electronics field - pbt injection molding

For example, Kaufman explains that there may be some materials that are less expensive or whose prices correlate more with falling oil prices: Polycarbonate prices are not expected to fall in line with oil prices, for instance. While there may be alternative materials to polycarbonate that are in line with oil prices, Kaufman notes that "a big consideration is the timing and cost to approve the alternate material and whether or not the material change would be feasible."

A company source told PT that, historially, Supersoft golf balls primarily used partially neutralized ionomer materials in the cover and that 2021, is the first time the Supersoft balls will benefit from the advanced technology multi-material cover. The cores of both ERC Soft and Supersoft are cross-linked polybutadiene rubber compounds. According to this source, Callaway uses proprietary, medical-device-grade injection molding technology to produce the balls. This dynamic, multi-material composition of the golf ball shell and core reportedly promotes key player benefits, including long distance, exceptional spin, softer feel and short game control.

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.

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.

NPE2024: Live demos of updated RGS controller are among the highlights at its Wisconsin facility that will house the ‘new’ color R&D lab.

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

Given that the price of oil has fallen even more since Kaufman's white paper came out last year, PlasticsToday will provide an update of this information within the next month.

With the price of oil hovering around $30 a barrel, many manufacturers who buy plastic components are wondering why their processor hasn't lowered the part price accordingly.

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.

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.

I guess we're used to looking at the price at the gas pump: When the price of oil goes up or down, so does the price at the pump. There is a close correspondence between the two. For plastic materials, things aren't exactly like that. The price of oil does not have a direct correlation with the price of a plastic part.

According to Matt Kaufman, Lead Consultant for Advanced Purchasing Dynamics (Plymouth, MI), the dramatic drop in the price of oil along with over-supply has created some market dynamics that we've not experienced in a while. Kaufman, who has many years in the resins industry and is familiar with pricing, notes in a white paper he published a year ago that "each feedstock has a different correlation factor to oil that is influenced by supply and demand of the feedstock, manufacturing process and region of the world [where] the product is produced." He emphasizes that "not all plastics start with crude oil as their primary building block."

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

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.

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.

"By spend coverage, 42% (of those surveyed) had index-based contracts with automatic adjustments for resin movements, and 58% had annual contracts with no automatic adjustments," Kaufman says. "These annual contracts were primarily firm price contracts, with some open to negotiation. Specific to the automatically adjusted contracts, we asked about the frequency of adjustments, with the most common being quarterly at 50%, semi-annually at 33%, and monthly at 17%."

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.

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

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

What is said to represent a next-generation, enhanced performance  golf balls from Callaway Golf Company feature a hybrid cover that includes an acrylic impact modifier from Dow, Midland, Mich. The newly released ERC Soft and Supersoft golf balls from this industry leader in golf equipment and innovation feature a hybrid cover of a proprietary blend of Dow’s Surlyn ionomers infused with one of its Paraloid acrylic modifier.

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

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

Finally, Kaufman advises resin buyers (processors) to reassess the type of pricing mechanism used to negotiate for resins. "Consider different price mechanisms such as negotiated market prices, index to resin price, raw material formula price or cost plus, and fixed price/fixed with collar or band," he says. (In collar or band arrangements—the terms are synonymous—both parties first agree on a fixed price but also agree to some level of pricing movement under certain circumstances, such as when the index price of a resin fluctuates. These circumstances are managed by means of a collar or band, which is described in the agreement.)

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.

Some processors have contracts with their largest OEM customers, while others have looser arrangements that may involve looking at part pricing every quarter or six months or even annually. Kaufman addresses this issue by giving the results of a survey of OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers taken a year ago, regarding the types of pricing contracts that they had with their plastics suppliers and looking at two key areas: Assessing the impact of the existing supplier contracts on potential savings opportunities and understanding the resin content and cost of plastic parts.

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).

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.

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.

Kaufman next answers the question of how the OEM—the buyer of plastic components—can take advantage of lower prices. "Lower resin prices should translate to lower pricing for plastic components," he said. "In most contractual relationships this does not happen automatically. The buyer [of the parts] must initiate action!"

