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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

This process is fascinating to watch – a computer-controlled nozzle extrudes a complex geometric pattern into a vat of cloudy liquid. When the sequence is finished, a solid object is lifted whole from the vat, dripping with goo, like the offspring of some alien lifeform.

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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.

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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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mike Sepe is an independent, global materials and processing consultant whose company, Michael P. Sepe, LLC, is based in Sedona, Ariz. He has more than 40 years of experience in the plastics industry and assists clients with material selection, designing for manufacturability, process optimization, troubleshooting, and failure analysis. Contact: (928) 203-0408 • mike@thematerialanalyst.com.

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.

Before we leave this discussion, there is one more class of materials that we need to address—elastomers. Materials like TPEs, TPUs, and flexible PVC are all meant to function above their Tg and many of these materials develop very little stiffness at and above room temperature. Consequently, we cannot measure a heat deflection temperature that can be used to fulfill our rule of thumb. If we did measure this property, we would find that it would be below room temperature, given the way we define HDT today. And yet we make parts from these materials every day without using cryogenic conditions in our molds. How can this happen? We will consider this in our next article.

If you find this concept difficult, try hooking up a thermocouple to a mold near the cavity. Set the water temperature and start making parts in an amorphous material like polystyrene. You will observe a small temperature rise as the material enters the mold for each shot. The temperature will typically return to its original point by the time the part is ejected. Then change to a PP or a PE but do not alter the melt temperature. You will observe a much larger temperature rise as the semi-crystalline material fills the tool. This is caused by the heat release associated with crystallization that is illustrated by the DSC curve in Fig. 1.

This otherworldly technology is rapid liquid printing (RLP), an experimental form of manufacturing developed by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with US furniture manufacturer Steelcase.

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

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.’

The general relationship of modulus to temperature on these three HDPEs can be approximately captured as two different slopes, and within each segment the trend is nearly linear.

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

In terms of scale, the system is limited only by the size of the gel vat and the extrusion machine being used, say researchers. Furthermore, quality is improved because objects are composed of a continuous material, not layers, which can typically cause structural weaknesses when printed and fused together. MIT has demonstrated the system using regular materials like plastic, foam and rubber.

The use of a quick-setting compound in a stable gel speeds up printing, in single strokes that solidify quickly without the impact of gravity. In contrast, 3D printers that build up objects in layers have long print times as the layers have to be extruded and fused.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Let’s examine the behavior of semi-crystalline materials that never reach their glass-transition temperature as they cool.

Performing fundamental maintenance inspections frequently assures press longevity and process stability. Here’s a checklist to help you stay on top of seven key systems.

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.

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

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.

Yuka Hiyoshi, a senior industrial designer at Steelcase, comments: ‘As a designer, what’s most fascinating about RLP is the line quality of the print. It’s soft, almost organic. It evokes images of brushstrokes or the branches of plants ... And the printing speed is very impressive. In the far future, large scale objects could be printed in minutes instead of days.’

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.

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

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.

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

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

RLP was developed to overcome three key obstacles that have prevented 3D printing from gaining widespread adoption in manufacturing: slow fabrication compared to processes like injection moulding, casting, or milling, etc; the inability to produce large scale objects; and low quality compared to industrial materials.

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

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

The prototype device physically draws objects in 3D space in a gel and is able to produce large-scale structures much faster than conventional 3D printing. A demonstration at the Furniture Fair in Milan used a 1m-long tank to produce a coffee table top in under 30 minutes.

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

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.

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

This means that as they crystallize they release a significant amount of energy into the system as heat. This represents an additional thermal load above and beyond the requirement to simply lower the temperature of the material. This additional heat must be carried away by the cooling circuitry in the tool and will slow the development of modulus in the initial stages of solidification.

