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.

Injection molding services for hardware, appliances, doors, and windows. Works with acetal, nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), low and high density polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), and polypropylene (PP) materials. Cleanroom services are provided. Caps, fasteners, plugs, swabs, sockets, spacers, bushings, and washers are also offered. Prototypes and high volume production runs are available. Designing, engineering, tooling, and inventory management are offered as secondary services. Serves construction, medical, pharmaceutical, telecommunication, transportation, food, and beverage industries.

The Rodon Group, one of the largest family-owned and operated plastic injection molders in the U.S., has added a Baxter robot to their factory floor in Hatfield, PA. See how employees work alongside Baxter, their robotic manufacturing assistant and co-worker.

The Rodon Group is proud to announce the launch of our newly redesigned website https://www.rodongroup.com/. Based on both customer and employee feedback, we’ve streamlined and enhanced our site using the latest technology to provide the best possible user experience for our customers and fellow industry professionals. With new user-friendly, intuitive design and various new educational resources, we’ve made it easier than ever to get started on your next high-volume project. What’s New? Let’s take a look at some of the new features our new website has to offer: Responsive Mobile Site In addition to redesigning our website for desktop and laptop, we’ve also accounted for the fact that people are now using technology everywhere - in the office, at home, while traveling. Our new website is responsive and reliable on mobile phone and tablet, so you can navigate our website with ease, whether at your desk or on the production floor. Resource and Media Libraries Our new Resource Library offers free informative guides, catalogs, and helpful industry information available for download. Our eBook titles include: “An Introduction to Plastic Injection Molding” “How to Manufacture a Perfect Plastic Part” and “10 Must-Ask Questions when Choosing a Plastic Injection Molder,” all of which provide valuable industry insights and answers to frequently asked questions customers about the plastic injection molding process. We also provide a comprehensive Media Library - a complete video and photo library that outlines our capabilities and turnkey manufacturing process. In the photo section, users can browse through photos of our engineers hard at work as well as images showcasing the interior and exterior of our cutting-edge facility. Custom Molding Case Studies As a leading authority on plastic injection molding, we’re proud of our innovative problemsolving solutions, offering our high volume customers custom solutions catered to their specific application and needs. Showcasing our diverse capabilities in our new Case Study section, we’ve compiled some examples of our previous work and product offerings, such as: Residential window hardware Custom beverage cap for the food and beverage industry Point-of-purchase (POP) display components Polystyrene diagnostic kit for the medical industry Solutions and Capabilities As a full-service turnkey manufacturer, The Rodon Group works with customers from concept to completion, providing all the necessary resources to promptly and accurately complete your project. On our new website, we break down the three main stages of this turnkey process - design, toolmaking, and manufacturing - allowing potential customers to easily assess our capabilities and further understand our production and quality control processes. Learn More Providing high-volume, custom plastic injection molding solutions since 1956, The Rodon Group offers innovative manufacturing solutions for customers who have an annual volume of 1 million or more parts per year. To learn more about The Rodon Group and how we can help with your next project, visit our new website https://www.rodongroup.com/ today.

Okay, so they're prototyping them on a Markforged, they send them out. So what 3D printing process makes the final production tooling?

