Belfast Forum and Manufacturing Tour

The Grand Central Hotel Belfast

Join us for the Executive Forum staying at The Grand Central Hotel Belfast! Rising above the city skyline, the five-star Grand Central Hotel blends contemporary luxury with Belfast’s rich history. Located in the heart of the city’s Linen Quarter, the hotel offers exceptional service, stylish accommodations, a gourmet bistro, and a 23rd-floor cocktail bar with panoramic city views. Perfectly positioned near the Titanic Quarter, Cathedral Quarter, shopping, dining, theatres, and major transport links, the Grand Central is an ideal base for exploring Belfast.

Hotel Accommodations - Reservation Instructions

Instructions to secure a hotel reservation will be included in your registration confirmation e-mail. This is the only way to book a hotel room for the event. Hotel room options are offered by the number of nights of your stay and the room type you will need. See table below for room type descriptions. 

Hotel rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend reserving your accommodations as soon as possible to ensure availability. The hotel cutoff date is May 19, 2026.

If you have any questions or experience issues while reserving your room, please reach out using our contact form here and we’ll be happy to assist.

More topics and presentation times will be announced. 

Presentations and schedule subject to change. 

BLOWMOLDING VS ROTOMOLDING — Comparison (Matt Bushman)

A process decision matrix is presented to help determine the appropriate method to produce hollow plastic parts. Plus a bonus look at a HI-BRED set up which incorporates aspects of blow molding into rotational molding.

Reducing Product Development Lead Times Using Parametric Design (Joe Butterfield-QUB)

Computer aided design (CAD) methods are relatively well established for product development in rotational moulding.  This includes geometric modelling for product design articulation, structural analysis and data transfer for mould manufacture.  This work presents means by which geometric modelling times for product families can be significantly reduced by using parametric modelling to generate multiple product sizes based on a single modelling framework.  The work focuses on tank design and the approach begins with the development of a preliminary single product size where feature development and dimensional allocations are mapped / recorded as parameters across a single tank capacity.  These parameters can then be amended to automatically generate a range of capacities were modelling times are reduced from hours / days to minutes / seconds.  Each design is then validated against structural requirements using finite element analysis.  The parametric approach demonstrates how CAD functionality can introduce design efficiencies for product families thereby reducing time to market.    

Sustainable Rotomoulding (Ronny Ervik)

The presentation will explore how sustainability is reshaping rotomoulding in Europe. It will cover key European regulations, the use of recycled polyethylene suitable for rotomoulding, and practical insights into circular design. Learn why integrating circular principles is becoming essential for all rotomoulders to stay compliant, competitive, and future-ready.

The Economics of Dry Color/Compounding (Dr. Nick Henwood)

One apparent difference between market practice is the wide use of dry color in North America versus Europe’s preference for compounded color. This session provides a brief overview of the pro’s and con’s of the competing systems, plus a historical retrospective.

Digitisation of the Rotational Moulding Process (Mark Kearns-QUB)

In this presentation, we explore the digitisation of the rotational moulding process, highlighting how advanced sensor integration and data analytics can transform traditional manufacturing workflows. Our approach demonstrates the potential for significant process improvements, including enhanced quality control and reduced production times. This work underscores the potential for Industry 4.0 technologies to revolutionise rotational moulding, fostering smarter, more efficient, and more competitive manufacturing practices. Moving forward, further research will focus on scaling these digital solutions and integrating predictive analytics to maximise industry impact.

How Queen's Became Rotomolding's Research Home (Mark Kearns, Paul Nugent, & Alvin Spence)

In this panel, three people with deep ties to Queen's University and the rotomolding industry — Mark Kearns, Paul Nugent, and Alvin Spence — trace the arc of innovation through the university's different eras, from Roy Crawford's early work through today's Advanced Manufacturing Institute. They'll discuss which technologies crossed over into commercial practice and why and which promising developments never gained traction.

Why is it so difficult to control your cooling? (Dr. Gareth McDowell- 493K & Dr. Nick Henwood- ARM Technical Director)

Of the separate stages involved in the rotomolding process, cooling continues to be the process step where the rotomolder can exert the least control.  The result of this lack of control can be an inability to maintain part quality, especially in relation to dimensional tolerances and shape retention. In addition, variations in cooling time will affect overall cycle time and will make process optimization difficult. This seminar will examine the reasons behind the lack of cooling control and will explain the major mechanisms at work within the process.  This will lead to the formulation of practical action plans, to improve the reliability and consistency of cooling. In response to the acknowledged difficulties with cooling control in conventional systems, some alternative approaches will be proposed and discussed. During the Seminar, various cooling techniques will be demonstrated, in real time, using bench-top rotomolding machines.

