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.

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

Founded in 2001, family-owned, Phoenix-based ICON Injection Molding caters to a range of industries, making parts for laboratory use, security devices, pool equipment and more. “With a dedication to ‘Excellence from Art to Part,’ we have grown organically to become a go-to provider of custom plastic injection molding,” says Nicole Kleitsch-Killam, chief administrative officer at ICON. “It also means that if a customer wants to order only 1,000 parts this month and 100,000 next month, we have to be able to react.”

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

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.

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

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

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.

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

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

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.

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

ICON and Formic collaborated to design and deploy a custom automated solution. Taking a technology-agnostic approach, Formic sourced hardware and software components from a range of suppliers, taking performance and suitability for ICON’s needs into consideration. The RaaS offering also adapts as needs evolve.

Kleitsch-Killam adds, “We can also monitor our system via a handy app, but Formic is committed to identifying and fixing problems before they even arise.”

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.

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.

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.

The workplace is not only safer, but employee satisfaction is up and there is a reduction in employee turnover. Kleitsch-Killam says ICON’s corporate management team tries to frame the use of automation as a “productivity enhancer” rather than a “person replacer,” but there was initial skepticism from some of their long-time employees. “Once they saw that nobody was getting laid off to ‘make room’ for this automation, however, they recognized how much easier and safer it made their job. Those working on the less-staffed overnight and weekend shifts, in particular, now see much more opportunity to take on skilled roles within the company than before.

“Automation seemed out of reach, financially, until our CEO asked Jeff Galindo, our executive operations specialist, to find a solution,” she explained. “An industry friend introduced him to Formic, and he was blown away. With no upfront CapEx and a low $10/hour rate, Formic’s ‘Robotics-as-a-Service’ model just seemed too good to be true. We were even more impressed to learn that Formic would manage the maintenance, upkeep and programming of the system.”

“While our operators faced persistent minor injuries such as burns, as well as a high risk of more serious injuries, our overnight and weekend shifts were marred by inconsistent staffing levels that led to disruptions.” She says as they grappled with the resulting high worker turnover, inconsistent output, longer lead times and higher prices for end customers, “We knew automation was the answer to both challenges.”

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

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

The impetus for ICON to explore automation arose when the company was faced with a specific project that required operators to repeatedly retrieve 300°F hot plastic parts and place them in a cooling bath. According to Kleitsch-Killam, the project required that operators stand on their feet for the entire workday to complete the task. “This repetitive manual process led to concerns about both worker safety and operational inefficiencies,” she says.

Spielman has more than three decades of experience as a writer and editor for a range of B2B brands, including those that cover machine design; electrical design and manufacturing; interconnection technology; food and beverage manufacturing; process heating and cooling; finishing; and package converting.

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

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 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.

Under Formic’s pay-for-productivity RaaS model, ICON pays for the operation of the robots when they are actively deployed. This hourly payment structure avoids a large CapEx spend and still reaps automation benefits.

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.

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.

Misa Ilkhechi, co-founder and vice president of product and partnerships at Formic, says, “Formic owns, programs, installs and maintains robotic systems from vendors like FANUC, Universal Robots and Yaskawa Motoman at its own cost, assuming the financial risk for customers…Put simply, if any of our systems don’t work or fail to hit the agreed-upon productivity metrics, we don’t get paid, so we’re literally invested in keeping them running well.”

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

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.

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

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 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.

She says the onsite staff training was an informative six-hour-long, hands-on course. “The cell includes a customized robotic machine operator (a 6-axis articulated FANUC robot arm), which was installed on our largest injection molding press, a 720-ton Nissei FV9100 that is over 20 years old,” she says. “It also includes a vertical conveyor that fully automates the process of loading, unloading and lowering the finished parts into the cooling bath for the final annealing process. This project consists of eight different parts, and programs for each size are set by Formic and maintained with software from Rockwell Automation.”

Since implementing RaaS, ICON has experienced significant improvements across various performance indicators, including a 20% increase in production, a 40% reduction in operational expenses and a 30% improvement in cycle-time efficiency, according to Kleitsch-Killam.

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.

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.”

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

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

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

With a command center for remote login, Formic monitors its systems 24/7 to moderate temperatures, look for anomalies and find opportunities to improve usage and performance, according to Ilkhechi. “In addition, when a customer’s needs change, we can reprogram systems to accommodate new projects. And for customers with Formic Flex, we can even swap out their entire system—all at no cost to them,” he notes.

“This collaboration with Formic has been a case study of sorts for us, reflecting the potential of RaaS and its impact on ICON's future,” she continues. “Right now, we’re focused on expansion to a new building on our premises, which ultimately means we’ve got room to amplify the role of robotics in what we do…We look forward to collaborating with Formic to determine what project or task to automate next.”

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

As Machine Design’s technical editor, Sharon Spielman produces content for the brand’s focus audience—design and multidisciplinary engineers. Her beat includes 3D printing/CAD; mechanical and motion systems, with an emphasis on pneumatics and linear motion; automation; robotics; and CNC machining.

As Formic grows, it is creating a library of automation solutions that can do everyday tasks, Ilkhechi explains, “so that even as we customize solutions, we don’t have to continuously reinvent the wheel.” At the same time, Formic is creating a platform where the company purchases hardware in bulk, which solves supply chain issues and reduces the cost and access to hardware for its customers and for other sub-component and system integrators that sit between Formic and the hardware, he says. “As Formic builds its knowledge and hardware base, it will be able to lower subscription costs and continue to democratize automation for U.S. manufacturers.”

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Kleitsch-Killam says ICON initially reached out to a familiar conventional vendor, but the capital expenditure (CapEx) was too high and only covered the robotic unit—not any of the essential auxiliary equipment.

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.

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.

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.