Milacron Holdings Corp., Cincinnati, is introducing a new way to take advantage of its Kortec co-injection technology for products needing a three-layer barrier sandwich structure. Up to now, Milacron has offered turnkey systems (now branded Kortec Complete) consisting of a two-component injection machine, Kortec hot runner and engineering support—including integration assistance, startup, and training. Now, molders who wish to use an existing injection machine can choose the new Kortec Connect package, which comprises a Kortec hot runner, Mold-Masters E-Multi secondary injection unit as an add-on for the existing press, and the same engineering support.

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

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.

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

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

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

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:

By international standards, Parmaco is not a company that wins customers through low prices; it is, after all, only through cost-covering prices that the company can pay Switzerland’s high wages to its employees. “As a technology-driven company, Parmaco makes every effort to push MIM technology to its limits and to extend those limits further,” said Hermes. “This builds trust with customers because they benefit from our technology, and they are willing to work closely together with Parmaco in the development of their 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.

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

“When developing new parts, very close cooperation with the customer is essential,” added Breitenmoser. “We need to understand what functions and characteristics the customer wants the part to have so that we can optimise the design for the MIM process. It may even be possible to integrate the functions of two or more parts into one MIM part.” In addition, MIM can often provide added value that customers who are not so familiar with the process are often unaware of. For example, markings, labels or company logos can be integrated into the tool. “Our goal is to always create added value in dialogue with the customer through MIM production,” stated Hermes.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Metal Injection Moulding is one of the most capable manufacturing processes for small precision components, yet it is also one of the least well kn...»

Parmaco successfully manufactures components for laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure for abdominal operations. A laparoscope (a device with a built-in camera, light source, and rinsing and suction device) is inserted through a small opening in the abdomen and can be used to diagnose organs in the abdomen, or for surgery. The requirements for MIM parts for laparoscopes are extremely high in terms of geometrical complexity and dimensional accuracy. This and other fields of medical application are very attractive for Parmaco.

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.

Since the beginning of the industrialisation of MIM technology in the early 1990s, Parmaco Metal Injection Molding AG has maintained a leading position in the European MIM industry. This achievement of Georg Breitenmoser cannot be overestimated, particularly since the conditions for the production of metal components are particularly challenging in a high-wage country such as Switzerland. With great perseverance, innovation and commercial prudence, he has guided the company through all of the past market challenges. Parmaco’s team is determined to continue its success into the future.

The small town of Fischingen, in eastern Switzerland, is home to one of Europe’s longest established manufacturers of MIM parts. In 1992, Georg Breitenmoser acquired a technology licence from the process pioneer, Parmatech Corporation, based in Petaluma, California, USA, and founded Parmaco Metal Injection Molding AG. The company is still Switzerland’s leading MIM producer and, to this day, Breitenmoser steers the fortune of the company as the sole owner and president of the board of directors, though he handed over management responsibility for daily operations to Kai Hermes, Parmaco’s General Manager, in 2020.

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

In more than thirty years of MIM manufacturing, Parmaco has learned to effectively master its own processes. Through the extensive documentation of process parameters and quality checks, the foundation has been laid for reliable process monitoring. This makes it possible to detect deviations from ‘safe’ values at an early stage and to take countermeasures. As part of a development project, Parmaco is investigating opportunities for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to derive new process insights. The ambition is to further improve product quality through the huge amounts of data collected over decades.

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.

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.

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.

Compared to other MIM producers, Parmaco manufactures relatively small parts. According to Breitenmoser, the average part weight is 6 g. The smallest parts weigh significantly less than 0.05 g.“With our sales activities, we are targeting the market leaders in the industries we supply,” said Breitenmoser. Parmaco sees itself as one of the market leaders in MIM technology and the company’s management sees that market leaders in end-user sectors appreciate Parmaco’s superior technology.

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

The potential of sinter-based Additive Manufacturing for industrial production, along with the diversity of the processes that are being developed,...»

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

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.

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.

However, he believes that there are limits to these measures. “If you want good quality, you should not overdo the savings,” Breitenmoser said. This applies to both the consumption of process gases and to energy consumption.

NPE2024: Coinjection of postconsumer resin, in-mold decoration, LSR micromolding and bioplastics processing are just some of the machine displays at Milacron's booth.

