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.

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.

Silicone popsicle molds are not necessarily better than plastic. Both are typically affordable, easy to use, and widely available. However, silicone may prove to be more durable and long-lasting over multiple uses compared to plastic.

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

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

Some might say the freezer aisle has become a lawless place. But even with the broad array of options available at your local grocery store, there are a dozen solid reasons for making frozen treats at home. At-home popsicle molds are a convenient and fun way to DIY popsicles for the family, as a treat for guests when entertaining, or to hoard for your relief the next time the thermometer passes 100 degrees. You can make simple and sweet fruity pops for the kids or high-octane boozy refreshers for the grown-ups. Level up with a Thai coconut milksicle or model your next batch after a gorgeous strawberry and mango Mexican paleta.

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

It’s no surprise that this mold is an excellent example of the benefits of stainless steel kitchen tools. For instance, it won’t retain the flavor of the last popsicles you made. It’s easy to clean, and unmolding the popsicles doesn’t require much more than running the container under warm water. While the popsicle rack requires dedicated freezer space, this mold was one of the more compact models we tried. Investing in this mold is the perfect option if you live in a warm climate and are a year-round popsicle consumer or simply a popsicle fan.

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.

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.

Store and/or access information on a device. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners (vendors)

Employee turnover and training shortfalls may create a wide range of performance issues on a single piece of equipment. Managers should analyze each changeover time. Are they consistent and indicate the process is being successfully repeated to achieve low variability in changeover times? Are these times consistent for each shift? If you do not have a solid training program and have granular performance monitoring, you can almost guarantee your changeover times will increase, which will cause chaos. Throughput velocities will be reduced, and work-in-process bottlenecks will result. The production quality and costs will soon be challenged. All too frequently, manufacturers do not recognize the symptoms until customer dissatisfaction occurs and financial penalties are assessed. To be successful, people require training and changeover times must be measured to ensure quick changeover value is sustained.

Some popsicle molds are marketed as being dishwasher-safe. Putting them through the dish cycle can still break down the material more quickly than if you were to hand wash the parts. To keep your popsicle mold in better shape for longer, wash it gently in hot, soapy water. Note that this doesn’t apply to stainless steel molds, which are highly durable. Feel free to toss those in with your next load of dishes.

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.

When testing, the resulting popsicles were solid and had great shape. No wider than eight inches, the mold didn’t take up too much space in our freezers, and they were sturdy enough to be worry-free when it came to spilling. We also liked how this set comes with a funnel, which makes pouring quick and mess-free. It’s a high return on investment for popsicle lovers everywhere.

We tested a number of other popsicle molds that didn’t quite meet our standards, including more models from Tovolo, Zoko, Manba, and more. With some models, we struggled to release the popsicles from the mold, even when using the tricks up our sleeves. With others, we experienced some spillage, felt the construction wasn't quality or was too flimsy, were too much of a pain to fill, or were simply unsatisfied with the end result.

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

Unfortunately, unmolding a single pop without unmolding the whole tray is impossible, so plan on serving these to a crowd when ready to enjoy. Despite the malleability of the silicone mold, the tray is small enough to be sturdy. Between that and how short the sticks are, this mold should have no problem squeezing in between that bottle of vodka and wintertime rations you’re storing in your freezer.

Nuby Garden Fresh Fruitsicle Tray ($10 at Amazon)This is a reliable and kid-friendly mold by our standards. The pops it produces are tiny, so its results only suit little hands.

Once you've decided on the best popsicle mold (for humans!) from our comprehensive list of tested favorites above, we suggest you add Cooper's Pupsicles to your cart to treat your furry friends, too.

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

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

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.

The creator of the SMED concept, Shigeo Shingo, believed that changeover time can be reduced by 59/60th. And while I agree that this impressive level of improvement is possible, sustaining it can be exceedingly difficult and is often complicated by changes in the cadence of manufacturing operations. Re-balancing entire manufacturing lines may be required to effectively deliver and sustain SMED excellence.

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.

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

We also considered their physical functionality based on the user. We measured our hand size and the results of tests using our dominant hand. This helped us define whether the popsicle mold in question was comfortable to use. We also measured whether each mold’s popsicle was too big or too small for adults and kids.

Economic swings bring previous expedient decisions to light. Machine and/or process restrictions degrade production velocity as equipment that was optimized for a certain product is put into service on another part and results in profit erosion. This is where a good SMED quick changeover program can help optimize financial performance by converting non-value-add time into value-add time. By using a toolbox full of SMED-specific methods in a robust process, and by leveraging SMED experts who bring both historical and state-of-the-art technical knowledge into the equation, will achieve the quickest possible changeover time.

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).

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

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

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

We can’t get enough of the Zoku Classic Pop Molds. After trying 20 different popsicle molds of every shape, size, and material, this one stood out as our clear winner with a perfect score. Across the categories of design, ease of use, performance, and ease of cleaning, this mold was our favorite by far. It’s cute, durable, and highly user-friendly for the whole family.

