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.

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

Currier Plastics had a major stake in small hotel amenity bottles until state legislators banned them. Here’s how Currier adapted to that challenge.

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.

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.

High injection velocity is recommended; profile injection velocity can be used to reduce warpage in the case of components with a large surface area.

Crush would be defined as the shutoff to prevent the second-shot material from flashing or bleeding out onto the first-shot plastic where it doesn’t belong. Crush is a raised area of cavity steel that presses into the first shot to prevent flash, typically 0.003-0.005 in. Also, in areas with thicker wall stock on the first shot, you may have to add extra crush to compensate for the extra shrinkage. You can crush by adding steel to the second-shot shutoff or adding first-shot material by removing steel.

More than four years on, there are aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic that linger in their impacts to the plastics market and are made visible in our annual survey.

In many cases, decreasing the discharge temperature will improve product quality and perhaps even boost rate. Here are ways to do it.

Containers in refrigeration units, storage vessels, household goods (kitchenware), seal caps, bases for PET bottles, etc. Major use is in blow-molding applications (packaging applications)

What are the basic building blocks of plastics and how do they affect the processing of that material and its potential applications in the real world? Meet the repeat unit.

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.

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 material flows easily and the MFR ranges from 0.1 - 28. Higher molecular weights (lower MFR grades) have better impact resistance.

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.

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.

Higher levels of crystallinity contribute to higher density, tensile strength, heat distortion temperature, viscosity, and chemical resistance. HDPE is more resistant to permeability than LDPE. The impact strength is lower. The properties of HDPE are controlled by the density, and molecular weight distributions. Injection molding grades typically have a narrow molecular weight distribution.

It’s important to understand what materials are being used and their ability to bond to each other. A mechanical bond is necessary—with details and holes in the part design—but some materials do not like to adhere to each other. Most of my experience is with using TPE or TPU as the second shot and PP, PC/ABS, or ABS as the first shot (substrate). There are also cases were the same material with different colors or additives is used for two-shot molding.

Over the years, I have preached about robust process windows. In two-shot molding, this becomes a greater focus with another variable involved. People often will process the first shot to address issues with the second-shot process, or the opposite. Crush, support, deflection, and inadequately sized cylinders can all contribute to issues that many molders will process around, putting them at risk for quality issues and scrap.

HDPE injection molding processing condition Generic Class HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Typical Applications Containers in refrigeration units, storage vessels, household goods (kitchenware), seal caps, bases for PET bottles, etc. Major use is in blow-molding applications (packaging applications) Injection Molding Processing conditions Drying Not normally necessary if stored properly.  Melt Temperature  180 - 280 C (356 - 536 F); for high molecular weigh grades, the suggested melt temperature range is 200 - 250 C (392 - 482 F)  Mold Temperature 20 - 95 C (68 - 194 F) (higher temperatures for wall thickness of up to 6 mm; lower temperature for wall thicknesses greater than 6 mm.) The cooling rate should be uniform to minimize shrinkage variations. For optimum cycle times, the cooling channel diameters should be at least 8 mm and must be within a distance of 1.3 d from the mold surface (where "d" is the diameter of the cooling channel).  Material Injection Pressure 70 - 105 MPa Injection Speed High injection velocity is recommended; profile injection velocity can be used to reduce warpage in the case of components with a large surface area.  Runners and Gates Diameters of runners range from 4 - 7.5 mm (typically 6 mm). Runner lengths should be as short as possible. All types of gates may be used. Gate lands should not exceed 0.75 mm in length. Ideally suited for hot runner molds; an insulated hot tip runner is preferred when there are frequent color changes.   If you need high quality cutom aluminium casting parts Pls contact us sales@viewmold.com   If you need high quality injection mold tooling, Contact us. Chemical and Physical Properties High density polyethylene is produced from polymerization of ethylene (lower temperature and pressure conditions are used compared to the production of low density polyethylene). The material is free from branching and this is made possible by the use of stereospecific catalysts. Because of molecular regularity, HDPE has a high level of crystallinity (compared to LDPE). Higher levels of crystallinity contribute to higher density, tensile strength, heat distortion temperature, viscosity, and chemical resistance. HDPE is more resistant to permeability than LDPE. The impact strength is lower. The properties of HDPE are controlled by the density, and molecular weight distributions. Injection molding grades typically have a narrow molecular weight distribution. When the density is 0.91 - 0.925 g/cm^3, the material is known as Type 1; Type 2 materials have densities in the range of 0.926 - 0.94 g/cm^3, and Type 3 materials have densities in the range of 0.94 - 0.965 g/cm^3. The material flows easily and the MFR ranges from 0.1 - 28. Higher molecular weights (lower MFR grades) have better impact resistance. Being a semicrystalline material, the molding shrinkage is high (order of 0.015 - 0.04 mm/mm or 1.5 - 4%). This is dependent on the degree of orientation and level of crystallinity in the part (which in turn are dependent on processing conditions and part design). PE is susceptible to environmental stress cracking, which can be minimized by reducing internal stresses by proper design and using the lowest MFR material at a particular density level. HDPE is soluble in hydrocarbons at temperatures greater than 60 C, but resistance to these materials is greater than that for LDPE.   If you need to look for more plastic resin injection molding processing condition, could you please click it.   If you need high quality plastic extrusion services, Pls contact us sales@viewmold.com   If you need high quality sheet metal parts, Pls contact us sales@viewmold.com The following is other plastic processing condition: ABS injection molding processing condition, HDPE injection molding processing condition, LDPE injection molding processing condition, PA12 injection molding processing condition, PA6 injection molding processing condition, PBT injection molding processing condition, PC-ABS injection molding processing condition, PC-PBT injection molding processing condition, PEI injection molding processing condition, PETG injection molding processing condition, PMMA injection molding processing condition, POM injection molding processing condition, PPE injection molding processing condition, HDPE injection molding processing condition, PP injection molding processing condition, PS injection molding processing condition, PVC injection molding processing condition, SAN injection molding processing condition,

