TOOLING: News in Hot Runners at K 2016
New 'micro-manifold' among the product introductions.

Here's Another Process for Foam Blow Molding
After two years of behind-the-scenes development, a new process for lightweight bottles emerges into the open.

INJECTION MOLDING AT NPE: Molding Exhibits Show Off Cell Integration with Multiple Processes & Operations
If you’re interested in lightweight composites, IML, LSR, multi-shot, inmold assembly, barrier coinjection, micromolding, variotherm molding, foams, energy-saving presses, robots, hot runners, and tooling—they’re all here in force.

BLOW MOLDING: Temperature Probe for PET Preforms
Handheld probe measures internal preform temperature directly, ends guesswork.

Helping PET Blow Molders Save Energy & Material
PTI offers energy audits and bottle foaming technology.

BLOW MOLDING: Detect Costly Air Leaks in Stretch-Blow Molding
An upgraded version of the LeakMonitor has been introduced by Plastic Technologies, Inc.(PTI), Holland, Ohio.

Free Smartphone App Calculates IV for PET Blends
WEB EXCLUSIVE: PET Packaging specialist Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI) has launched a free app that calculates the intrinsic viscosity (IV) of blends of virgin and recycled PET.

Foamed PET Bottles for Beer
Now the foam isn’t just on top of the beer, it’s all around it.

BLOW MOLDING: Foamed PET Bottles for Beer
 WEB EXCLUSIVE: Now the foam isn’t just on top of the beer, it’s all around it.

NPE 2009 Wrap-Up: New Machinery for Blow Molding
Several new developments include a brand-new compression blow process, the first foamed PET bottles, and a preform decontamination approach for aseptically filled products sold at ambient temperature. Attendees also saw a new stack-mold Multi-Parting Line concept that doubles bottle output within the same machine footprint. (Additional NPE blow molding news appeared in May and June—see Learn More box.)

NPE News in Blow Molding
While occupying a relatively small category of exhibits, blow molding will present no lack of innovation at NPE.

Additive Manufacturing: New Capabilities for Rapid Prototypes And Production Parts
Many plastics processors are just starting to become familiar with the terms “additive manufacturing” or “additive fabrication,” which refer to a group of processes that build up parts by successively adding material, often in layers.

Biopolymers Strive to Meet Price/Performance Challenge
High expectations for biopolymers— an emerging class of materials derived at least in part from biological activity—are being tempered by the realities of the marketplace.

NPE 2006 News Wrap-Up: Testing and QC--New Lab Instruments Stress Affordability and Convenience
Thermal and mechanical testers, color and appearance sensors, vision inspection devices and CMMs—the NPE had them all in more compact, economical, and easy-to-use models.

Hand-Held Torque Tester for Closures
A new water-resistant, hand-held closure testing device measures the application and removal torques of closures at the bottle filling line.

What to See at NPE 2006: CAD/CAM and CAE
The newest generation of 3D simulation software takes aim at screw designs as well as hot-runner, mold, and part design.

OPP Bottles: Has Their Time Come?
Maybe this time the often-predicted breakthrough will actually occur. What could make the difference are improved resins, clarifiers, and machinery.