While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

NPE2024: Cake, drinks and the unveiling of a new North American website providing online ordering in the U.S. and Canada for the first time are just some of the things happening at Hasco’s booth as it brings its year-long centennial celebration to Orlando.

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

There are many things to consider, and paying attention to the details can help avoid machine downtime and higher maintenance costs — and keep the customer happy.

The market for bio-based polycarbonate is also expected to grow, with one recent report projecting revenue to reach nearly $140 million by 2032.

Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

Joe Darrah is an award-winning freelance journalist based in the Philadelphia region who covers a variety of topics, including healthcare and medical technology. His articles have been published in more than 40 publications.

Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

This article is part of an ongoing series devoted to medical polymers. You can read previous installments by clicking on the headlines below.

Tooling for plastics production includes molds, mold components, ejector pins, mold bases, nozzles, mold cores, mold cavities, conformal cooling.

Initially discovered by German scientist Alfred Einhorn in 1898 at the University of Munich, polycarbonate went uncommercialized for decades. Breakthroughs came in the 1950s, thanks largely to Hermann Schnell at Bayer, where polycarbonate was registered under the brand name Makrolon, and General Electric’s Daniel Fox, often called the “father of Lexan.” They were instrumental in commercializing the material in the United States and Europe.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.

As Czuba sees it, fears regarding BPA have always been exaggerated. “When the issue of BPA was first mentioned, it was related to the common practice by mothers of new-born children of sterilizing bottles in boiling water for a period of time before filling the bottles with formula or breast milk,” he explained. “Researchers found elevated amounts of BPA and speculated that this would pose a hazard to babies. This concern was then elevated and, in my opinion, blown out of proportion by the common press, and world consumers became unnecessarily frightened. Calls began to rise for regulators to take action against BPA.”

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

Covestro’s portfolio includes its suite of Makrolon resins, including low-friction and glass-filled formulations and the recently launched Apec 2045. (Covestro is a Bayer spin off, formed in 2015.) A new heat-resistant medical-grade co-polycarbonate, Apec 2045 is designed for use in medical devices, such as respiratory masks with molded-in seals, and products that require hot-air sterilization up to 180°C (356°F).

“Apec 2045 is enabling molders and medical original equipment manufacturers to significantly reduce production time and cost, without sacrificing quality, performance, or appearance as a replacement for the commonly used method of overmolding polycarbonate with liquid silicone rubber to produce masks and other devices requiring molded-in seals,” said Shaffer. “Apec 2045 co-polycarbonate boosts productivity in silicone overmolding applications, as it is made for the highest curing temperatures, which helps to more than double production volumes in the same amount of time due to shorter cycle times.” Shaffer added that using the new Apec material could also contribute to manufacturing sustainability goals, with the possibility of a lower carbon footprint as evidenced by its ISCC Plus certification and bio-circular content.

technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.

Say “manufacturing automation” and thoughts immediately go to the shop floor and specialized production equipment, robotics and material handling systems. But there is another realm of possible automation — the front office.

In this collection of articles Jim Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

According to Len Czuba, president of Czuba Enterprises Inc., a product development organization that specializes in plastics and medical devices, polycarbonate was one of the first two polymers to offer superior engineering properties in a transparent melt-processable material. The other is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), better known by the trade names Plexiglas and Lucite.

Pertaining to the physical structure of polycarbonate when heat is applied, there are certain limitations to navigate. According to Shaffer, medical devices and components that incorporate medical-grade Makrolon can be sterilized by common methods, but the temperature should not exceed 125°C (257°F) when utilizing steam sterilization because it may cause deformation of the molded parts. Covestro’s Apec high-heat polycarbonate has comparatively higher heat resistance and is compatible with high-heat steam autoclaving at temperatures up to 143°C (289°F).

“There has been significant research in polycarbonate to tailor it to many different applications in the medical device industry,” said Czuba. “I believe that this tried-and-true material will continue to serve those of us designing medical products and selecting the best materials for those products — polycarbonate often gives the best performance for these applications.”

