processing tips

Medical Tubing: Use Simulation to Troubleshoot, Optimize Processing & Dies

Extrusion simulations can be useful in anticipating issues and running “what-if” scenarios to size extruders and design dies for extrusion projects. It should be used at early stages of any project to avoid trial and error and remaking tooling.  

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Your Business

top shops

Annual Benchmarking Survey of Injection Molders Released

Plastics Technology Top Shops Benchmarking Survey provided both unanimous responses and divided results, but pervasive throughout is the sense of an industry still grappling with the aftermath of 2020’s global pandemic.

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editorial

COVID-19’s Long Shadow

More than four years on, there are aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic that linger in their impacts to the plastics market and are made visible in our annual survey.

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resin pricing

Prices Flat-to-Down for All Volume Resins

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

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Processing Plant Tour

Automation

Injection Molder Amplifies Automation for Optimized Production

AIM Processing has parlayed small part molding expertise and aggressive automation, even for short run production, into a highly successful custom molding business.

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Recycling

Sirmax Adapts Integrated Recycling Approach to US Supply Conditions

Integrating compounding and recycling to leverage untapped postindustrial recycling feedstocks.

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Recycling

Building a Future With Sustainable Compounds

With roots in recycling, Star Plastics produces engineering thermoplastic compounds to meet performance and environmental goals.

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Technology in Depth

SPONSORED

Precision Processing Requires Precision Equipment

Moretto offers plastics processors and micromolders for a broad suite of auxiliary solutions targeted specifically for precision processing.

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Biopolymers

NPE2024 Materials: Spotlight on Sustainability with Performance

Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

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Masterbatch Creates Cavities, Helping Film Processors Boost Sustainability, Recyclability

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

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Essential Reading

best practices

What to Look for in High-Speed Automation for Pipette Production

Automation is a must-have for molders of pipettes. Make sure your supplier provides assurances of throughput and output, manpower utilization, floor space consumption and payback period.    

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sustainability

How to Optimize Color Evaluation of Recycled Plastics

The right color measurement instrument and good working methods will minimize variability in color evaluation of PCR.

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Compounding

What to Know About Your Materials When Choosing a Feeder

Feeder performance is crucial to operating extrusion and compounding lines. And consistent, reliable feeding depends in large part on selecting a feeder compatible with the materials and additives you intend to process. Follow these tips to analyze your feeder requirements.

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Running Hot: Solutions for High-Temperature Injection Molding Cells

Here are some best practices for setting up and maintaining high-temperature injection molding processes, including sourcing and maintaining suitable water- and oil-circulating systems.

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Home In on These Six Variables to Monitor Molding

There are hundreds of variables in molding, but focusing on these six will help you make consistent parts.  

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Injection Molding: Focus on these Seven Areas to Set a Preventive Maintenance Schedule

Performing fundamental maintenance inspections frequently assures press longevity and process stability. Here’s a checklist to help you stay on top of seven key systems.

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The CM-17d is the Key for Plastic Industry
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Latest Issue

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Latest News and Products

Additives

Techmer PM Acquires OptiColor

The acquisition will bolster Techmer PM’s capabilities in the concentrates and compounds market.

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Self-Learning Control Algorithm for Temperature-Controlled Hot Runner Balancing

At Fakuma 2024, Kistler presents the new ComoNeo 7.0 process-monitoring system with the Multiflow 2.0 feature update for consistent temperature control in multicavity molds.

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Postconsumer

Coinjection Technology Showcases Recycled Material Containment

At Fakuma, an all-electric PXZ Multinject machine sandwiches a black core made of mechanically recycled PC/ABS within an outer layer made of chemically recycled ABS.

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polyolefins

Braskem Selected to Negotiate Federal Funding Award to Expand UHMWPE

By driving innovation for Braskem’s ‘Utec’ UHMWPE, the project would strengthen the lithium-ion battery value chain in the U.S.

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Servo-Hydraulic Injection Molding Machine With an Electric Injection Unit Premieres

Fakuma 2024: Wittmann Battenfeld says the 2K SmartPower Combimould features a new electric injection unit option.

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New Owners for Alpha Marathon

After bankruptcy, new group purchases intellectual property and forms Alpha Marathon Film Extrusion Technologies.  

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Compounding

PCE Adding Space to Help European Suppliers Enter US Market

‘Nesting strategy’ aims to provide established European companies with economical entry to U.S. market.  

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Apollo Funds to Acquire Barnes Group

Barnes, whose Molding Solutions portfolio includes Synventive, männer, Foboha, Thermoplay, Gammaflux and Priamus, is being sold for $3.6 billion to funds managed by Apollo Global Management.

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Equipment innovation
ColorStream
large tonnage injection molding productivity
continuous screen changers melt filtration