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.

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).

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

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.

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

The EPA/CARB-compliant tank is molded in a precise process that allows for optimization of material and reduction of processing time by up to 50% compared to the industry average (27% for the fuel tank). A nearly endless array of fuel types can be accommodated, and the streamlined design is realized through a single-layer solution, contrary to other options on the market.

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

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.

Balanced filling is critical for making identical parts, achieving high CPKs, holding tight tolerances, and getting “good” data from design of experiments.

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

The accepted ground rule for balancing melt flow in multi-cavity injection molds is to achieve equal flow distance from the injection point to each cavity.

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

4. Part design, particularly non-uniform wall thickness. If you have thick and thin sections in the part, the thick section will fill relatively easily compared with the thin section. If gated into the thick section, flow may “hesitate” at the thick-thin junction, causing a seesaw filling pattern. This factor must be considered in “living hinge” applications.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

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.

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.

5. Lack of proper velocity control during filling. Too many profiled velocity changes; running the process pressure-limited; or setting up with different fill times—these are big culprits for filling imbalances. Fill time basically establishes shear rate, which in turn establishes viscosity. Varying fill time (shear rate) from shot to shot, run to run, or machine to machine provides a “different” process due to huge changes in viscosity. Change the viscosity and you can the change fill pattern.

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

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

The fuel tank employs Hostaform POM RF polyacetal resin from Celanese to deliver toughness and rigidity, temperature resistance, wear resistance, and low fuel permeation, while Gemstar’s Robomold robotic rotational molding technology provides precision repeatability necessary for highly specialized custom parts. Robomold technology is said to produce tighter tolerances, design flexibility, and high control compared with traditional rotational molding.

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

Even in a geometrically balanced (or “naturally balanced”) runner system, runner branching upsets the flow symmetry and all cavities do not fill evenly. It is common to see the inside cavities fill earlier than outside cavities. To achieve identical parts you must maintain the laminar flow symmetry in order to control the rheology (viscosity) of the polymer flow to fill all cavities evenly.

3. Non-uniform cooling of the mold, hot-runner system, or hot tips. Plugged or partially plugged water lines; water lines too close to the parts or too far away; coolant taking the path of least resistance; laminar flow; air trapped in a coolant channel; or other equipment coming on and off line can all wreak havoc with proper cooling. While rarely done, a case can be made for regulating water coolant flow separately through each channel of your molds.

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.

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.

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.

In my March 2010 column I wrote about the importance of uniform filling or balanced flow for each cavity of a multi-cavity mold. Balanced filling is critical for making identical parts, achieving high CPKs, holding tight tolerances, and getting “good” data from design of experiments (DOEs).

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

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.

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.

The Association of Rotational Molders recognized the fuel tank and Gemstar’s robotic rotational molding technology, a precision process that reportedly achieves elevated levels of tolerance and design freedom for hollow products.

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 specialized fuel tank manufactured using Robomold rotomolding technology has earned the Association of Rotational Molders (ARM) 2023 Product of the Year award. Gemstar Manufacturing’s fuel tank features an anti-spill funnel in the filler spout in order to comply with EPA guidelines, which was displayed in the entry sample via a cutaway that revealed the internal features of the tank.

8. Laminar flow. This is perhaps most sinister reason on my list, because you can have everything else down perfectly and still have poor balance in filling. Polymer melt flows in layers (laminar flow) of different velocity, temperature, shear rate, and viscosity. There are concentric layers within any given flow path—a nozzle, runner, manifold, gate or part. Shear is the prime determinant for non-uniform viscosity. The melt layer near the wall of the flow path will see the highest shear, providing the lowest viscosity (easiest flow). The center path has the lowest (or zero) shear, so its viscosity is the highest (stiffest flow). In the sprue, the concentric layers are symmetrical, but as soon as you split or branch the flow path, this critical symmetry goes out the window and you have an imbalance in shear rate across the layers resulting in unbalanced flow of the layers.

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.

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

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.

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

Dr. John Beaumont of Beaumont Technologies Inc., Erie, Pa. has developed a five-step procedure that determines if the problem of flow balance is due to steel problems (like gate-size variations) or because of this inherent laminar flow phenomenon. (Check out ptonline.com for articles on this subject by Dr. Beaumont in Feb. 2007 and Nov. 2008).

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.

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

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

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia, and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking his bike on overseas business trips, and is a proud dachshund owner.

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.

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.

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

A novel technology allows injection molders to alter the flow pattern inside the cavity and balance the filling of multiple cavities by means of an external mold adjustment while the tool remains in the press. In this exclusive article, the system's inventor explains how it works.

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

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.

6. Gates not all the same size. No problem, as this is easy to check with a pin gauge, right? Wrong. Relatively few pin gauges measure gate land length. It is difficult and time-consuming to measure land length, but it’s essential because gate land length establishes pressure drop. To achieve balanced filling you need each gate to provide identical pressure drop. There is a reason most mold builders have a rule for maximum land length.

1. Non-uniformly melted plastic. Unmelted or partially melted plastic can disrupt flow in the runner, gate, or part. This may seem like a minor issue, yet my experience tells me it is significant. For example, temperature control of the nozzle tip and body is notoriously problematic, especially with cold runners. Poor screw design may also result in non-uniform melt. Then there is temperature control of the manifolds and tips in hot-runner systems. How many of you are setting some “unusual” temperatures to get the hot runner to function?

Balanced flow is critical for both filling and packing (filling influences packing). What I did not cover in the March article were the reasons for uneven or imbalanced filling. Here are the “classic” reasons for non-uniform filling of a multi-cavity mold (let me know if I missed any). The real problem is determining which one or combination of these is affecting your parts:

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 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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Robomold technology achieves high tolerances with precision-distributed heat and material control for consistent plastic part repeatability and optimized strength-to-weight ratios. The technology reportedly allows for design flexibility, including the ability to layer different compounds and coatings into finished parts. In-house tool design is also critical for controlled and focused heat to specific areas on the funnel feature, thereby achieving improved threading and accounting for changes in wall thickness.

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.

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.

2. Differential venting among the cavities or flow path. Yes cold runners should be vented. Air, water vapor, off-gases, or volatiles from the polymer can build pressure in cavities and restrict filling. I demonstrate this at every one of my seminars. When troubleshooting venting issues for fill balance, one trick is to make short shots at 90+% full and 65-80% full to see if the balance changes.

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 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.