November 2023 Issue
November 2023
Digital EditionFeatures
Featured articles from the November 2023 issue of Plastics Technology
Sustainability: It Won’t Happen Overnight
Plastics has made great strides in becoming a part of the circular economy. The industry and its partners realize more needs to be done. Is there time?
Read MoreSustainability, Innovation Intertwined at TC Transcontinental Packaging
Just 10 years in the plastics packaging business, TC Transcontinental has invested heavily to help its brand owner and retail customers meet their sustainability goals.
Read MorePrices Up for PE, PP, PS, Flat for PVC, PET
Trajectory is generally flat-to-down for all commodity resins.
Read MoreMeasuring Multilayer Plastic Containers Made Easier With Today's Ultrasonic Gauges
Ultrasonic gauge technology has evolved to simplify measurement of very thin layers in plastic containers. Today’s gauges with high-frequency capabilities and specialized software can make multilayer container measurement quick and easy for ordinary users.
Read MoreChoosing the Right Projects to Automate
What are the strategies and upfront work that go into identifying production problems that could benefit from an automation solution?
Read MoreImagine A World Where Polymers Were First
One reason for the disproportionate attention that plastics receive in the environmental conversation is that they are newcomers. Perhaps if we had been relying on them for thousands of years, we’d view them differently.
Read MoreConfiguring the Twin Screw Extruder: Part 4
For many compounding operations, material is fed to the extruder at the feed throat. This is the case when feeding a single polymer or a blend of polymers mixed with solid additives. Some ingredients, however, present a challenge in feeding. Here’s how to solve to them.
Read MoreIs There a More Accurate Means to Calculate Tonnage?
Molders have long used the projected area of the parts and runner to guesstimate how much tonnage is required to mold a part without flash, but there’s a more precise methodology.
Read MoreMolder Opts for Machine Flexibility for Complex Jobs
AE Plast opted for tiebarless multimaterial Engel victory machines as it took on complex parts for the appliance and power tool market, including a 3K housing for Dremel’s rotary tool.
Read MoreKraussMaffei and NIAR Propel Injection Molded Thermoplastic Composites
The maker of plastics processing equipment has placed a machine and an injection molding expert in NIAR’s ATLAS lab in Wichita, Kansas, to help molding, composites and aerospace take off.
Read MoreOptimizing Barrel Temperatures for Single-Screw Extruders
If barrel temperatures are set correctly and screw design is optimized, the extruder will be operating at peak performance, providing maximum profitability. If not, bad things can happen impacting quality and profitability.
Read MoreFollow These Best Practices When Working With Heat Transfer Fluids
Effectively choosing, operating and maintaining thermal fluid can positively impact productivity in plastics processing.
Read MorePlastics Processing Activity Continues to Contract
September’s survey results mark a third month of a very similar GBI.
Read MoreIs Your Extrusion Line Due for a Controls Upgrade?
Most processors understand the warning signs that indicate when it’s time to replace items subject to mechanical wear. But they don’t have the same instincts regarding machine control. Here’s some guidance.
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