In 1956, The Rodon Group was founded with just four presses, 5,000 square feet of space, and a big vision. Today, as we celebrate our 65th anniversary, we do so as one of the largest family-owned and operated plastic injection molders in the country. With 128 presses, we serve clients in a wide range of industries with innovative manufacturing solutions, and we look forward to doing so for many years to come. The Rodon Group’s History The Rodon Group was founded by Irving Glickman in 1956 while he was still working with ELGO Rubber. This small, part-time company grew steadily with Glickman's strategic investments in equipment and other additions. He was passionate about cost-effective manufacturing materials and methods, and that thoughtful planning helped get the company off the ground and growing as ELGO Rubber eventually closed. Today, The Rodon Group is one of the largest family-owned and operated plastic injection molding companies in the United States, with 250,000 square feet of manufacturing space and a robot at every press. We're ISO 9001:2015 certified with a 99.92% quality parts rating, and we guarantee our molds for the life of your project. From design to toolmaking to materials selection, we're here to take your project from start to finish. What Sets Rodon Apart Our years of plastic injection molding experience is just the beginning. Irving Glickman's knowledge and foresight laid the foundation for success, which has been driven by the key values that were established in the earliest days and continue to serve as our guiding principles: We Treat Our Employees Well: Having third-generation employees on our team is no accident. We value our team members and know they're the backbone of the company. As a result, we have high employee retention and a team that's deeply invested in our clients and the work we do. We Offer Fair Prices for Our Customers: Part of our mission is to make sure you have the cost-effective solutions you need to run your business. We take pride in customizing a solution that helps you save time and money. We Re-Invest Our Profits in Talent and Equipment: Staying at the top of the industry means staying on top of the latest innovations and ensuring we attract the best professionals to work with us. Our company grows because we're willing to invest in our people, their education, and the equipment they use every day. We Focus on Being a Solution for the Customer--Never a Problem: We're your partner for your projects. We listen to your goals and develop a plan that suits you, managing any challenges as they arise to ensure the process is seamless for you. It's our job to make your business simpler, not more challenging. Over the decades, we've worked with a variety of industries and applications, including medical, food and beverage, window and door components, and construction with SillDry, a patented window protection line co-invented by our own Joel Glickman. As a proud U.S. manufacturer, we've always promoted domestic manufacturing, and we're active members of both American Made Matters and the Made in America Movement to help educate people about the benefits of buying American-made products. The future of U.S. manufacturing is bright, and we're excited to be a part of it. Our long history and extensive experience has prepared us for the next 65 years and beyond. Our turnkey manufacturing solutions are backed by our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, and we look forward to helping you with your high-volume production project as we celebrate our 65th anniversary. Contact us to learn more or request a quote for your project.

Yeah, so I also talked to Xact Metal, and they have a DMLS system. And one of the really interesting applications that they talked about was their VP of commercial operations, Dave Jankowski, gave a Tech Talk. And he mentioned a case where a customer used the metal 3D printer to repair a mold. So they cut off the damaged part, fixed it in the machine and added new material directly onto the cut surface. And I just thought that was a really interesting application that I hadn't heard of before.

The AM Radio podcast is brought to you by the Additive Manufacturing Conference at IMTS, the leading industry event focused on 3D printing for production. We're currently open to speaker submissions for the 2022 event. Learn more and submit your proposal at AdditiveConference.com.

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.

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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.

Even as polymer 3D printing is increasingly being used for production, tooling remains a major application for 3D printing in the plastics industry. Exhibitors at the 2022 Plastics Technology Expo (PTXPO) were showcasing several examples of 3D printed tooling for injection molding. For mold inserts, 3D printing can aid in rapid prototyping, production molds with conformal cooling channels and mold repair. 3D printing can also be used to produce mold components, such as ejector pins with a porous structure that enables gas to escape a mold while containing the material inside. And 3D printed end of arm tooling can be lighter than traditionally produced versions with faster turnaround times.

Yeah, so we've covered this before, but they have done some testing on the material itself. And they're finding that they can integrate the, you know, Mantle material into their already existing mold, machining processes really easily.

Yeah, so the first big example this is sort of the bulk of what I saw was 3D printed injection molded tooling. And I have several sub-examples of this. The first one is Mantle. We've covered them before, but they make a system that's specifically designed for 3D printed mold tooling that uses a flowable metal paste, and a hybrid machine tool. They were at the show presenting a case study with another exhibitor Westminster Tool, which is a mold shop in Connecticut. And they were talking about a project they worked on together, making a mold for a pair of medical tweezers, and Westminster was designing the mold for this part. And it needed to be made out of this 65% glass filled polyamide which is tough to work with. It's abrasive it doesn't flow well and it has narrow molding parameters. So they designed a mold with a conformal cooling channel that would help them mold this material. They designed the mold and mantle printed it, sent over the inserts to Westminster where they did a little bit of postprocessing and then they were able to run thousands of these parts. It was more of a prototyping-type application. And they were able to go from design to part in like three weeks.

