A Wiltshire inventor has created a prototype which could change the way plastic is used, repaired and recycled around the world, forever.

Keven Chappell, from Lyneham, has created a unique form of precision weld technology that fixes plastic bumpers and other parts that are easily damaged but expensive to repair.

Currently, cracked plastic car bumpers and under-bonnet parts typically are replaced rather than repaired – with a significant financial and environmental cost.

The inventor had his original idea in the late 80’s when, as a young engineer in the Royal Air Force, he needed to fix a panel on his motorbike.

He used his precision weld to fix the damage, and thought “nothing of it”.

Years followed as an engineer for companies such as Barclays and the Ministry of Defence.

It wasn’t until Mr Chappell began an Open University teaching course that he revisited his old invention and spoke to a garage owner who broke the news that his idea was one-of-a-kind.

Mr Chappell then started a company, Pinweld, based in Calne and has gone on to test his design on different car parts and plastics alongside scientists and engineers from the University of Bath, and the results are already catching attention across the globe.

He explained: “Back when I made the original machine, I would never have thought it would become what it is today. As technology has developed, I began to realise I could make something which would change the way we look at the life of a plastic item. Items like cracked plastic bumpers and panels could be repaired rather than simply thrown away and replaced.”

He added: “Pinweld was an accident, I didn’t mean to start a business, I just wanted to try get a supply of broken headlamps from garages to fix so I could pay for my college degree, but it turned out that I was sitting on something quite fantastic.”

The company has recently had news of a successful,application for an Innovate UK SMART Grant, an application backed by engineers and researchers at TWI in Cambridge.

A substantial element of the half a million pound grant will now be used to further test and develop the technology, including adding the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence.

Ashley Hutchinson, growth strategist for Pinweld, hopes that the technology could not only save other companies money, but also lead to job creation as the company grows.

Mr Hutchison added that Mr Chappel’s design could be “revolutionary” in tackling waste and reducing costs in car garages.

He said: “Not only is there huge potential in the amount of applications for this technology but the environmental benefits of this are endless.”

Mr Chappel added: “I really believed that this should happen. At times, when I was told this wasn’t possible, I did almost give up. But I wanted to get the technology out there somewhere, even if there was not going to be any profit, and prove I could do it”

For more information on Pinweld people should visit www.pinweld.com