March 2024 Issue
March 2024
Digital Edition
Features
Featured articles from the March 2024 issue of Plastics Technology
Real-Time Production Monitoring as Automation
As an injection molder, Windmill Plastics sought an economical production monitoring system that could help it keep tabs on its shop floor. It’s now selling the “very focused” digital supervisor it created, automating many formerly manual tasks.
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Marking 5 Years of the Global Commitment to Plastic Packaging Sustainability
As we mark the fifth anniversary of the Global Commitment, a collaborative effort led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the United Nations, we reflect on its enduring impact in steering the plastic packaging value chain toward a sustainable future. We explore insights shared by initiative signatories, assessing the strides made and recognizing challenges faced, toward the construction of sustainable packaging frame.
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Making the Circular Economy a Reality
Driven by brand owner demands and new worldwide legislation, the entire supply chain is working toward the shift to circularity, with some evidence the circular economy has already begun.
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Plastics Processing 'Jumps' into New Year
While still in contraction mode, the index came in at highest level since March 2023.
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Prices of All Five Commodity Plastics On the Way Up
Despite earlier anticipated rollover in prices for most of the volume commodity resins, prices were generally on the way up for all going into the third month of first quarter.
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New Blown-Film Cooling Technologies Set to Debut at NPE2024
Cooling specialist Addex to roll out new auto-profiling air ring for rotating dies, and new single-plenum air ring.
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Decoding Reshoring: Motivations, Challenges and Technological Influences
Harry Moser, founder and president of the Reshoring Initiative, sits down for a Q&A on the motivations behind reshoring decisions, offering insights into economic, strategic and regulatory considerations.
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Four Industry 4.0 Tech Adoption Insights from Indiana Plastics Manufacturers
As more plastics manufacturers step into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, insights have emerged about how best to approach the digital transformation journey.
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Austrian Recycler's Mission to Recycle PET Takes It Beyond Bottles
Mission PET supplements bottle-to-bottle capability with alternative applications for recycled PET.
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At NPE, Cypet to Show Latest Achievements in Large PET Containers
Maker of one-stage ISBM machines will show off new sizes and styles of handled and stackable PET containers, including novel interlocking products.
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8 Ways the Plastics Industry Is Using 3D Printing
Plastics processors are finding applications for 3D printing around the plant and across the supply chain. Here are 8 examples to look for at NPE 2024.
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Unraveling the Science and Myth Associated With Moisture Analysis — Part 2
Once you’ve selected the right moisture analyzer, the task of method development begins. Don’t skip this step or you’ll run into problems. Here’s what happened in my lab decades ago.
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Use AI, Machine Learning to Take Variability Out of Manufacturing
Variability has always created insurmountable challenges for manufacturers. However, in the last decade, impact has been more painful due to a lack of experienced workforce. By leveraging technological advancements, particularly in AI, manufacturers can gain a transformative competitive advantage in both cost reduction and workforce development.
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For PLASTICS' CEO Seaholm, NPE to Shine Light on Sustainability Successes
With advocacy, communication and sustainability as three main pillars, Seaholm leads a trade association to NPE that ‘is more active today than we have ever been.’
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Educating the Next Generation of Plastics Professionals
These schools and local industry are working together to close the workforce gap in the plastics industry by offering hefty plastics curricula and training programs for degree-seeking students as well as current plastics employees looking to upskill.
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Understanding the Effect of Pressure Losses on Injection Molded Parts
The compressibility of plastics as a class of materials means the pressure punched into the machine control and the pressure the melt experiences at the end of fill within the mold will be very different. What does this difference mean for process consistency and part quality?
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Recycling Partners Collaborate to Eliminate Production Scrap Waste at NPE2024
A collaboration between show organizer PLASTICS, recycler CPR and size reduction experts WEIMA and Conair will seek to recover and recycle 100% of the parts produced at the show.
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What You Need to Know About the Design and Operation of Maddock Mixers
Designed properly, all entering solid polymer fragments and certain types of PE gels entering the Maddock mixer can be trapped and dispersed into the matrix resin. But many are not properly designed. Here’s what to look out for.
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How To Design Three-Plate Molds – Part 4
There are many things to consider, and paying attention to the details can help avoid machine downtime and higher maintenance costs — and keep the customer happy.
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Networking at NPE2024: Meet the Women Leading the Plastics Industry
First-ever breakfast for women leaders in plastics slated for Tuesday.
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Benchmark Your Injection Molding Operation: Participate Now in Top Shops 2024 Program
You have until April 30 to complete an online survey to see how your molding business stacks up against others.
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