University competition Competition for design Design and sustainability Sustainability in Italy

Students submitted a total of 38 designs. The winning project was selected by an interdisciplinary jury that included representatives from all supporting companies. ARBURG was represented on the decision-making committee by Ivan Panfiglio, Area Manager at ARBURG in Italy, by Christian Homp, Manager of Applications at ARBURG headquarters in Lossburg and by Jonas Bletscher, a member of Christian’s team.

The winning design is called “donut-ella” and was created by Caterina Gasparini, Matteo Bazzacco and Paolo Levorato from IUAV in Vicenza. It is a three-part cable winder shaped rather like a doughnut. This gadget prevents cable clutter and is compact, functional as well as easy to transport. This intriguing design is just intended to be useful in everyday life. It also aspires “to consciously evoke joy” – an example of how design and practicality can interact successfully in the plastics sector

After a welcome by representatives of IUAV University of Venice, Prof. Laura Badalucco and Prof. Luca Casarotto presented the project in detail. The subsequent award ceremony, at which a cheque for 2,000 Euros was presented to the winner, was conducted by German Consul General Susanne Welter from Milan. To conclude this event, experts from the industry and related trade associations – including representatives from the companies, Women in Plastic Italy and TMP – discussed the importance of encouraging talented young people, sustainable product design and the role of injection moulding in a modern circular economy. For the companies involved, “Pleiades” exemplifies how innovation, design culture and industrial manufacturing go hand in hand.

The winner of the competition will have the opportunity to have their design manufactured industrially and then presented at international trade fairs and events organised by ARBURG. The mould will be manufactured by Uniform and equipped with hot runner systems from Ewikon. The PA6 material used will be supplied by CGT and processed on a new electric ALLROUNDER 1000 e TREND with a clamping force of 1,000 kN. The project will be presented to an international audience for the first time at the ARBURG Technology Days from 11 to 13 March 2026 in Lossburg, at which this product will be manufactured live.