December 2011 Issue
November 2011
Features
Featured articles from the latest issue of Plastics Technology
Intrusion Molding: Does It Affect Part Properties?
In plastics molding, there is always a tradeoff between maximum part-size capacity and investment for a larger-capacity machine.
Read MoreRotomolded Multi-Layer Fuel Tank Earns EPA & CARB Certifications
A new three-layer fuel tank reportedly offers better impact strength than metal tanks and eliminates their potential for leaks at welds, seams, and fastening points.
Read MoreOn Site: Where Art, Science, And Customer Focus Meet
Business strategy at Danafilms involves a mix of art and science in blending resins, designing layer structures, and operating flexibility for both short and long runs.
Read MorePipe Maker Gains Flexibility with Ultrasonic Control System
The recent addition of an ultrasonic gauging and control system is credited by pipe extruder Charter Plastics Inc., Titusville, Pa., with increasing its production flexibility.
Read MoreFKuR and Braskem Sign 'Green' PE Compounding Agreement
Braskem, a major Brazilian producer of polymers and chemicals, has signed an agreement with German bioplastics compounder FKuR Kunststoff GmbH that will enable production of customized grades of Braskem’s BioPE.
Read MoreMore Hydraulic Presses Get Energy-Saving Servo Drives
Injection molders who want to save energy costs have a growing number of alternatives.
Read MoreInjection Molded, Long-Glass Thermoplastic Concrete Forms
WEB EXCLUSIVE: An unusual application for long-glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic is injection molded concrete forms measuring up to 3.7 x 2 ft.
Read MoreThe Importance of Melt & Mold Temperature
Molders should realize how significantly process conditions can influence the final properties of the part.
Read MoreProduction Aluminum Tooling: What's Holding You Back?
It might be time to pursue aluminum molds in applications where traditional P20 steel has been specified without giving serious thought to any alternative.
Read MoreCommodity Resin Prices End Year with 'Soft Landing'
Prices of PE, PP, PS, and PVC declined further last month.
Read More‘Lean’ Versus Quality Management: They Don’t Have to Conflict
A 'Lean Compliance' system allows an organization to focus its lean initiatives in a way that also improves its quality management system.
Read MoreLanxess to Produce First Bio-Based EPDM
WEB EXCLUSIVE: The world’s first partially bio-based EPDM rubber is expected to be produced by Lanxess AG of Germany (parent of Lanxess Corp., Pittsburgh) by the end of this year.
Read MoreHow Much L/D Do You Really Need?
Just like selecting the extruder size and drive combination, the L/D should be carefully evaluated.
Read MoreMicrocellular Instrument Panel Wins SPE Grand Award
The largest automotive component ever molded with the MuCell microcellular process—and also the first instrument panel ever molded with this process—won the Grand Award at the 2011 SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Competition last month.
Read MoreMobile Six-Axis Robotic System: Relocation Made Easy
Six-axis, jointed-arm robots are gaining popularity in molding for their extreme flexibility and ability to perform a number of operations within a single press cycle.
Read MoreDon’t Just Be a ‘Replacer’
To be a skilled troubleshooter is about understanding how your molds function, paying attention to the details, establishing a consistent troubleshooting method, and using historical data to guide your tooling replacement decisions
Read MoreFree Smartphone App Calculates IV for PET Blends
WEB EXCLUSIVE: PET Packaging specialist Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI) has launched a free app that calculates the intrinsic viscosity (IV) of blends of virgin and recycled PET.
Read MoreWhat Percentage of Barrel Capacity Should Your Shot Size Be?
The answer combines both experience and science, and it may be one of those molding details that gets overlooked but could be stealing a chunk of your profits.
Read MoreControl Machinery from Your Smartphone or Tablet
If you believe that new online gizmos and gadgets aren’t suited for manufacturing, think again.
Read MoreMicro-Layers Enter Blow Molding
Taking coextrusion blow molded bottles beyond six layers while maintaining conventional wall thicknesses is at the core of a new micro-layer approach developed by Dow.
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