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.

The additive increases impact strength by as much as three times by optimizing rubber dispersion and domain size (see graphic). This higher impact performance allows processors to decrease rubber content to reduce weight and costs. If a low impact ICP (with low rubber content) is suitable for the application, for example, DeltaMax can increase the melt flow rate as much as five times without sacrificing impact resistance. The material now becomes much easier and less expensive to process. With a medium- to high-impact PP grades, the additive converts the rubber to smaller, more evenly distributed domains to improve impact properties, yet still is easier to process. There are many other applications where processors are looking to improve both properties, and there is a DeltaMax additive for that too. More on this later.

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.

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.

Additionally, DeltaMax performance modifiers allow for the use of recycled PP at equal or better performance levels compared to virgin resins. This creates an opportunity to improve the circular economy and promotes more sustainable manufacturing 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.

Dr. James Stern, HDPE Business Development Manager, North America, at ExxonMobil, commented: “This new product will be an ‘enabler’ for the value chain to create truly innovative solutions for blow-molded HDPE bottles and containers. Ongoing commercial tests and trials with converters and brand owners are proving highly successful, so we are confident about the interest this new solution will generate across the value chain.”

Increase Throughput and Reduce Costs — A horticultural container manufacturer was attempting to increase throughput and reduce processing costs of their 2.65 gallon flower pots, but parts would become defective because higher melt flow resins produce brittle parts that break easily. Conversely, lower melt flow resins could lead to product defects, such as short shots and inconsistent parts. Using DeltaMax m100 Melt Flow Modifier at 0.5% loading allowed the company to reduce processing temperatures by 14%, resulting in shorter cooling times and a cycle time reduction of 13%. Throughput improvements of 415,000 pots resulted in $275,000 of additional revenue with significant margin improvement. More

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.

Polypropylene (PP) shortages have forced many processors to move to lower grade resins at the cost of lower performance and processability. Milliken’s DeltaMax Performance Modifiers upgrade these materials to enhance impact resistance, melt flow rates, and sustainability through the use of more recycled material.

Paxon SP5504 reportedly boosts environmental stress cracking resistance without compromising stiffness, impact, top load performance, or processability.

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

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

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

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.

These are but a few examples of how DeltaMax has changed the economics of processing polypropylene. It enables stronger and stiffer end products, lower processing and material costs, and more sustainable manufacturing practices. That’s a package of benefits PP injection molders can’t afford to ignore.

Milliken’s online app shows how much DeltaMax will improve the impact and melt flow properties of your existing ICP and recycled PP resins.

How effective is DeltaMax? As the graphs below show, this additive offers multidimensional improvements to PP performance and processability. There are three grades of DeltaMax masterbatches designed to primarily target impact enhancement, melt flow improvement, or both. They are:

COVID-19 has disrupted virtually all businesses, but one of the larger impacts has been the roller coaster effect on material prices for plastics processors. As demand fell initially, prices plunged, but increasing demand this summer for housewares and durable goods combined with supply chain disruptions due to weather events in the US drove prices well above norms for some resins. In addition, the global demand for various PPE, including masks and hospital gowns, led to a shift in availability for traditional copolymer PP grades which created serious supply shortages.

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.

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

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.

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

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).

Increase Production Output — A manufacturer of material handling containers was attempting to improve the output of their injection molding machines. While the company was investing in new presses, they still were fighting with capacity restraints. They considered the use of resins with better melt flow characteristics for faster processing, but the physical performance was not acceptable and the cold temperature impact properties fell below an acceptable range. Using DeltaMax a200 at 1.0% LDR enabled a cycle time reduction of 20%, resulting in an estimated annual throughput increase of 110,000 containers. Productivity improvements and energy savings yielded an additional 58 days of production which resulted in $2 million in additional revenue at 20% margin. More

ExxonMobil has introduced a new Paxon HDPE grade that creates what the company calls a “paradigm shift” in properties normally associated with unimodal HDPE resins. Offering a “step change in environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) performance without compromising stiffness, impact, top load performance, or processability,” Paxon SP5504 is suited for household and industrial chemical (HIC) bottles and containers for bleach, wipes, agricultural chemicals, and similar products.

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

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

Moreover, PP generally has a low carbon footprint, and use of greater amounts of rPP is important to many processors’ sustainability initiatives. But using recycled PP has typically come at the price of poor processability and increased part defects, including flashing, sink marks and most common, short shots. Some processors compensate by running at higher temperatures to improve melt flow and fill out their molds. That too has a cost by leading to degradation of the plastic with substantial loss in impact properties. It also increases energy use and creates more wear and tear on the equipment. DeltaMax mitigates these compromises by improving processability at lower temperatures, resulting in higher quality products in a more cost effective and sustainable environment.

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.

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

Described as a novel reactive extrusion modifier, DeltaMax is a radical advancement in additive technology for PP impact copolymers (ICPs) as well as recycled PP. The problem with polypropylene has been that it doesn’t provide a good balance between high impact resistance with stiffness and melt flow, making it difficult to cost-effectively formulate, design, and process higher functioning parts. This is particularly the case for recycled polypropylene resins, which typically lack high melt flow and impact properties required for many injection molded applications within consumer, industrial, and automotive markets.