Plastics processors are finding applications for 3D printing around the plant and across the supply chain. Here are 8 examples to look for at NPE2024.

Rotary two-shot molding, from my perspective, is the simplest version of the options, But there are still critical things to consider, such as tooling, crush, support and the processes for both shots. In this article, I will focus on the version of the process that uses a rotary platen. The tool itself can have a rotary plate built in, actuated by hydraulics or a rack system. This makes the tooling a little more complex and typically is used when the molder does not do a lot of two-shot molding.

You also need to make sure the first-shot part is supported in the second-shot cavities to prevent the second-Shot cavity pressure from deforming or compressing the first-shot material. I have seen many times where the first-shot part was not supported properly, which contributed to flash and deformed parts. Remember that the second shot is applying thousands of pounds of plastic pressure against the first-shot plastic, not just the steel.

An overview on the use of chemical foaming agents (CFAs) to successfully foam single and multilayered rotational molding parts, this webinar will illustrate the multiple benefits rotational molders can achieve, including reducing resin consumption, decreasing part weight, enhancing wall thickness and improving structural rigidity. Agenda: Charging the mold Dosing ratios Venting Optimal decomposition temperatures, cycle times and drop times for drop box applications Cooling considerations

Concerning tool design, you need to make sure the first-shot cavity has support against the second-shot cavity pressure. At times, ribs or undercuts are needed to hold the first shot in place to prevent flash and deformation. Make sure your hydraulic cylinders actuating the cores are robust enough to resist the cavity plastic pressure or you will be struggling with flash and narrow process windows.

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

Improvements in nozzle design in recent years overcome some of the limitations of previous filter, mixing, and shut-off nozzles.

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.

PE is susceptible to environmental stress cracking, which can be minimized by reducing internal stresses by proper design and using the lowest MFR material at a particular density level. HDPE is soluble in hydrocarbons at temperatures greater than 60 C, but resistance to these materials is greater than that for LDPE.

Diameters of runners range from 4 - 7.5 mm (typically 6 mm). Runner lengths should be as short as possible. All types of gates may be used. Gate lands should not exceed 0.75 mm in length. Ideally suited for hot runner molds; an insulated hot tip runner is preferred when there are frequent color changes.

This 1-day technical conference and exhibition showcases innovative developments in materials, processing and equipment for the additive manufacturing industry. This conference is specifically designed to inform, update and educate plastic processors about implementing new additive manufacturing technologies. Hear technical presentations on the newest advances in additive manufacturing related to: design, materials development, processing equipment and enabling technologies, new applications and more. See exhibits from engineering plastic suppliers, compounders, molders, design and engineering firms and machinery suppliers. Experts will show you how to apply the latest technologies to your next project or program. The conference includes a full day of technical presentations, plenary and keynote presentations on business trends; breakfast, lunch and breaks; exhibits of advanced technologies and an evening networking reception.   Note: Additive Manufacturing Media executive editor Stephanie Hendrixson will moderate the Supporting AM Adoption in Northeast Ohio panel at 11:20 a.m.

When the density is 0.91 - 0.925 g/cm^3, the material is known as Type 1; Type 2 materials have densities in the range of 0.926 - 0.94 g/cm^3, and Type 3 materials have densities in the range of 0.94 - 0.965 g/cm^3.

The rotary platen option itself may have two very different meanings to some molders. The simpler one—which I am addressing here—is a vertical platen on one face of the clamp that rotates on a horizontal axis. The other—far more complex—is often referred to as a “cube mold” or “spin stack.” It is a center stack with two or four faces that rotates on a vertical axis. This creates a multi-daylight stack-mold configuration, which is the most complex and costly version of a rotary two-shot mold.

