February 2015 Issue

January 2015

NPE2015 Adds Two More Events to Expanding Conference Slate

A breakfast briefing on key markets and plastics design panel discussions, which are free to attendees, join four multi-day, paid conferences on a range of technical and business topics at NPE2015.

Features

Featured articles from the February 2015 issue of Plastics Technology

Extrusion Know How 27 Jan 2015

EXTRUSION: Avoid General ‘Pump Ratios’ On Two-Stage Screws

Instead, rely on basic data and calculations to determine the proper depth of the first and second metering sections

Commodity Resins 9 Jan 2015

RheTech Agrees To Acquisition By Hexpol

Sweden's Hexpol is acquiring Michigan's compounder RheTech.

Additives 12 Jan 2015

Akcros Invests In Safe, High-Quality Biocides

The start-up of manufacturing of pelletized isothiazalone-based biocides is underway at Akcros's New Brunswick facility.

best practices 27 Jan 2015

Molder’s Mantra: Go Lean, Stay Green

All-electric presses combined with home-built technologies and energy-efficient initiatives at PMT.

sustainability 27 Jan 2015

Energy-Efficient Granulating

Granulators are notorious energy hogs, but motors and designs have improved energy efficiency over the years. Proper selection and maintenance can also do a lot to avoid wasted energy cost.

Injection Molding 27 Jan 2015

Robot End-of-Arm Tooling: Making a Big Difference

Often overlooked as a small part of an automation system, clever end-of-arm tooling techniques and designs can improve part quality, heighten efficiency, and eliminate headaches for any molder.

Automotive 9 Jan 2015

Wellman Plastics Recycling Part Of Shanghai Prett Composites

Wellman Plastics Recycling is being acquired by automotive plastics compounder Shanghai Pret Composites.

Micromolding 28 Jan 2015

Micromolding Gets Bigger at Tessy Plastics

Micro parts are a tiny but fast-growing segment of its custom molding business, with potential to expand beyond the medical sector.

best practices 27 Jan 2015

Five Steps Toward Better Plug Assists

With careful planning and adherence to best practices, crafting the right plug assist can put you on the path to high-quality, repeatable parts.

Barrier Blow Molding 6 Jan 2015

Machinery Innovator Dewey Rainville Dies at 91

Developed numerous technologies in blow molding; involved in start-ups of leading auxiliary equipment firms.

processing tips 27 Jan 2015

INJECTION: First to Second Stage Transfer: Should There Be ‘Bounce-Back’?

How much screw ‘jumping’ or bounce-back can your process tolerate? The answer is no surprise: It depends

Sheet Extrusion 14 Jan 2015

Novel Package Nabs Another Award

Third time Clear-Lam's PrimaPak has been acknowledged.

Biopolymers 12 Jan 2015

Metabolix To Significantly Boost PHA Production

Plans are underway at Metabolix to increase output of PHA biopolymers.

PVC 27 Jan 2015

Commodity Resin Prices Still Dropping - January 2015

Led by lower global feedstock and resin prices, commodity resin prices continue to decline.

Pipe, Profile & Tubing Extrusion 27 Jan 2015

Conair Lab Devoted to Pipe, Profile, Tubing Extrusion

New lab can develop and test complete extrusion systems for precision medical tubing to siding.

Injection Molding 27 Jan 2015

‘Passive Variotherm’ Cooling Cuts Cycle Time at Low Cost

A hot/cold molding technique lets the injected melt do the heating while water flow is paused.

Molds & Tooling 27 Jan 2015

TOOLING: Ejectors: Watch That ‘Unsupported Length’

It may be an unfamiliar term, but it’s the key to preventing ejector-pin deflection and breakage

Postconsumer 27 Jan 2015

SPI Launches Sustainability Benchmarking, 'Zero Waste Zone'

SPI is surveying members on sustainability practices to provide guidance for companies to improve their own practices. A Zero Waste Zone at NPE will highlight sustainable practices.

Injection Molding 20 May 2023

Know Your Options in Injection Machine Nozzles

Improvements in nozzle design in recent years overcome some of the limitations of previous filter, mixing, and shut-off nozzles.

Film Extrusion 27 Jan 2015

Coextruding Blown Film Needs Deeper Understanding of Resin Rheology & Die Design

More film processors are investing in lines with nine or more layers. With more resin possibilities and combinations coming into play, it’s important to learn more about material rheology and compatibility, as well as die design.

processing tips 27 Jan 2015

MATERIALS: Analysis Gone Wrong

A lot of resources are devoted each year to trying to figure out why products fail. Sometimes it’s because no one involved in a project realizes the data provided was wrong.