Next Chapter Manufacturing 3D printed these porous metal parts using DMLS. The company uses this technology to produce porous ejector pins that can vent out gases during the molding process.

Westminster Tool designed this mold with a conformal cooling channel for a pair of medical tweezers, and Mantle 3D printed it using its TrueShape process.

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.’

Okay, so um, you saw a lot of tooling at PTXPO molds, molded components, end-of-arm tooling. Like I think that is just about all the tooling that goes into injection molding, pretty comprehensive.

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 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.

So a composite mold tool. That's interesting. We've been talking about 3D printed metal tooling. You see also in some of the more temperature-resistant polymers, sometimes there's short run bridge mold tooling that are 3D printed that way, this kind of sounds like something in between. So the ceramic reinforcement, ceramic, we tend to think of that as heat resistant material toughness to stand up to the pressures of the molding process. Like where does this land in terms of the quantities? Did they give you any sense of the shots you can get out of out of a composite mold tool before it wears out?

And it's a case of plastics, replacing metal. And we talk about that from time to time. Sometimes things are made of metal, not because you need the metal, but just because machining something out of aluminum is the quickest way to get it. And yeah, now 3D printing in some cases is an even quicker way.

And you told me a little bit about it. And it's a part where like, they showed it to you, but you couldn't photograph it because there's still some confidentiality around their customer. But like, like, what, what industry did it have to do with?

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

Yeah, so like you said, this is the first time the show has ever been held. So I don't have a direct comparison. But compared to other events that we've been to since the pandemic started, this one felt the most like a pre-COVID event, it felt a little more normal. I was there at the end of the first day, and most of the second day and foot traffic seemed really good, especially on day two, all of the Tech Talks I went to, the theaters were full, and just the general atmosphere felt really positive.

Okay, 3D printed end-of-arm tooling. So Savage Automation like is that their whole gig people come to them for 3D printed solutions and end-of-arm tooling?

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

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.

Specializing in high-volume, custom manufacturing solutions for a range of industries, The Rodon Group recently announced that their 720-ton hybrid plastic injection molding machine is now being used to manufacture a new, large-scale component for a customer in the food and beverage sector. Click the headline above to read the full article. https://thomasnet.com/insights/u-s-plastic-injection-molder-uses-720-ton-hybrid-machine-to-manufacture-new-large-scale-component

And so the subject matter of the show is broad, it's plastics manufacturing, it's not by any means exclusively about 3D printing. And 3D printing was just kind of like a small element of it. But additive had a presence there. What did you encounter that kind of struck you as far as 3D printing taking its place in plastics production?

We developed this eBook with designers, engineers and purchasing specialists in mind. It is written to provide a basic understanding of plastic injection molding presses, processes and costs. Our goal is to make our customers more knowledgeable about what goes into making a plastic part.

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

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

When compared to the traditional end of arm tooling on the left, the 3D printed EOAT section from Savage Automation on the right is lighter and faster to produce.

Yeah, so I have pictures and videos of I think everything that I talked about on Twitter and Instagram, we can post links to them in the show notes as well.

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.

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.

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

I have one more example for you. This one was at the Fortify booth. And they have a DLP system and a resin that's reinforced with ceramic fibers for added toughness. It's really good for making rapid prototype molds. Because you can have a mold that's ready to use it in three days, and you can get a couple hundred shots out of it.

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.

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

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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.

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.

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.

Yeah. So it's just like, control of the positioning of the laser as it's hard to get hardening the material to leave some microscopic channels through the part, I guess, here's what this reminds me of kind of ejector pins, you have written about additive manufacturing, making cutting tools for machining, like cutting tools, basic fundamental component of CNC machining, so ejector pin basic fundamental component of molding, so here's, like, additive serving conventional processes.

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.

Our Standard Fasteners include a wide range of fasteners, two piece plastic fasteners, finned fasteners, removable fasteners, push fasteners, tufting button set, and two piece removable rivets. Custom designed plastic fasteners are available.

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

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.

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.