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

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

In the early days, Parmaco primarily produced low-alloy Fe-Ni MIM parts. This group of materials still makes up a considerable percentage of production, as many parts run for years, sometimes decades. Newer projects are predominantly produced with high-alloy steels. Parts made of nickel-base alloys and heavy metal alloys are also in production, but to a lesser extent. “We are able to offer the full range of available MIM materials and our development department has the expertise to develop special materials in a short period of time, if this is required by customers,” said Breitenmoser.

Sustainability and climate protection are high on Parmaco’s agenda. Breitenmoser ensures that measures are taken to both protect the environment and save on costs, whilst expecting politicians to also work to ensure that the wider industry is encouraged to take measures to protect the environment. As an example, he cites the CO2 tax, which rewards companies that reduce their emissions of climate-damaging gases. Reductions in electricity consumption are also an issue. Next year, Parmaco plans to install solar panels on all roofs of company buildings, thereby generating around 25% of the energy it needs sustainably. It should, of course, be noted that around 60% of Switzerland’s electricity comes from hydro-power, with a further 29% coming from nuclear.

Some examples of Parmaco’s MIM products are shown in Figs. 7-11. Applications range from a sensor housing (Fig. 7) to laparoscopic instruments (Fig. 8 and Fig. 9) and robotic devices in medical technology (Fig. 10 and Fig. 11). All of the parts shown have extremely tight tolerances. These strict tolerance specifications ensure the highest precision and reliability of surgical instruments and other assemblies. After manufacturing, most parts are subjected to heat treatment to optimise surface properties and increase surface hardness.

Parmaco is a specialist in the production of microMIM parts, a term that Breitenmoser described as applying to “parts that weigh less than 1 g and also have particularly fine features. Such parts are also associated with particularly high dimensional accuracy requirements, and microMIM offers a proven route to meet these requirements. Of course, this also places particularly high demands on the precision of the injection moulding tools.”

Parmaco’s debinding and sintering is done in a batch process (Fig. 2). Debinding is divided into two sub-steps. Firstly, the parts are debound in a special solvent. Secondly, the residual binder is thermally removed in a reducing atmosphere before sintering. Hermes emphasised that the maintenance and servicing – especially of the sintering furnaces – is of paramount importance, because the more carefully the equipment is maintained, the more durable and reliable it is.

“It is in our DNA to never stand still. Even if a part is already being mass-produced, there are always opportunities to further optimise production – be it automation, furnace process control, a better understanding of the scientific background – and to convert the results into stable, safe processes,” explained Breitenmoser.

“Apart from the higher accuracy requirements, there is no significant difference in the production of microMIM parts compared to traditional MIM parts. After injection moulding, they also go through the debinding and sintering processes. However, microMIM parts generally have to be ready for use after sintering, because reworking is usually no longer possible,” stated Breitenmoser.

As far as Additive Manufacturing processes are concerned, Parmaco is constantly investigating which technologies bring benefits to the company. Experience has already been gained with Binder Jetting and, in cooperation with the Swiss company Injex, injection moulds and MIM prototypes have been additively manufactured. This has enabled Parmaco to provide customers with prototypes of new MIM parts in the shortest possible time. “The surfaces of the prototypes produced in an additively manufactured injection mould were comparable to MIM series parts and significantly better than with Binder Jetting; however, the dimensional distribution was not always as good as conventional MIM tools,” stated Breitenmoser.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

In Parmaco’s early days, components for defence applications were of great importance and, to this day, Parmaco manufactures parts for this industry, but applications in the growing lock, sensor and medical device industries have become much more important. Minimally invasive surgical devices are often single use and the quantities consumed are highly-suited to MIM.

AE Plast opted for tiebarless multimaterial Engel victory machines as it took on complex parts for the appliance and power tool market, including a 3K housing for Dremel’s rotary tool.

Depending on the production volume, multiple tools with up to sixteen mould cavities can be used, though the majority of tools have two to four mould cavities. “Hot runner technology is often used, but if heat transfer from the hot runner to the part is a problem for very small parts, we do not use this solution,” said Hermes.

A key driver of innovation is the need to reduce the time it takes to prototype a new MIM part. Parmaco has introduced special prototype injection moulds that have a modular design. The cavities for these prototypes are incorporated into prefabricated tool inserts, thereby enabling prototypes to be produced in only a few weeks. Such tools allow Parmaco to economically manufacture even small batches of MIM parts with what is described as a “tried-and-tested” technology.

In the case of new injection moulding tools, minor changes or adjustments may still have to be made after commissioning, for example in relation to the venting of the moulds or to manage burr formation. “In most cases, initial part dimensions correspond very well with the specification, at least if the tolerances are not exceptionally tight,” Breitenmoser explained. “However, we are usually operating at the limit of what is feasible with our dimensional tolerances. Since we are located in Switzerland, our strategy focuses on exceptional quality and tight tolerances. This is the only way we can justify Swiss prices.”

