Around the Web...

A new site from Bayer MaterialsScience offers processors and designers electronic access to the supplier’s Color Competence Centers (CCC) in Filago, Italy; Newark, Ohio; and Map Ta Phut, Thailand. The experts at the CCCs support customers in a number of ways, including helping them make the correct choice and use of the various color technologies available. Also offered is collaborative project work for customer-specific development of colors and effects.  The "Color Search" function enables customers to find the color for a new product on the basis of numerous parameters. Colors can be selected either on the basis of Bayer MaterialScience color codes, a color graphic resembling an iris or other familiar color tables, such as RAL or Pantone. Additional parameters, such as opacity, can be added to refine the search.

Resin dryer supplier Dri-Air has recently launched a redesign of its site, which now includes a handy technical tips section. Among the subjects discussed on this page are proper dryer sizing, and whether material should be dried before or after blending.

Purging Pointer of the Month...

Here's the next in a series of purging pointers offered exclusively to subscribers of this e-newsletter by Novachem, a leading manufacturer of purging compounds: In extrusion systems, downstream plumbing and auxiliary components often provide places for material to hang up, acquire excess heat history and degrade. Mechanical screen changers, filters, melt pumps, static mixers, flow dividers and connector pipes are all potential problem areas. Ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned; if using a chemical purging product, consider raising the temperature of these components.

Resin Buying Pointer of the Month…

How many suppliers are enough? Resin-buying experts RTI  responds this way: "Talk to many, buy from a few. In order to get a better feel for how your suppliers value your business you need to know:  what actions are they taking with your competitors?  What they are doing in changing market conditions?  The only incorrect answer to the above question is one!  Be armed with as much information as possible to level the playing field.” RTI supplies these pointers on an exclusive basis to subscribers of this e-newsletter.

Special Offer for Plastics Technology e-Newsletter Subscribers
MoldMaking Expo 2008 is just two weeks away. As the show’s co-presenter, Plastics Technology is pleased to offer subscribers of this newsletter a complimentary exhibit hall pass or 10% registration discount. Register today using the discount code “VIP” to receive your discount.

Injection, Extrusion Business Still Sluggish

The Injection Molding Business Index declined 3% last month compared to the same period a year ago, on the heels of a 7% decline the month prior. Compared to the first quarter of 2007, the index dropped by 5% over the first three months in 2008. Economist Bill Wood, who prepares these indexes for Plastics Technology, blames the performance on a downturn in the manufacturing sector. But he still contends manufacturing will rebound in the second half, and the end result for molders will be a 3% increase in business from 2007.

The Extrusion Business Index also slipped 3% last month. Wood believes business will start to pick up for extrusion processors in the second half of the year.  Film, which is the largest sector in extrusion, is forecast to expand by 3% in 2008. Total output of all extruded products is predicted by Wood to increase by 3% in 2008, after declining 1% in 2007.

Making History In Aachen

Every other year, graduate students at the IKV present the results of their research at a two-day International Colloquium. I was fortunate enough to attend this year and to hear many of the 50 presentations (in German with simultaneous translation) and to learn about additional work during the laboratory open house.  The biggest emphasis was on new processing methods. For example, using ultrasonic vibration to plasticate melt for micromolding. Or real-time control of injection mold filling from start to finish with cavity-pressure sensors. Or injection molding automotive ducts with hard and soft sections and hollowed out with water injection. Other projects seek to improve blown film cooling with humid air, control parison thickness in blow molding in real time, and raise electrical conductivity of plastics by blending them with low-melding metal alloys. We will be reporting on these and other developments in upcoming issues. Some of the work was discussed at last year’s SPE ANTEC, and more will appear at this year’s ANTEC.

April Cover Story

Real Life Weather Testing

Broader use of plastics in building products and a growing desire to minimize painting of automotive parts is increasing the need for reliable predictions of light stability and weathering performance. Senior Editor Lilli Sherman has the details in this report.

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New Technology Spotlight:

• New source for plant-wide monitoring
• Remote controlled vacuum cooling tank
• New press for multi-material molding
• Spiral film die has 11 layers
• Hot-runner controller monitors voltage
• Modified PP for lightweight packaging
• Cold runner system targets LSRs