facilities in three states - custom injection molding

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

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.

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

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

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.

The VR G Series is the successor to Sodick’s VRE Series hybrid, vertical, rotary injection molding machines. The new VR G Series inherits the accurate filling and stable plasticization of the VRE Series via the V-Line injection unit and Sodick’s hybrid direct-pressure clamping.

The MS G2 Series second-generation electric injection molding machines feature the eV-Line servo-motor-driven injection and plasticizing injection units, which control the measurement values and injection position in a closed loop. Sodick Plustech says the system provides positional accuracy and repeatability in plasticizing, metering and injection, while running quieter and on less energy than other machines. Sodick says the new series achieves up to a 28% reduction in power consumption compared to its hybrid models.

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.

Sodick Plustech’s VR-G and MS-G2 Series both utilize the company’s proprietary V-Line technology, separating plasticizing and injection functions, and have upgraded displays, energy efficiency, response time and more.

The MS G2 Series includes a new controller and operation screen. Sodick says the new control’s communication system has improved the response time for each operation. It has also adopted a temperature control system for more precise regulation of heater temperature, achieving more stable, high-precision molding.

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

The material’s high-density glass filling made it very abrasive and unsuitable for an aluminum prototype tool, explained Westminster and Mantle in the case study. “Aluminum tools do not have the rigidity or lifespan of steel tools and typically do not have conformal cooling,” noted the paper. “When an aluminum tool is used with a highly glass-filled abrasive material, there is risk of rounding the edges of the tunnel gate, which can leave a messy gate vestige, or extra plastic in the gate area. This visual defect can continue to worsen over tens of thousands of shots. Instead, Mantle’s H13-equivalent printed cavities became a popular alternative, offering more longevity for testing the molding process.”

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

In addition to allowing for the use of a subgate to mold thousands of parts without risking gate erosion, the 3D-printed cavities enabled Westminster Tool to put in cooling lines. Conventional methods would have required building the cavity as two separate pieces and welding them together to achieve conformal cooling, according to Westminster Tool. Without conformal cooling, experimentation of molding parameters with an aluminum tool would not have been possible without dramatically impacting cycle time.

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

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

By using Mantle to print the cavities, and with minor post-processing such as grinding, milling, and EDM, Westminster Tool was able to perform first-out-of-tool molding in just three weeks. The printing of the cavities alone — both sides being printed simultaneously — only took roughly 86 hours. “That’s three weeks to get quality medical parts from design to a prototype tool. It’s incredible,” Graff said.

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.

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

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.

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

The MS G2 Series facilitates setting conditions for a wide range of molding methods, such as pressure filling control (pressure priority control), injection link clamping function and clamping during injection for effective venting measures.

As with many new materials, all that was provided for the initial design kick-off were sample parts and technical data such as material characteristics and processing conditions. According to commercial information from Arkema, the material was developed specifically with surgical instruments in mind. Not only does the material offer high performance but emphasizes sustainability, being engineered from castor oil. “We were really eager to work with a renewable resin like this,” said Graff.

The VR G Series expands on the VREs’ mold size capacities with up to a 50% increase to accommodate larger and more complex molds. For reference, mold installation area expansion multiples range from 1 to 1.5 times.

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

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.

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.

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

Using Foster’s latest polymer from Arkema, Rilsan FKZM 65 O TD MED, Westminster Tool worked with Mantle to design and produce metal 3D-printed cavities for research and development. “The idea is that we could create a production-environment prototype tool quickly, and Foster would get real-world medical device examples for potential customers,” explained Westminster Tool Manufacturing Engineer Eddie Graff. Graff worked with engineers at both Mantle and Foster to see the project through to completion. “We’ve worked with glass-filled medical resins before, so we already had that experience, but this material was really unique.”

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

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.

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.

Performing fundamental maintenance inspections frequently assures press longevity and process stability. Here’s a checklist to help you stay on top of seven key systems.

The company has upgraded to a 19" screen, enabling clear graphical representation of machine-state data and real-time cycle chart displays. The new control maintains the screen switch layout of the previous model for continuity, with smartphone-like functionalities such as pinch-in/out and swiping.

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.

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

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).

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.

Westminster Tool was able to review the sample parts, technical info, and reverse engineer medical forceps designed from an additive manufacturing perspective. “Designing for additive is a completely different mindset,” explained Graff. “It’s challenging because you’re considering features that would never have been possible with machining. Not even EDM or 5-axis milling. From the very start, we approached this like any major customer, with an in-depth DFM process and a full-scale DCII process development to determine ideal molding parameters for quality parts,” added Graf.

Sodick by Plustech’s MS G2 Series electric injection molding machines feature new controls and displays. Source: Sodick by Plustech

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 VR G combines the V-Line injection unit of separate plasticizing and injection units, with Sodick’s proprietary hydraulic servo control technology. The vertical line has also adopted the new controller with large 19" screen and smartphone-like touch functionalities as well as Industry 4.0 connectivity via adoption of Euromap and OPC UA protocols.

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.

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

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.

Medical-grade forceps are reverse engineered and molded from a bio-based polymer in record time thanks to 3D-printed inserts.

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.

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

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.

Sodick says the machines comply with Euromap 77, Euromap 82 and OPC UA communication protocols, enabling them to network with auxiliary devices and other equipment, with standard LAN ports facilitating connections to the company’s V Connect quality and production management system.

For several years now, Westminster Tool has explored the use of metal additive manufacturing in moldmaking applications in partnership with 3D-printing technology company Mantle Inc. On their most recent project — the production of medical-grade forceps using metal 3D-printed cavities — the companies were joined by Foster Corp., which provided a new glass-filled, bio-based polymer designed for medical devices.

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.

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