Injection Machines Use Novel Two-Stage Molding System - plastic injection press/Injection Machines Use Novel Two-Stage Molding System

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Injection Machines Use Novel Two-Stage Molding System - plastic injection press

Author：gly Date: 2024-09-30

Agreement between Eastman and Ethicon will put copolyester derived from recycled materials in sterile barrier applications.

A collaboration between show organizer PLASTICS, recycler CPR and size reduction experts WEIMA and Conair recovered and recycled all production scrap at NPE2024.

“Several of the parts are multishot components, adding another layer of complexity. I wouldn’t classify any of the parts as simple open-and-close molds.”

The coronavirus pandemic has exerted an unprecedented stress test on nearly every aspect of the U.S. economy, including plastics manufacturing. In the earliest days, machines idled from normal business paused by the outbreak, were rapidly repurposed for making whatever products could help right now, whether it was personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline medical personnel or valves for much-needed hospital ventilators.

As more plastics manufacturers step into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, insights have emerged about how best to approach the digital transformation journey.

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.

Modifications to the common core pin can be a simple solution, but don’t expect all resins to behave the same. Gas assist is also worth a try.

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

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.

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

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

Today, more than ever, granulation is an important step in the total production process. Our expert explains a few of the many common traps to avoid when thinking about granulators

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

Study shows the plastic compounding process is being used to boost electrical properties and UV resistance while custom compounding is increasingly being used to achieve high-performance in plastic-based goods.

With advocacy, communication and sustainability as three main pillars, Seaholm leads a trade association to NPE that ‘is more active today than we have ever been.’

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.

“We certainly have a common enemy here,” Manley says. “This isn’t about the competitive nature of tooling organizations or plastics companies; we do have a greater good to serve here. There’s a cadence of meetings where all partners are on the phone and are sharing all information in order to make sure another partner doesn’t have to go through the same hurdles we have. If we can share best practices, if we can learn from what they’ve done, or they can learn from what we’ve done and get to market faster, great, let’s do that.”

MGS’ ability to take on a project of this scale is a direct result of recent investments. In June 2019, the company announced an injection of $20 million into its Germantown headquarters, expanding its cleanroom molding with a new 13,000-ft2 Class 8 space that is the heart of its new Healthcare Center of Excellence. That new cleanroom houses 20 injection machines, ranging in clamp force from 160 to 650 tons, and it joins existing cleanrooms in Germantown that covered 15,000 ft2 and 6500 ft2, respectively. MGS has more than 100 molding machines and 300 employees in Germantown, and despite broader market difficulties, it anticipates hiring 40 new employees in 2020.

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

That work, in many ways, is just getting started. The continued need for personal protective equipment, testing, and components related to vaccine development and manufacturing, mean plastics’ role in responding to this crisis is just getting started.

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.

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.

MGS Manufacturing’s automation capabilities, paired with its injection molding and moldmaking capacity, came to play in it taking on the Covid-19 test kit job.

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

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

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 Indiana, successful Industry 4.0 implementation strategies have been revealed through more than 50 interviews with early adopters, many of which are in the plastics industry.

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.

“I’ve been a part of MGS for 24 years now, and truly, I’ve never been more proud to be a part of the organization than in the last couple of months.”

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

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.

Take time to identify the right technology use case: With more than a dozen technologies associated with Industry 4.0, the array of choices can complicate selection. Metro Plastics Technologies in Noblesville, Indiana, invested in a robot cell for high-volume, high-speed assembly to reduce labor costs and increase capacity. Cobots were not deployed in this situation as they are often better suited for low-volume, high-mix applications where manufacturing flexibility is required.

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.

Implementing a production monitoring system as the foundation of a ‘smart factory’ is about integrating people with new technology as much as it is about integrating machines and computers. Here are tips from a company that has gone through the process.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Since the outbreak took hold in the U.S., coronavirus testing has ramped up continuously, but the gap between where things stand and where they need to be, according to public health experts, remains wide. In April, when MGS first became involved, a daily average of just over 173,000 tests were being performed in the U.S. according to the COVID-19 tracking project. In May, that figure doubled to more than 343,000 tests/day—rising to 391,173 average daily tests over the last two weeks of the month. Given the size of the U.S. population—328 million people—and the extent of the outbreak here, Harvard’s Global Health Institute said the U.S. should be doing more than 900,000 tests per day.

