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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

The screw-in injection molding pretty much drives the whole process. You can think of the screw is like a rolling pin kneading a dough. Except the pin is within a heated barrel. Also rather than rolling back and forth on the dough it rotates in the middle of the barrel. Other articles in this blog cover injection molding. One titled Introduction to Injection molding is available. Using the dough analogy, let’s talk about the power of the screw and plastic melting and mixing. Plastics have a gradual transition temperature. Between their solid-state and liquid state, they have a soft rubbery state. This makes it possible to process them below the actual melting point where they turn to liquid. This is where there is a balance between the heat applied to the barrel and the torque applied to the screw. The softer the melt, the less work the screw needs to do. In order words, This requires less force for the screw to make one rotation if the plastic is less viscous. The type of plastic used determines the mixing and melting regime used. That is whether to apply more heat or more power to the screw. The viscosity of the plastic at different temperatures determines this. Some plastics have a wide softening point while others have a sharp softening point. With wider softening temperature, the plastic molding can occur at different temperatures. Plastics with a sharp melting point leave little room for temperature variation.

The transition temperature of polystyrene is sharp compared to other common plastics. Polystyrene has a benzene ring as a pendant group. This bulky pendant group limits the mobility of the polymer chain. A less mobile chain means more energy needed to make it flow. So polystyrene needs to absorb energy close to its melting point to flow. Polystyrene melt flow index is between  12.0 to 16.0 g/10min (200oC/5kg). This is low compared to that of polyethylene which is 180g/10min at 145oC. It tends to go from a hard solid-state to a melt state within a shorter temperature range. This is unlike plastics with more mobile structures. So the temperature of plastics must rise fast enough to flow or the gap between the screw and barrel is wider. There are different measures taken to handle plastics with different melt behaviors. One way is using screw designs that only compress the melt towards the end of the barrel.

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.

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

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).

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

Polystyrene is well suited for the injection molding process. It can be injection molded into either solid rigid products or foam products. It’s production demands higher energy input as it has a higher melting point. It compensates for this with its low shrinkage and this allows for good design detail.

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.

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

Thermoplastics are generally preferred over thermosets for injection molding. The injection molding of thermoset plastics is quite cumbersome. The process has the challenge of preventing cross-linking within the barrel. So as thermoplastic polystyrene is injection moldable. Polystyrene has a high melting point compared to the other common plastics. Although its melting point is around 270oC, it begins to soften at around 205oC. Injection molding of polystyrene occurs at or above its softening temperature. This temperature can get the plastic soft enough to melt in the barrel.  This temperature is high compared to plastics like polyethylene. This means the injection molding of polystyrene requires higher energy input.

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

Polystyrene is the top choice for products such as cases, disposable spoons, and cups. Injection molding is the preferred method for making many of these products. So polystyrene must be well adapted to the injection molding process. Here we will look at some of the properties of polystyrene that make it great for injection molding. We will also look at those properties that make it not so great for the process. The picture below gives an example of some injection-molded polystyrene products.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Polystyrene is quite brittle. Plastics need enough mechanical strength and flexibility for effective ejection from the mold. For thick structures, mold release should not be much of a problem. Thinner structures are more prone to breakage. Designing the ejector pins in such a way that the force applied is even, prevents this. This way the product does not experience too much flexural stress.

Methods for measuring the properties of plastics are well established in the industry. The properties relevant to injection molding are; melt temperature, melt flow index. Other properties such as the degradation temperature are also important for quality. The measurement of some of these properties is offline while others are online. Measurement of melt viscosity for example is offline. This property is then monitored or controlled online using the related property, temperature. Temperature sensors are placed at different points on the injection molding machine. Some manufacturers work with the same plastic using the same settings. For some, the parameters change for different types of plastics. For example, working with high-density polyethylene and then switching to polystyrene. This would need changes to settings. The temperature at which both melts is different. The manner in which the melts flow is also different. Differential scanning calorimetry or thermogravimetric analysis determines the thermal properties. Also known as DSC and TGA. These give thermal properties like the melting point and temperature profiles.

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.

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

Every polymer distinguishes itself from other polymers by its chemical structure. The chemical structure of the monomer forms the main identity of the polymer. Interaction within and with other polymer chains form the polymer’s identity. Polystyrene for example is a vinyl polymer with a benzene ring as a pendant group. The pendant group refers to the group attached to the main chain. It does not form part of the backbone of the polymer. Think of it as the pendant of a chain. It attaches to the chain but it is not part of the rings that link the chain. Such features are very important determinants of how the polymer behaves. This includes its mechanical, thermal, electrical, and even optical properties.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

In 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.

