This educational facility, designed to be close to industrial realities, addresses practical questions such as identifying, sorting, and valorizing plastic waste, as well as transforming it into new objects. It brings together several devices enabling students to discover and handle technologies similar to those used in companies, through a hands-on training approach.
The inauguration was attended by Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier, Vincent Bouget, president of Nîmes Métropole and Mayor of Nîmes, Julie Delalonde, regional councilor of the Occitanie Region, and Moulay Saïd El Youssoufi, director of the IUT of Nîmes.
The demonstrator relies on a chain of equipment dedicated to plastic recycling. A first device identifies seven types of plastics using a sensor on an automated conveyor, while a second machine transforms recycled material into objects like reusable cups through injection and molding. It also includes equipment simulating the operation of climate control units, for familiarization with climate engineering.
Beyond industrial technologies, the TEDS demonstrator puts into practice the principles of ecological transition and sustainable development. Sorting, recycling, and transforming plastics provide a concrete basis for understanding resource management and material valorization, thus aligning education with technological advancements and environmental challenges.
This project, supported by Nîmes Métropole, the Occitanie Region, and the University of Montpellier, reflects the commitment of the IUT's teachers and students. It is part of the University of Montpellier's calls for projects aimed at evolving pedagogical practices.
Intended for students, partners, and businesses, the TEDS – Industry of the Future demonstrator aims to become a hub for discovery and exchange around industrial technologies, strengthening training programs and links with the socio-economic world to prepare students for industrial transformations.
