Bottles Or Bags - bottle cap injection molding

PET prices in May were poised to drop by 1¢ to 1.5¢/lb based on raw material formulation costs, particularly a drop in paraxylene, according to Mark Kallman, RTi’s vice president of PVC, PET and engineering resins. Kallman ventures that prices would then reverse to March-April levels for most of the third quarter. He characterized resin availability as strong, with competitively priced imports continuing to be a factor despite higher freight costs. “Demand is a bit improved but not robust.”

Meanwhile, Trinseo commenced a sale process for its 50% ownership in Americas Styrenics (“AmSty”, The Woodlands, Texas), a joint venture with Chevron Phillips Chemical, which is anticipated to take place by early 2025. There are also industry rumors that Total Energies, which operates a styrene monomer plant in a 50% joint venture with SABIC and a Total PS unit, said to be one of the world’s largest, both in Carvilee, Louisiana, may also be looking to divest of this styrenics business.

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.

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

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.

Both Barry and Newell saw uncertainty in terms of propylene availability and PP demand that, while better than fourth quarter 2023, was generally slower than previous years. A key issue is propylene availability, which they described as still relatively tight with a planned shutdown of one PDH plant scheduled for June. “While PP demand in April was up, it was difficult to discern whether this was due to ‘real demand’ versus prebuying as PP prices dropped. We’ll soon find out,” Newell notes.

Polystyrene prices rolled over in May, following April’s trend, and the trend for June-July time frame was for continued flat pricing to possibly lower, according to PCW’s Barry and resin pricing expert Robin Chesshier. This following first quarter prices increases totaling 10¢/lb, driven primarily by benzene prices. Based on market fundamentals while barring any major supply disruption, PS prices could remain relatively stable.

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.

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

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.

April brought on an unexpected resin price increase for PE as well as price increases for the four volume resins — ABS, PC, and nylons 6 and 66, which were primarily based on higher feedstock costs versus a surge in demand or supply issues. The April-May time frame saw significant price decreases for PP and less so for PET, while PS and PVC prices remained flat.

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

Prices of nylon 6 moved up 7¢/lb-to-9¢/lb in by April, though suppliers sought increases of up to 24¢/lb. This following downward pricing in fourth quarter of last year, according to Kevin Mekaru, RTi’s senior business unit leader, commodity plastics. Based on lower or steady costs of key feedstocks including caprolactum, propylene and benzene, he ventured relatively flat pricing through third quarter.

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.

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

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.

PVC prices appeared to be poised for relative stability, following unusual back-to-back increases totaling 6¢/lb through April, according to Paul Pavlov, RTi’s vice president of PP and PVC, and PCW’s Associate Director PVC & Pipe Donna Todd. “Demand is relatively robust — particularly due to infrastructure projects, yet still not as robust as years past,” Pavlov says. He said domestic demand for PVC was up by nearly 10% with exports up 3%. At the same time, he noted that both Shintech and Formosa were bringing on new PVC capacity this summer with improved pricing offers likely to be had.

Polyethylene prices moved up 3¢/lb in April, though it does not appear the increase was fully implemented across the market, according to PCW’s Associate Director for PE, PP, and PS David Barry as well as Greenberg, Burns and Chesshier. This, as different results came from the two leading indices —one assessing a 3¢/lb price hike while the other rolled over prices.

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

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.

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

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 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

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

Noting the April increase — led by unexpected above-average demand boosted supplier margins and challenged the full return of the January increase — Burns ventured that the continuation of neither feedstock pressure nor production issues, PE stable prices with ample inventory appeared to be the scenario prior to the advent of the annual hurricane season. PCW’s Barry described overall demand as returning to “normal levels” versus prebuying activity, with spot market prices as pretty stable. Resin pricing expert Chesshier ventured the potential for a price reduction in June and uncertainty for July due to active weather forecasts.

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.

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.

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.

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

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

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

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

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.

Polypropylene prices in May were largely expected to drop by about 2¢/lb, in step with propylene monomer, following the long awaited industry price adjustment in April of a 10¢/lb reduction, with generally ‘stable’ pricing projected for the June-July time frame, according to Barry, Newell and Greenberg. Meanwhile, at least one PP supplier was out with a 3¢/lb margin increase for May, though support was unlikely. These sources concede that PP pricing is likely to continue tracking the monomer.

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).

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Overall, projections for conclusion of the second quarter were for relatively stable prices pretty much across the board for these resins. However, there was the caveat of what is considered a “bullish” forecast for the 2024 hurricane season. The potential for unscheduled production shutdowns and associated transportation issues that could result would change this pricing scenario.

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.

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

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

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.

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

In this collection, 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.

Baystar's Borstar technology is helping customers deliver better, more reliable production methods to greenhouse agriculture.

Reports Greenberg, “The Plastics Exchange spot PE prices averaged down 1¢/lb in April.” He characterized the domestic market as fairly firm and tightly supplied in May, and ventured the 3¢/lb increase could become fully implemented by month’s end. Meanwhile, PE suppliers were out with a 3¢/lb May increase, though this was not expected to materialize.

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.

Greenberg ventured that monomer and PP pricing was likely to be flat and noted that PP inventories were down a bit by May’s end and that suppliers need to crank up production, as PP plant operating rates have been largely in the mid-70s percentile. Meanwhile, Canada’s Heartland Polymers restarted its PDH unit and is characterized as “aggressive” in selling its PP homopolymer and random copolymer resins, while Formosa brought on a new PP production unit at Point Comfort, Texas.

While price initiatives for PE and PVC were underway, resin prices had rollover potential for first two months of 2024, perhaps with the exception of PET.

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.

ABS prices moved up 4¢/lb to 5¢/lb by April, though suppliers had sought 7¢/lb-to-9¢/lb, based on price escalation in key feedstocks such as benzene, according to Kallman. Despite one major supplier seeking a new price hike, Kallman ventured unlikely support for it and that relatively stable pricing would continue through third quarter. He characterized demand as “steady.”

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.

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.

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

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.

Prices of nylon 66 moved up 5¢/lb-to-7¢/lb by April, though suppliers sought increases in the double digits, according to Kallman. He characterized the market as steady with lower raw material costs that can well translate to relatively stable pricing for most of third quarter.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

Polycarbonate prices moved up between 3¢/lb-to-5¢/lb by April, despite suppliers seeking increases of 10¢/lb, and forward pricing for third quarter is likely to be relatively stable, according to Kallman. As previously reported, prices dropped 3¢/lb-to-5¢/lb in the January-February time frame. Kallman characterized demand as static with good supply, including well-priced imports. But noted that both SABIC and Trinseo have plans to shutter PC plant production in Europe due to major new capacity brought on by China.

These are the views of purchasing consultants from Resin Technology Inc. (RTi); senior analysts from Houston-based PetroChemWire (PCW); CEO Michael Greenberg of The Plastics Exchange; Scott Newell, executive vice president, polyolefins at distributor/compounder Spartan Polymers; Mike Burns of Plastic Resin Market Advisors; and resin pricing expert Robin Chesshier.

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.