Pick Up a Broom: Why Small Acts Drive Big Results in Manufacturing Teams (Dr. Paula Orcutt)

What if improving team performance didn’t start with a new system—but with your leadership showing up in the smallest moments?This talk offers a fresh lens on building high-performance teams in rotational molding by highlighting a surprising truth: culture is shaped less by company policy and more by what leaders model every day—especially when no one is watching. Using a powerful story involving a broom, a manufacturing floor, and one unnoticed act of service, this session illustrates how small, consistent behaviors from leaders—like picking up trash—can shift team culture, increase morale, and close the costly communication gaps between departments. These micro-moments are often overlooked, yet they are what differentiate facilities that run efficiently from those stuck in friction and turnover. Drawing on real-world experience as an owner and VP of a manufacturing company, I will introduce a communication-driven leadership model rooted in psychological safety, trust, and human clarity. I will break down how simple actions from supervisors, plant managers, and senior leaders directly impact output, accountability, and team loyalty.

Stability in the Process - A look at Uninterruptible Power Supplies (Przemysław Orlik- OREX ROTOMOULDING)

Our company noticed that many clients have trouble with fluctuations of power in the electrical grid system. Growing usage of solar panels and wind turbines creates many disturbances in the grid mainly in less developed areas
so we came forward with the two stage solution.

First stage is maintaining the control voltage in case of power loss. This greatly reduces time needed to resume normal functioning of the machine after a brief power outage or voltage surge. This solution is also very attractive in terms of cost effectiveness, the implementation is quick and relatively cheap.

Second stage is a complex solution involving using a UPS in online architecture. The state of the main power supply is monitored at all times and when the outage occurs the device takes the task of maintaining the power. This solution supplies not only control voltage but also the main power needed to proper functionality of motors and servos on the machine.

UPS is also responsible for maintaining the constant quality of power supply, meaning that is can benefit customers who are troubled with poor electrical infrastructure.

Digital Twins, Simulation, and Data-Driven Rotomolding (Johan Potargent- AMS Robotics)

From product design through manufacturing, this presentation covers an optimized production cycle using a digital twin approach. It connects software from initial product design, while respecting the constraints of rotational molding, through simulation and programming of machine movements and heating/cooling settings. The session also looks ahead to AI-driven models, including machine data collection to optimize quality and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). By comparing manufacturing data in real time, machines can predict whether parts will meet specifications and enable predictive service interventions on molds and equipment, resulting in higher output and improved OEE.

Considering Process in your Rotomolded Design (Tony Short- Myers Industries)

Whether a captive or custom molder, we all work with product design. Often times the initial designs we interact with require some form of revision because the designer or engineer is not familiar with the principles of rotationally molded process. The goal of this presentation would be to look at one or two examples of products that went through different iterations of design after consultation and consideration of the rotational molding process. What materials were considered? What design features had to be modified? Was the molder being too cautious and could they push the limits of process to help with the design? Time to market is a huge advantage and time lost in the design phase can be avoided if you can get the design as close to correct from the beginning. Understanding the molding process will help you achieve this.

Full automation systems for electrical and conventional rotational molding (Oliver Wandres-Maus GmbH)

In this presentation I would like to showcase latest achievements and examples both for electrical and conventional roto molds. From dispensing resin in molds, via closing/opening systems of molds, handling of retractable items, towards release and ejection of molded products. Starting from scratch (new molds) or upgrading of existing molds, from semi-automation towards complete automation. 

Why do I get this Fuzzy appearance on my parts and how do I prevent it? (Larry Whittemore-Stoner, Inc.) 

"Ghosting or Whitening, whatever you call it, this fuzzy appearance takes more time and it causes extra work to clean-up. This can be prevented by curing the Mold Release before introducing the powder into the mold. By curing the Mold release you will get more pulls per application, save more time (get more parts out of the door), use less Mold Release, and reduce your costs. During this presentation we will discuss what steps should be taken to prevent or at least minimize this from occurring and how you can save time and money.

We will also discuss Mold Release options for different polymers, mold Release options for different part shapes, as well as safer Mold Cleaners, Flow Promoters, and Parting Line protection."

Persico 1976-2026: 50 years of innovation (Sergio Zilioli-Persico)

2026 is the 50° anniversary of Persico (as ARM!). With this presentation, we will provide an overview of the company milestones starting from the first activity related to hand-made patterns up to the latest innovation into specific markets (fully automatic rotomolding machines, aerospace, automotive, medical and marine).