Are You Ready for Digital Manufacturing?
Get on board for one of this century’s most important trends in manufacturing at the September in-person Molding 2021 Conference.
Matthew Naitove
Executive Editor, Plastics Technology
Industry 4.0 Communication Standard Adds Hot Runners, LSR Dosing
EUROMAP and the OPC Foundation’s joint working group issued a standardized data exchange communication protocol for hot runner devices and liquid silicone rubber dosing systems.
Chiller Line Adds Process Monitoring Software
Delta T Systems says the DTS Smart Connect chiller monitoring option allows remote management and servicing for its full line of chillers.
Bosch Adds Artificial Intelligence to Industry 4.0
New from Bosch Group is a “universal AI solution for manufacturing,” which it is using first in its own plants.
Arburg Augments Customer Portal, Extends Digitalization
Arburg is expanding its arburgXworld customer portal and Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) connectivity to all new Allrounder injection molding machines with retrofits for older presses.
New Technology Adoption as a Business Strategy
As a company, is your adoption of new technology passive and by accident or strategic and planned?
Take the Guesswork Out of Determining Screw, Barrel Wear
New technology from Glycon takes real-time measurements of screw and barrel wear and provides data to guide processors as to when the time may be right to swap out these components.
System Moves Color Control From Lab to Production Floor
In-line spectrophotometer from Equitech promises to move color management out of the lab and right to the extrusion line to slash waste and improve quality.
Jim Callari
Editorial Director, Plastics Technology
Remote Service Added to Machine Line
Boy says its Smart Remote Service establishes a connection between its service personnel and its molding machines via “an integrated gateway.”
Will You Be Ready for the Next Disruption?
Lessons learned from ongoing coronavirus pandemic should help business navigate through the next disruption.
20 Good Things to Come Out of 2020—Part 4
Good news was there if you knew where to look for it—in the pages of Plastics Technology magazine or right here on our website. Here’s a review of headlines you can feel good about.
Plastics Processors Waking Up to the Digital World
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic could force plastics processors to revisit technologies previously overlooked, many of which will be on display at May’s NPE2021 show. In part one of a series on emerging trends and technologies to explore during the triennial event, we look at digital manufacturing.
Four New Developments in Plastics Drying
These four short videos provide a snapshot of what’s going on in plastics resin drying technology. Yes, there’s Industry 4.0, but also lots more to bring higher quality and efficiency to your injection molding and extrusion processes.
Beckhoff’s Industry 4.0 Products Integrated With Siemens’ MindSphere
The TwinCAT internet of things (IoT) product family can now be integrated with Siemens industrial IoT-as-a-service platform.
Your Factory May Be Smarter, But Is It Less Secure?
A smart factory is a connected one but the same advances that allow you to check in on production remotely could allow others to tie into your plant.
Tony Deligio
Executive Editor, Plastics Technology
Digital Platform for Injection Molders Expands Reach, Functionality
Arburg announced several updates for its arburgXworld digital platform including different packages and the ability to link to ERP systems and additive manufacturing technology.
Milacron Joins Organization for Machine Automation and Control (OMAC)
Along with its IIoT partner, ei3, Milacron is now part of a working group to establish best practices for remote access methods.
Protolabs Launches Revamped Digital Quoting Platform
Initially unveiled in Europe, the new digital manufacturing platform will be coming to the U.S. in early 2021, bringing greater speed and flexibility to quoting of injection molded, CNC machined, and 3D-printed parts.
Lights Out, Pristine Production In
The numbers beggar belief and the business belies description—Medical Components of America has six full-time employees, six injection machines and lights-out production that’s gone five years without shipping a bad part or missing a delivery.
PT Tech Days Continue to Inform
Register now to hear technology experts address a wide range of topics in plastics processing. And access our archives to tune in to what you may have missed. It’s free.
Despite COVID-19, ERP Software Keeps Molder Working—Even from Home
ERP platform’s remote access, real-time operations overview, and transparency into production output and customer demand help custom molder weather coronavirus.
Connected Compounder
Fast-growing Alterra strives for “best-in-class” manufacturing operations driven by a custom-made Industry 4.0 platform.
Jim Callari
Editorial Director, Plastics Technology
Cincinnati Process Technologies (CPT) Partners With Predictive Maintenance Sensor and Application Supplier
CPT has joined with IoT Diagnostics to bring a slate of Industry 4.0 technologies to the plastics market.
'10 Things We’re Seeing in Machine Shops Right Now'
Metalworking shops and plastics plants make for interesting comparisons of their responses to the COVID-19 challenge.
Time Still to Register For PT Tech Days
It’s free. It’s online. It’s scheduled every Thursday through December. And you can register now to hear technology experts address a wide range of topics in plastics processing.
Digital Manufacturing Network Offers ‘Radical Transparency’ Over Multiple Processes, Providers & Continents
Fictiv now offers complete visibility of complete value chain from design upload to production, quality, shipping and pricing for metal and plastic prototypes and production parts from a “Digital Ecosystem” of 250+ partners in the U.S. and Asia.
Clear Your Calendars for Plastics Technology 'Tech Days'
Beginning Oct. 8, we will be bringing exclusive, live, online technical content on a wide range of processing topics that you can access for free.
Industry 4.0 Universal Communication Standard Coming for Laboratory Equipment
In Germany, work is underway to develop a standard to allow all sorts of laboratory equipment to communicate with higher-level computer systems and ultimately with manufacturing.
