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

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.

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

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.

Apple began to use MIM parts in its smartphones. This is the era when the MIM industry began to take off in China, with the demands of Apple being met by MIM factories such as TPT Technology, the former parent company of Suzhou CPT Technology, and Shanghai Future High-Tech. At that time, the main components were the SIM card tray ejector mechanisms and various internal parts of the phones. With the investment of Taiwan’s SZS, the hinges on Apple’s laptops also gradually switched to MIM.

The manufacturing of golf club heads is of growing interest, and the MIM process can be better utilised than traditional manufacturing processes to provide enhanced surface effects and detailed features. This has reached the point where the United States Golf Association (USGA) now considers the MIM process to be a standard golf head manufacturing process.

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

The ability to produce these high-strength precision gears by MIM to the American Gear Manufacturers Association’s (AGMA) Q9 class accuracy is significant. Tempering after H900 heat treatment with 17-4PH significantly increases the wear resistance of the gear, allowing MIM to replace traditional PM gears and brass cut gears. As shown in Fig. 5, the technology of insert moulding plastics with MIM has also been adopted. Overall, technological improvements have enabled MIM to expand its offerings in a wider range of directions, a key to the success of MIM companies, as noted above.

Five industry pros with more than 200 years of combined molding experience provide step-by-step best practices on mounting a mold in a horizontal injection molding machine.

Discover suppliers of these and more in our advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of PIM International.

At this point, Apple began to use the MIM cobalt-chrome-molybdenum alloy, F75, to make the rear camera frames of smartphones and tablets. Unfortunately, this was also when domestic smartphone producers began to eliminate the MIM process, citing cost considerations. What compounded the situation was that the top ten MIM suppliers were contracted with Apple with very strict specifications on production equipment, quality and specifications, so many MIM producers could not compete for business. Non-Apple smartphones switched from MIM to sheet metal and plastic products. However, the arrival of COVID-19 increased the demand for laptops and, in combination with the emergence of folding smartphones with their complex MIM hinges, a deeper slump in sales was prevented.

There are also opportunities for the MIM industry in the growth of metal Additive Manufacturing, in particular Binder Jetting technology. The source of everything is powder and binder, and for each of these technologies is only a matter of combining these materials. We have to understand these powders and feedstocks in a scientific way to achieve the best results in any of these processes. Striving forward with countless materials, mathematics is our only stalwart – including, of course, our diligence and tireless efforts.

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.

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 technological improvement of MIM materials and equipment has allowed precision MIM components to replace CNC and other high-accuracy processes. As an example, Donggung Yujia Precision Technology Co., Ltd. (a branch of Hongkong Vigor Precision Co., Ltd., the world’s largest toy gearbox manufacturer) produces small module gears by MIM (diameter ~ 3-30 mm/m=0.1~1 mm), and has received interest from the leading international robotic vacuum cleaner manufacturer. In the future, heavy-duty ‘wet and dry’ cleaners and next-generation robots will feature MIM components.

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.

MIM producers in Greater China anticipated a downward trend since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. To combat this, many adopted the following strategy changes:

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).

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

Tritone’s MoldJet is unique as an Additive Manufacturing process – not Binder Jetting, Material Extrusion, nor Material Jetting, the MoldJet pr...»

The ability to change from W-Ni-Cu heavy alloy, which is difficult to control during sintering, to W-Ni-Fe has also been advantageous. With production in graphite vacuum sintering furnaces operating at 1480-1500°C, the risks of using hydrogen atmospheres in sintering is eliminated and the efficiency and safety of production greatly increased.

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

This year marks the year after MIM’s fiftieth anniversary. In 1972, the technology’s developer, Parmatech, could not have imagined the breadth of MIM’s future adoption, nor that manufacturers in the Greater China region would so fully embrace the process. We are very grateful to those pioneers for bringing this new technology to the world and we now strive to make the MIM process the norm in metal processing, along with casting, forging, machining, and press and sinter Powder Metallurgy.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Brian King will address how Advanced Drainage Systems and Infiltrator tackle sustainability at their operations, while Eric Derner of Nicolet and Eddie Graff of Westminster discuss their application of Mantle’s metal printing technology for tooling.

A technical session, comprising three papers, at the Euro PM2021 Virtual Congress, organised by the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) a...»

The weight of MIM parts ranges from less than 10 g to more than 500 g, and MIM parts are now gradually replacing parts made by investment casting and die casting. There are two favourable factors influencing this. Firstly, China’s environmental policy now strictly controls polluting wax-based casting and forging factories, which restricts the development of these industries. Secondly, China’s metal powder production industry has invested in increasing capacity. Because China’s general stainless steel production usage is high, the wide availability of stainless steel scrap for recycling and atomisation has reduced powder prices. In this way, it has become more economical to produce larger parts with MIM. As an example, the average price of MIM 304 stainless steel powder is slightly less than US $6/Kg (<40 RMB/Kg), which is close to the typical price of the same powder for conventional press and sinter PM. As time goes on, MIM 201 powder is expected to cost less than US $4.5/ kg (< 30 RMB/kg), again allowing it to directly replace the traditional low-cost stainless steel powder used in PM.

The free-to-access PIM International magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM from a commercial and technological perspective through:

Based on customer demand, the use of magnetic functional materials produced via MIM has greatly increased. This has included the application of soft magnetic materials and magnetic permeable materials, the introduction of cobalt elements (e.g., Fe-50Co and F75) into the MIM process. There are a large number of applications in the magnetic guidance, electromagnetic interference shielding of electronic products.

