In Mold Assembly It’s the new frontier for multi-shot molding. You’ve heard of in-mold labeling, decorating and painting, but make way for in-mold assembly. The drive to eliminate secondary operations is pushing multi-shot molding a step further—toward assembling separate components right in the tool via snap-fits, welding and co-molding of incompatible materials. Read what Senior Editor Mikell Knights discovered in researching this month’s cover story in Plastics Technology. While currently a niche technology market in North America, multi-component molding has explosive growth potential.
What Price Blow Molding?
Be on the lookout for a survey we will be sending out to get our arms around what blow molders are charging for machine time. The survey will distinguish between continuous-extrusion wheel and shuttle machines, injection-blow presses, reciprocating-screw extrusion machines, and accumulator-head types. You will also be asked to report your rates for specific machine sizes and to specify whether or not your rate includes an operator and/or profit margin. We think this can yield a treasure trove of information on where you stand relative to other molders in your geographic area or elsewhere in the U.S. The value of the results depends on your cooperation to help us get a large number of responses. With more responses, we can provide you with even more detailed data than we reported on last year’s survey. We’re doing this because you asked for it. You can’t get this kind of data anywhere else. And we can only provide it if you take five minutes to respond. We have been doing this kind of reporting in injection molding for years.
Solving Stuck Sprues (and Parts) Material sticking in the mold can be a production killer. There are a lot of causes and solutions. Here are some tips to keep things moving. Having some other type of molding problem? Have a look at these articles from Plastics Technology’s vast on-line library: How to Address Cooling System Woes Eliminate Dust, Fines & Longs For Better Regrind Quality Try These Steps to Fix Injection Molding Problems Solve Ultrasonic Horn Problems With Finite-Element Analysis How to Give Your Parts A Blemish-Free Complexion Easy Cures for Common Complaints About Hot-Oil Units
What types of processing problems do you confront regularly? How have you solved them? Let us know via e-mail. If we follow up on your idea you get a free Plastics Technology t-shirt. |
March 2007
CONTACT US: PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY 6915 VALLEY AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45244 P: 646.827.4848 F: 513.527.8801
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