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

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

SABIC’s new Noryl GTX 9500 resin boasts superior dimensional stability, retaining improved balance of mechanical properties when exposed to heat and humidity in underhood and other applications.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 newest addition to the range of unfilled Noryl GTX family of nylon and modified PPE resins from SABIC is said to deliver superior dimensional stability under hot and humid conditions in highly demanding automotive applications. Noryl GTX 9500 has been shown to retain a better balance of mechanical properties when exposed to heat and humidity typical of automotive underhood environments, than nylons 6 and 66 resins, along with comparable high-flow and high-temperature performance.

Operating within guidelines from material suppliers can produce levels of polymer degradation. Get around it with better control over either the temperature of the melt or the barrel residence time.

Netstal will also provide mould partner Ceylan with an all-electric Elion 2200, which will produce 150g margarine trays with IML decoration in four cavities. Eurasia Robotic created the IML system with side removal, camera control, and packaging unit.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Its dimensional stability and mechanical property retention under a wider range of temperatures and humidity – together with high flow performance – can open opportunities for thin-wall designs that reduce weight. Target applications include vehicle junction boxes, connectors and other applications requiring dimensional stability. This material also demonstrates a potential for use as the base resin in carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites used in structural and body components, and for applications in the industrial, aerospace and marine markets.

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

Smart Operation, only available as a paid option in past models, has been implemented into the scope of delivery from Axos 9. It claims to facilitate the fast, safe, and effective operation of Elion and Elios machinery.

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

Reportedly, the filling volume of the cup is 200g, its part weight 5.4g, and its wall thickness 0.3mm. Injection compression moulding, or ICM, claims to reduce the cup’s weight by 34% and, when combined with product optimization, lowers packaging volume by 27%.

Netstal is displaying a lightweight, thin-wall, injection compression moulded cup for dairy products, reportedly made of 100% polypropylene, at Fakuma.

The strong tendency of nylon resins to absorb moisture and water, which is exacerbated by elevated temperatures, may cause softening, loss of stiffness and warpage. Noryl GTX 9500 resin offers significantly lower water and moisture uptake than nylon, even under high heat conditions, up to 150 C/302 F. In fact, SABIC testing demonstrated that this resin absorbed 21%  less moisture at equilibrium than nylon 66, and 58% less than nylon 6. With moisture absorption at equilibrium, GTX 9500 surpassed nylon in dimensional stability. GTX 9500 resin had a total dimensional change (flow direction and crossflow direction) at equilibrium of 0.29%, while nylon 66 has a total change of 84% and nylon 6 had a total change of 165% higher than this Noryl resin. This improved dimensional stability offers benefits for moisture-sensitive applications, including reducing warpage to minimize scrap rates and enabling designs with thinner walls to support light-weighting. The resin also demonstrates  exceptional retention of mechanical properties – flexural modulus, tensile modulus and flexural strength – under wet conditions compared to nylons 6 and 66.  This material also surpasses incumbent Noryl GTX grades in terms of water and moisture uptake, dimensional stability and property retention.

Glaroform, Beck Automation, SABIC, IPB Printing, motan, Regloplas, and Uniform Color also contributed to the creation of the pack, with dairy product bottler Emmi AG also serving as a development partner. The cup’s previous appearance has been maintained while its specifications have been tailored to Emmi’s requirements.

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

The thin wall is manufactured in four cavities at a cycle time of 2.7 seconds in an Elion 1750 injection moulding machine with a hybrid injection unit. Adaptive system pressure reduction has also been applied in an effort to increase the efficiency of its hybrid machines.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 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

Is a two-year-old hygroscopic resin kept in its original packaging still useful? Let’s try to answer that question and clear up some misconceptions.

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.

Additionally, Netstal is showcasing Axos 9, the newest generation of its control technology. Set to be applied to the Elion and Elios series machines, the technology comes with an operating concept expected to maximise performance.

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.

Price relief is expected to continue through the fourth quarter for nine major commodity and engineering resins, driven by widespread supply/demand imbalances.

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.

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.

It offers a show weight of 42g and a cycle time of 3.8 seconds, and the turnkey production line will run at Ceylan’s booth at Fakuma.

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.

Previously, ENGEL, ALPLA Group, Brink and IPB Printing collectively produced thin-walled containers made of PET and rPET in a single injection moulding process step; and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag expanded its IntElect S all-electric high-performance injection moulding machine range to explore low part weights, narrow tolerance components, and other product applications.

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

When operating in automatic mode, the control system identifies the optimum point at any time and adjusts the pressure in the hydraulic system. Netstal states that, depending on the application, this adjustment can minimize the energy consumption required to reach the appropriate system pressure.

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

Join 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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

A collaboration between Plastiques Venthenat, Amcor, Olga, Cedap, and Arcil-Synerlink has also resulted in a form-fill-seal yoghurt pot that claims to be fully recycle-ready. Its 98.5% polystyrene content is expected to smoothen the sorting and recycling processes.

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.

Due to its mono-material design, it is said to be easy to recycle. The label apparently comes apart from the rest of the pack during the recycling process – unlike a conventional in-mould label – and the printing ink particles are separated from the pure polypropylene to keep the recycling stream from becoming contaminated.

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