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.

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.

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.

We promised you the best glues for plastic and that has to include all plastics, so in terms of bonding that tricky duo of polypropylene and polyethylene objects, there’s one clear answer: Loctite All Plastics Super Glue.

One of the most renowned names in the glue world, Loctite has been in the business of sticking things together since way back in 1956, and its Super Glue Gel really is one of the most flexible adhesives around.

To use, ensure surfaces to be joined are clean, completely dry and close fitting. Using the Surface Activator like a pen, apply it to both surfaces and wait 60 seconds for it to dry. Open the glue and carefully squeeze a small drop onto one surface. Press the surfaces together and hold until set.

Key specs – Type: Liquid plastic; Dry colour: Clear; Volume: 4ml; Consistency: Liquid; Curing time: N/A; Water resistant: Yes

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

This is designed for another form of plastic that’s normally a non-starter for most super glues: polyvinyl. When it comes to securing vinyl flooring in the home, you’re going to struggle unless you get your hands on a decent contact adhesive (also known as contact cement), such as the Stick 2 All Purpose from Everbuild.

While not recommended for use with PE or PP, the fact that it creates an incredibly strong bond for other plastics and is resistant to moisture, most chemicals, shock and freezing means Loctite Super Glue Gel should be a staple of your toolbox.

PPO was a promising new high-performance thermoplastic, but it could be made useful only by mixing it with a humble commodity resin.

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

Most glues of this nature contain solvents that are toxic, so use common sense – always make sure the area you’re working in is well ventilated, avoid all contact with skin and never, ever ingest, obviously.

The Windform XT 2.0 IMG formulation boasts premium performance ranging from in high stiffness and resistance to shock to allowing for extreme detail accuracy even with thin thicknesses. Its excellent properties reportedly make it ideal for demanding applications in industries such as automotive, transport, e-mobility, agriculture, robotics and industrial design.

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 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.

Key specs – Type: Cyanoacrylate gel; Drying time: 24 hours; Dry colour: Clear; Volume: 4ml; Consistency: Gel; Curing time: 12-24 hours; Water resistant: Yes

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).

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.

Curing times for glues varies from brand to brand and type to type, but while that process occurs, you’ll want to ensure you have the tightest bond, so clamp your glued elements together using either an actual clamp (available from DIY stores) or, at a pinch, use elastic bands to hold everything in place.

Said CRP Technology’s CEO and technical director Franco Cevolini, “For some time, we at CRP Technology have been studying an alternative and total use of those exhausted Windform powders for selective laser sintering, that fallen into disuse as they no longer meet our high quality standards…In this case, we regranulated the Windform XT 2.0 powder cake, and make it suitable for injection molding technology. The test phase ended with excellent results and now we are ready to sell it to those who manufacture on large volumes basis.”

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.

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

Now, you may not know your polywotnot from your polythingie, but that’s fine: simply look for the recycling arrows on the item in question and take note of the number in the centre – polyethylene (PE) is represented by the number 1, polypropylene (PP) by the number 5, so, knowing that, simply look for a glue option that states its compatibility.

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

Okay, the majority of glues in the ‘super’ category are good to go for most household plastics, unless otherwise specified. The most common plastics that super glue (or cyanoacrylate, to give it its proper name) doesn’t work with are polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), so you’ll want to check what you’re going to glue weighed up against the glue manufacturer’s directions. However, as the most common use of PE is as polyethylene terephthalate in plastic bottles and PP in things such as outdoor furniture, plastic containers and luggage, you’ll probably not come across the need to adhere them as much as others.

As always, check the packaging for the individual manufacturer’s guidelines on use, and keep out of the reach of children.

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

With all glue use, we recommend gloves, mask and safety goggles, and in the case of aerosol-based adhesives we can’t stress this enough. Also as it’s an aerosol adhesive, remember that it’s highly flammable too, so storage in a safe, cool place is imperative.

And when we say “flexible”, we don’t just mean in the sense that it can be applied to many other materials and not just plastic, but that it also features a rubber-infused formula, which means it can be used to adhere plastic elements that are required to bend.

If you’re looking for sloppy results, by all means. But if you’re looking to form a clean, strong, lasting bond, it’s best to prep first. Make sure the surfaces of whatever it is you’re gluing are absolutely clean. Wash with soap or a specialised plastic cleaner and then make sure it’s bone dry and avoid handling as much as possible. You may also want to roughen the surface up with a light rub with sandpaper, which gives the glue more to get to grips with.

Water-resistant and offering a comfortable five-minute setting time in which to make slight changes to positioning, Gorilla Glue Epoxy features a two-part formula of resin and hardeners that are kept in separate barrels until dispensed in equal measure by the handy syringe design to form an incredibly durable bond.

