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

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.

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

Engel Austria GmbH has expanded its technical center in St. Valentin, Austria, with one of the largest injection molding machines from its standard portfolio: the duo 5500 combi M. Featuring a clamping force of nearly 6,200 tons and weighing in at 545 tons, the duo 5500 combi M measures 105 ft. long, 43 ft. wide and 22 ft. high. Engel will use the large, fully equipped machine to collaborate with customers and partners. Those collaborations are not likely to be limited by tool size, with the duo 5500 combi M’s mold space able to accommodate molds weighing up to 150 tons. The duo 5500 is the largest machine listed in the duo fleet, with a distance of more than 8 ft. between the tiebars. The company has built and delivered larger machines, however, including two 8,000-ton machines built in St. Valentin and delivered to Infiltrator Water Technologies in Winchester, Kentucky.

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.

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

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.

Freeform Injection Molding is AddiFab’s flagship technology, based on 3D printed injection mould inserts and designed to allow users to access the design capabilities of 3D printing while maintaining the performance of traditionally manufactured parts. It also gives manufacturers the ability to prototype components in the same material they intend to move into manufacturing with.

For Mitsubishi Chemical, it has been seen as a method of harnessing some of the benefits of 3D printing, without waiting for technology to develop enough to process some of its higher-performing materials. It led the company to provide financial support to AddiFab in the autumn of 2019 and less than a year later the companies have expanded their collaboration.

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.

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.

Engel has installed a duo 5500 combi M 2-platen injection molding machine at its facility in St. Valentin, Austria, for use in mold and customer trials. Source: Engel

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.

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

“When we were able to drive an 8,000-pound pick-up truck onto a KyronMAX lattice weighing only 70 grams, we knew we were onto something.”

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

Speaking to TCT last year, AddiFab CEO Lasse Staal referenced the opportunities available via its relationship with Mitsubishi, stating a ‘very interesting journey’ lay ahead. With this announcement, the partners have made the first step in that journey, and will give customers in three continents access to FIM and thousands of Mitsubishi Chemical materials.

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

A new Detroit-area tech center gives automotive OEMs and their tier suppliers a production-scale lab to test the very latest molding technologies.

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.

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 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.

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.

Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (MCAM) is to begin offering a Freeform Injection Molding (FIM) service in collaboration with AddiFab later this year.

The machine is also equipped with two six-axis Engel easix articulated robots on a track for various automation functions, including insert placement and part removal.

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.

The company will provide this service from its facilities in Mesa, Arizona; Tielt, Belgium; and Tokyo and Nagoya in Japan. It represents a significant expansion of the relationship between Mitsubishi and AddiFab, which began in 2019 with the former’s venture arm, Diamond Edge Ventures, investing in the latter.

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

“We quickly realised that Freeform Injection Molding would allow us to offer entirely new levels of light-weighting and we have been working with AddiFab to bring our KyronMAX materials onto the FIM platform,” added Randy White, the company’s Chief Innovations Officer. “When we were able to drive an 8,000-pound pick-up truck onto a KyronMAX lattice weighing only 70 grams, we knew we were onto something.”

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.

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.

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

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

The spinning center platen supports Engel’s combi process for multimaterial molding where one material is injected from one side of the press, the platen spins and the mold can receive material from the other side. In this instance, Engel notes the combi setup saves space compared to two large molds installed side by side. Alternatively, this design can support two identical molds on both sides, doubling output if there is sufficient clamping force.

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.

Start by picking a target melt temperature, and double-check data sheets for the resin supplier’s recommendations. Now for the rest...

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.

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.

Two mammoth 8000-ton presses built at its St. Valentin plant in Austria have been delivered to Infiltrator Water Technologies in Winchester, Ky.

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

For PUR applications, two Cannon systems are available, including a small-volume application unit and a high-volume application setup. A dosing unit enables coloring the polyurethanes. All of Engel’s extensive digital assistance systems are integrated into the machine control.

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

Accede Mold & Tool invested in the Engel Duo 4550/720 plastic injection molding machine and crane system in response to its customers’ demand for larger cavitation molds for the packaging market.

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.

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

Engel says the introduction of the duo 5500 combi M helps make Engel’s technical center a leading hub for testing new technologies and collaborating closely with the industry to promote new injection molding possibilities, including testing and development of existing and new customer projects under real conditions and on neutral ground. This includes tool and material tests as well as the development of new manufacturing technologies. Initial customer trials are already scheduled to begin “shortly,” according to Engel.

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.

“AddiFab has built Freeform Injection Molding to break key injection moulding constraints,” commented Staal. “FIM lets the injection moulder create injection-moulded objects with the same design freedom offered by conventional 3D printing. At the same time, we have brought 3D printing lead-times and start-up costs to the injection moulding industry, without compromising on the choice of materials. We look forward to working with MCAM on adding entirely new dimensions to the fields of generative design and topology optimisation, and to redefining the way metal replacement materials are using in weight reductions.”

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

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.

Citing a mega trend of mega parts in automotive manufacturing, Engel says vehicles are increasingly using larger plastic parts to reduce vehicle weight, improve fuel efficiency and lower production costs. In addition to its size, the new technical center machine also features a range of Engel technologies that can combine materials and other features, including clearmelt polyurethane (PUR) coating; foammelt foam injection molding; organomelt long-glass-fiber or tape-reinforcement molding; coinmelt compression injection molding; optimelt optical-part molding; combimelt multicolor injection molding; and foilmelt back injection of decorative and/or functional films.

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

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.

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

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

The Austrian company’s large-machine plant in St. Valentin now has a duo 5500 combi M press, with nearly 6,200 tons of clamp force and shot weights up to 93 lbs, available for customer trials.

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.

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.

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

The press features three injection units: two movable individually operable horizontal injection units and a combi M injection unit, with two of the units on one side of the platens, and the third on the opposite side. An Engel spokesperson noted for Plastics Technology that the machine could easily accommodate a fourth injection unit.

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.

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.

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

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.

Five industry pros with more than 200 years of combined molding experience provide step-by-step best practices on mounting a mold in a horizontal injection molding machine.

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.

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

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

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

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.