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.

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

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.

Companies Covered in Injection Molding Machine Market Research Report are ELECTRONICA PLASTIC MACHINES LIMITED, Engel Austria GmbH, NISSEI AMERICA, INC., Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Milacron Holdings Corp., Haitian International, Ved Machinery, Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., Arburg GmbH + Co KG, Japan Steel Works, Ltd., Chen Hsong Holdings Limited

Liquid-crystal polymers debuted in the mid-1980s, but the history of the chemistry associated with this class of materials actually starts a century earlier.

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

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.

Don’t assume you know everything there is to know about PE because it’s been around so long. Here is yet another example of how the performance of PE is influenced by molecular weight and density.

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.

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

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.

Automated Guided Vehicle Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Tow Vehicles, Automated Forklift Trucks, Underride/Tunnelling Vehicles, Assembly Line Vehicles, and Others), By Navigation Technology (Laser Guided, Magnetic Guided, Vision Guided, and Others), By Application (Transportation & Distribution, Storage & Assembly, and Packaging), By Industry (Automotive, Food & Beverage, E-Commerce, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2022-2029

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).

Key players in this market are constantly engaged in developing injection molding machines that are cost-effective and energy-efficient. By offering future-proof solutions to end-users, these companies are able to broaden and deepen their presence in the market and expand their operations globally.

As an example, the HDPE in this figure has a melting point of 132°C (270°F) and the heat of fusion is approximately 220 J/g. This represents the energy required to convert the solid HDPE to a fluid and it includes a requirement in addition to the energy needed to increase the temperature of the material to the desired processing temperature. It should also be noted that when the material cools back to the solid state, this energy comes back out of the material and must be managed by the cooling system in the mold. This is one of the reasons that cycle times in semi-crystalline materials tend to be longer than expected.

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

FIG 2 Melting behavior for a variety of semi-crystalline polymers: In each case the melting process is clearly identified by a curve that departs from the baseline and then returns to the baseline once melting is complete. The melting point is identified as the temperature at which the peak occurs; the energy required to melt the crystals (latent heat of fusion) is measured by the area under the curve.

HEPA Filters Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Application (Air Purifiers, HVAC Filters, Cleanroom Filters, Automotive Filters and Gas Turbine Filters), By End-User (Household, Commercial & Industrial) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

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

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.

Figure 3 shows the measurement of the “melting” behavior of an LCP using the same instrumentation employed in Fig. 2. The event is barely visible at 337°C (639°F) and the energy associated with the transition is only 1 J/g, infinitesimal compared to the energy needed to melt a conventional semi-crystalline polymer. This leads to a lot of confusion within the industry about whether LCPs are semi-crystalline or amorphous. They do, indeed, possess a crystal structure. But this structure does not truly melt when the material is converted from solid pellets to molten flowing polymer and almost no energy is required to effect the change of state. By the same token, upon cooling to the solid state almost no additional energy is released.

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.

Making the material accessible to mainstream manufacturing involved adjusting the chemistry to produce manageable melting points. This was achieved by incorporating comonomers into the polymer backbone to reduce the melting point of the resulting polymer. An example of this is hydroxynaphthenoic acid, which produces the chemistry shown in Fig. 1. By adjusting the ratio of these two monomers, the transition temperature from solid to a system that flows like a liquid can be altered to meet different performance profiles.

Pune, India, April 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global injection molding machine market is projected to reach USD 20.49 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period. Advent of smart manufacturing technologies will generate numerous innovation opportunities in this market, shares Fortune Business Insights™ in its report, titled “Injection Molding Machine Market Size, Share and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Plastic, Metal, Rubber, Ceramic, Others), By Machine Type (Electric, Hydraulic, and Hybrid), By Clamping Force (0 - 200 Ton Force, 201 - 500 Ton Force, and Above 500 Ton Force), By End-use Industry (Packaging, Automotive, Electronics and Telecommunication, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Sepe is an independent materials and processing consultant based in Sedona, Ariz., with clients throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. He has more than 45 years of experience in the plastics industry and assists clients with material selection, designing for manufacturability, process optimization, troubleshooting and failure analysis. Contact: (928) 203-0408 • mike@thematerialanalyst.com

