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.

Plastics processors are finding applications for 3D printing around the plant and across the supply chain. Here are 8 examples to look for at NPE2024.

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

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

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

And then here comes a company, Certifed B yet, which means that it "balances purpose and profit" – they are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. It promises to take all our garbage (no more sorting!) and keep it out of the landfill, and instead turn it into useful thermoplastic resins without a lot of energy, water, or emissions, with a negative carbon footprint.

They claim that the resulting product is safe for people and the environment, and "does not present any health or safety concerns. Testing performed by leading independent laboratories, using the most stringent US and European hazardous waste rules, as well as Cradle-to-Cradle standards. It is also compliant under REACH." They note that "the material is competitively priced compared to conventional plastics, while providing a significant environmental added value."

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

PET prices rolled over in September (based on raw material formulation contracts), having moved up in August by 3¢/lb, and prices may have possibly peaked this year, according to Mark Kallman RTi’s v.p. of PVC, PET and engineering resins. Moreover, he sees the potential for a 1¢ to 2¢/lb, give or take for October-November. “This remains a well-supplied market with substantial competitive priced imports. So far, imports account for a $250 million/lb versus $40 million/lb that primarily go to Canada.”

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

That plastic tray in the photo above doesn't look like much, but it could be the start of something big. UBQ Materials is a Certified B Corporation in Israel that, according to a press release, has "patented a technology which converts household waste into a climate positive, biobased, thermoplastic."

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.

Polyethylene prices moved up another 3¢ in September, following the August increase, and suppliers had a similar price initiative for October, according to David Barry, PCW’s associate director for PE, PP, and PS, Robin Chesshier, RTi’s v.p. of PE, PS, and nylon 6 markets, and The Plastic Exchange’s CEO Michael Greenberg. Generally, these sources venture that prices in the October-November time frame are likely to be flat-to-down.

Baystar's Borstar technology is helping customers deliver better, more reliable production methods to greenhouse agriculture.

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.

On their website and in this video, the company describes how they are part of the movement from the take-make-waste linear economy to the circular economy, described by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as one that "entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and designing waste out of the system."

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

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.

UBQ's process takes your regular mix of undifferentiated waste stream of food, plastic, paper or whatever, which is "is reduced into its more basic natural components. At a particle level, these natural components reconstitute themselves and bind together into a new composite material – UBQ." It is all proprietary and patented, but I think I found the right one, US8202918B2:

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

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.

Noting that there was a short-squeeze of domestic benzene supply, Barry says, “I think it will be a tough sell for suppliers to get all 8¢/lb, as the majority of PS market operates on feedstock cost formulation. There is not much activity in the secondary market and imports are down 24% from September 2022 year-to-date.” Similarly, Chesshier ventures that PS prices this month and December will see a gradual decline as benzene is currently overvalued.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 addition, recent major industry news involves the pausing of construction to the 2.6-million lb/yr  PET plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, with partners Alpek, Indorama and FENC (Far Eastern New Century). It was originally scheduled to start up in 2025. Construction costs, interest rates and labor shortages are factors.

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

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 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.

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

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

RTi’s Chesshier attributes the increases to a very strong exports market as international feedstock prices had risen and also to an uptick in domestic demand which appeared to be partially attributed to prebuying due to hurricane season. Reports The Plastic Exchange’s Greenberg, “The alternative export demand, which has been approaching 50% of all domestic PE, has helped producers secure consecutive 3¢/lb price increases in August and September. As prices rise, it has been pulling domestic buyers back to the market as they compete to restock their heavily drawn down inventories,” Greenberg reports .

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.

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.

Now compare this to the $670 million project in Quebec that we recently covered, which turns waste and electrolyzed hydrogen and oxygen into ethanol and chemical feedstocks. I did not think it made much sense, but this UBQ concept seems so much more accessible, affordable, and achievable in a reasonable timeframe.

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All three sources also noted two ongoing force majeures but also that more significant new capacity was being brought on stream by Baystar, Nova and Shell. PCW’s Barry points out that suppliers have increased export prices by about 7¢/lb, this while there were reports of softer demand in international markets as well. This was forecast to continue into 2024.

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

For many years I have complained on Treehugger about recycling, where companies pat us on the head for separating our waste into bins so that maybe if we are lucky, some of the plastic might become a bench or plastic lumber. Then I complained about how the companies were going to save recycling by taking the plastic and going through elaborate chemical processes to turn it back into feedstock.

According to the Life Cycle Assessment, there are significant environmental benefits compared to conventional thermoplastics like polypropylene, claiming a significant positive carbon footprint. It also reduces the amount of material going to landfill (where organic waste rots and gives off methane) and reduces the need for fossil fuels.

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.

