processing companies and industrial sectors such as the automotive, electronics, packing and packaging sectors. Although the main part of the Mould Making Industry is the Plastic Mould Making, there is a lack of professionals qualified and with knowledge and competences about the specificities of plastic in Europe. The project will be launched with the main objective of increasing the competences of mould making professionals (CVET) and young students engaged on apprenticeships or vocational education on Metal Mould Making Training (IVET) about the specificities of plastic. The project will have the next specific objectives: - To map a Professional profile of Mould Making Industry that will allow to better understand the training needs of the sector, so it opens up other more training initiatives (m10) - To produce the specific training on Plastic Mould Making with flexible usability. (first version month 13 and final version m24) - To transfer all Training Materials as well as the tools developed to the countries specificities of the partner’s countries. (m24) - To assess the learning programme and the Course contents through the execution of 3 Pilot training courses. (m21). - To Disseminate Project Results to main stakeholders (from m2 to m24). It is estimated to reach a number of 5.200 stakeholders through dissemination activities (see section H2 for detailed information). - To be aligned with the Smart Specialization Strategy. (3) - To implement the training courses in partner countries after the project (sustainability) The execution of the Project will be structured according to the next work plan 1. Development of a Professional Profile Map A learning outcomes-oriented profile for mould making professionals with a plastic specialization will be developed as a basis for the development of training modules. 2. Development of Training Methodology, Tools and Materials Selected innovative Methodology, contents and tools will be combined, developing theoretical and practical contents, methodologies and the corresponding tools. 3. Validation Pilot Training activities will be executed on each participant country. MOULD4PLAST partnership is composed by 5 members with complementary capacities ensuring a smooth and successful running of the project. - Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK), is established to represent, coordinate and protect common interests of its around 1.000 members. As the automotive industry has become the most important sector and driving force of the Slovak economy over the past 20 years, the number of the members’ companies – automotive suppliers of SOPK have grown significantly and today it accounts for one third of the membership. - Moravian-Silesian Automotive Cluster c.a. (AUTOKLASTR) was established to increase competitiveness and to encourage innovation and export capacity of interconnected companies, entrepreneurs and institutions in the Region. Cluster actively coordinates innovative approaches in: Development of Human Resources - educates and develops competencies. Trade Relations - cluster saves money and opens up space for new markets. Research and Development Activities - test products and encourage innovation. - 3S research laboratory (3SRL) is one of the leading educational research organisations in Austria. The organisation designs projects in the field of knowledge, learning and work – most notably in vocational education and training (VET), higher education (HE) as well as adult education. - AIMPLAS, the Technological Institute of Plastics located in Valencia, is a private, non-profit Association with more than 500 associated companies. AIMPLAS has participated in more than 90 projects (FP5, FP6, FP7, LIFE+, EcoInnova. & H2020), among others, coordinating several of them. - AVIA brings together 102 companies related to the automotive sector. AVIA brings together the entire sector’s value chain. Currently, the joint turnover of the associated companies is more of 13.000million euro, which is 13% of regional GDP of the Valencia region. The set of companies in the cluster are employing more than -31.200 people directly. AVIA is in position of the Bronze Label, recognised by the Cluster EXCELENCE Expert Group. The main results of the project are the Professional Profile Map and the Training on Plastic Mould Making itself that will have an impact at long term by providing a professional profile highly demanded by the Industry so it will on one side contribute to employment and on the other increase the competitiveness of the Mould Making Industry (by increasing the quality standards and degree of complexity of the injected plastic products) and thus the competitiveness of related sectors (automotive mainly but also packaging, etc).
The European automotive industry and plastics are inextricably linked. Of all the areas of mechanical engineering, the application of these materials is necessary and also cost-effective. The automotive industry is one of the largest and most important customers of modern plastic and composite materials. Today, individual car manufacturers can choose from a large number of plastic materials for interiors, where the emphasis is on softness, durability and colourfastness, as well as for exteriors with the main requirements for durability, rigidity or toughness. At the same time, technologies for plastics processing and related processes, such as mould design and production, are being developed. That is why it is very important to have comprehensive training that will help workers in this sector to develop their knowledge. A significant recent trend is the material harmonization and replacement of metals with plastics to reduce emissions in the production of components and at the same time reduce weight with the effect of reducing energy consumption in the operation of cars. The European Union requires this direction in the agreement entitled "Green Deal." The MOLD4PLAST partnership, which was composed of the following 5 partners, captured this trend and ensured a smooth and successful project: - Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK), is established to represent, coordinate and protect common interests of its around 1.000 members. As the automotive industry has become the most important sector and driving force of the Slovak economy over the past 20 years, the number of the members’ companies – automotive suppliers of SOPK have grown significantly and today it accounts for one third of the membership. - Moravian-Silesian Automotive Cluster c.a. (AUTOKLASTR) was established to increase competitiveness and to encourage innovation and export capacity of interconnected companies, entrepreneurs and institutions in the Region. Cluster actively coordinates innovative approaches in: Development of Human Resources - educates and develops competencies. Trade Relations - cluster saves money and opens up space for new markets. Research and Development Activities - test products and encourage innovation. - 3S research laboratory (3SRL) is one of the leading educational research organisations in Austria. The organisation designs projects in the field of knowledge, learning and work – most notably in vocational education and training (VET), higher education (HE) as well as adult education. - AIMPLAS, the Technological Institute of Plastics located in Valencia, is a private, non-profit Association with more than 500 associated companies. AIMPLAS has participated in more than 90 projects (FP5, FP6, FP7, LIFE+, EcoInnova. & H2020), among others, coordinating several of them. - AVIA brings together 102 companies related to the automotive sector. AVIA brings together the entire sector’s value chain. Currently, the joint turnover of the associated companies is more of 13.000million euro, which is 13% of regional GDP of the Valencia region. The set of companies in the cluster are employing more than -31.200 people directly. AVIA is in position of the Bronze Label, recognised by the Cluster EXCELENCE Expert Group. Within 27 months, M4P e-learning educational platform was created. The content of the online platform (www.mould4plast.eu) consists of 4 modules based on interviews with professionals in the field, but also directly by people from the workshop, so as to reflect the real needs at the workplace. The modules are focused on materials, injection moulds, workshop work and the injection moulding process. Individual lessons within the modules are completed with quizzes that verify the acquired knowledge. If the training is applied to a group led by a Mould4Plast expert, it is recommended in the form of joint workshops and complementary comprehensive training using examples that are the subject of a joint discussion. Those interested in education can combine online education, classroom training and on-the-job training. Project outputs - Professional profile map of the worker for the form production for plastic injection and Development of traingl methodology, contents and tools, were presented to the general public, experts, but also to teachers and students of secondary vocational schools interested in plastics and plastic injection moulds, through multiplication events organized by industrial partners from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Spain. The mentioned outputs of the project met with a very positive response from the professional public from Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Educational projects funded by the Erasmus+ is a great asset to the project partners, because they combine and harmonize challenges in education across the EU using innovative methods that have clear benefits for a wide range of participants in training courses.