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

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 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

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has unprecedented uncertainty across industries, hampering investments in new technologies and creation of employment. The injection molding machine market growth is likely to get impacted as well owing to the reduced labor force working in manufacturing plants amid the pandemic. In India, for example, the sudden lockdown announced in March 2020 to contain the spread of the infection forced a huge number of migrant workers, most of who are employed in the country’s burgeoning small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, to leave for their native places. In the US, to take another example, a survey conducted by the National Association of Manufacturers revealed that 53.1% of manufacturers foresee changes in production operations, while 35.5% have been facing issues due to supply chain disruptions. The uptick for this market is the surging demand for plastic medical devices, which are extensively manufactured by injection molding machines. Thus, the demand for these machines from the medical device industry may offset the losses from other industries to a limited extent for players in this market.

These humble but essential fasteners used in injection molds are known by various names and used for a number of purposes.

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

Parts molded in LCPs should provide for much shorter cycle times than the same parts molded in a conventional semi-crystalline material.

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.

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.

The majority of the polymers that today we rely on for outstanding performance — such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylsulfone and PPS — were introduced in the period between 1965 and 1985. Here’s how they entered your toolbox of engineering of materials.

Traditional data sheets only use one metric for evaluating elevated-temperature performance, the deflection temperature under load (DTUL or HDT). Because of the high solid-to-liquid transition temperatures of these materials and the fact that almost all grades are highly filled, the values for this property are very impressive. Values for 30% glassfiber-reinforced grades are typically above 205°C (401°F) and sometimes exceed 260°C (500°F). However, an examination of the temperature-dependent behavior of the materials by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) shows that LCPs do not display extended temperature ranges where the modulus of the material is stable, as is typical with most other polymers.

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

Consequently, parts molded in LCPs should provide for much shorter cycle times than the same parts molded in a conventional semi-crystalline material. In addition, because the change from the molten state to the solid state does not involve the typical significant phase change, a lot of the problems that we encounter when molding parts from semi-crystalline materials do not occur with LCP. These include high levels of shrinkage, anisotropic shrinkage, and localized differences in density within the structure that all can result in warpage and dimensional variability. This comparative stability is more typical of amorphous polymers.

The global injection molding machine market size was USD 15.39 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 20.49 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period.

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

September 2019: Milacron Holdings showcased its Advanced Plastic Processing Technologies at K 2019, the world’s biggest plastics trade fair, held in Dusseldorf, Germany. Milacron’s product display included CIMCOOL, TIRAD, DME, and Mold-Masters.

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.

The biggest barrier to the use of LCP is cost. But this is usually thought of solely in terms of cost per pound and can be a shortsighted approach. The low thermal barrier between solid and molten polymer results in the potential for very fast cycles when compared with potential competitors like glass-filled nylons, PET and PBT polyesters, and PPS. This will result in the ability to meet production requirements with smaller molds and lower cavitation.

Instead, as shown in Fig. 4, the modulus declines steadily with temperature and this rate of decline increases as temperatures rise. This translates into relatively poor creep resistance despite the high degree of stiffness exhibited by the materials at room temperature. This assessment was contested by suppliers of the materials in the early days. However, in later years blends of LCP with various nylons or PPS were commercialized to compensate for this weakness.

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.

An example of this can be seen in a commercial product line such as the Vectra materials from Celanese. The accompanying table shows a variety of grades and their associated melting points and related melt-temperature processing ranges as published in the literature. Higher-heat grades employ a higher percentage of the hydroxybenzoic units in the polymer backbone.

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.

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

At USD 6.01 billion, Asia Pacific dictated the injection molding machine market share in 2019 and is predicted to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period. This will mainly be a result of robust growth of industries in the region, especially in the SME sector in countries such as India, China, and Vietnam. In addition, government policies supporting manufacturing activities will further encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, benefiting the market in general.

