Material and manufacturing process selection

Prior to the Geest trolley enquiry BIP had been involved with the development of a SF platform for use in a conveyorized assembly work, Fig. 8.1. 

Polypropylene was the chosen polymer since it is one of the cheapest polymers, is chemically inert, provides adequate mechanical properties (stiffness and impact strength), will not absorb liquids, mouldings are easily cleaned and may be steam sterilized (hygienic), is easily processed, and will not rot or splinter. In addition, many SF products made up to that time (1975) were made from polypropylene so that some knowledge of the 

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P. P. Dargie, K. Parmeshwar, and W. R. D. Wilson, MAPS 1 Computer-aided design system for preliminary materials and manufacturing process selection, Trans. ASME,. Mech. Design, 104 126-136,1982. 

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