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.

This is why manufacturers prefer some plastics for certain applications over others. Polystyrene is one of the 6 most common plastics today. It takes plastic number 6 on the recycle number scale. You would find the recycle number written within the chasing arrows. Look for this number of products around you and identify which use polystyrene. Some you might notice are party cups, plastic spoons, CDs, and appliance casings. The properties of polystyrene make it suitable for these applications.

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

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.

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

Polystyrene has low shrinkage compared to plastics like polyethylene. The shrinkage of polystyrene is around 0.5%. The shrinkage % can be as high as 3% in other plastics so this is quite low. This is an advantage when considering product design. The low shrinkage means that polystyrene will replicate the design details better. Shrinkage makes release from the mold easier. This need not be high shrinkage, a little gap between mold and product is all that’s needed.

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

The injection molding process can produce a variety of products. From small parts made in large quantities to large parts of equipment or vehicles. Thermoplastic, thermosets, metals, and glass are injection molded. This article focuses on the injection molding of thermoplastics. The particular focus is on polystyrene. Thermoplastics used in injection molding must melt at a reasonable temperature. This reduces the energy needed to soften the material into a moldable state. The plastic must also be able to withstand high shear. Injection molding exerts high shear to mix and melt the plastic. The plastic must also have a good flow in its molten state to allow it to fill into the mold. The plastic must maintain a uniform consistency in the molten state. This ensures that the product formed is uniform and to required structural detail.

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.

Shrinkage is another factor to consider when injection molding plastics. Plastics tend to reduce in volume when they change phases. This can be between 0.1 and 3%. This might seem like a low value but it becomes important when considering precision. For example, you might have noticed some plastic products with the label as part of the design. For example, the company logo or the recycle number. These are sometimes part of the mold design. Such detailed needs are in the millimeter range. For a product measuring centimeters in dimensions, even 0.1% is relevant shrinkage. If a plastic shrinks so much the inscription is not transferred to the product. The part could flatten out as the product shrinks. For products like screws, this is important to the functioning of the product. A screw wouldn’t work well if the groves aren’t quite right.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 mechanical properties of the plastic are also important in injection molding. This might not seem obvious since mechanical property affects functioning. It becomes important when considering the removal of the product from the mold. Depending on the design of the mold, the removal of the product from the mold might exert some force on the product. If the product is for example to frail or brittle then it might break in the process. So the design of the ejector pins or manual removal must consider this.

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.

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.

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

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

Polymers are a very diverse group of compounds. They are also ubiquitous. They exist in nature and are also synthesized by man. Polymers exist in food, drugs, textiles, electronics, and medicine. Examples are proteins, cellulose, polyethylene, nylon, and polystyrene. All polymers have a common characteristic of a repeating unit within their structure. Let’s take for example polyethylene. Plastic used in products like shopping bags and bottle caps. It is a polymer made up of repeating units of ethylene. Ethylene reacts with thousands of other ethylene molecules to form one polyethylene molecule. These ethylene molecules that form the repeating units are the monomers. Another example is polystyrene, the polymer this article focuses on. Polystyrene has styrene as its monomer.

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.

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.

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.

A lot of packaging foams are polystyrene. These are common in the packaging of fragile products and appliances. You would notice the white foam that comes with your fridge, laptop, or a new tablet. A variation of injection molding is structural foam molding. This process produces foams using plastics. Polystyrene works for this because it can maintain good rigidity in the porous form. If the material is too flexible, the foam would be too soft. Such soft foam would not have the desired cushioning effect to protect a product from damage. Polystyrene foam is rigid enough to withstand impact yet soft enough to absorb force.

In injection molding, thermal and mechanical properties are very important. This is because the process involves heating and deforming the plastic. Once the desired shape forms, the plastic is then cooled and solidified. After cooling, the plastic retains this new shape. This form of heating and molding applies only to thermoplastics.

Thus far we’ve discussed the properties of plastics relevant to injection molding. This helps us understand the properties we need to consider for specific plastics. The focus of this article is polystyrene. The next section looks at polystyrene injection molding. This covers how the properties affect the injection molding process. We look at the pros and cons of polystyrene in injection molding

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.

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