"It's no longer weatherproof you're finding that you've got water running through the buildings and mushrooms growing there."

"He has all the questionable practitioners shaking in their boots. He goes to building sites, he looks at drawings, he talks to people – and he is actually making a difference."

Shangri-La Construction said it was "currently assisting the VBA with responses to notices issued by the BA. In Shangri-La Construction's view, it would be inappropriate to discuss those matters before the VBA process is complete".

I’ve developed a list of plastics that I know could possibly react with one another. My bet is there are others that I do not know about. If you know of any others, please let me know.

CSV said in a statement it was "working with the owners on a solution for a highly complex building. Works will resume shortly".

Extrusion simulations can be useful in anticipating issues and running “what-if” scenarios to size extruders and design dies for extrusion projects. It should be used at early stages of any project to avoid trial and error and remaking tooling.

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.

The surveyor on the project was also fined $14,000 and suspended for nine months, but is appealing the decision at VCAT.

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.

Workers have uncovered significant mould damage inside the framework of this apartment building in Clayton, Victoria. (Supplied)

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 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.

An initial fine of $57,000 was more than halved on appeal, despite the building company being found to be "negligent" and to have conducted works in breach of permits and regulations.

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.

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.

Bronwyn Weir said no government had implemented all recommendations from her report into systemic failures in the building industry, despite being five years on from its delivery.

"The cladding issues were widespread in the industry and have affected many builders and other professionals involved in building. These issues will not be repeated as combustible cladding is now banned," the spokesman said.

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

Common factors included poor ventilation, rain ingress, water-damaged ceilings and incorrectly installed exterior walls, all of which appear to have contributed to the proliferation of mould.

Shangri-La Construction successfully appealed a suspension from the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) earlier this year.

Tracey said since living in the waterlogged and mouldy apartment she has been diagnosed with a skin fungus that is "all over" her body.

VCAT documents reveal the VBA found the company had contravened the Building Act by carrying out work in breach of building regulations and the building permit and had "engaged in conduct ... that was negligent".

"Everybody wants to make money. There's nothing wrong with making money. There is something wrong with making money when you're cutting corners. And that is where we need a regulator."

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.

Residents have reported mould build-up in bedrooms and wardrobes due to the water damage, and many claimed the conditions had led to a negative impact on their health, including respiratory conditions.

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.

Dr Tim Law, an architectural scientist and design specialist, said the problems facing apartment owners with faulty cladding across the country were serious and ongoing.

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.

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

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.

"There are numerous parties involved in the current litigation, including insurers. Because the matter is before the tribunal, no further comment will be made.

Tracey bought her 2004 apartment in 2014 and said the home had multiple issues with leaking, which stemmed from failed waterproofing from her balcony doorway and an external wall.

"CSV was not created to provide taxpayer funds to private owners to fix defects in their buildings but to help owners to reduce the risk of fire where combustible cladding is present," they said.

Determining the source of streaking or contamination in your molded parts is a critical step in perfecting your purging procedures ultimately saving you time and money.

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

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

Workers have laid bare wall cavities riddled with black mould and rotten timber in poorly constructed apartment buildings that have been assessed under Victoria's cladding rectification regime.

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.

Jonathan Barnett, a technical expert in fire safety engineering with more than 42 years' experience, said there was nowhere near enough funding needed to fix the problems.

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 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.

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

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

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.

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.

The ABC understands the Clayton site was given $3.5 million by the government remediation fund to fix the cladding, but builders could not rectify the issues because the damage underneath was so substantial. They requested millions more to finish the job and left the site without completing the works.

In Australia, builders are required to comply with the National Construction Code, and each state has variations within it.

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

In the wake of the 2017 fatal Grenfell Tower fire in London, authorities in Victoria have been working to audit and rectify buildings using dangerous combustible cladding.

A number of residents who spoke to the ABC were unable to comment publicly because of legal proceedings against body corporates and building managers.

"The difficulty is their (CSV's) total budget is $600 million, and they need something in the order of two and a half to three billion dollars."

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

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

Dozens of residents from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Canberra claimed structural defects in their apartments had led to water damage and mould growth.

Shangri-La argued the suspension was "harsh and excessive" and "not consistent with disciplinary action taken against other building practitioners".

"It is an absolute catastrophe because if there's significant mould issues, the cost to rectify might well exceed the value," she said.

Coverage of single-use plastics can be both misleading and demoralizing. Here are 10 tips for changing the perception of the plastics industry at your company and in your community.

In a statement, the company said the fine had been paid and further training required by VCAT orders would be undertaken in early 2023.

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.

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.

You will hear true stories of hoppers being blown to and through roofs, endcaps blown through walls, etc. The gases produced upon resin decomposition generate extreme pressures, which can and do blow injection molding machine barrels into shrapnel. The accompanying photo shows the front zone of a machine barrel that blew into pieces. Imagine the damage if it had hit someone! This may not happen often, but it does occur, and you need to be aware its possibility.

Tracey, whose name has been changed to protect her identity for legal reasons, has been fighting legal and health battles for years that she says stem from flooding and mould in her Queensland apartment.

"What's happened in Victoria with these cladding projects where EPS has been removed is they have found a prevalence of mould inside the wall system," said building regulation consultant Bronwyn Weir.

The NSW Building Commissioner says he wants to know why an apartment complex being built in the Sydney suburb of Castle Hill has "structural issues", and will refer the principal engineers to the industry's peak body.

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

But experts say in some cases the material has led to building damage so severe that apartment complexes could be deemed worthless.

"My poor dad who is retired has been paying for all of this out of his own pocket with a loan against his property and paying off that loan from superannuation ...which breaks my heart."