Our line of universal plugs is designed to maximize manufacturing efficiency by speeding production and lowering inventory costs. Its unique annular fin design provides a positive fit for a wide range of tubing wall thicknesses with a single component. Within its 14-23 gauge range, the Universal Plug greatly reduces the number of plug I.D.'s needed in inventory. One plug per tube O.D. does the job, often with improved fit. Round, square or rectangular, Universal Plugs can make a substantial difference in efficiency and production costs.Standard plugs include a wide range of plastic plugs, flat head plugs, rectangular plugs, square plugs, forked plugs, ball plugs, specialty plugs, split stem & stem bumpers, beveled edge hole plugs and flat top hole plugs. In-house design services for specific custom plastic plugs are available. To see for yourself, contact us for samples today.

Yeah, so it depends on a lot of factors, like you know, the how detailed the design of the mold is, and how tough the material that they're molding is, but they said it can be anywhere from 25 to a 1,000 shots with 25 to 200 as sort of being their sweet spot.

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.

As plastic injection molding methods continue to advance and evolve, allowing for enhanced flexibility and more sophisticated customization options, molding companies must be able to stay ahead of the curve in order to offer clients the latest technologies and highest-quality end products that suit their needs in the changing market. At The Rodon Group, we’ve always been dedicated to constant innovation and improvement, and we’re proud to announce a facility expansion and acquisition of a new, large size, 720-ton hybrid plastic injection molding machine for large parts. The expansion includes an additional 125,000 square feet of space at a secondary location in Hatfield, PA. The area will allow Rodon to grow with its diverse customer base and allow for improved process flow and future advancements of our injection molding capabilities. The new 720-ton injection molding machine enhances the capacities of our existing 118 molding presses to now offer a range of fractional to 107 ounces, and clamping force of 46 to 720 tons. With a much higher tonnage capability than those of our existing machines, the new press allows us to offer greater production flexibility for large part injection molding and improves our capabilities for customers that are looking to manufacturer these types of parts. Since 1956, our core competencies have centered on small (index card size or smaller), high volume custom plastic components. With these new capabilities and expansion, we look forward to continuing to serve our existing customers as well as new customers that are looking to source globally competitive, innovative manufacturing solutions for larger plastic parts. The Rodon Group is proud to be at the forefront of the many exciting advancements and trends in plastic injection molding, and our recent equipment acquisition and expansion are just two aspects of our commitment to continuous improvement. Contact us today if we can help answer any questions.

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.

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.

So Xact Metal, we like them. Laser powder bed fusion machine, and they make these really little machines that are pretty cost effective, in part because the size is so small, but a lot of the metal parts you want to 3D print precise components, they fit within a smaller build envelope and but laser powder bed fusion, like we always think about starting with a build plate, starting with a flat surface, you're describing starting with an existing tool and building on top of that, I guess, like the most basic question that comes to my mind is, do the metal properties come out the same as the the mold tool you're starting with?

Rodon takes a solid relationship with toy giant K’NEX and applies its business model to other manufacturers—taking domestic manufacturing to the next level.

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.

3D printed tooling for injection molding, including mold inserts, components and end of arm tooling, were on display at the Plastics Technology Expo.

The Plastics Technology Expo took place March 29-31, 2022 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.

But yeah, they're made out of steel using DMLS. And they kind of have what they described as a porous structure on the inside that can let gases out without letting any of the material out. And they had this cool demo at their booth with some 3D printed parts that they were submerged in a tank of water and then they had air going up through the parts and you can see the air bubbles coming up through the water to show the porosity.

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

Our Additional Standard Products include caster sockets for beds, snap tie cones, plastic spacers, bushings , hose washers, O rings, eyeglass clips and inserts, dowel pins and hose grips.

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

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.

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

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

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

Exactly. And I have one more tooling example to talk about from the show. Alright, 3D printed end-of-arm tooling for automating injection molding, I talked to Savage Automation. And all they do is 3D printed end-of-arm tooling. They showed me an example of what this typical end-of-arm tooling looks like. And it's usually made out of metal, and it has all these tubes coming out for the vacuum gripping mechanism. So this company designs end-of-arm tooling that has internal channels for the airlines instead of needing the hoses and tubes. And they can make it faster than traditional end-of-arm tooling. And it's also lighter than metal, which means that the robot can move faster and there's less wear on it.