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.

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

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

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.

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 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey provided both unanimous responses and divided results, but pervasive throughout is the sense of an industry still grappling with the aftermath of 2020’s global pandemic.

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.

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.

The other version of two-shot molding is the movable core, which does not require a rotary platen. The cavitation will be like a normal mold: one part, one cavity. The movable cores move internally to adjust for the second shot. The mold closes and injects the first shot; then the first-shot core/slide is pulled, the second-shot core/slide is set, and then the second shot is injected. There are cases where there is just one core/slide, which pulls back after the first shot and creates the cavity for the second shot. In either case, the setup and process are the same.

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.

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.

180 - 280 C (356 - 536 F); for high molecular weigh grades, the suggested melt temperature range is 200 - 250 C (392 - 482 F)

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.

AIM Processing has parlayed small part molding expertise and aggressive automation, even for short run production, into a highly successful custom molding business.

With the simpler rotary platen, as defined above, the tooling itself is not that complex; you just have a second runner system and two sets of ejector plates. The movable half is the half that rotates. If you are producing one part per cycle, there will be two ejector cavities (movable half) and two cover cavities (stationary half). The two ejector cavities will be identical, and the cover cavities will have one for the first shot and one for the second shot. So the pattern continues with multiple parts: Two parts in each cycle would have four ejector cavities and four cover cavities. Again, the four ejector cavities would be identical and the cover cavies would have two cavities for the first shot and two cavities for the second shot.

Being a semicrystalline material, the molding shrinkage is high (order of 0.015 - 0.04 mm/mm or 1.5 - 4%). This is dependent on the degree of orientation and level of crystallinity in the part (which in turn are dependent on processing conditions and part design).

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

20 - 95 C (68 - 194 F) (higher temperatures for wall thickness of up to 6 mm; lower temperature for wall thicknesses greater than 6 mm.) The cooling rate should be uniform to minimize shrinkage variations. For optimum cycle times, the cooling channel diameters should be at least 8 mm and must be within a distance of 1.3 d from the mold surface (where "d" is the diameter of the cooling channel).

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.

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.

There are a few variations of two-shot molding, including rotary platen, movable core, and overmold. The first two require a second injection unit, two runner systems, and two processes. The latter, in most cases, involves two separate molds—one for each material—but can also be run with one mold, two runner systems, and pick-and-place part transfer, either manually or with a robot.

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.

As I mentioned, the movable/rotating half contains the first-shot cavities and the stationary half contains cavities for the first shot and the second shot. After injection, the mold rotates to align the first shot with the second-shot cavity. So in one cycle you are molding the first shot with the base material and molding the second-shot material over the first-shot parts from the previous cycle. There are two sets of ejector plates because you are only ejecting the parts with both materials molded, leaving the others to have the second shot molded. There are two important things to consider in the tool design for the first shot when it is in the second-shot position: crush and support.

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

Today, more than ever, granulation is an important step in the total production process. Our expert explains a few of the many common traps to avoid when thinking about granulators

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Kerkstra has been in the plastics industry for more than 26 years, occupied frequently with troubleshooting injection molding. He is currently a tooling manager for a large, multi-plant molding and manufacturing company. Contact: kbmoldingsolutions@gmail.com.

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.

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).

High density polyethylene is produced from polymerization of ethylene (lower temperature and pressure conditions are used compared to the production of low density polyethylene). The material is free from branching and this is made possible by the use of stereospecific catalysts. Because of molecular regularity, HDPE has a high level of crystallinity (compared to LDPE).

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

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.

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

Those not familiar with two-shot injection molding may assume that it’s complex. Yes, it adds another element to part production by involving a second material and process, but it’s not really all that complicated.

This CW Tech Days virtual event will explore the technologies, materials and strategies used by composites manufacturers working in the evolving space market. Presentations from industry experts will emphasize the use of composite materials in applications requiring the weight savings, structural benefits and ability to withstand extreme temperatures that only composites can provide.

Your problem may be related to tooling, material, processing, or combinations thereof. Here’s how to find the root cause.

With a rotary-platen mold, it is critical to have locators on the mold and the machine platens to ensure that it is exactly on center of the rotary platen. If the mold is not exactly on center, you will have alignment issues; when the mold rotates 180° it can damage the leader pins, bushings, and shutoffs. It is also important to consider tonnage with part surface area. In most cases your cavities will be off-center—first shot on one half and second shot on the other half—so you will not have full advantage of the machine tonnage to compensate for the cavity plastic pressure.

There are five specific areas that designers and manufacturers need to consider to realize the potential of these unique materials.

Moretto offers plastics processors and micromolders for a broad suite of auxiliary solutions targeted specifically for precision processing.

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