System Efficiently, Cost-effectively Molds Complex Plastic Assemblies - plastic/System Efficiently, Cost-effectively Molds Complex Plastic Assemblies

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System Efficiently, Cost-effectively Molds Complex Plastic Assemblies - plastic

Author：gly Date: 2024-09-30

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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 covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

The downward trajectory appears to be continuing into the first quarter for most resin prices, though PE and possibly PP may remain somewhat stable.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Meanwhile, PACCS lines have been trial tested in a vehicle that had all its air conditioning lines replaced with the new material, and thousands of test miles have been accumulated confirming the advantages claimed over traditional lines. They are also being tested by several customers.

Eaton has a long history of producing air conditioning lines and components, including high-quality, corrosion-resistant lines for discharge, liquid and suction, internal heat exchange lines, as well as plastic quick connectors and recently introduced ultra-low-permeation hoses that contribute to reduced fuel consumption and help curb refrigeration losses.

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.

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

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

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.

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 .

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Still other advantages claimed include the capability to replace formed and bulk hoses, with up to 40% less components—resulting in a 10-15% cost reduction, and a lower assembly cost due to Eaton’s “Snap-to-Connect” system that eliminates the process of screwing traditional lines into the system. Gas tightness is said to be 10 times better than traditional lines, leading to a reduction in the amount of refrigerant needed. For example, a vehicle that normally would need 24 ounces of refrigerant would need only 21.36 ounces.

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).

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.

PACCS capability covers a broad range of applications, including passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, buses, harvesters and agricultural tractors. Says Christophe Schorsch, manager, advanced products engineering, “This project in highly innovative and demanding from a product design point of view. It requires specific technical attributes like high thermal, mechanical and chemical performance, and is expected to start a revolution in the traditional connecting line industry by suppliers and customers. Today we are replacing traditional technology and building a new standard in the industry.”

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.

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

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

A lot of the nylon that is processed is filled or reinforced, but the data sheets generally don’t account for this, making drying recommendations confusing. Here’s what you need to know.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Moreover, PACCS lines are less susceptible to heat transfer, so heat from the engine does not result in diminished cooling, and 90% of the PACCS line’s thermoplastic materials are regrindable, for a better “end-of-life” profile, along with a 50% reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

The new Polymer Air-Conditioning Conveyance System (PACCS) lines are said to be a cost-effective and lightweight alternative to the aluminum tubing and rubber components used in traditional lines. Made of a blended long-chain nylon, the PACCS design reportedly results in a 20-50% weight reduction compared to the traditional lines. The PACCS lines are characterized as more bendable and flexible for greater packaging efficiency and safety benefits in crash conditions, capable of withstanding high-system pressure, and offer chemical resistance to all oils and refrigerants.

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.

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.

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.

As our June cover story indicates, new materials for automotive continue to emerge for more and more areas of the vehicle. A broad range of nylons is among them, including high-performance versions such as amorphous-based and long-chain nylons. The latter include most notably nylon 610, 612, and 510. Which brings me to a first-time automotive application that utilizes a blended long-chain nylon that was recently unveiled by power-management company Eaton.

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.

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

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.

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.

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