Successfully starting or restarting an injection molding machine is less about ticking boxes on a rote checklist and more about individually assessing each processing scenario and its unique variables.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

The aim of this presentation is to guide you through the factors and the numbers that will help you determine if a robot is a smart investment for your application. Agenda:  Why are you considering automation? What problems are you trying to solve? How and why automation can help Crunch the numbers and determine the ROI

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

There are many things to consider, and paying attention to the details can help avoid machine downtime and higher maintenance costs. In this installment, the focus is on design and placement of sucker/puller pins.

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

Although opinions vary on the significance of BPA, the issue continues to plague the production and use of polycarbonates. First identified as a concern in 2008 in a report by the National Institutes of Health’s National Toxicology Program, BPA has appeared in headlines for years, up to and including 2024, when officials in France placed a ban on water bottles during the summer Olympics due to reported unsafe levels of the chemical.

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

Progressive Components says the new M-2 Ejector Pins are especially suited for high wear resistance with abrasive materials and high-heat applications.

Servomold to introduce SLY-type core pulls with ball-screw drives to position slides, cores and plates with micron-level accuracy.

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

In a time where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, the food and beverage packaging industry is required to be at the forefront of this innovation. By adopting circular packaging processes and solutions, producers can meet regulatory requirements while also satisfying consumer demand and enhancing brand reputation. Join Husky to learn more about the broader implications of the circular economy — as well as how leading brands are leveraging this opportunity to reduce costs, increase design flexibility and boost product differentiation. Agenda: The cost and operational benefits of embracing circularity Key materials in circular packaging — including rPET and emerging bioplastics How to design a circular food and beverage package Strategies for selecting sustainable closures to future-proof packaging solutions Optimization and streamlining of production processes for enhanced efficiency How Husky Technologies can enable your sustainable success

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.

Plastics Technology’s Tech Days is back! Every Tuesday in October, a series of five online presentations will be given by industry supplier around the following topics:  Injection Molding — New Technologies, Efficiencies Film Extrusion — New Technologies, Efficiencies Upstream/Downstream Operations Injection Molding — Sustainability Extrusion — Compounding Coming out of NPE2024, PT identified a variety of topics, technologies and trends that are driving and shaping the evolution of plastic products manufacturing — from recycling/recyclability and energy optimization to AI-based process control and automation implementation. PT Tech Days is designed to provide a robust, curated, accessible platform through which plastics professionals can explore these trends, have direct access to subject-matter experts and develop strategies for applying solutions in their operations.

In this collection of articles Jim Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

The most significant advantage of polycarbonate is its solvent resistance and ductility, which ranks it as stronger than glass as well as PMMA, said Czuba. “Since its discovery, polycarbonate has been found to be an excellent injection moldable polymer that’s compatible for parts connecting to flexible PVC tubing with an easy solvent-bondable method in the medical device industry. Polycarbonate can be made into connectors, manifolds, housings for kidney dialysis filters, and facemask shields. It offers superior solvent resistance and resistance to solvent crazing,” said Czuba. Polycarbonate can meet all the biological and chemical requirements of medical device components, satisfying all safety and biocompatibility requirements, added Czuba.

In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

Czuba also stressed that if BPA is absorbed by the human body, studies have shown that it’s typically eliminated by urination within 24 hours. “This chemical does not accumulate in the tissue like other contaminants have been shown to do,” he said.

Because polycarbonate has long been demonstrated to be safe and effective with all the major methods of medical device production and sterilization, there is no limitation related to its use as a medical device component, stressed Czuba.

Progressive Components’ latest mold monitoring platform, the ProFile v4 asset tracking system, is showing actual mold data being collected and managed.

