October 2020 ISSUE

Top Shops 2020: Molding More from Less
Plastics Technology’s 2020 Top Shops benchmarking survey reveals that the most effective molders are, not surprisingly, the most efficient, accomplishing more than their peers from a smaller manufacturing footprint.
#topshops
FEATURES
End MarketsBridging the Gap Between 3D Printing and Traditional Manufacturing
At Essentium, both 3D printers and materials receive starring roles.Post-Consumer
How to Ensure Reliable Feeder Performance When Handling PCR
Processors are being challenged to incorporate more recycled material into their products. Yet there are both economical and technical obstacles to achieving this objective—feeding among them. The design of your feeding equipment and the advantages that it will offer to your process will be more important than ever.
Extrusion
Shopping for a Barrel? Consider the Full Cost of Ownership
Beyond just the “invoice price” of a barrel, processors should consider factors like the composition of the inlay, quality of the backing material, straightness, concentricity, machining imperfections and packaging/handling, to understand the true cost of owning a barrel.
Jim Callari: Time Still to Register For PT Tech Days
Innovative Recycler Sets Sights on PET Thermoforms
Novel Dual-Wheel Blow Molder Allows Quick Product Changes
Michael Sepe: Materials: Annealing Tips for Polyamide-imide, Part 7 of 7
Jim Frankland: Extrusion: Solving Surging in Two-Stage Screws
Jim Fattori: Tooling: The Lowdown on Guided Ejection Systems
Suhas Kulkarni: Residence Time and Residence-Time Distribution—Part 1 of 2
Plastics Processing Index: 2020 Size & Impact Report: Growth in the Plastics Industry
Plastics Processing Index: U.S. Plastics Pact Focuses on Creating a Circular Economy for Plastics
Resin Prices: Prices Up for Nearly All Major Volume Resins--For Now
Plastics Processing Index: Plastics Processors Report Quickening Expansion
Processors Edge: Despite COVID-19, ERP Software Keeps Molder Working—Even from Home