REQUEST AIM4274
Tubing That Is Bendable At Room Temperature
MANAGER: Nick Kacsandi
RESPONSE DUE DATE: 22 August 2014
SOLUTION PROVIDER HELP DESK
EMAIL: [email protected]
Opportunity
Licensing, product acquisition, joint development, proof of
concept leading to commercial scale-up.
PHONE: +1-216-283-3901
Timeline
Phase 1 – Proof of concept (6 months)
Phase 2 – Commercial scale-up (12 months)
Financials
Phase 1 – Proof of concept funding up to $25,000 (as needed)
Phase 2 – Partnership opportunities are negotiable according to
the proposed scope of work
LINK: Proposal Template Download
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION
NineSigma, representing a Global Manufacturer
of Engineered Products, invites proposals for
technologies that will enable engineered hollow
plastic parts to bend at room temperature
conditions (20oC). Both material-based and
process-based solutions are of interest.
hollow through portion for introduction of
additional components. Mass production
techniques favor forming or bending to achieve
the large variations in finished part sizes and
geometries. Although metals are rapidly and
easily manipulated, they are poor insulators
owing to high thermal conductivity.
The successful technology will:
 Bend without the need for external heating
or pre-conditioning of the material
 Be compatible with existing forming
equipment
 Be compatible with – or adaptable to – the
following specifications:
○ Low coefficient of thermal expansion
○ Thermal conductivity comparable to
non-metallic materials
○ Maintain rigidity up to 80oC
○ Cross-sectional area: >2.5cm2
Plastics offer a viable alternative due to relatively
low thermal conductivity compared to metals.
However, they are also more prone to distortion
and defects during forming processes. This
deficiency is overcome by cutting and welding at
joints or by heating the plastic before processing
to allow easy deformation. However, such
practices reduce the overall integrity of the
finished piece, as well as negatively impact the
cost and productivity of the manufacturing
process.
BACKGROUND
A variety of engineered materials (metals,
plastics and polymers) are used in structural and
functional applications where the thermal
insulating property of the parts is also important.
These materials are frequently formed into
honeycombed or foamed structures to reduce
thermal conductivity. The final parts include a
The client seeks partners to supply or develop
technologies for room temperature bendable
plastic or composite parts that will maintain their
overall structure at service conditions up to 80oC.
Annual manufacturing volumes ranging from 10
to >100 million meters of tubing are anticipated.
Offices: Cleveland - USA, Tokyo - Japan, Leuven – Belgium, Melbourne – Australia, Seoul – South Korea
RFP format and graphics© Copyright 2013 NineSigma, Inc
NineSigma Request # AIM4274
Tubing That Is Bendable At Room Temperature
POSSIBLE APPROACHES
Possible approaches might include, but are not
limited to:
 Plastics engineering solutions
 Materials science solutions (composites,
infused plastics, etc.)
 Process technologies:
○ Co-extrusion
○ Flow induced complex multi-layer
extrusion
 Computer simulation design solutions
Composites of plastics with minimal metal
content may be considered if overall part
geometries can meet requirements for low
thermal conductivity
APPROACHES NOT OF INTEREST
The following approaches are not of interest:
 Materials with high thermal conductivity
 Materials that cannot be mechanically
bent/formed without breakage
ANTICIPATED PROJECT PHASES OR PROJECT PLAN
Phase 1 – Proof of concept.
Develop concepts and prototype(s) and assess
commercialization paths
Phase 2 – Commercial scale-up
CRITERIA FOR MOVING FROM PHASE 1 TO PHASE 2
Proof of concept established, including:
 Material specifications
 Validation of prototype performance
 Compatibility with existing equipment
 Commercial feasibility
APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO THIS REQUEST
The proposal template provides both an easy
means of responding to this request and a
framework for best presenting your response to
NineSigma’s client.
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Page 2
Examples of success in related
applications
Preferred business relationship
IP status and freedom to operate
APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO THIS REQUEST
Responses from companies (small to large),
research organizations, consultants, venture
capitalists, entrepreneurs, or inventors are
welcome.
You represent a company who supplies
engineered plastics products with a product that
should provide a solution.
You represent an organization with a materials
science solution that meets the specified
requirements and which should provide a
solution.
You represent a company or institute that
specializes in extrusion or plastic-forming
technologies and processes.
You represent a company or institute with
modeling or analytical software that has
applications for optimizing the combination of
material and design and forming process.
SUBMITTING A RESPONSE
All proposals should be submitted online at
NineSights, the NineSigma open innovation
community, according to the instructions in the
Proposal Template. Supplemental files may be
submitted in addition to the proposal document.
For assistance, please contact the Solution
Provider Help Desk ([email protected]).
REQUEST GUIDELINES
Non-Confidential Disclosure
By submitting a response, you represent that the
response does not and will not be deemed to contain any
confidential information of any kind whatsoever.
Some items that will be especially important to
address in your response – if applicable – are:
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Maturity of the proposed solution
Compatibility with given specifications
Cost information (if available)
Manufacturing capabilities (if any)
Team experience
NineSigma, Inc.
NineSights.com
NineSigma Request # AIM4274
Tubing That Is Bendable At Room Temperature
Page 3
Response Evaluation
NineSigma’s client will evaluate the response using the
following criteria:
 Overall scientific and technical merit of the
proposed approach
 Approach to proof of concept or performance
 Potential for proprietary position (i.e., is the
technology novel or protectable)
 Economic potential of concept
 Respondent’s capabilities and related experience
 Realism of the proposed plan and cost estimates
Response Selection
By submitting a response, you acknowledge that
NineSigma’s client reserves the sole and absolute right
and discretion to select for award all, some, or none of
the responses received for this announcement.
NineSigma’s client also may choose to select only
specific tasks within a proposal for award. NineSigma's
client has the sole and absolute discretion to determine
all award amounts. NineSigma will contact respondents
with highly responsive proposals for next steps, or the
client may contact respondents directly.
NineSigma, Inc.
NineSights.com