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

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.

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.

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

In 2018, the mayor of Bogor, Bima Arya Sugiarto, established the Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force to oversee a cleanup of the river. Last year it managed a budget of around 1.5 billion rupiah ($950,000). The city has formed teams of outreach workers to change perceptions of waste management in communities along the 15-kilometer (9-mile) stretch of the Ciliwung that runs through Bogor’s administrative domain.

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

Dozens of outreach workers have been recruited to raise awareness of policy change in 48 priority neighborhoods, spread across several areas in Bogor.

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.

Founded in 1994, Seabrook Plastics has operated at its current location, which is approximately 25 minutes north of Grand Haven, for its 27-year history. Starting with eight machines in a 10,000-ft2 plant, the IATF 16949-registered facility now has 25 injection molding machines in a 45,000-ft2 site. An expansion in 2017, allowed it to increase the upper limit of its tonnage range to 1300, adding five new machines (LG and Chen Hsong) with 500 to 1300 tons of clamp force. Its smallest machine has 17 tons of clamping force.

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.

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

Banner image: Outreach workers sort waste at a waste processing site in Bogor City, West Java. Image by Donny Iqbal/Mongabay Indonesia.

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.

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

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.

“We are still modeling and testing, but the results are quite good and it’s safe to use,” Idan said. “And it’s actually interesting that we can take this problem of waste that pollutes rivers, and use it to store water reserves.”

“Most of the residents here are urbanites, so much of the waste is plastic, so we can use it to generate cash income for residents,” he said.

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

Molding Solutions Inc. (Grand Haven, Mich.) has acquired custom molder Seabrook Plastics Inc. (Norton Shores, Mich.); it was aided in the transaction by Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Nuvescor Group, an investment banking firm that provides mergers and acquisition guidance in manufacturing.

A homogenous melt is required for consistent part quality, but achieving it requires balancing a number of factors, including barrel usage and temperature as well as screw speed, backpressure and residence time. Learn how to prepare your melt for molding success in this two-part series.

Managing this waste costs Bogor up to 24.1 billion rupiah ($1.5 million) per year in direct expenditure, although other indirect costs to society owing to household and commercial waste are challenging to quantify.

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.

Yudha Sugama, one of the outreach workers, told Mongabay Indonesia he believed the community work was leading to meaningful change in households.

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

A reduce, reuse and recycle waste disposal facility has been built in Bogor as part of the city’s cleanup, said Een Irawan Putra, who runs the Ciliwung task force. The goal is to process plastic into recycled raw materials that can have a positive use.

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.

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.

Consumed traces the life cycle of a variety of common consumer products from their origins, across supply chains, and waste streams. The circular economy is an attempt to lessen the pace and impact of consumption through efforts to reduce demand for raw materials by recycling wastes, improve the reusability/durability of products to limit pollution, and […]

Much of Bogor’s waste used to end up blocking floodgates and asphyxiating wildlife in the Ciliwung River, which flows from its source on Mount Pangrango through Bogor and out to Jakarta Bay on the north coast of Java.

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.

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.

BOGOR, Indonesia — At the age of 60, Siti Salamah started making changes at her family home in the city of Bogor, just south of Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital.

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

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

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

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

Bogor officials say they hope this will amount to a circular economy, in which discarded plastic can be sold and put toward productive ends. Data from the Ciliwung task force’s office showed around 8 metric tons of plastic has been collected to date from the 48 Bogor neighborhoods.

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.

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

Data from the municipal environmental department showed that Bogor, a city of more than a million people, produced 2,742 cubic meters (96,833 cubic feet) of waste daily, which is enough garbage to fill more than an Olympic-size swimming pool every day. Much of it ends up in the rivers that run through Bogor.

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

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

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

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

Like many neighborhood leaders in Bogor, Budi is working with members of the community to salvage plastic and earn income from selling discarded plastic to recyclers.

© 2024 Copyright Conservation news. Mongabay is a U.S.-based non-profit conservation and environmental science news platform. Our EIN or tax ID is 45-3714703.

In addition to elevating risks of flooding and ill health, plastics are a poorly understood but significant contributor to climate change. The production and burning of plastics is projected to account for up to 13% of budgeted global carbon emissions in 2050 if no action is taken.

Budi Lubis, the neighborhood leader in Cibuluh village, which is located in the north of Bogor, said many households were indifferent to waste management because of the lack of resources and infrastructure.

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.

In addition to injection molding, Molding Solutions offers product development, engineering, assembly, and decoration, as well as tooling management and development. Located 40 minutes west of Grand Rapids, the ISO 9001:2015 certified company was founded in 2000 and serves the automotive, furniture, appliance and consumer goods industries. Its machine fleet ranges in tonnage from 50 to 350, with both vertical and horizontal electric and hydraulic molding machines.

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.

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

Research conducted on the Ciliwung from 2011-2014 found that both fecal coliform bacteria and total coliform “greatly exceed the water quality criteria at all sampling sites, except in the Ciliwung river spring.”

NuVescor Group provides business valuations, financial analysis, investment guidance and business transaction advice for middle-market companies with revenues from $5 to $500 million.

Idan said it bothered him to see how most consumer products were disposed of, and so he turned to innovation to help tackle the problem. He set up a consultancy, which used plastic waste to make a retention well for a bottled-water company in neighboring Sukabumi district. He said the retention well should last longer than a concrete one, and that no contamination had been detected to date.

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.

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.

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.

Siti installed a unit for composting perishable waste around four months ago. Previously she would put all the household waste together for the trash collectors to pick up, typically amounting to 2-5 kilograms (4.5-11 pounds) of garbage per week. This seemingly modest amount of waste adds up at the population level.

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

The Plastic Smart Cities program was initiated by WWF to reduce plastic waste by 30% before 2025. It’s one of three pillars of WWF’s No Plastic in Nature campaign, which aims to cut the use of plastic, increase its reuse, and eliminate its presence in nature.

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.

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.

“It would be quite difficult without the Ciliwung task force,” Budi said while picking up garbage on the banks of the Ciliwung.

The discarded plastic that Siti now separates from perishable waste in her home might end up being put to use by someone like Tadzalli Tigin Syahidan, or Idan, an ambitious 30-year-old entrepreneur.

Since 2021, Bogor has joined more than 50 cities around the world in the Plastic Smart Cities partnership, which hopes to tackle the mountains of plastic waste that clog rivers and fester on vacant patches of land.

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.

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

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

Back in Bogor, Siti continues to separate her plastics and place the food waste her family generates into the home’s compost unit.

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.

“This pilot project has been prepared to inspire further action,” Een told Mongabay Indonesia. “Because the government or one party alone cannot manage this waste. We need other parties to work together to create the best solution.”

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.

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.

Ratnaningsih, D., Nasution, E. L., Wardhani, N. T., Pitalokasari, O. D., & Fauzi, R. (2019). Water pollution trends in Ciliwung River based on water quality parameters. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 407(1). doi:10.1088/1755-1315/407/1/012006

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

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.

“We always put the kitchen waste there,” Siti told Mongabay Indonesia at her home. “I collect the plastic waste separately.”

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.

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).