December 2012 Issue
November 2012
Features
Featured articles from the latest issue of Plastics Technology
Best Methods of Molding Undercuts
Producing plastics parts with undercuts presents distinct challenges for molders.
Read MoreMeredian Starts Up World’s Largest PHA Biopolymer Plant
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Biopolymer manufacturer Meredian, Inc., Bainbridge, Ga., recently started up what is believed to the world’s largest production facility for PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate). At full production, the plant is capable of annual output of about 600 million lb.
Read MoreHow to Specify A Resin Dryer
To dry your polymer correctly you need a dryer that is properly designed and working properly. Here are my suggested specifications, for a two-, three- or four-bed desiccant dryer, the most common types used.
Read MoreVW Adopts PP Intake Manifolds in Two Car Engines
Glass-reinforced PP with proprietary heat-stabilization enhancement has emerged as a competitor for nylon in air-intake manifolds of two Volkswagen car engines: a three-cylinder gasoline engine in Brazil and Europe and a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine produced in China.
Read MorePolyOne to Buy Spartech
Major compounder PolyOne Corp.has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Spartech Corp.
Read MoreMolded Spool Specialist Sees Growth Opportunities in Extrusion
Spools, reels, and more spools…and now custom profile extrusion has been added to the mix.
Read MoreTake a Look at Vision Mold Protection
In today’s ultra-competitive manufacturing environment, a surprisingly often overlooked process improvement is mold protection.
Read More‘Tough Jobs’ Are More Than A Slogan for Innovative Former
Family-owned thermoformer known for tackling difficult challenges.
Read MoreCopolyester Used in Pneumatic Tube Carrier
WEB EXCLUSIVE: A new application of proprietary Tritan copolyester from Eastman Chemical Co., Kingsport, Tenn., has been developed by Baltimore-based Pevco, a manufacturer of hospital pneumatic-tube delivery systems used to transport patient-critical materials between labs, pharmacies, blood banks, operating rooms, and emergency rooms. The new Pevco TEC-6 pneumatic tube carrier was designed specifically to be made with Tritan, according to Pevco’s director of product development and marketing Steve Dahl.
Read MoreFlexible Package Takes Aim at Rigid Containers
Leading sheet processor Clear Lam Packaging, Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill., made three announcements during October’s Pack Expo International show in Chicago.
Read MoreMobile DeDuster Solves Pellet-Quality Problem
Pelletron system eliminated streamers were gone and cut the dust level down to a range of 30 to 50 ppm.
Read MoreSofter Resin Prices Expected
Softer prices can be expected for all four commodity thermoplastics as the year ends, a trend that may continue in the first quarter of 2013, for some resins, at least.
Read MoreInjection Press Converts to Injection-Blow
A simple way for injection molders to get into blow molding of small containers for food, beverage, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications has been introduced through a collaboration of Engel Austria, the injection machine supplier (U.S. office in York, Pa.,) and Italian injection moldmaker Cantoni S.r.l.
Read MoreNews in Materials & Machinery at SPE Blow Molding Conference
New barrier materials for small fuel tanks, tooling developments for large, flat, and odd-shaped industrial parts, new all-electric machines for large containers, and gravimetric extrusion control for bottles are some of the topics discussed at the recent SPE Blow Molding Div. annual conference in Pittsburgh.
Read MoreEnhanced Gas-Assist Molding Shortens Cycles, Cuts Downtime
A pair of new technologies, one proven at several molders in Europe and a second just now ready for commercialization, is said to improve on current gas-assist injection molding techniques with up to 30% faster cycles and up to 90% reduced downtime for maintenance of molds and gas injectors.
Read MoreExtrusion Process Produces Lens Array
Process promises opportunities for extruders to make lens arrays for smartphone and other electronic displays, solar concentrators, optical diffusers, security products, etc.
Read MoreWeyerhaeuser & Ford Develop Cellulose-Fiber TP Composites for Automotive
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Forestry products producer Weyerhaeuser in Federal Way, Wash., has introduced a proprietary, patent-pending thermoplastic composite with cellulose-fiber reinforcement derived from wood.
Read MoreModified MDO Gives Higher Film Yields
Hosokawa Alpine American, Natick, Mass., is offering new machine-direction orientation (MDO) technology that is said to dramatically reduce the amount of film to be edge-trimmed compared with other MDO designs.
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