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

A two-part cyanoacrylate adhesive that sets in seconds, the activator is used to prime these traditionally difficult-to-glue plastic surfaces, leaving a string bond that can withstand heavy loads, while also being highly resistant to water, the dishwasher, shock and extreme temperature.

Key specs – Type: Two-part cyanoacrylate; Dry colour: Clear; Volume: 4ml; Consistency: Liquid; Curing time: 24 hours; Water resistant: Yes

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.

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

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.

Okay, not technically a glue, Bondic is an altogether different adhesive method of bonding plastic (and pretty much anything else) that uses liquid plastic.

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.

Drying completely over 24 hours, when it will be fully flexible, sandable and paintable, the finish is crystal clear, so even transparent plastic (not PE or PP) can be glued together without worrying about how it will look. It’s capable of handling high temperatures, too.

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.

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

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

Bonding almost instantaneously, the long, tapered, anti-clog nozzle and squeeze release system make for spot-on application, while the fact that it’s a gel rather than a liquid means spillage is almost non-existent.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

A one-part unit that features an applicator nozzle at one end and the LED at the other, the adhesive stays in liquid form until you activate it via the UV. The UV wavelength acts as a catalyst for a photochemical reaction, which causes the polymer to harden in mere seconds to form a permanent but flexible bond.

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.

Now make sure you’ve read the instructions on the glue thoroughly and are well aware of the handling time (how long you get for manoeuvring) and the curing time (how long it takes to fully set), and pay special attention to the instructions regarding the mixing of two-part epoxies or adhesives. Keep a cloth handy to wipe up any excess or spillage and, if manual dexterity will allow it, wear gloves to avoid getting your fingers glued. On that score, as a precaution, we also recommend a mask to stop the inhalation of fumes, and safety goggles in case of accidental contact with eyes.

Key specs – Type: Two-part epoxy; Dry colour: Clear; Volume: 25ml; Consistency: Liquid; Curing time: 24 hours; Water resistant: Yes

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.

Ideal for use with vinyl flooring or plastic laminate kitchen countertops where other glues are no use, simply ensure surfaces are clean and dust-free, shake the can well and spray both surfaces for sticking from about six to eight inches distance, allow 30 seconds for the solvent to evaporate, then press together. With a curing time of a mere two to three minutes, you’ll have a solid bond in next to no time.

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

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.

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

Not for use on flexible joints, the hard setting All Plastics should be given a full 24 hours to cure fully, after which any and all plastics will be bonded for life.

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

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.

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.

Key specs – Type: Contact cement; Dry colour: Clear; Volume: 500ml; Consistency: Liquid; Curing time: 2 to 3 minutes; Water resistant: Yes

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

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

Another giant of the glue world, Gorilla Glue may have only been around since 1994, but since launch it has gone on to achieve an enviable reputation among adhesive manufacturers worldwide, and its Epoxy offering is an excellent example of why.

Obviously, there’s no issue with potentially sticking your fingers together or adhering the wrong things, but even though it’s not a solvent it’s still advised to avoid contact with skin and eyes and, being toxic, it should always be kept – in its handy tin – out of harm’s way when not in use.

You see, for different types of plastics, different glues are more effective at creating a solid, lasting bond. You just need to know which combinations work best… which is why we’re here!

Using the appliance of science, with Bondic, rather than being tied to a setting and curing time, you simply clean the surface of whatever you’re trying to bond, apply the liquid, cure at your leisure using Bondic’s LED activation wand and the job is done.

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.

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

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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 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 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

We in the industrialised world have lived in a throwaway society for decades – if something breaks, why try and fix it when you can just buy a replacement? Well, that attitude has done neither us nor the planet any favours, particularly when it comes to plastics.

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

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

Indeed, the high-quality injection molded parts made of Windform XT 2.0 IMG are said to exhibit the same performance of prototypes realized in additive manufacturing with Windform XT 2.0.

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

Now, while I consider myself a DIY master, many around me don’t, due mainly to the fact that, if I can’t glue something back together, I generally default to banging some nails through it. Fortunately, then, when it comes to plastics, most things can be fixed through the medium of glue. The only question is: what type of specific glue do you need for the job, super glue, epoxy or solvent cement?

A new carbon fiber reinforced nylon 12 composite for injection molding is newly available from CRP Technology. Said to be the first of a family of sustainable materials for industrial production, Windform XT 2.0 IMG is 100% recycled from the company’s exhausted Windform XT2.0 industrial 3D printing material for laser sintering.

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