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.

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.

The Rodon Group is committed to environmental sustainability. The company's green initiatives make it a leader in the plastics industry. Its manufacturing process minimizes packaging, transportation costs, waste, water consumption and energy. Consider this example: in manufacturing just one of the more than 600 unique K'NEX parts, the Rodon Group recycles enough cardboard to save 300 cubic yards of landfill space, the equivalent of three football fields!

Yeah, so for plastics production, I visited the RE3DTECH booth. They're a 3D printing service provider. And they use a whole bunch of different processes, including HP Multi Jet Fusion, and they're starting to see production applications for plastic AM using MJF. And they showed me this like perfect part, that was the perfect example of AM moving into production with plastics, it was a part that was formerly machined from aluminum. And they're now making it from PA12. And they're doing more of a manufacturing on demand type model, and ultimately saving the customer a bunch of money. And it was just sort of the perfect example of that.

So yeah, the Mantle process we've written about that before. We'll put a link in the in the show description to our coverage of this but it's like a 3D printing with this like mud-type material that partially solidifies, can then be machined right in the same process as 3D printed, and then it's baked to a harder state later and becomes production ready mold tooling. It's a) a type of 3D printing process that is different from everything else out there and b) this alternative to get full scale, full production quantity, mold tooling. And now here, Westminster, they’re a mold shop, their business is machining molds, and they're, they're evaluating this other way of making mold tooling, has some new freedoms, like you say, the ease of putting conformal cooling in there. I wonder in your conversation with them any like little nuances that have come out either positive or challenges about like what they're discovering about this process?

Yeah, that's all they do. They don't even do the printing for the production parts in house. They have a Markforged machine that they use for prototyping, but they ultimately send their work out to a service bureau for printing. And so they can just focus on the design of the part.

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

So yeah, another example of 3D printed tooling that I saw that wasn't injection molded tooling is 3D printed molded components. So Next Chapter Manufacturing was at the show, and they were showcasing these 3D printed ejector pins. They also do 3D printed injection molded tooling, but they started making these ejector pins that can vent gases out of a mold, and they call them Innovent pins. Get it?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Time is running out to enter Plastics Technology’s Hot Shot’s Injection Molded Parts Competition — share your company’s capabilities via its greatest molding challenges.

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

Okay, controlled porosity. I love that. It's another one of these design possibilities you can get from 3D printing, way, way, way back. When 3D printing was first entering production like that was one of the raps on it. Sometimes there was porosity. We're long past that. We get fully dense parts and we've controlled it to such an extent that there are some kinds of parts where you want to build in the porosity for the the useful effect you get out of it. Did an episode of The Cool Parts Show about these air filters that were made with controlled porosity. That was an idea, a prototype, but now here, it seems like these Innovent pins, real production components made with controlled porosity built in. Did you learn more about that? Like, like, how did they get exactly the porosity they want? How did they achieve that?

Hatfield, PA – The Rodon Group has partnered with ICF Solutions, a division of Indian Creek Foundation on a facility-based work program. Since 1975, the Foundation’s mission is to “provide opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; to live in and enrich the community throughout their lives.” The work program includes onsite training for various jobs that are subcontracted from local businesses, such as Rodon.  Types of work include bulk mail processing, product assembly, packaging and sorting. More than 60 local businesses rely on ICF Solutions for these services.  The Rodon Group has been working with ICF Solutions since 2012 and is currently utilizing their team to assemble multiple plastic parts for a variety of their customers. The trained workers average 300,000 units per month for Rodon. One or two staff members oversee the workers at each table and tables are set up by job skill, background and overall capabilities.  ICF Solutions also partners with Thomas Jefferson University occupational therapists who intern to help the workers with various needs and independence goals. As of June, there were approximately 86 individuals involved in the program. According to Kevin McGrath, vice president of sales and marketing at Rodon “The collaboration with ICF has been invaluable. The assembly services they’ve provided have given us the ability to pursue additional opportunities and markets that we would not have been able to pursue otherwise.  We are very thankful to have a local community resource like ICF. “ To learn more about Indian Creek Foundation and ICF Solutions, visit their website at www.indcreek.org/icf-solutions/ About The Rodon Group The Rodon Group is an ISO 9001:2008 certified landfill-free, plastic injection molder. In business since 1956, The Rodon Group makes billions of parts each year in its 125,000 square foot facility. With over 105 injection molding presses, Rodon is one of the largest family-owned and operated plastic injection molders in the United States and serves a diverse group of industries including consumer products, medical, construction, pharmaceutical and toys. Since 1992, Rodon has manufactured over 30 billion parts for the K'NEX building toy system, and is a subsidiary of K'NEX Brands, L.P.