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.

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).

For many years, Breitenmoser has also been actively involved in the EPMA and the German MIM Expertenkreis. These organisations offer a forum for an exchange between the participating organisations and also provide suggestions for development projects that benefit the entire MIM industry. Parmaco sees high value in these networking activities.

For a medium-sized company, employing about sixty people, Parmaco has a relatively large product development department. This consists of eight employees who take care of the introduction of new parts, as well as the automation and optimisation of the production process. Around forty employees work in production, quality assurance, and maintenance, while the rest work in sales and administration. The plant has a production area of about 4,000 m2 (Fig. 1).

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

The 4th Workshop on Sinter-based Additive Manufacturing, organised by Fraunhofer IFAM, in Bremen, Germany, took place from September 13-14 2023. It...»

Parmaco develops about thirty new MIM parts a year. The required injection moulding tools are designed and specified by the company’s own tool experts (Fig. 6) and then manufactured by external specialists. There are a number of qualified toolmakers in the vicinity who are commissioned with the production. Depending on the requirements of the tool, delivery time, and price, the best-suited toolmaker receives the order. “Minor tool repairs and maintenance work are done in-house, but in-house toolmaking is not economically viable,” shared Hermes.

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.

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.

Wherever it is possible and economically viable, production is automated. Green parts are removed from the injection moulding machine by pick-and-place robots or six-axis robots and placed on trays for further processing (Fig. 3).

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.

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

Another innovation for prototyping is the use of additively manufactured tool inserts made of a material that can be removed in solvent. Parmaco’s feedstock is injected into these tool inserts, then the entire tool insert is ejected. The tool insert is then dissolved in the solvent. What remains is the green MIM part, which is further processed using the usual technology. According to Breitenmoser, quite good surface qualities can be achieved if the tool inserts are manufactured with a very low build rate of around 10 μm per layer. “This process is ideally suited to prototyping microMIM parts, primarily because it is – at first – unnecessary to worry about ejecting the part from a mould,” said Breitenmoser.

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

This is a story from what once looked like the edge of the metal Additive Manufacturing universe. A decade ago, the idea of a Metal Injection Moldi...»

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

Computer simulations are used in tool design with the aim of achieving the required dimensional accuracy in as few iteration steps as possible (Fig. 6). As far as furnaces are concerned, reliance has, so far, been placed on empirically determined temperature profiles. The work on the simulation of furnace processes is known, but has not yet been applied in practice.

From the very start, Parmaco has produced its feedstock in-house. The binder technology used has, of course, evolved over the decades, but the recognition of the value of having control over feedstock production remains. Breitenmoser appreciates the flexibility of in-house feedstock production for a number of reasons: on the one hand, binder compositions can be quickly adjusted if the moulds for particularly thin-walled parts are difficult to fill, or if other filling problems arise such as sink marks or voids; on the other hand, the binder composition can be adjusted if a part requires a particularly high green strength.

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

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.

Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) are used to determine the consumption of gases, water and electrical energy in the company as well as the amount of waste in order to identify potential savings. Currently, the Fraunhofer IFAM institute in Bremen is developing standards for LCAs on behalf of the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) so that uniform methods for assessing sustainability can be applied in PM and other industries, enabling comparable results. In addition to the consumption values of the company’s own operations, the CO2 footprints of the raw materials used must also be included in the calculation. For Breitenmoser, it is essential that such methods are internationally applicable and provide meaningful comparative values.

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.

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

Milacron claims 30 years of experience in co-injection, with over 100 systems in the field, producing 12 billion parts in 18 countries. Kortec Connect will be featured at NPE2018 May 7-11 in Orlando, Fla., at booth W2703.

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

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

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.

A certified quality management system according to ISO 9001:2015 with periodical re-certifications is in place at Parmaco. High-precision measuring instruments are used to ensure the consistently high dimensional accuracy of tools and components (Fig. 4). In addition to dimensional inspection, metallographic inspection is also of great importance (Fig. 5).

Ideally, parts will be ready for use by the customer after sintering, but this is not always the case. If a straightening process is necessary to comply with particularly tight dimensional tolerances which are not possible without reworking, this is carried out in-house. Other secondary processes such as machining, heat treatment, vibratory finishing, coating, etc. are carried out externally.