In the plastics manufacturing industry, implementing Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) is known to reduce changeover times. It also creates value by optimizing activity against time—all while reducing waste. While SMED’s value may be increased or reduced by marketplace demand and therefore the need for optimum throughput, improving changeover can be done under any economic condition, including today’s COVID-19 crisis and recovery phases. I’ll go into detail on how to successfully implement SMED while sustaining it for a more profitable future of your plastics manufacturing plant.

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

Most popsicles require nothing more than a bit of patience. The simplest way to remove a popsicle from its mold is to leave it at room temperature for 1–2 minutes. For particularly stubborn pops, running the mold under lukewarm water does the trick. It’s also important to note that the unmolding process is usually easier when a mold is made of a more malleable material, like silicone.

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.

Tovolo Classic Pop Molds ($14 at Amazon)These are designed for mess-free eating with an effective drip catcher. The molds click into the base so popsicles can be unmolded individually. However, these are so kid-friendly that they aren’t comfortable for adult hands to hold.

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.

PopsicleLab Popsicle Molds ($40 at Popsiclelab)A classic shape with a user-friendly design, this was one of the more expensive molds we tested. The silicone tray is sturdy and aesthetically pleasing, but the price and disposable wooden sticks brought this option down in the rankings.

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

It’s important to understand the basics of SMED before moving forward. There are five steps in the traditional SMED process:

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.

While working for a Tier 1 automotive supplier, we performed a SMED activity to reduce the changeover times at a plant in India. Changeover times were reduced from three hours on average to consistently less than one hour. This was accomplished through internal and external changeover operation analysis and videotaping. This video analysis method identifies areas that create unnecessary or misplaced activities that can be moved and/or eliminated, resulting in a streamlined changeover 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.

Zoku Space Pop Molds ($19 at Amazon)Another adorable contender, we love this mold’s look and how easy it is to clean. Unfortunately, the astronaut-shaped popsicle doesn’t always make it out with its legs intact, so blast off at your own risk.

Tovolo Dino Ice Pop Molds ($16 at Amazon)Unmolding the pops from this mold proved too tricky for us to award them a category. Even so, this is an adorable mold. Each design imprints on the popsicles clearly, and they freeze evenly despite the variety of sizes.

When it comes to the internal setup time, there’s a huge human element in assessing the work.  The standards referenced must be fully understood in the context of the time the standard was developed compared to today. Controls, tools and the changeover process need to be continuously challenged to drive down the changeover time.

Injection molders must account for internal setup time—when the machine must be down—and external setup time, including activities that can be performed with the machine running.

Generally, hand-washing popsicle molds makes them last longer. Some molds come with cleaning brushes, making it easier to get in the nooks and crannies when cleaning up. For most, a little soap and hot water are all it takes.

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

Additionally, our team worked with a major plastics parts supplier where we helped overhaul their SMED program in order to further reduce changeover times. Upon arrival, we noticed all machines were equipped with magnetic platens (which makes quick bolt changes possible), and the changeover times were averaging over five hours, sometimes crossing shifts. Through analysis of internal and external operations, and moving internal activities to external ones, changeover times were reduced to less than one hour. The availability improvement also allowed the customer to bring back parts manufacturing that had been outsourced.

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

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.

The best material for popsicle molds depends on your preferences. For a flexible, dishwasher-safe, and reusable option, silicone is a popular pick. On the other hand, plastic is a lightweight alternative that is often less expensive and just as easy to use. Stainless steel, though more expensive, is durable, easy to clean, and won't impart any weird flavors or smells.

Most popsicle molds, like sphere ice molds, for example, come in a variety of materials. These include plastic, silicone, or stainless steel. Plastic and silicone are typically easier to unmold than stainless steel, but both can retain the flavor of previously made popsicles. This isn’t something to worry about every time you think about putting ice pops in the freezer, but if using permeating flavors like alcohol, spice, or intense herbs, it’s something to consider. While stainless steel is highly durable, unmolding popsicles is sometimes a more prolonged process (like running the molds under water). They can also be bulkier and a pricier investment.

If you have room in your freezer, a sturdy tray is a great option, as it minimizes the chance of spills, leakage, and uneven freezing. Not everyone has this kind of space. Compact or flatter molds, like those for mini popsicles, are often made of flexible silicone and are made to sit on freezer shelves or in a freezer’s door compartment.

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.

The Zoku Classic Pop Molds are meant to be used time and time again for mess-free desserts. The vibrant green plastic mold is sturdy enough to keep it from tipping or slipping in your freezer and pouring any popsicle-ready base couldn’t be easier. We loved the reusable sticks and the fact that it comes with a fitted cover. Even better, it’s made up of individual molds in a holder, so removing only a single popsicle is a breeze. The sticks are drip-catchers, too, so they catch stray drops of melted ice pop to help keep hands, clothes, or floors free of melted-sicle. During testing, we also appreciated the fill line that told us when to stop pouring so as to not over-fill.

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

A mini popsicle can be a fun treat, whether serving kids or crafting a boozy popsicle-shaped ice replacement for a chilled summer bottle. Ideally, a mini popsicle should be easy to unmold and comfortable for the hands of both kids and adults. The Chef’n Sweet Spot Mini Popsicle Maker Set of 6 met our criteria with its cute, rounded shape and silicone base.