The ABC received hundreds of responses from across Australia as part of a crowdsource investigation into black mould, earlier this year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Bozzelli is the founder of Injection Molding Solutions (Scientific Molding) in Midland, Mich., a provider of training and consulting services to injection molders, including LIMS, and other specialties. Contact john@scientificmolding.com; scientificmolding.com.

The Victorian government scheme, set up to remove the cladding, is helping some owners pay for its removal but the funding does not cover mould damage.

The company who constructed the Clayton apartment block, which practitioners described as posing an "extreme" fire risk to occupants, continues to operate in the Victorian construction industry.

The question of resin compatibility is not well publicized and rarely comes up out on the shop floor. So, any time you purge to change resins, you need to ask the question: Are these resins compatible or do they react like PVC and acetal?

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

The resulting acrid odor is well known to Crusty Sr., my archetype of the grizzled processor. Find someone who has some experience processing PVC or acetal; ask about his or her experiences.

"The interesting thing is before the statewide cladding audit, I would learn about unsafe, or non-compliant cladding, because of mould. It seems that mould and cladding go together, especially when we have expanded polystyrene walls," he said.

"I got a thermal test done out of my own pocket ... And they confirmed that my whole dining room area had moisture in the field," she said.

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 asked about compensation to residents of the Clayton apartments, in a statement a company spokesman said the situation was "very complicated and currently before the tribunal".

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.

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

The building is one of hundreds of Melbourne blocks covered in expanded polystyrene (EPS) cladding, an exterior material that can pose a significant fire hazard due to its combustibility.

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.

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 service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

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

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 Victorian Building Authority said as of November 2022, they have identified 1,934 buildings with combustible cladding and referred 631 buildings to Cladding Safety Victoria.

Because of the growth of the plastics industry, there has been an uptick in number of new hires for processing plastics over the last few years. With new employees comes the challenge of training—not only on company policies and processing duties, but on safety. With that in mind, this column will focus on a topic I feel does not get sufficient attention. In fact, it is a topic on which most of us do not have all the details needed. In my experience, searches on the internet certainly proved inadequate. That topic is the mixing of different resins in the barrel, hot runners, and hot tips.

"And so the mould in some cases has begun to rot those timber frames and make them structurally compromised, as well as of course getting to the plaster and other components or elements of wall systems."

This is an issue whenever you change jobs to a new mold with a different resin. Are the two resins compatible or do they react with one another? No matter how hard you try to purge the previous resin from the system, small amounts will remain on the screw flights. Purging compound may help, but even a small residual amount of the previous resin can provide a catalytic effect. For example, if you accidently mix acetal (POM) with PVC, you and the rest of the people on the shop floor will have an extremely unpleasant emotional and physical experience. Small amounts of either of these two resins catalyzes the decomposition of the other polymer to gases.

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

Of course, safety in injection molding extends beyond material compatibility. High temperatures and pressures of 20,000 to 45,000 psi are needed to melt and inject plastic into complex shapes. While these machines are built robustly to handle these temperatures and pressures, it’s best take a serious look at the equipment on a regular basis and not assume all is OK. Do you review the machine/mold upon startup or during production to make sure these pressures and temperatures do not reach out and touch you or a coworker? For example, does the nozzle tip mate properly with the sprue bushing? Is a temperature zone overriding?

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.

Tracey and her partner commissioned a mould report in early  2022 which confirmed there was a high level of black mould growing in the walls, and throughout the apartment.

Oversight by licensing bodies can be weak, and experts claim the oversight from regulators of the commercial building industry is inadequate and ineffective.

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.

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.

Black mould is being uncovered in the walls of defective apartment blocks, in what experts describe as an "absolute catastrophe".

"Mould is a result of poor building construction or maintenance or both rather than the product of a specific type of cladding," a Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) spokesperson said.

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.

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

Shangri-La Construction did not respond to questions from the ABC about whether they were responsible for the extensive mould damage in the Clayton building.

If the same machine barrel and screw must process both these resins, disassemble and clean them properly before resuming processing. Even small residues can be hazardous.

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

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

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.

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

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

Neither the VBA nor VCAT ruling makes specific reference to mould damage in the property, but the ABC has spoken to building experts with knowledge of the project who claim that the black mould growth is related to defects stemming from the poor construction and installation of EPS cladding on the building's exterior.

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.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

"The funding models have to be changed so that they can build these technical capabilities to go out and do the sort of enforcement and proactive work that we're seeing done in New South Wales.

"We have no [commissioner] in Victoria. We need a champion for the public. We need a champion for the consumer. We don't have that person," he said.

"The VBA has and continues to investigate and take action against practitioners who have endangered the safety of Victorians by installing non-compliant combustible cladding," it said.

The authority found the building company did not have a permit for the EPS cladding and failed to install it "in accordance with the Act, building regulations and permit," thereby breaching their duty by carrying out work that would "significantly compromise the safety of the building occupants".

One of the buildings identified — an 81-dwelling apartment complex in Clayton in Melbourne's south-east — has internal framework which has been substantially rotted out by water damage and mould.

"In Frankston, probably one of the most infamous buildings ... because the cladding was done so poorly, it's breaking up, there are cracks.

Rising costs of resins and additives, along with higher demands for quality and use of regrind, place a premium on proficient blending. Here are some steps to get you there.

Start by picking a target melt temperature, and double-check data sheets for the resin supplier’s recommendations. Now for the rest...

A National Health and Medical Research Council-funded research project commenced this year at Macquarie University, researching chronic respiratory symptoms in relation to biotoxin mould illness.