Auxiliaries AT NPE: New Controls Link Auxiliaries
Industry 4.0—the internet of things—is bringing a new level of connectivity to auxiliary equipment. Here’s a rundown of developments there, along with other news in auxiliaries from the show.

Auxiliaries at NPE: News in Materials Handling, Cooling, Granulating, Welding, Testing, Decorating
Auxiliary equipment takes in a broad range of functions, from materials preparation to post-mold finishing.

NPE News Wrap-up: Resin Dryers
At least 16 companies introduced new dryers at the big show in Chicago. The new models span a range of drying technologies, but most sport features that save space and cost and make the dryers simpler and more reliable.

Improved Generation of Compressed-Air Dryers
The new ERD Xpert series of compressed-air dryers from Fasti in Austria promises improved energy efficiency and more cost-effective hopper construction.

HOW TO COMPARE DRYERS? A Complex Challenge With No Simple Answers
Is one type of resin dryer faster or more energy-efficient than another? That question prompts competing claims from suppliers—but very little concrete data. When one vendor performed controlled tests to get some answers, its results, published here for the first time, prompted further debate about the difficulties of making valid comparisons and the many complex issues involved in dryer selection.

'Dry Water' Cooling For Extrusion Blow
A new cooling system for extrusion blow molding incorporates chilled moist air to boost production by up to 30%. The Compressed Air Chiller (CAC) Dry Water system from Fasti GmbH in Austria targets large containers (20 liters or more) and technical parts.

NPE 2006 News Wrap-Up: Fluid Temperature Control: Saving on Energy and Maintenance
At NPE in Chicago, chillers and TCUs were put on a lean energy diet and redesigned for greater durability. Suppliers also added features while taking out cost.

Vision System Improved to Spot Small Parts
At the NPE show in Chicago, Comet Automation Systems, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, rolled out an improved version of its PE-300 vision system featuring six times greater screen resolution, giving it the ability to sense ultra-small parts or product details in just 0.03 sec.

NPE 2006 News Wrap-Up: Materials Handling: A Host of Refinements and Updates
NPE 2006 held no revolutionary changes in dryers, blenders, feeders, loaders, or conveying controls, but widely adopted improvements make the newest models easier to use and maintain—and easier on the budget, too.

What to See at NPE 2006: Injection Molding
Energy-saving all-electric machines will continue to be a big draw at NPE, where new designs or upgraded models will be found in virtually every press maker’s booth.

What to See at NPE 2006: Heating and Cooling
Most of the news at the show is in fluid-circulating mold-temperature-control systems.

What to See at NPE 2006: Materials and Parts Handling
Dryers, feeders, blenders, loaders, metal detectors, level sensors, mechanical and pneumatic conveyors, silos, bins, pumps, filters, valves, box fillers, bag dumpers, and materials-handling control systems constitute one of the biggest categories of products on display at NPE.

NPE 2006 News Flash
Injection MoldingSimplified Hot Runners Save Time & CostA new lower-cost hot-runner alternative to valve gating is suited to less critical cosmetic applications where users need predictable and reliable gate opening but not sequential gate operation.

Resin Dryers: Which Type Is Right for You?
Processors today face bewildering choices of at least five basic types of dryers, whose capabilities are subject to conflicting claims from equipment suppliers. For the buyer, the most basic questions are: How much drying is needed for the job and which dryer types are up to the task?

Close-Up: NPE 2000 News in Materials Handling

NPE Newsfinder: Materials & Parts Handling
From pneumatic systems that deliver materials to the processing machine to conveyors and handling devices that pull parts out the back, the trend appears to be “smaller and smarter.” NPE 2000 will show lots of downsized auxiliaries designed for mini processing machines, as well as more compact equipment of every size that frees up floor space.

Dryers Close-Up NPE 2000

In Auxiliary Equipment--Small Is Big
Auxiliary equipment is shrinking to catch up with a growing market for small precision parts. Dryers, loaders, blenders, grinders, and chillers have all dropped in size for accuracy and fast product changeovers.