Partners in plastic

In the first of three business ventures in plastics, InnovationRCA worked with NHS Ventures for Health to develop the Poppa™, a simple medical device designed by RCA graduate Hugo Glover (Design Products 2002) to help older people with limited dexterity remove pills from blister packs. The Poppa™, one of the RCA's current Selected Works, is being made and distributed by licensee Moss Plastics Products, and endorsed by Help The Aged which will carry the product in its catalogue and 375 shops worldwide.

In the second deal, UK-based Watermark Group, one of the world's largest travel sector suppliers, acquired the exclusive rights from InnovationRCA to sell the b³ set of disposable plastic cutlery designed by RCA graduate Marta Lago-Arenas (Industrial Design Engineering 2004). The cutlery is patent pending, design registered worldwide and manufactured by Moss Plastics Products. It was exhibited on the Watermark stand at the International Flight Catering Association Trade Show, Copenhagen, 9-11 March 2005, where it attracted serious interest from six airlines.

In the third deal, the S-Clasp - an ergonomic new fastening for rucksacks designed by RCA Industrial Design Engineering graduate Andy Southern that uses two identical parts, to reduce manufacturing costs - was licensed on an exclusive basis to Moss Plastics Products.