Around the Web...

A recently introduced thermoforming machine guarding e-tool is the latest product of SPI's strategic alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Covering guidelines and safety measures for plastics machinery, the e-tool resources offer interactive, Web-based training on occupational safety and health topics. The alliance also offers an e-tool on horizontal injection molding machines.

Purging Pointer of the Month...

Here's the next in a series of Purging Pointers from Novachem, a leading manufacturer of purging compounds... If you are losing productivity at start-up on Monday morning because of black specks, this is not the time to bring out the purging compound. The time to purge is at shutdown! It’s always a better approach to avoid the formation of carbon rather than attempt to address it after it’s formed.

Resin Buying Pointer of the Month…

Resin prices continue to climb even though demand is weak. What’s a processor to do? Responds resin-buying experts Resin Technology Inc: ask your suppliers to give you insight on feedstocks and how they affect your price. Educate yourself on the drivers for resin: Information Empowers.

MME ‘08 Expands Technical Conference Schedule; Early-Reg Discount Ends 3/22

MoldMaking Expo 2008 has expanded this year’s technical conference to include an additional half-day of presentations and demonstrations. Click here (www.moldmakingexpo.com/conf/) for more information on the MoldMaking Expo 2008 Conference. Early registration ends March 22. Register (www.moldmakingexpo.com/attend/register.html) today and receive a discounted conference registration or free exhibit hall pass.

The Injection Molding Business Index dropped 7% last month compared with a year ago following an 11% drop the month before. According to Bill Wood of Mountaintop Economics, who prepares this report exclusively for Plastics Technology, the short-term outlook for molders is not particulary positive, as he expects the U.S. economy in general to experience below-average growth over the next few months. Longer term, Wood still expects manufacturing to revive in the second half of the year, and is predicting molders will see their business increase by 4% when 2008 is said and done. Molders serving the packaging, and medical markets are expected to fare best.

The Extrusion  Business Index, meatime, also experienced a decline last month, this one to the tune of 4%, following a 6% drop the month prior. But buoyed by a strong second half, Wood believes business for extrusion processors will finish the year up 4% from ’07. Film, sheet, siding and coating will grow all by 4%, he believes.

Something’s in the air…or water

I doubt I’m the only one to have noticed that there’s been quite an eruption of anti-plastics headlines in the news lately. Whenever I turn on the television or open a newspaper, if someone’s not banning plastic shopping bags, they’re sounding dire warnings of lead in toys, phthalates in baby bibs, bisphenol-A in baby bottles, PFOA in frying pans, and vinyl in anything. What can, or should, we in the plastics industry do about this trend? The answer is probably not to put our heads down and hope the storm will pass. As any politician will tell you, a negative story unanswered is a smear believed by the public. Answer fear-mongering with facts. Here are some helpful resources.

March Cover Story

It’s a CAD Evolution for 3D Mold Design

New and enhanced software modules are taking the grunt work out of tool design by automating or adding flexibility to a range of common tasks. Senior Editor Mikell Knights has all the specifics in this comprehensive report.

New Technology Spotlight:

• Novel coatings for aluminum molds
• Screw boosts film output
• Electric press for LSR
• Direct gating for hot runner
  

Mark your calendar...

Novi MI - Rock Financial Showplace
April 23 -24 2008
www.moldmakingexpo.com