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.

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.

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

The expansion of MIM materials expands the application range of products, from traditional materials as iron-nickel alloys (Fe-2, 4, 8Ni to 50Ni), 304/316, 304L/316L, 420J2/440C stainless steels, W- Ni-Cu, expanded to 201, 430, 17-4PH and PANACEA® stainless steels, Fe-50Co (HiperCo®), Fe-3Si, W-Ni-Fe, etc.

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.

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.

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.

The collocated conferences will feature a slate of speakers from leading molding, moldmaking and molding/moldmaking companies, with the event kicking off with a tour of the molder and mold maker, Dynamic Group.

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

In March 2007, the very first issue of PIM International featured a review of Metal Injection Molding in Asia. China’s MIM industry was estimated...»

Potentially with a more universal appeal, at least four MIM factories in the southern Chinese city of Yangjing make kitchen knives from MIM 420/440 stainless steel and produce more than 10 million MIM nail clippers per year; these have become staple products both domestically and overseas (Fig. 4).

Reach a truly international audience that includes component manufacturers, end-users, industry suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

Protolabs’ Rob Young will discuss the role of additive manufacturing in the transition to injection molding, while Dave Hemink of Velosity will teach attendees about the role molders and mold makers can play in sustainable manufacturing. ITW Body & Fuel’s Paul DeJong will look at global asset management.

That’s just on the Molding and combined conference side, there will be even more molders and mold makers addressing their peers on the MoldMaking Conference side.

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

Don't miss any new issue of PIM International, and stay up to date with the latest industry news. Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Fig. 1 shows total annual MIM sales in Greater China as well as a breakdown of the total sales of 3C (Computer, Communication and Consumer Electronics) MIM parts used in smartphones, tablets, laptop PCs, desktops PCs and servers, and smart wearable devices. The three bold numbers in Fig. 1 identify the start of three distinct stages of MIM’s usage in smartphones.

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.

Extensive MIM, CIM industry and sinter-based AM industry news, plus the following exclusive deep-dive articles and reports:

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

At the beginning of the third stage, MIM part producers in Greater China were already feeling the winds of change. Those MIM makers that originally supplied domestic smartphone producers saw demand plummet to the point that some companies had no orders to fulfil; they needed to change direction to survive. As a result, the following developments have emerged.

MIM’s fruitful results in Greater China are due to the concerted efforts of the global MIM industry and the large number of orders from customers. At this time, even if the MIM industry is affected by uncertainties in the post-smartphone era, the outlook is bright. We sincerely welcome friends from all over the world to come and see the changes in MIM which have taken place in Greater China over the past thirty years, which has seen us using more advanced equipment and more cost-effective metal powder, making more precise MIM parts, and changing human civilisation.

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.

Injection molders and moldmakers who want to hear from their peers on how the biggest issues of the day are being addressed, whether its automation, workforce development, additive manufacturing, sustainability or more need to look no further than the upcoming 2023 Molding and MoldMaking Conferences (August 29-30; Minneapolis, Minn.).

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

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.

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

Type 420 martensitic stainless steel covers a wide carbon range of 0.15% to 0.45%. Demand for this material from the 3C, automotive, biomedical and...»

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

A deeper exploration of what MIM can offer to customers has begun, with success for hinges of 3C devices (Fig. 3), sewing machine components, fasteners and tags for luxury bags and goods, kitchen knives, nail clippers, jigs and tools, and golf club heads. MIM has even begun to be put into some internal components of electric vehicles – for example in transmissions and the lithium battery pack, thus changing the nature of MIM components from something with a low cost and necessarily short lifespan, such as fashion, where the lifecycle of a garment isn’t equal to the lifecycle of its parts, to something intended to last as long as possible.

In addition, the promotion of titanium and titanium alloys in the past three years has also achieved positive results in domestic production, spurring on the creation of titanium and titanium alloy feedstocks and accelerating the MIM process for these materials.

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

However, after almost five years of observation, I found that at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic at the end of 2019, orders for MIM parts for smartphones manufactured in China declined significantly. Then, in early 2023, I learned that the rear camera frame of Apple’s iPhone 15 may have eliminated the use of MIM, which undoubtedly will be a major concern amongst China’s MIM producers. So, after the huge successes of the past decade, how should MIM companies progress into their post-smartphone era?

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.

When determining the best ejection option for a tool, molders must consider the ejector’s surface area, location and style.

In terms of known data, the combined revenue from MIM part sales in Greater China (Mainland China and Taiwan) surpassed North America, Europe, and Japan in 2011. By 2020, it past US $1.5 billion (CNY ¥10 billion) and the number of MIM factories had increased from fewer than fifty to over 200. China had become the country with the largest number of MIM applications in the world, as well as supporting a thriving industry for MIM processing equipment such as feedstock pelletisers, injection moulding machines and catalytic debinding and sintering furnaces.

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 prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

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.

Taiwan’s HTC, which was acquired by Google in 2017, began to use MIM to produce the main body of the SIM card tray, which indirectly began a trend amongst domestic smartphone brands, starting with Huawei, before extending to OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi. MIM components in smartphones now included camera lens protection rings and covers, side buttons for volume and power, the connector interface of I/O port, and so on (Fig. 2). From 2018, domestic Chinese smartphones producers also started to use micro gear reducers featuring many MIM parts for motorised ‘telescopic’ camera modules. MIM parts gradually reached their peak usage in smartphones.

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