The good news is that all three of these material families—PE, PP, and POM—follow the same general relationship between modulus and temperature in the region between ambient conditions and the onset of crystal melting. The behavior can be approximately captured as two different slopes, and within each segment the trend is nearly linear. Figure 3 shows modulus vs. temperature plots for three different HDPEs and Fig. 4 shows the same data for three different POM copolymers. Note that in this last graph the glass transition is shown with the accompanying rapid change in modulus. But it occurs at -75 C (-103 F), a temperature we will never see on the floor of a molding plant.

It’s generally assumed that once the temperature reaches the baseline to the left of the recrystallization exotherm, the material has solidified and can be ejected. For this material, this occurs at approximately 120 C (248 F). But an examination of a DMA curve providing the relationship between modulus and temperature shows that it is not this simple. Figure 2 shows this behavior. At 120 C this material has a modulus of approximately 200 MPa (29 kpsi). At room temperature it will reach a value 10 times greater. The development of the modulus in this PP, and in all PPs, is gradual and the actual temperature at which ejection can take place is therefore somewhat uncertain. If we were to fall back on the original guideline that started this discussion, the heat deflection temperature, we would find that the published value is 88 C (190 F) when tested at 66 psi (0.455 MPa) under the ASTM method. But the ISO technique gives a value of 79 C (174 F). And if the test is performed at 264 psi (1.8 MPa) the result is 50 C (122 F). Which one do we use?

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.

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.

The lack of a well-defined plateau in these materials, such as we saw in the nylon, makes prediction of cycle time far trickier. In addition, these three families have higher degrees of crystallinity than other semi-crystalline polymers.

DSC results for a highly nucleated PP, evidenced by the peak recrystallization temperature above 130 C. This peak temperature can vary by as much as 30° C across different grades of PP, but it will rarely exceed the value shown here.

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

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.

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.

If we fall back on the rule of thumb that the part can be ejected at 80% of the HDT, where does that leave us? If we select 50 C and ignore the importance of using the absolute temperature (Kelvin) scale we get an answer of 40 C (104 F). To those who have been molding PP parts for a while, this probably looks like a reasonable number. Of course, if we treat temperature the way all the other sciences do and use the absolute scale, we end up with a value well below room temperature. (I will let you work out the math for yourself). The question becomes, how can an ejectable temperature be determined if there are no data in the simulation software (or the back-of-the napkin calculation) that relate the stiffness of the material to temperature?

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.

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

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

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In my column last month, I reviewed the way semi-crystalline polymers develop their properties as they cool, using the technique of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). But I limited the treatment to a material with a glass-transition temperature (Tg) above room temperature. Here, let’s examine the behavior of semi-crystalline materials that never reach their Tg as they cool, and therefore do not go through the large step change in modulus associated with this event. Three very important material classes fall into this category: PE, PP, and POM, also referred to as acetal.

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.

In this graph of modulus vs. temperature for three different POM copolymers, the glass transition is shown with the accompanying rapid change in modulus. But it occurs at a cryogenic temperature that we will never see on the floor of a molding plant.

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.

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.

A homogenous melt is required for consistent part quality, but achieving it requires balancing a number of factors, including barrel usage and temperature as well as screw speed, backpressure and residence time. Learn how to prepare your melt for molding success in this two-part series.

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.

DMA curve shows the relationship between modulus and temperature. For this and all PPs, development of modulus is gradual, and the actual temperature at which ejection can take place is therefore somewhat uncertain.

Last month I showed analytical results that illustrate how a nylon 6 crystallizes as it cools. These types of results, generated by a technique known as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), are used as data inputs by the simulation software that seeks to predict cycle time. Figure 1 shows this same DSC cooling curve for a PP. This particular grade of PP is highly nucleated, as indicated by the peak recrystallization temperature above 130 C (266 F). This peak temperature can vary by as much as 30° C (54° F) across different grades of PP, but it will rarely exceed the value shown here.

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

While laboratory tests are helpful in determining how polymers behave, you must remember the fundamental differences between laboratory measurements and the real world of plastic processing. Let’s examine semi-crystalline polymers here.

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