MIRROR, MIRROR
Fully-functional Lego model, including
pneumatic actuators, divertor valves
and hand pump.
Cutting-edge
PERFORMANCE
Mechanical engineer and University of Malta graduate David Sciberras undertook to design an
automated packaging system for a leading range of glass mirrors, while potentially improving the
quality of cut without compromising current benchmarks. The resulting solution has won the most
innovative student project award, supported by the IED
Toly Group is a privately-owned
company and part of the
cosmetic industry, an everexpanding
market that is
projected to grow to $625 billion by 2020
at a rate of 6.4%. Toly produces a vast
range of high-quality packaging solutions
for the international market, including the
compact mirror.
This particular offering comes in a
small plastic case that contains a mirror
and a beauty product of the customer’s
choice. The mirror itself is usually the
same size and shape as the compact.
Of the six million mirrors cut by Toly
annually, the circular profi le makes up
80% of production. The current system
in place employs a manual separation
method, where a scribing machine
cuts a large mirror sheet, and
these are further separated by
one or two workers by hand.
The scribing machine itself is
capable of 3,000 to 15,000
mirrors per eight-hour shift.
Enter into this scenario David
Sciberras, pictured, who graduated
from the University of Malta in 2016 as
a mechanical engineer with a focus on
industrial and manufacturing engineering.
He was formerly employed as an
innovation engineer with Toly Malta and
is currently running his own business,
Invent 3D, which is closely aligned with
additive manufacturing (3D printing). He
is also reading for a MSc in Integrated
Product Development
within the university’s
Engineering Faculty.
Sciberras undertook
a complex engineering
design project as part
of his undergraduate
degree, the aim of which
was to design an automated
technical system for Toly, while
potentially improving the quality of
cut without compromising the current
benchmarks. The project described in this
article was carried out in collaboration
between the Department of Industrial
and Manufacturing Engineering at the
University of Malta and Toly Malta. The
project won the most innovative student
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