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

See how we've remained a manufacturing leader since 1956. This video highlights our factory, employees and our three primary capabilities as a high-volume, custom plastic injection molder: mold design, mold building, and parts manufacturing. In business since 1956, The Rodon Group makes billions of parts each year in our 125,000-square-foot facility. With over 117 injection molding presses, we are one of the largest family-owned and operated injection molders in the United States.

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

“[Our patients were] swabbed twice, first with the one Fox Chase had been using and then with the new test swab,” said Dr. Eric M. Horwitz, Chair of Radiation Oncology at Fox Chase. “It turned out that the one [The Rodon Group] designed actually worked even better than the one we had.” Click the headline above to read the full article. https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/plastic-injection-molder-invents-innovative-american-made-fda-registered-covid-19-testing-swab/

Fluid trap tip for superior collection and accurate results. An excellent choice for laboratories, hospitals, testing centers, medical schools and clinics.

Our Standard Caps include a wide range of plastic caps, tubing caps, ball caps, square caps, rectangular caps, bar caps, vinyl shower rod caps, heavy caps, angle iron caps, concrete form bullet caps, heavy vinyl tips, reducing silencers, wire tips, concrete form end tips and self tapping thread protectors.

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

Peter Zelinski and I talked about all this on the latest episode of the AM Radio podcast. For more details on how 3D printing complements injection molding, listen to the episode above or read on for the transcript.

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

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

An inefficient injection mold setup can result in increased machine downtime and ultimately have a negative impact on your profit margins. Click the headline above to read the full article. https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/improve-production-with-this-injection-mold-setup-checklist/

Hatfield, PA – The Rodon Group participated in the Walmart sponsored U.S. Manufacturing Summit in Denver, CO. Walmart executives, industry experts, suppliers, and component manufacturers gathered for two days to discuss Walmart’s commitment to spending an additional $50 billion on investment of American-made products. Rodon exhibited at the Summit’s trade show event, where over 85 other contract manufacturers, material suppliers and service providers were on hand to meet with companies looking to manufacturer their products in the U.S. According to Michael Araten, President and CEO of K’NEX Brands and The Rodon Group, “Since 1992, our subsidiary The Rodon Group has helped K’NEX Brands make this a reality, manufacturing more than 32 billion bricks, rods and connectors at our plastic injection molding facility in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. We sell many of these toys at Walmart. So when the company (Walmart) announced its U.S. manufacturing commitment, we were thrilled – because we were aligned with a retailer that’s acting on a cause we’re passionate about.” Mr. Araten was personally invited by Walmart to speak at the Summit along with Jim Steven, CEO of Weber Grills. Walmart created a live webcast of the event which can be seen at http://news.walmart.com/events/2014-us-manufacturing-summit Walmart’s blog features an article by Mr. Araten, appropriately titled “Constructing the Future of U.S. Manufacturing”. In the post he states “While the case for manufacturing in America has been presented by many, some businesses remain skeptical that there are advantages. And we know firsthand the journey isn’t always easy. “At The Rodon Group, we not only make toys – we also make about 5 billion parts a year for industries from home construction to food and beverage. So we’ll be sharing those details with companies who are interested, and we’ll also be seeking our own partners, too.” Rodon has been on the forefront of American Manufacturing from the beginning, offering their “Cheaper than China" pricing policy and reshoring billions of manufactured parts back to the United States. According to Lowell Allen, executive vice president of manufacturing, recent expansion of their facility underscores Rodon’s commitment to re-shoring parts for other companies. “We have invested a great deal to increase our manufacturing capacity, strengthening our position as a premier U.S. plastics manufacturer.” About The Rodon Group The Rodon Group is an ISO 9001:2008 certified landfill-free, plastic injection molder. In business since 1956, The Rodon Group makes billions of parts each year in its 125,000 square foot facility. With over 105 injection molding presses, Rodon is one of the largest family-owned and operated plastic injection molders in the United States and serves a diverse group of industries including consumer products, medical, construction, pharmaceutical and toys. Since 1992, Rodon has manufactured over 32 billion parts for the K'NEX building toy system, and is a subsidiary of K'NEX Brands, L.P.