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

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

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.

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

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

With the industry driving toward increased recycling of post-consumer plastic waste, ExxonMobil has demonstrated value-in-use at PCR levels at and above 25%, which may help brand owners and converters to meet changing sustainability targets.

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

Cycle Time Reduction — Decreasing resin viscosity speeds first stage injection for quicker filling of the mold. With higher melt flow, processing temperatures can also be reduced which decreases cooling time in the mold. The combination of faster fill and quicker injection results in an average productivity improvement of 10%. It also means you can produce more parts with less energy.

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

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.

Fortunately, a family of additives is available that removes the compromise by improving both the physical properties and the processability of copolymer polypropylene so that it can serve more demanding applications yet still reduce processing costs. That’s what Milliken is offering with its DeltaMax™ family of masterbatch performance modifiers. The technology enables injection molders to enhance the impact and melt flow of their ICP or rPP resins by adding a masterbatch at machine-side. The net effect is the ability to produce parts with higher impact resistance and thinner profiles, run machines with faster cycle times and lower temperatures, reduce the use of costly impact modifiers, and reduce inventory of multiple ICP resins.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 Consolidation — Custom processors use a variety of PP grades for different products. Low cost resins are fine for simple parts, but a more expensive premium grade will be required for parts with better physical properties. With DeltaMax the properties of the less expensive resin can be upgraded to match the premium resin. This reduces the number of polypropylene grades a processor needs to purchase and store. Using fewer, and lower cost resins lowers total material costs.

By simultaneously improving both impact and melt flow in PP impact copolymers, DeltaMax enables processors to make parts stronger, lighter and faster than before. The technology results in three major cost benefits:

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.

There are a number of documented case studies where DeltaMax has rendered dramatic improvements to injection molded products. Here are three good examples:

Increase Sustainability with More Recycled Resin — A polypropylene septic chamber manufacturer wanted to incorporate more post-consumer recycled content into their current rPP resin formulation to help to meet their corporate sustainability goals. But they knew that poor melt flow associated with post-consumer recycled materials can lead to the creation of brittle parts, manufacturing defects and loss in productivity through longer cycle times. Using DeltaMax m100 Melt Flow Modifier at 1.5% LDR enabled the processor to boost melt flow properties of the PCR polypropylene to equal to or better than existing resin formulations while maintaining product specifications and operational efficiencies. More

More Recycled PP — Recycled PP is inexpensive, but its physical properties and processability are poor which is why it generally can only be used in combination with a larger ratio of virgin resin. DeltaMax boosts the properties of recycled PP making it equal to or even better than virgin resin. That means processors no longer have to blend multiple resins to get the necessary part properties. Processors can even make parts with 100% recycled PP resins. This ability further reduces costs while achieving a level of sustainability that was not possible before.

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.

The shortages and high prices of PP have forced many processors to substitute lower grades of PP to get by, but that comes at the cost of diminished physical properties and poor melt flow performance which increases processing costs and can cause quality problems.

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

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.

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.

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

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

“Blow-molded HDPE parts typically contain PCR in the core of multi-layer bottles and containers,” said Mark Canright, Global Polyolefin Product Technology, ExxonMobil. “In California, for example, the current mandate for PCR content in blow-molded HDPE parts is 25%, and this is expected to rise in the next year. But adding PCR can impact the properties of virgin material, such as ESCR and top load. Paxon SP5504 enables converters to add even more PCR without significantly compromising the properties of the finished parts.”

DeltaMax i300 Impact Enhancer — Maximizes impact performance while optimizing melt flow rate. DeltaMax a200 All Purpose Modifier — Provides a strong balance of impact, stiffness, and melt flow rate.

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

In a time where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, the food and beverage packaging industry is required to be at the forefront of this innovation. By adopting circular packaging processes and solutions, producers can meet regulatory requirements while also satisfying consumer demand and enhancing brand reputation. Join Husky to learn more about the broader implications of the circular economy — as well as how leading brands are leveraging this opportunity to reduce costs, increase design flexibility and boost product differentiation. Agenda: The cost and operational benefits of embracing circularity Key materials in circular packaging — including rPET and emerging bioplastics How to design a circular food and beverage package Strategies for selecting sustainable closures to future-proof packaging solutions Optimization and streamlining of production processes for enhanced efficiency How Husky Technologies can enable your sustainable success

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

An added bonus of using Paxon SP5504, which is undergoing further research, is that post-consumer recyclate (PCR) content can be increased with minimal impact on its properties.

Paxon SP5504 enables the production of multiple applications from standard blow molding to more-demanding HIC-type applications. The material also enables the fabrication of complex molded designs. Brand owners can now be more creative with their packaging designs, while converters can reduce polymer inventories, said ExxonMobil’s announcement.

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.

What DeltaMax does is to mitigate those limitations with substantially improved melt flow, higher impact parts, and often both. What’s most important for the application will determine which grade of DeltaMax to use.