As the molds are being completed, MGS is staging 18 injection molding machines in its ISO Class 8 cleanroom into a sort of “super cell” to allow coordinated molding of the components. The plan is to be in mass production by mid-September. When that time comes, Manley anticipates the monthly volume of individual parts for this project to be in the range of 12-15 million.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Develop an Industry 4.0 technology adoption road map: DeKalb Molded Plastics in Butler, Indiana, a firm that specializes in large, multicomponent plastic products for the medical, safety and transportation, and material handling industries, installed a new industrial robot to decrease operators’ direct interaction with injection molding machines. For DeKalb Molded Plastics, having a technology road map helped it prioritize its investments in automation technologies: first robotics, then collaborative robots (cobots).

The supplier of tooling, molding and assembly equipment is investing $20 million in its Germantown site, adding a Class 8 cleanroom and 20 presses, while consolidating its Illinois molding operations.

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.

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

While these best practices can create value for any manufacturing company looking to adopt new technologies, they are especially applicable for the plastics manufacturing subsector. With many end users and customers operating in the packaging, automotive and construction industries, supply chain partners may formally or informally request the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and systems. Plastics companies that don’t follow suit may risk the loss of future business contacts, and therefore should be willing to embrace digital transformation.

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.

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

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.

By the start of April, the immense scale of the challenge facing the country, and what plastics manufacturing’s role would be in rising to that task, began to come into focus. “Everyone knew that in order to have containment and not keep the country shut down—to have a more strategic approach to the outbreak—we needed information; we needed data; and we needed much, much more testing,” says Paul Manley, president of MGS Manufacturing, Germantown, Wis.

Driven by brand owner demands and new worldwide legislation, the entire supply chain is working toward the shift to circularity, with some evidence the circular economy has already begun.

“These are complex plastic parts,” Manley says. “We all understand the urgency of getting these to market, and in a suite of tools where lead times would typically be 18 to 20 weeks, we’re building them in six to eight weeks.” Manley says this testing kit, for which MGS cannot reveal the OEM, was on market, but it needed to be scaled up “exponentially.”

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

At that time, as the coronavirus pandemic pushed towards an initial apex in cases and deaths, MGS Manufacturing shifted from supplying tooling to a competitor for a new rapid molecular-level test kit for COVID-19 to taking a sizable portion of the moldmaking and injection molding for the project in-house. Founded in 1982 as Moldmakers Inc., the Wisconsin-based company that is now global with operations in Europe and Mexico has expanded into injection molding and custom automation, with a specialization in two-shot molds and molding and medical manufacturing. That amalgam of abilities put MGS in a special position help ramp up production of urgently needed test kits.

Ultimately, MGS signed on to build 18 injection molds, eight of those being multicomponent tools, by mid-July, giving the company approximately 10 weeks from project launch to sample parts from new molds with a streamlined validation process. The monumental moldmaking task was made possible by employees working 60- to 70-hr weeks and instituting split shifts in the toolroom to maximize equipment usage.

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.

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

MGS is limited in the specific information it can share about the individual elements of the project, but generally speaking, the job involves a number of components molded by MGS in tooling it is building. These components are then sent to the customer for assembly into a single-use consumable, including the reagent. After introduction of the patient’s sample, the consumable is inserted into the testing instrument. “Several of the parts are multishot components, adding another layer of complexity,” Manley says. “I wouldn’t classify any of the parts as simple open-and-close molds.”

The breakneck pace of the project, paired with the underlying challenge of running a complex manufacturing operation in the midst of a pandemic, could prompt many responses, but there has been one overriding sentiment for Manley.

“If we can share best practices, if we can learn from what they’ve done, or they can learn from what we’ve done and get to market faster, great, let’s do that.”

Invest in workforce development: The existing workforce is ready to learn digital skills and operate Industry 4.0 job functions. Emphasizing workforce development alongside the procurement of technology is the best way to maximize productivity. Michiana Global Mold in Mishawaka, Indiana, partners with the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) to teach digital and technical skills to its Michiana workforce. The company relies heavily on NTMA’s educational opportunities for workforce development alongside technology adoption. Called NTMA University, the program provides classroom training sessions to the workforce and leads to official credentials.

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.

“I’ve been a part of MGS for 24 years now,” Manley says, “and truly, I’ve never been more proud to be a part of the organization than in the last couple of months, seeing how so many people have responded so admirably.”

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

MGS Manufacturing is marshalling its injection molding, moldmaking and automation skills in a tightly compressed timeline to outfit the equivalent of a full-scale injection molding plant for COVID-19 test kits.