To properly understand the differences in performance between PET and PBT we need to compare apples to apples—the semi-crystalline forms of each polymer.

The market report provides an in-depth analysis of several factors such as the key drivers and restraints that will impact growth. The report further provides insights into the regional analysis covering different regions, contributing to the market growth. It includes the competitive landscape that involves the leading companies and the adoption of strategies to introduce new products, announce partnerships, and collaborate to further contribute to the market growth. Moreover, the research analyst has adopted several research methodologies such as PORTER’s Five Point analysis to obtain information about the current trends and industry developments that will drive the market growth between 2020 and 2027.

As we mentioned in Part 27 of this series in March, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs) based on the single monomer, p-hydroxybenzoic acid produce a polymer with a melting point of approximately 500°C (932°F). This presents two problems. First, most melt-processing equipment is limited to a temperature of 421°C (800°F). Second, even if our equipment could reach these extreme temperatures, the polymer would undergo thermal degradation before it reached the melting point, making it similar to Kevlar, an LCP based on polyamide chemistry that is not melt processable.

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.

Addressing hot-runner benefits, improvements, and everyday issues from the perspective of decades of experience with probably every brand on the market. Part 1 of 2.

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.

September 2020: Engel Austria announced the inclusion of the new e-mac 130, which has a clamping force of 1300kN, in its all-electric injection molding machine suite. The new addition will allow the company to entrench its position as the leading supplier of electric injection molding solutions.

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

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.

In North America, quick adoption of advanced manufacturing equipment and technologies to compensate the lack of labor will favor the market in the region. In Europe, on the other hand, manufacturers are facing major hurdles in the form of stringent environmental regulations, which is dampening the regional prospects of the market.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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

Of course, the term melting point must be used carefully in reference to the behavior of LCPs since, by definition, the transition from solid to molten does not involve a true breaking up of the crystal structure. This can be observed when studying the phase change associated with the melting of a semi-crystalline polymer. Figure 2 shows the melting behavior for a variety of semi-crystalline polymers. In each case the melting process is clearly identified by a curve that departs from the baseline and then returns to the baseline once the melting process is complete. The melting point is identified as the temperature at which the peak occurs, and the energy required to melt the crystals, known as the latent heat of fusion, is measured by the area under the curve.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

New-age, smart technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have revolutionized manufacturing processes. For example, in the injection molding domain, machines and equipment are embedded with sensors that collect and transmit data to a central system, where they are analyzed. The key feature of these technologies is that they eliminate the need for human intervention. Injection molding machines are widely utilized in manufacturing essential items made from plastics and metals. With the integration of AI and IoT, these machines can work at higher efficiencies compared to their conventional counterparts and this factor is expected to create wide-ranging opportunities for players in this market.

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

Liquid-crystal polymers based on a single monomer produces a polymer with a very high melting point.This presents two problems. Here’s how they were solved.

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

Baggage Handling System Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Destination coded vehicle (DCV), Conveyor), By Technology (Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Barcode), By Application (Airport, Railway, Marine), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

On the positive side, while LCP materials are primarily polyesters, the high degree of aromatic character in the polymer backbone prevents a well-known weakness in polyesters — a tendency to undergo hydrolysis. This is a useful characteristic for processors as well as for end users who require durability in environments where high heat and humidity are present.

One of the most notable characteristics of LCP materials is their low melt viscosity. Even with the addition of significant amounts of filler and reinforcing fiber, these materials possess perhaps the lowest viscosity of any molten polymer at high shear rates, allowing for the filling of very thin sections. In addition, this class of materials exhibits inherent flame retardance and very high relative thermal indices. However, the high degree of alignment of the polymer chains and the fact that the molten polymer does not lose its crystal structure even when flowing means that the weld-line strength of the materials is among the lowest of all polymers.

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, in turn, translates to lower manufacturing costs and less variation due to potential imbalances in mold filling in a multi-cavity mold. When combined with the improved dimensional stability, predictability of shrinkage, resistance to warpage, and very low melt viscosity, these considerations can result in a lower total cost despite the higher price of the raw material.