PVC prices were a rollover in September, despite suppliers aiming for a 4¢/pound increase which they hoped would at least partially be implemented that month, following the August 2¢/pound increase, according to Paul Pavlov, RTi’s v.p. of PP and PVC and PCW’s senior editor Donna Todd. The latter reported that an industry pundit who forecast a partial 1¢/lb increase for September, changed the forecast to flat. It appears that suppliers aimed to remedy the situation with Westlake, Shintech and Formosa restating their increase to a 2¢/lb for October. OxyVinyls was missing, but expected to follow suit.

These are the views of purchasing consultants from Resin Technology Inc. (RTi), senior analysts from Houston-based PetroChemWire (PCW), CEO Michael Greenberg of The Plastics Exchange, and Scott Newell, executive v.p.  polyolefins at distributor/compounder Spartan Polymers.

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

Pavlov notes that the supply situation improved significantly between second and third quarter, with days of supplier inventories now at 14-to-16 days, and domestic demand not as strong as expected. Also, more new capacity was being brought on stream by Formosa though a debottleneck. “We’re exporting more PVC this year than in 2022,” Pavlov says.

Prices of the five commodity resins going into October were a mixed bag, owing to factors such as supply/demand issues, seemingly temporary spikes in some feedstocks due to primarily to unplanned production shutdowns and prebuying activity as protection to the hurricane season ending midmonth. In the case of PE and PP, unexpected outages in both feedstock and resin production resulted in some force majeure declarations. This apparently translated to drawdowns in suppliers’ PE and PP inventories which gave them the momentum to push through increases. Both PE and PP suppliers have increased operating rates primarily to serve the exports markets.

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.

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

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

The issue is monomer inventory tightness which may last for another couple of months. Moreover, on-purpose propylene suppliers have PDH units scheduled for turnarounds in January, and are actively looking for propylene imports, according to PCW’s Barry, who describes the scenario as a pretty dynamic supply situation. This not an issue for PP where demand has continued to struggle, despite an uptick in demand in August that was largely attributed to prebuying activity, notes Spartan Polymers’ Newell.

They are touting a big deal they have made with the world's largest McDonald's franchisee, Arcos Dorados in Brazil, to manufacture 7,200 new serving trays. In the process, they have already diverted 2600 pounds (1200 kilograms) of waste from landfills, and "every ton of UBQ produced prevents nearly 12 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the environment."

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.

Polypropylene prices moved up 4.5¢/lb in September in step with propylene monomer, primarily attributed to unplanned and planned monomer production issues, according to PCW’s Barry, Spartan Polymers’ Newell and The Plastic Exchange’s Greenberg. This after dropping 0.5¢/lb in August for a decline of 19.5¢/pound since first quarter. Prices were expected to be flat in October, but unclear going into this month and next, and pretty much dependent on the monomer’s price stability.

Here on Treehugger, I have been dismissive of claims that plastic waste could be recovered through fancy and expensive chemical recycling, writing in How the Plastics Industry Is Hijacking the Circular Economy that "this sham of a circular economy is just another way to continue the status quo, with some more expensive reprocessing." But the UBQ approach is different. It is not perfectly circular in that they are not producing a plastic as pure as the original; it is a composite that could be called downcycling instead of recycling.

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.

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.

If this works as well as advertised and promised, it won't stop with plastic trays in Brazil; it is going to be a very big deal.

As best I can tell, the waste is cooked at about 400 degrees until it breaks down into its basic components of lignin, cellulose, and sugars. Lignin is a biopolymer that is the stuff between cellulose reinforcing fibers in a tree, so when this is all mixed with the melted plastics and I believe some added thermoplastics, it becomes a strong composite material that UBQ can mold into not only trays for McDonald's, but also plastic pipes, wastebasket, pallets, and industrial products that do not have to be made from food-grade plastics. Almost any kind of waste can go into it, according to the patent, "there is no additional limitation on the type of waste, and no limitation and the source of waste. Appropriate types of waste include but are not limited to household refuse, industrial waste, medical waste, rubber marine sludge, and hazardous material."

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.

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.

PP spot prices were flat to higher, despite an unexciting demand outlook for fourth quarter, according to Barry and The Plastic Exchange’s Greenberg who reported, “Polypropylene trading stayed healthy to close out September; demand picked up while monomer prices rallied as buyers sought to procure additional material ahead of a potential October increase.  The supply/demand dynamic for PP is better balanced, especially as producers have begun to tap the export market with more fervor.” Meanwhile, Barry reports that Braskem confirmed the extended idling of one of the two PP trains at its Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, facility, representing about 450 million pound/year.

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.

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

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.

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).

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

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

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

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.

Polystyrene prices rose by 3¢/pound in September, having risen by 3¢/lb in August, after dropping a total of 9¢/lb the two previous months, according to PCW’s Barry and RTi’s Chesshier. Moreover, PS prices in October were forecast to increase 8¢/lb, reflecting increases of a 7¢/lb in October benzene contracts that settled at $4/gallon and a 1¢/lb hike in ethylene. According to Barry, the implied styrene cost based on a 70% benzene, 30% ethylene spot formula jumped up 9.8¢/lb within a four-week period going into October.

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

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.