About the author: Ryan Henderson serves as the director of innovation and digital transformation at Conexus Indiana. Ryan came to Conexus Indiana from the Heritage Group Accelerator Powered by Techstars, where he helped 10 tech startups grow from early-stage to venture-backed companies. Before Techstars, Ryan worked at Current, Chicago’s water innovation hub. He helped build demonstration projects and pilots, and ran various events to accelerate the adoption of innovative water technologies. Most notably, Ryan supported the development of H2NOW Chicago, a first-of-its-kind pilot project aimed at providing real-time water quality data from the Chicago River to the general public. Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Illinois University, and a master’s degree in sustainability management from DePaul University.

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.

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.

As Conexus Indiana, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Indiana’s advanced manufacturing industry, and the state of Indiana continue to support manufacturers on their Industry 4.0 journeys — including cobots, additive manufacturing, robotics and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) — several best practices have been established. Four examples from plastics companies are:

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

Engage the ecosystem of technology integrators: Dozens of companies have benefited from working with a technology integrator or automation solution provider. These trusted partners have specific expertise in delivering and deploying Industry 4.0 solutions into production environments, and they often assist through the full life cycle of planning, implementation and workforce training. For Konrady Plastics in Portage, Indiana, deploying two cobots paired with their HAAS lathes for machine tending was completed with the help of Fusion Robotics/RoboJob-USA. More specifically, Fusion provided software integration support between the lathes and cobots.

As of June 1, 17.6 million tests had been completed in the U.S.—a staggering figure when considering the sheer volume of molded components required. The total number of individual tests created and completed in just a few months were equivalent to light-vehicles sales in the country for an entire year. Additionally, this output was for a wholly new line of products requiring new tooling and validation, with a ramp-up of just weeks rather than months.

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.

To complete the 18 new molds required for the COVID-19 test kits, MGS’s toolroom saw employees working 60-70 hr weeks with split shifts instituted to maximize equipment usage.

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

Michiana Global Mold partners with the National Tooling & Machining Association on workforce development. Photo Credit: Conexus

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

Plastics processors are finding applications for 3D printing around the plant and across the supply chain. Here are 8 examples to look for at NPE2024.

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

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.

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.

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

That pride extends to the broader U.S. manufacturing base, which leapt into action to address the outbreak from the very beginning. “Whether it be transport tubes and caps for sample collection for testing or these rapid test kits,” Manley says, “all of it has been a testament—and I’m sure this is what many companies are seeing—but a testament to the great work that U.S. manufacturers do here.”

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

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

“The ability to take something designed for half a million or a million tests per month and scale it to 5 to 10 million tests per month—in a very compressed time frame—is a challenge,” Manley says, with considerable understatement.

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

It’s no surprise to those familiar with manufacturing in the Midwest that plastics manufacturers have benefited from this program. Plastics is Indiana’s sixth largest advanced manufacturing sector and is expected to grow over the next five years by nearly 1,400 jobs supporting many critical industry subsectors, including automotive, transportation and medical. Nationally, Indiana ranks seventh in plastics industry employment, according to the Plastics Industry Association.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

If the country ever gets to that last figure—theoretically completing 27.9 million tests in a month—it will be by virtue of the efforts of manufacturers like MGS and the suppliers that support them.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spectrum Plastics Group offers customers two technology hubs — one for extrusion, the other for additive manufacturing — to help bring ground-breaking products to market faster.

“Our customer, who was familiar with MGS and our unique capabilities, saw us as a perfect partner to help scale these components,” Manley explains. “I say unique capabilities because there are a lot of really good toolmakers in the United States and a lot of really good injection molding companies. There are also a lot of companies that build automation, but at MGS, our integrated solution, our unique value proposition, is that we do all three.”

Extrusion simulations can be useful in anticipating issues and running “what-if” scenarios to size extruders and design dies for extrusion projects. It should be used at early stages of any project to avoid trial and error and remaking tooling.

MGS Manufacturing’s Healthcare Center of Excellence, including its ISO Class 8 cleanroom, made it uniquely suited to tackle molding of components for COVID-19 test kits.

The interviews come from companies that have received matching grants from a state-supported program launched in mid-2020 to help Indiana manufacturers deploy Industry 4.0 technologies in their production processes. To date, the Indiana Manufacturing Readiness Grants program and the state of Indiana have awarded $45 million in matching grants to more than 420 Indiana manufacturers, supporting $628 million in technology-enabled capital investment.