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.

An Engel spokesperson told Plastics Technology that ADS and Infiltrator wanted to keep most of the key details around the machine close to the vest, but Engel says going forward it will be manufacturing even larger machines, including the possibility of presses with clamp forces exceeding 12,000 tons and shot weights of a few hundred kilograms. For these machines, maximum platen size would 13 by 10 ft, with the ability to run molds weighing up to 444,000 lb and offer material throughput of 4400 lb/hr.

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.

Well, every process has its pros and cons, and so does prototype injection molding. When it comes to limitations, it has a fair share of it, from being the most expensive to the use of plastic injection and choosing prototype injection molding.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Prototype injection molding can be a great option that will be perfect due to many reasons. It has been designed to provide a large output with lesser effort and resources. Apart from this, several more amazing options are available for rapid prototyping.

Austrian injection molding machine and automation supplier Engel (Schwertberg) has delivered the two largest-ever injection molding it has built to the U.S., shipping a pair of 8000-ton duo combi machines to Advanced Drainage Systems‘ (ADS) subsidiary Infiltrator Water Technologies (IWT) in Winchester, Ky.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

More time efficient: It is an accelerated process as it can produce your first part within 2-4 weeks with the right prototype material selection. Prototype injection molding is time efficient, especially when you have to produce multiple parts. It is more than 40% faster than a machine. It can help you create more.

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

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

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

When determining the best ejection option for a tool, molders must consider the ejector’s surface area, location and style.

Engel notes that dozens of individuals worked thousands of hours with a perfect safety record to complete the project. Engel received the purchase order in November 2020, with the handover of the first machine completed in February 2022. In Februray 2023, the second machine, a replica of the first, was delivered.

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

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

There can be many reasons one chooses injection molding for prototype processing, but will it be the right choice for your project? Let’s find out.

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.

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

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

Prototype injection molding refers to creating a prototype using molds in less time. It is a process that is chosen for the rapid production of prototypes. In this process, molten plastic gets injected into a mold, thus creating a prototype that can be tested to check whether a part or product works.

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.

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.

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

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 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

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).

The enormous size of these machines required new manufacturing facilities to house them. Infiltrator completed a 59,000-ft2 building expansion over the same time as the parts were delivered. Over 2 months, the machine was assembled while the building and all the necessary auxiliary equipment and utilities were installed, including a 150-ton overhead crane intended to move molds in and out of the machine but used to help assemble the new press in the interim.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

Use of plastic injection: Prototype injection molding requires plastic injection, which requires a special set of skills, does skilled labor with a specific qualification, which invites the hassle of finding a suitable candidate. Apart from that, finding especially skilled employees can put a strain on the entire budget and the process.

An improved line of large two-platen injection presses offers new sizes plus greater speed, educed maintenance, more operator-friendly design, and added flexibility for a range of molding requirements.

In a release, Jim Moran, business development manager at Engel North America, laid out the logistical challenges of transporting the machines from Austria to Kentucky. Actually, since each press was fully assembled and tested prior to shipping and then disassembled to be delivered to the U.S., the company was technically shipping components with 29 truckloads of parts eventually arriving in Kentucky from Austria, including the platens which were transported to and from St. Valentin via barge on the Danube River.

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

Infiltrator Water Technologies will use the machine’s 270-lb combined shot weight to injection mold water management products. Photo Credit: Engel

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

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

ADS, which places a high level of corporate emphasis on sustainability, said it has made significant investments in new equipment in recent years to help it more efficiently create its products, which are used to move water and now include high levels of recycled plastic. For Engel, which was recently been granted an EcoVadis gold rating, sustainability is also a top priority.

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’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.

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

The Engel duo 130000/130000H/8200 combi machines each feature two 85,000 cm³ (approx. 2900 oz.) injection units capable of a combined total shot weight of 270 lbs (122 kg). In terms of footprint, the machines measure 96 feet (29.3 meters) long and 37 feet (6.4 meters) wide. Big no doubt, but in relation to their shot size and clamp force, Engel points out that these behemoths actually have a relatively small footprint made possible by the duo’s two-platen design.

Low Financial Risk: It may be known as the most expensive prototyping process, but when it comes to producing with right prototype material selection, it will be a smart investment. It can help you produce thousands of parts in no time. Those parts will be your property and can be used to produce small fragmented plastic parts.

It is often used to produce quick and high-quality prototypes and samples. The molds are two pieces that are held together with force and extreme pressure to create an accurate prototype after the process of prototype material selection that can be used to study the efficiency and usability of a part or product.

Most expensive prototyping process: As discussed earlier, manufacturing a prototype will be less expensive, but the investment is relatively high. The cost of the equipment and the injection materials is very much higher. The labor cost is also something that will prove to be challenging with prototype injection molding.

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

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.

Special transportation was required for many parts of this huge machine. Pictured is the arrival of the 257,941 lb stationary platen at the Infiltrator facility in Winchester, Ky. Photo Credit: Engel

Lower concept risk: As it is made of aluminum or soft metal alloy, the concept risk is quite lower with prototype injection molding. The material is easy to machine, making it easier to modify and alter. It provides much freedom to alter and put changes to previous output.

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.

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

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.

Two mammoth 8000-ton presses built at its St. Valentin plant in Austria have been delivered to Infiltrator Water Technologies in Winchester, Ky.

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

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.

Time-taking process: Even though being quicker than standard injection molding, it is a longer process than some of the other prototype technologies. It takes time, as one must create a mold and inject materials to create the parts.

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.

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

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.

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.

If you’re leaning towards prototype injection molding, you can enjoy many advantages which can positively affect your project. So here are the benefits of prototype injection molding.

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.

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.

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

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.

Prototyping is a crucial step in the design and development of a product. It ensures the product, as envisioned in the design phase, is brought to life through a functional prototype. Of late, injection molding has emerged as the first choice prototyping method for manufacturers.

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.