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.

Full service manufacturers incorporate a complete line of production capabilities to facilitate fast, cost-efficient manufacturing of complex products without the need for multiple contractors.

Yeah. So I think that's a good place to wrap up this part of the conversation. And when we come back from the break, we will talk some more about polymer additive manufacturing.

As plastic injection molding methods continue to advance and evolve, allowing for enhanced flexibility and more sophisticated customization options, molding companies must be able to stay ahead of the curve in order to offer clients the latest technologies and highest-quality end products. At The Rodon Group, we’ve always been dedicated to constant innovation and improvement, and we’re proud to announce our recent acquisition of several new plastic injection molding machines. Nissei Plastic Injection Molding Machinery Amongst the new equipment are six new hybrid molding machines from Nissei’s FNX-III series - four FNX-180 III hybrid molding machines and two FNX-360 III hybrid molding machines. Incorporating aspects of both electrically and hydraulically powered molding machines, these models are powered by Nissei’s proprietary X-Pump. Besides allowing for energy-use reductions of up to 47% compared to fully hydraulic plastic injection molding machinery, X-Pump-equipped FNX-180 III and FNX-360 III machines offer a wide range of benefits, including: Fast injection response Wide-ranging injection speed Stability in ultra-low velocity range Long-sustained, high injection holding pressure Minimal maintenance and recalibration requirements Affordability, low maintenance, and running costs High-rigidity straight-hydraulic clamping unit Superior precision With greater tonnage capabilities than those of our existing machines, the new FNX-III series plastic injection molding equipment allows Rodon to offer greater production flexibility. We’ve operated this new equipment with several new production programs and have successfully run each machine in conjunction with a Star Automation Servo Robot, which we’ll discuss in greater detail below. Star Automation Servo Robot An industry-leading automated unloader manufacturer, Star Automation specializes in unloaders specifically designed for the injection molding industry; their Servo Robots series of unloaders are among the most reliable, high-performing models available on the market. Rodon’s new Servo robots allow for efficient automatic unloading and stacking of completed, ejected molded parts. Improving our production rates while ensuring the same level of quality clients have come to expect from Rodon, these sophisticated robots feature part present sensors, part and sprue grip circuits, custom step programming, active vibration control, and defective product drop. Learn More The Rodon Group is proud to be at the forefront of the many exciting advancements and trends in plastic injection molding, and our recent equipment acquisition is just one aspect of our commitment to continuous improvement. To learn more about working with a turnkey manufacturer and saving time and money, download our newest free guide today https://info.rodongroup.com/lp-download-the-benefits-of-working-with-a-turnkey-manufacturer. Or, for more information on our products and services, check out our comprehensive product catalog today https://info.rodongroup.com/lp-the-rodon-group-catalog.

So you said you saw a lot of tooling for plastics and even saw a lot of injection molded tooling. So like, let's keep going. What's another example?