The current perspective by US FDA, based on its most recent safety assessment, holds that BPA is considered safe to be used in food packaging at the current levels that it occurs in foods. Similarly, the American Dental Association (ADA) issued a professional product review of BPA in 2016, restating its safe use with dental sealants that are frequently used in pediatric patients.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

Join this webinar to explore the transformative benefits of retrofitting your existing injection molding machines (IMMs). Engel will guide you through upgrading your equipment to enhance monitoring, control and adaptability — all while integrating digital technologies. You'll learn about the latest trends in IMM retrofitting (including Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits) and discover how to future-proof your machines for a competitive edge. With insights from industry experts, it'll walk you through the decision-making process, ensuring you make informed choices that drive your business forward. Agenda: Maximize the value of your current IMMs through strategic retrofitting Learn how to integrate digital technologies to enhance monitoring and control Explore the benefits of Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits Understand how retrofitting can help meet new product demands and improve adaptability Discover how Engel can support your retrofitting needs, from free consultations to execution

The global polycarbonate market was valued at $15.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to achieve a 5.4% compound annual growth rate, reaching a value of $24.3 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. Medical applications account for a fairly small percentage of global sales — it was around $1.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2031, according to a report from Transparency Market research. The material punches above its weight in the medical market, however, because of the margins it commands in this heavily regulated industry.

There are many things to consider, and paying attention to the details can help avoid machine downtime and higher maintenance costs — and keep the customer happy.

There are many things to consider, and paying attention to the details can help avoid machine downtime and higher maintenance costs — and keep the customer happy.

Join Wittmann for an engaging webinar on the transformative impact of manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the plastic injection molding industry. Discover how MES enhances production efficiency, quality control and real-time monitoring while also reducing downtime. It will explore the integration of MES with existing systems, emphasizing compliance and traceability for automotive and medical sectors. Learn about the latest advancements in IoT and AI technologies and how they drive innovation and continuous improvement in MES. Agenda: Overview of MES benefits What is MES? Definition, role and brief history Historical perspective and evolution Longevity and analytics Connectivity: importance, standards and integration Advantages of MES: efficiency, real-time data, traceability and cost savings Emerging technologies: IoT and AI in MES

At Covestro, a manufacturer based in Germany that produces polyurethane and polycarbonate products including foams, coatings, and adhesives, polycarbonate plays a major role in developing next-generation, life-saving technology. “Used in applications where strength, clarity, and toughness are necessary, polycarbonates from Covestro exemplify the innovation, safety, and biocompatibility that healthcare and life sciences designers and manufacturers across the world have come to know and trust,” said Emily Shaffer, healthcare market manager at Covestro.

“Apec 2045 can also enable circular business models by supporting closed- and open-loop recycling by maintaining key mechanical properties across recycle loops,” said Shaffer.

“BPA has been evaluated more than any other industrial chemical,” Czuba said. “It took years for the concern to be calmed, but it seems to finally have been put in the rear-view mirror [in the United States]. Polycarbonate is still one of the main engineering materials used in medical devices, and its use continues to grow. The amount of BPA formed during the heating of polycarbonate is extremely low — in the parts per billion.”

When determining the best ejection option for a tool, molders must consider the ejector’s surface area, location and style.

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

New medical polycarbonate films are reportedly gaining traction among physicians, as it helps them visually inspect the appearance of breast implants prior to implantation without opening the packaging.

After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.

In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

Mold-Masters has cut the stack height of its PET-Series hot runner system from 300 mm to 260 mm, while maintaining a 3-plate design and the advantages therein.

Eden Manufacturing was founded on a vision of vertical integration, adding advanced injection molding capabilities to a base of precision moldmaking and more recently bringing Swiss-type machining capabilities in-house.

A naturally transparent and durable thermoplastic, polycarbonate is a versatile material used to produce a variety of commercial and consumer goods, including parts for automobiles and electronic products, camera lenses, and safety equipment. It also has multiple applications in medical technology, from neonatal care equipment to dialysis machines. Despite its universality, however, the polymer remains a somewhat controversial product, especially in the medical space, because of the presence of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in the production of polycarbonate.