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.

Adapting quick changeover tools to existing equipment can provide many improvement opportunities. Hydraulically driven and magnetic clamping system can shave several minutes per changeover, and they are safer and reduce maintenance costs. The system will eventually contribute to lower labor requirements since operators can now achieve what two or more maintenance technicians used to perform. And, there should be no wait time for the task.

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.

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.

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.

Don't forget about the dogs! We tested Cooper's Treats Pupsicle Starter Kit and recommend it to pet parents who want to make healthy, frozen treats for their pups. Included in the DIY kit are two 4.3-ounce jars of dry mix flavors, as well as a reusable, dishwasher-safe silicone ice mold with paw and dog bone shapes. The grain-free mixes are made from four simple ingredients, and each jar contains enough mix to make about 25 pupsicles. Just add equal parts of water to the mix, stir, and freeze for two hours.

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

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.

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

Plastics 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

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

Five industry pros with more than 200 years of combined molding experience provide step-by-step best practices on mounting a mold in a horizontal injection molding machine.

The shape, material, and size are all important factors when picking a popsicle mold. If the mold isn’t sturdy enough, you leave yourself vulnerable to spillage and leakage throughout the popsicle-making and storing process. After testing 20 different molds, we chose the best popsicle molds for every freezer, recipe, and picky toddler.

Implementing a production monitoring system as the foundation of a ‘smart factory’ is about integrating people with new technology as much as it is about integrating machines and computers. Here are tips from a company that has gone through the process.

Cleaning up was easy using the dishwasher or washing by hand. From start to finish, the popsicle-making process with the Zoku was so simple that it earned a perfect score on our kitchen tests.

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 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.

Forming smooth and ovular pops, this mold produces perfect popsicles with its fun and functional design. The WYOK Popsicle Mold is a silicone tool with shallow divots. The standard shape is rounded, but the fun part for us is included with the “Ice World” shape option, where each popsicle is formed into a different creature, complete with little ears and expressive faces.

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

To put these popsicle molds through the ultimate sub-zero endurance test, we made fruit- and cream-based popsicles. We carefully recorded the process, rating each mold based on everything from its design to how easy it was to fill each mold without making a mess.

Testing the icy waters of homemade popsicles with your kids for the first time? Does the idea of spending money on a seasonal frivolity give you pause? We got you. This highly recommended set of six produces a standard popsicle big enough to make a satisfying dessert for an adult while still being manageable for small hands. It’s exceptionally versatile, allows you to make several types of popsicles in a batch, and can be extracted without awkward manipulation of the whole tray.

The design and sturdiness of each mold were essential factors, as one wrong move with a flimsy popsicle mold might mean sticky fruit juice all over your counter or, worse, inside your freezer and its ice trays. We also considered if the molds were a convenience in the kitchen, as freezer space is a precious resource. Did the molds take up too much space? Were they stackable? Can individual popsicles be detached, or must the whole mold be unmolded?

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.

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

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.

About the author: Bill Currence is the founder and managing partner of Cornerstone Consulting Organization (CCO). Currence has served in a variety of executive leadership consulting roles, leading project teams across the globe in achieving hundreds of millions of dollars in improved EBITDA and cash flow. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and played for the Army football team as a starting tight end. Currence served as an Army officer for 10 years between active duty and the reserves.

Popsicle molds vary in size and shape greatly, and we love that you can buy them in fun shapes. Who doesn’t want to eat a dinosaur? In terms of standard shapes, some unmold more easily than others. This can be attributed to the material as well. Stiffer and less flexible molds can more easily damage or break a treat during unmolding.

American Ice Pop Maker ($36 at Amazon)This mold can make ten popsicles, but overall, the disposable sticks and higher price meant it wasn’t our highest rated.

With advocacy, communication and sustainability as three main pillars, Seaholm leads a trade association to NPE that ‘is more active today than we have ever been.’

A homogenous melt is required for consistent part quality, but achieving it requires balancing a number of factors, including barrel usage and temperature as well as screw speed, backpressure and residence time. Learn how to prepare your melt for molding success in this two-part series.

Addressing hot-runner benefits, improvements, and everyday issues from the perspective of decades of experience with probably every brand on the market. Part 1 of 2.

A good SMED quick changeover program can help optimize financial performance by converting non-value-add time into value-add time.

With many industries facing constraints in supply chains and lower demand as economies strive to regain a healthy cadence, changeovers for most manufacturers are going to be all too frequent. Maximizing changeover efficiency with a strong SMED program will drive improved profitability, helping you address the challenges that are ahead.

Stainless steel mold sets tend to take up room in the freezer, but if you have the space, they can be a reliable investment for at-home popsicle makers. This set was built for stability and reliability — set into a metal rack, nothing is jostling these popsicles once they’re in the freezer. We found that juice- and cream-based recipes perform well in this mold, so the options for playing with flavors are endless.

Regardless of the shapes, getting the pops out of the mold is as simple as twisting and gently pulling. The silicone material is flexible for easy release. Attractively designed, it comes in several colors and shapes and is dishwasher-safe. The mold also fits into a freezer nicely without taking up too much room.

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

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.