The Rodon Group is an ISO 9001:2015 certified landfill-free, high volume, plastic injection molder. In business since 1956, the Rodon Group makes billions of parts each year in its 125,000 square foot facility. We offer a turnkey and innovative manufacturing solution including mold design, mold building, and high-volume parts manufacturing. With over 125 plastic injection molding presses, Rodon is one of the largest family-owned and operated injection molders in the United States. The Rodon Group serves a diverse group of industries including food and beverage, window and door, medical and pharmaceutical, consumer products, construction and more. The Rodon Group has earned a reputation for being one of the best in the industry, offering high-quality, low-cost solutions. With our globally competitive pricing, we offer you the opportunity for leveraging the benefits associated with using a domestic manufacturer while avoiding the risks of offshore sourcing. Specializing in close-tolerance injection molding of small plastic parts, we provide a total concept solution from design and tooling to production, fulfillment, and packaging. The combined effort of our designers and toolmakers results in molds that ensure quality, precision tolerances, and optimized cycle times. We have the capacity to mold parts with complex geometries and variations in wall thickness. Our maximum part size is 10 inches square, although our major concentration revolves around parts with smaller dimensions. We have material specialists on staff to make recommendations from more than 100 commodity, engineering, and specialty plastics, including FDA, RoHS, REACH, and NSF certified resins and HACCP-compliant materials. Our 125 fully automated presses are the heart of our operation. Ranging in size from 46 to 720 tons, they feature capacities from fractional to 107 ounces. Hydraulic, hybrid, and all-electric technologies allow us to adapt production to the individual requirements of every application. Microprocessor-controls, self-diagnostics, and full-servo robotics allow us to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for maximum efficiency. Using a combination of online vision inspection systems, SPC charting, as well as in-lab test, measurement, and inspection equipment, we ensure tolerances, color, physical appearance, and mechanical characteristics match your specifications. We offer custom packaging, 3D printed prototypes, safety stocking programs, just-in-time delivery, and a number of other additional support services.

Robbins will be Vice President, Legal Affairs and General Counsel for K’NEX Brands Hatfield, PA, – K’NEX, the only U.S. construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love®, is pleased to announce the promotion of Rachel Robbins to Vice President, Legal Affairs and General Counsel. Hired in 2013, Ms. Robbins previously served as Associate General Counsel for K’NEX Brands.  Prior to joining K’NEX, Ms. Robbins was a Partner in the Commercial Litigation group of the law firm Cozen O’Connor, where she successfully represented a broad spectrum of clients in the life safety, pharmaceutical, entertainment, internet, telecommunications and sports management industries in complex commercial disputes, including antitrust, securities, trademark infringement, and product liability actions.  Ms. Robbins earned her Juris Doctor from the Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University, and served as Comments Editor for the Dickinson Law Review.  She earned her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University, where she majored in business management, and minored in marketing. In her new position, Ms. Robbins will provide legal counsel to company management and business teams as to commercial relationships, as well as all general corporate matters, including contracts, employment, regulatory, and intellectual property matters. About K’NEX Brands Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children, and is America’s STEM building solution. Winner of over 250 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX, America’s Building Toy® company, is focused on Building Worlds Kids Love® and encourages youngsters to “imagine, build and play.”  From the living room to the classroom, K’NEX has building toys specially designed for every age group and skill level.  The K’NEX family of brands includes K’NEX Building Sets, K’NEX Thrill Rides, K’NEX Education™, Lincoln Logs®, Tinkertoy®, NASCAR®, Angry Birds™, Mario Kart Wii™, Mario Kart 7™, Super Mario™, PacMan™, Titanfall™, Family Guy™, Plants vs. Zombies™, and more. Since 1992, The Rodon Group®, a subsidiary of K'NEX Brands, L.P., has manufactured over 31 billion parts for the K'NEX building toy system. Join us as we help build the leaders of tomorrow.  For more information, please visit www.knex.com or www.rodongroup.com. Contact:           Kate Loffio                      K’NEX Brands 215.996.4209 kloffio@knex.com

So that's great. I want to hear about PTXPO, Plastics Technology Expo. New show that our employer has begun Gardner Business Media. Plastics has been on my mind to there are some pretty fundamental advances happening in plastics 3D printed I've gotten interested in I want to talk about. So PTXPO, what was it like?

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

Yeah, he said it was it's like a physical thing. It's not a chemical thing. And they said it was sort of a combination of design and manipulation of process parameters.

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.

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.

Hey, Pete. So I just got back from PTXPO. That's why we did our little Graduate intro. PTXPO is a trade show that's put on by our parent company, Gardner Business Media, and it's a plastics processing show. So it's not an additive-focused show, but there is an additive presence. So we're going to talk about plastics today.