January 2008 Issue
January 2008
Features
Featured articles from the latest issue of Plastics Technology
Your Business Pricing Update - January 2008
Last year saw significant increases in prices of commodity thermoplastics, driven by unprecedented energy and feedstock costs.
Read MoreHigh-Heat Options for Conair TrueBlend™ Blenders Allow Processing of Pre-Dried Materials
Processors running engineering plastics like ABS, nylon, polycarbonate and PET, can now blend these resins after they are dried, thanks to new high-temperature models available for TrueBlend 100, 250, 500 and 900 Series blenders, which offer throughputs as high as 3500 lbs/hr.
Read More'Lights Out' Molder's Watchdog
The job of a mold temperature-control unit (TCU) usually is to ensure continuous flow of cooling water to the mold at adequate temperature and volume.
Read MoreK 2007 Compounding: New Approaches to Mixing, Pelletizing
In addition to the news reported in our September K Show preview (see Learn More), previously unrevealed developments in Dusseldorf include several ingenious devices designed to save energy, reduce wear, and safeguard compounded material properties.
Read MoreK 2007 Injection Molding: Lots of New Machine Choices For Exotic to Everyday Molding
If you were looking for a new machine to mold micro- or mega-sized parts, multiple materials, long fibers, high-speed/high-cavitation packaging, exotic multi-material combinations with compounding on the machine, or just a cost-effective press for general-purpose use—K 2007 had it all.
Read MoreMaterial and Process Developments Highlight SPE Automotive Awards
Custom backlighting with color-converting plastics and robotic extrusion of door seals won two categories of the 37th Innovation Awards presented in November by the SPE Automotive Div.
Read MoreStop Profile Warpage
Processors today want to run faster, minimize scrap, and do short production runs that may only last a few hours.
Read MoreHere's Another Way to Save Up To 70 percent in Barrel Heating/Cooling
Four months ago, we reported on a new induction barrel-heating system that promises to save up to 70% in energy costs (see Learn More). Here’s an update on another novel barrel heating—and cooling—system that boasts similarly large savings and has been out in the field long enough to build a track record.
Read MoreK 2007 Thermoforming: Packaging Lines Grow Bigger and Faster
There was plenty of news in thermoforming at K 2007 as suppliers rolled out continuous roll-fed packaging systems with greater output, enhanced cooling, reduced air consumption, and more automation.
Read MoreYour Business Outlook - January 2008
After expanding by close to 4% in 2007, output of injection molded packaging will expand by at least another 4% to 5% in 2008.
Read MoreYour Business In Brief - January 2008
CT Scans See Inside Plastic PartsCarl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, Maple Grove, Minn., is introducing a service for plastics and composites that can detect and quantify voids, delamination, incomplete filling, and other defects through industrial computed tomography, or CT scanning.
Read MoreK 2007 Blow Molding: Electric Machines Take Hold
Development of all-electric and hybrid-electric blow molding machines may be gaining momentum, as evidenced by several new models introduced in Dusseldorf.
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