Articles
Plastics Technology Year in Review: Your Favorite Reads of 2024
A year-end review of the top stories showcasing industry trends, advancements and expert insights. Revisit the articles that captured the attention of the plastics community.
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Plastics Index Shows Supply Chain Improvement Despite Production Slowdown
Future expectations reach 2024 high on the heels of the recent election.
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Bulk, Solid and Melt Density: How to Calculate These Values and Why They Matter — Part 1 of 2
How much resin is contained within a bucket, gaylord or hopper? That depends on the bulk density — a figure you need to learn how to calculate due to its impact on everything from storage and conveying to drying and molding.
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AMRs and Cobots Target Inspection, Palletizing and Movement of Finished Goods
The same year it marked its 70th year in business, custom injection molder Hoffer Plastics (South Elgin, Illinois) — which routinely reinvests more than 10% of its annual revenue back into new equipment — prioritized automation in that CapEx with some stunning results.
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Applying AI to Manage, Synchronize Material Data and Power Material Development
Global masterbatch and compound producer Kafrit Group worked with MaterialsZone to apply AI to its raw materials management and product development.
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Sheet Extrusion, Thermoforming Tips for PLA/aPHA Blends
Biopolymers like PLA and PHA are able to meet sustainability goals while also delivering the performance attributes needed in rigid food packaging. Here’s what testing has shown.
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An Uphill Journey
Proper end-of-life outcomes for plastics are possible, if we’re willing to put in the work.
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Injection Molded Enclosures Plug into Potential Electric Vehicle Battery Applications
In partnership with material suppliers, Engel is proving out injection molded thermoplastic-based concepts for electric vehicle battery housings, utilizing production tools and dedicated machines at its large press factory in St. Valentin, Austria.
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How to Select the Right Cooling Stack for Sheet
First, remember there is no universal cooling-roll stack. And be sure to take into account the specific heat of the polymer you are processing.
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Using a Melt Flow Indexer to Test Your Pressure Transducer
The MFI tester enables collection of meaningful pressure data in transducers in a relatively short time, providing realistic measures of the response time of a pressure transducer. This information is critical in the interpretation of pressure data measured in an extrusion process.
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Optimizing Pack & Hold Times for Hot-Runner & Valve-Gated Molds
Using scientific procedures will help you put an end to all that time-consuming trial and error. Part 1 of 2.
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New Screw Boosts Mixing, Enhances Polymer Properties
Device mixes at the ‘molecular level,’ inventor says, to boost mechanicals and in some cases make pre-drying redundant.
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