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

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

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

Kaufman answers the question of how buyers of resins (the processors) can take advantage of lower prices, and how you might explain to your customers movement in the price of their parts.

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

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.

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.

Dow’s Paraloid additives portfolio reportedly enables the formulation of specialty high-performance compounds and composites and offers excellent compatibility with other resins when mixed by various melt processing techniques. In addition to durable goods such as sporting equipment, these additives have been shown to strengthen and toughen a broad range of thermoset and thermoplastic polymer systems for building products, automotive, and electronics applications with properties that are critical to withstand the most challenging conditions.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

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

Parts pricing is always a thorny issue, and it has become more so given the low price of oil. As Kaufman explains, it is important to understand the price change frequency of each resin by supplier and family, and question the frequency that should be modified—annually, quarterly or monthly? Next, re-examine the correlation between "buy-side" and "sell-side" resin prices. "If market prices drop in February, your customer may expect an immediate price decrease, even though your supplier contract does not require an adjustment until April or even July," says Kaufman. "This may be an opportune time to re-examine those contracts and synchronize your ‘buy-side' with your ‘sell-side' contracts."

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

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

So what do you tell customers when they observe that the price of oil and natural gas is fluctuating, be it up or down, as either condition can lead to customers making that call about part pricing. The drop in oil certainly has caused pricing, particularly in commodity resins, to drop, since resins are produced as by-products of oil and natural gas processing.

"We use breakdowns and cost models in our client engagements and also teach their use in our training curriculum," says Kaufman. "There are several benefits to using this approach from the buyer viewpoint and for suppliers:

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.

With the price of oil hovering around $30 a barrel, many manufacturers who buy plastic components are wondering why their processor hasn't lowered the part price accordingly.I guess we're used to looking at the price at the gas pump: When the price of oil goes up or down, so does the price at the pump. There is a close correspondence between the two. For plastic materials, things aren't exactly like that. The price of oil does not have a direct correlation with the price of a plastic part.

Noted Callaway global golf ball director Jason Finley,“This new Hybrid Cover with a Paraloid impact modifier from Dow creates a high-performance, multi-material golf ball construction,” said “In our ERC Soft and Supersoft Golf Balls, this innovative cover promotes high launch and low spin characteristics for long distance, great feel, durability and outstanding control to help benefit a wide range of players. And thanks to PARALOID, we are able to deliver all of this with exceptional ball speed and spin performance.”

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.

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

Finally, Advanced Purchasing Dynamics believes that obtaining and using supplier cost breakdown information is fundamental to eliminating cost from the supply chain and arriving at win/win solutions.

While all plastics are made from fossil fuels, Kaufman notes that "some are manufactured from natural gas, while others start with crude oil." As the natural gas price began to decline with shale drilling in the United States, "plastics derived from natural gas have most likely already experienced a feedstock price advantage, while the oil-derived resins are just starting to see the effect." Kaufman, who is working on an update to last year's report, says that once molders and their customers "are able to understand a plastic's origin, you can move to predict a feedstock's price trends."

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

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

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.

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.

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

it can change the tenor of negotiations from positional (win/lose) to less-stressful, more-collaborative, partnership-based negotiations;

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

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.

From the OEM's standpoint, Kaufman recommends awareness of the resin grades used in plastic components by consulting industry publications, such as those put out by IHS, "to understand recent and projected resin prices as well as feedstock/manufacturing costs. The cost information is important because, as market prices are going down, costs to produce resins may be falling even further and more rapidly." This information can then be used to "challenge any outdated information, such as material alternatives, part weights, etc."

Said Ian Drake, Dow Plastics Additives’ global technical director “The Dow and Callaway teams bring together unmatched R&D expertise and a profound understanding of the game and those who play it to create the latest innovation in golf ball technology. New and bold collaborations such as this are key to advancing science, as well as the adoption of innovative technologies that can better the world of sports and beyond.”

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

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.

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.

Dow’s Paraloid impact modifier and a proprietary blend of Surlyn ionomers make up the hybrid cover of Callaway’s new ERC Soft and Supersoft golf balls.

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.

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

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