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.

In this article, we present the top three robot applications that can help plastic and rubber product manufacturers automate their processes. We selected these technologies because they are among the simplest and cheapest to implement, all the while offering an interesting return on investment. The applications are:

Using pneumatic grippers or vacuum-based collection systems, cobots can manipulate workpieces with more finesse and consistency than a human, ensuring that it does not get damaged in the process.

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

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.

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To make the most of your investments, however, you first need to review your processes to ensure they are already lean and efficient. Imagine, for instance, a company that is wasting a high number of man-hours deflashing plastic parts. A robot could easily handle this task. But it might make more financial sense to invest first in high-quality molds that will reduce flashing. Once this is done, your investment in robots will yield significantly higher benefits.

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.

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.

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.

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

In most cases, material removal robots can be used on low-volume production lines. Many drilling robots, for example, can be easily combined with simple templates to drill holes rapidly in pre-determined spots on your workpiece.

Ascend’s new nylon 66 Vydyne R433H is targeted to reinforcement of down-gauged steel & aluminum used in vehicle BIW structures.

While your employees can, for the most part, perform these tasks by hand, material removal robots are quicker and more precise than humans. Whether you manufacture toboggans, car components, computer covers or speaker enclosures, these machines will help you achieve consistent product quality, increase production speed and optimize human resources.

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.

Third, even though the industry’s overall robot density is high, small and medium companies are lagging behind large corporations when it comes to automation.

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

Cobots are a great choice of robot when it comes to loading and unloading molding machines. Precise and consistent, they can increase quality significantly since newly molded parts are fragile and vulnerable to deforming.

Automated plastic molding systems are very versatile. They can be used to fabricate a wide range of plastic products and components, of practically any size, for a large number of applications. For this reason, automated plastic molding systems are a great first step if you are only starting to introduce robots on your factory floor.

Use of the material in the BIW structure reinforces sheet metal, helping manufacturers shave substantial weight and improve efficiency. In electric vehicles, where lightweighting and NVH reduction are especially important, R433H also reportedly works well in battery frame and housing applications. Said Ascend’s sr. v.p. of technology Vikram Gopal,

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

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.

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

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.

Assembly robots, on the other hand, are used to joint and fasten parts and components by welding, clipping, gluing or riveting them together.

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

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.

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

Automated plastic molding systems combine loading and unloading robots with molding machines to manufacture plastic products without needing continuous human intervention.

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

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

To properly understand the differences in performance between PET and PBT we need to compare apples to apples—the semi-crystalline forms of each polymer.

Collaborative robots, often referred to as cobots, are advanced robotic systems designed to work safely alongside humans in a shared workspace. They typically resemble articulated arms.

A new glass-reinforced nylon 66 with improved energy absorption is said to outperform traditional glass-filled nylon 66, reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), and absorbing impact energy from crashes. Developed by Houston-based Ascend Performance Materials, Vydyne R433H, is designed to reinforce down-gauged steel and aluminum used in vehicle body-in-white (BIW) structures, helping reduce weight without sacrificing safety or comfort.

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

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.

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.

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.

Is a two-year-old hygroscopic resin kept in its original packaging still useful? Let’s try to answer that question and clear up some misconceptions.

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.

Second, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are becoming ever more important for investors, consumers, large companies, policymakers and other industry stakeholders. To maintain a good reputation, the industry must improve its efficiency, reduce waste and develop production practices that are more sustainable. The integration of robots and automation technologies can help accomplish these objectives.

Smaller companies have tended to rely on workers rather than robots. But business owners are finding it harder to continue this way because of a labour shortage in Canada, as well as rising wages in China. Robots can help companies regain competitiveness by cutting production costs, increasing quality and reducing rework.

Material removal robots handle a range of tasks such as cutting, trimming, drilling and deflashing, which is the process of removing excess or residual material (“flash”) attached to a molded product.

The loading and unloading robots are generally guided by sophisticated algorithms and can load or unload the molding machines consistently, without risking damage to the workpiece.

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.

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

Collaborative robots can even be programmed to handle a number of different products using an offline programming technique—meaning industrial robots are programmed outside the production environment. This is called CAD-to-Path.

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.

Robots can also help maintain production volumes when qualified workers are hard to find: In Quebec, for example, 44% of manufacturers have automated or robotized certain processes to deal with the labour shortage.

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.

Since cobots are easy to program, they can often work in the high-mix low-volume context that is typical of many small businesses.

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

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.

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

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

The cost of sorting and assembly machines can vary significantly depending on the task to be accomplished. If your project requires lengthy programming and artificial intelligence, for instance, costs will be much higher. But as a starting point, a basic machine vision system can cost between $5,000 and $20,000, and will allow you to perform object detection, parts counting and print character reading—essential tasks in sorting applications.

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.

First, in a context where plastic and rubber products manufacturers are automating rapidly worldwide, Canadian companies need to keep up if they want to remain competitive.

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.

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

Once up and running, sorting robots will reduce the risk of error and speed up your production line, while assembly robots will help you minimize repetitive stress injuries and increase consistency in the assembly process.

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.

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.

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.

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

Sorting robots are used to separate and organize components, for instance, on a conveyor belt, in order to package them or assemble a final product.

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).

“The BIW accounts for nearly half the weight of a vehicle. Balancing a reduction in weight with passenger comfort and safety has been a technical challenge. We’re excited to bring a solution to market that meets manufacturers’ drive toward efficiency with the consumer’s desire for a safe, comfortable driving experience.”

Sorting plastic parts and products used to be difficult since plastic can be shiny and translucent. For this reason, traditional vision systems often had a hard time identifying items correctly. However, recent advances in vision systems and artificial intelligence have made it possible, and easy, for robots to handle transparent and shiny parts.

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.

Combining sorting robots with assembly robots is an advanced approach that will streamline your production processes. To limit costs, and simplify the process, you can start small by automating a single work cell before automating your full production line.

The Canadian plastic and rubber products manufacturing industry is sizable, with 2,937 companies across the country generating annual revenues of $31.2 billion. It is also well ahead of most other industries when it comes to industrial automation: according to the latest figures, the plastic industry ranks fourth when it comes to robot installations worldwide. Nevertheless, the industry can and must do better for a number of reasons.

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.