October 2015 Issue

September 2015

What You Need to Know to Make World-Class Stretch Film

Advances in materials, feedblock/die technologies, and winding can help processors develop more sophisticated cast-stretch products.

Features

Featured articles from the October 2015 issue of Plastics Technology

processing tips 25 Sep 2015

INJECTION MOLDING: Why Pellet Size and Shape Are Important

Uniformity is needed to help ensure melt quality.

Commodity Resins 4 Sep 2015

Anchor Packaging Launches Alternative to Foam Clamshell

Anchor Packaging says its clamshell replacement is a truly affordable upgrade to foam.

Commodity Resins 25 Sep 2015

R&D Thermoformer: Tek Pak Is Launch Pad For New Products

Toolmaker and thermoformer takes concepts to production-ready parts in record time.

best practices 27 Sep 2015

Achieving Zero Waste: Two Processors Prove It’s Possible

Working with an Ohio-based recycler, two film and sheet processors go landfill-free.

sustainability 9 Sep 2015

Trex Enters Recycled LLDPE Compounds Market

This leading maker of wood-plastic decking has found a way to close the recycling loop.

Heating & Cooling 26 Aug 2015

Thermal Care Breaks Ground on New Building

Relocation to new facility is planned for March 2016.

Testing 4 Sep 2015

RTP Offers Tribology Data for Medical Device Material Selection

Until recently, there were no established industry tests that accurately predict friction behavior.

Recycled Materials 2 Oct 2015

RPET Prices Continue Downward Slide

Prices are down and will stay that way for the rest of the year.

Consumer Products 4 Sep 2015

Tough, Ultra-Low Weight TPU Used for Inner Tube of New Mountain Bikes

BASF's new TPU enables a 65% wall thickness reduction.

Consumer Products 4 Sep 2015

Unusual TPE Used in Swim Fin for Amputees

S&E's TPE compound is well-suited to the new Amp Fin swim fin.

monitoring 25 Sep 2015

New Sensor Tech Monitors State of the Melt During Molding

Detect ‘true’ melt temperature, viscosity variations, melt density, and much more, throughout the molding cycle.

Packaging 4 Sep 2015

Sekisui Starts Up New Hybrid Foam Molding Facility in Ohio

Plans for Sekisui's new foam molding facility include material production.

Extrusion 25 Sep 2015

EXTRUSION: Pellet Geometry Can Impact Output

A simple angle-of-repose experiment can help you determine how your pellets will feed.

Biopolymers 31 Aug 2015

Iowa State University Buys Wittmann Battenfeld Machine

The HM 90/350 injection molding machine will increase production capacity and prototyping capabilities at the university.

Drying 27 Sep 2015

‘Wearable’ Machine Sensors Extended to Power Factor & Retrofits

As is often the case with a new technology, customers are dictating how predictive-maintenance sensors will be applied and where they might be headed next.

Consumer Products 9 Sep 2015

Chinese TPE Compounder Reshores to Chicago Area

New TPE compounder in the Midwest launched by a Chinese-born, U.S. citizen who already had a successful compounding operation in his homeland.

Commodity Resins 25 Sep 2015

Major Resin Prices Soften

best practices 26 Sep 2015

TOOLING: Having Trouble with Lifters?

Lifters can cause tool maintenance, repair, and processing issues if not designed properly. Here we begin a series on how to avoid all this.

Single-Screw Compounding 25 Sep 2015

To Improve Feeder Performance, Start by Understanding Three Key Components

These are the screw trough, agitator, and the screw itself. It’s crucial to understand the different types and the advantages/disadvantages of each.

Additives 25 Sep 2015

Trexel Adds Chemical Foaming Agent to Its Product Line

Special additive offers economical microcellular foaming for low-volume jobs with PE, PP.

best practices 25 Sep 2015

Spec’ing a Robot? Match It To Your Press Size & Project

Where is your business today? What might tomorrow’s molding projects look like? These are among the questions you need to answer when deciding what style of robot is best for you.

sustainability 25 Sep 2015

New PLA Molder Anticipates Swift Growth

SelfEco developed two diverse PLA product lines in less than a year.

Film Extrusion 4 Sep 2015

New BOPP Just For IML Thermoforming

Said to deliver a look and feel comparable to injection-molded products.

processing tips 25 Sep 2015

MATERIALS: Impact Testing: The Problems With Single-Point Data

Knowledge of test conditions and graphical data showing the course of the impact event can help provide engineers and designers with the information they need to make informed choices about material toughness.