Around the Web

The Olsen Twins have their own blog, so why not Tinius Olsen? The Horhsam, Pa.-based supplier of materials testing equipment has launched  a creative new blog that will provide visitors with technical tips, procedural advice and an opportunity to start an on-line conversation on matters related to materials testing. The site offers a wealth of technical background on critical plastics tests, including melt index and various impact test methods, and will constantly be updated with new articles and tips based on the registrants questions and feedback. Harry Yohn, Tinius Olsen’s product applications specialist, will be the blog’s primary content provider.

Check out Hammertek’s new InMotion Presentation on the Plastics Technology website. In this webinar, the company illustrates how its Smart Elbow can solve common plastics conveying problems. In addition to a video, the supplier’s presentation includes transcripts that are divided into specific segments, in addition to drawings and dimensions of the Smart Elbow device, and case study examples of the product in action.

‘Hybrid’ redefined

My vote for one of the most intriguing innovations announced at last month’s K 2007 show in Dusseldorf goes to MetaFuse “nanometal/polymer hybrids.” This is a new use of the term “hybrid,” which up to now has meant selective overmolding of plastic onto sheet metal. The idea has been to combine the strength and stiffness of metals with the light weight and design freedom of plastics. The new development from DuPont Engineering Polymers and its partners takes this theme in a new direction—putting a thin shell of metal on molded plastic, instead of the other way around. A layer only 25 to 200 microns thick can double or quadruple stiffness, strength, and impact toughness of engineering plastics. Up to now, metalizing plastics has produced only decorative coatings with no structural value. Read more here.

Extrusion, Injection businesses climb

The Injection Molding Business Index climbed 4% last month compared to the corresponding period of 2006, while the Extrusion Business Index  increased by 3%. This according to data and forecasts prepared exclusively for Plastics Technology by Bill Wood of Mountaintop Economics. The injection index hit a cyclical bottom at the end of 2006, Wood reports. Now after several months of consolidation, he is projecting business to continue to increase for molders over fourth quarter of 2007 and throughout 2008. Molder serving the packaging market saw their business climb 2%, following a 1% dip the month before. Medical climbed by 6%.

Extrusion was buoyed by gains in film, sheet, wire and cable, windows/doors, and siding. The latter two are surprising given housing woes. Wood is projecting the extrusion market to increase 1% in 2007, and is expecting more robust gains next year.

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New Applications for Liquid Silicone Molders

Opportunities for injection molders of liquid silicone rubber (LSR) are broader than ever, thanks to newer processes for foaming, multiple colors or durometers in the same part, or thermoplastic/thermoset overmolding. Improvements in the materials, machinery, and tooling are adding versatility, improving quality, and helping to lower the barriers to entry. Today’s LSR molders have more material choices, a greater selection of tooling sources, and technology to mold micro-parts down to a ten-thousandth of a gram, as well as huge parts weighing up to 70 lb or more. Senior Editor Mikell Knights has all the details here.

Processor Strategies: Green and Growing

AERT (Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies) Inc. in Springdale, Ark., maker of ChoiceDek wood/plastic composite deck boards, has always had a “green” strategy. Since it was founded in 1988, its goal has been to turn recycled wood and polyethylene into the highest quality deck boards available anywhere. The company struggled for the first 12 years to get its unusual cold-flow extrusion process to make money. Now with recent moves toward greater efficiency, automation, and economy of scale, AERT is becoming a low-cost producer. Senior Editor Jan Schut explains how.

New Technology Spotlight :

New Starch-Based Bioplastics Arrive
Plan now for bio-processing conference
MDO offers higher stretch ratios
Hot runner for crate molders