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Best Practices For Plastic Processors

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Knowledge Centers

Resin Conveying
A 360-degree look at resin conveying systems: types, operation, economics, design, installation, components and controls.

Resin Moisture & Drying
This Knowledge Center provides an overview of resin moisture and the drying process, including information on the best drying practices for your manufacturing facility.

Training
Combat the skilled labor shortage using this comprehensive resource to train your own plastics processing experts.

Blending & Dosing
Deep dive into the basics of blending versus dosing, controls, maintenance, process integration and more.

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

Size Reduction
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.
Resin Pricing See All

18 Dec 2023
Prices for All Volume Resins Head Down at End of 2023
Flat-to-downward trajectory for at least this month.

22 Nov 2023
Prices Flat for PE, PVC, Up for PP and PS, Down for PET
A mixed bag, though prices likely to be down if not flat for all this month.

20 Oct 2023
Prices Up for PE, PP, PS, Flat for PVC, PET
Trajectory is generally flat-to-down for all commodity resins.

22 Sep 2023
Prices Bottom Out for Volume Resins?
Flat-to-down trajectory underway for fourth quarter for commodity resins.

31 Aug 2023
Prices of PE, PP, PS, PVC Drop
Generally, a bottoming-out appears to be the projected pricing trajectory.

20 Jul 2023
PS Prices Plunge, Others Appear to Be Bottoming Out
PS prices to see significant drop, with some potential for a modest downward path for others.
Collections See All

Resin Drying Done Right
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.

Get Better at Quoting Molded Parts
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.

Screw Design Tips to Boost Productivity
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.

Injection Molding Know How: Best of Bozzelli
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.

Tooling Know How: Best of Fattori
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.

Tooling Know How: Mold Venting
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.

Materials Know How: Best of Sepe
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.

Ultrasonic Welding
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.

Mold Maintenance
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.
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- Latest Issue
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Latest Issue See All

1 Jan 2024 processors edge
Catheter Specialist Finds Sweet Spot Serving Small, Medium-Sized Concerns
Medical-component specialist LightningCath has carved a niche meeting the needs of small to medium-sized entrepreneurs with complex catheter designs … quickly.

1 Jan 2024 Film Extrusion
Film Extrusion: Boost Mechanical Properties and Rate of Composting by Blending Amorphous PHA into PLA
A unique amorphous PHA has been shown to enhance the mechanical performance and accelerate the biodegradation of other compostable polymers PLA in blown film.

1 Jan 2024 editorial
70 Years...Still Going Strong
Plastics Technology is closing in on its 70th anniversary. Here are some of my observations to commemorate the occasion.

1 Jan 2024 Extrusion
Is a Gear Pump Right for Your Single-Screw Operation
As with everything else, there are pros and cons, but more of the former. They provide processors higher rates while decreasing the temperature of the extrudate while enabling downgauging.

28 Dec 2023 economics
Plastics Processing Activity Drops in November
The drop in plastics activity appears to be driven by a return to accelerated contraction for three closely connected components — new orders, production and backlog.

1 Jan 2024 Heating & Cooling
Temperature Control: When You Need to Know to Comply With New Cooling-Fluid Regs
Beginning the first of this year, 12 states are following EPA bans on potentially damaging cooling fluids. Chiller suppliers have adjusted equipment designs to accommodate the new regulations. Here’s what all this means to processors.

1 Jan 2024 business
The Experience Curve and Well-Trained Process Technicians
Pairing external big picture training with internal job-specific instruction can help your process technicians meet quality expectations as well as production targets.

1 Jan 2024 Injection Molding
US Merchants Makes its Mark in Injection Molding
In less than a decade in injection molding, US Merchants has acquired hundreds of machines spread across facilities in California, Texas, Virginia and Arizona, with even more growth coming.

29 Dec 2023 Injection Molding
How to Optimize Your Molds and Hot Runners for Processing Bioresins
Demand for bioresins is growing in molded goods, particularly as a sustainability play to replace fossil-fuel based materials, but these materials are not a drop-in replacement for traditional materials. Molds and hot runners needs to be optimized for these materials.

1 Jan 2024 Tooling
How to Design Three-Plate Molds – Part 3
There are many things to consider, and paying attention to the details can help avoid machine downtime and higher maintenance costs — and keep the customer happy.
Archive See All

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

December 2023

November 2023
- PTXPO
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PTXPO See All

24 Apr 2023
Video: Ultradent Bags Both Hot Shots Prizes at PTXPO 2023
Topping five other entries in voting by fellow molders, the Ultradent team talks about their Hot Shots sweep.

3 Apr 2023
In-Person Exposition Provides a Rich Environment for Discovery of Trade Trends and Technology Applications
Serendipitous Learning Opportunities at PTXPO Underscore the Value of Being Present.

3 Apr 2023
Heated Tapered Nozzle Launches
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.

30 Mar 2023
Ultradent Sweeps 2023 Hot Shots Awards
Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

27 Mar 2023
Temperature Control Units on Display at PTXPO
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.

23 Mar 2023
Shibaura Machine Company PTXPO Spotlight
Shibaura discusses the upcoming Plastics Technology Expo (PTXPO) March 28-30
NPE See All

13 Dec 2023
Plastics Industry Association Announces Future Dates for NPE
Ahead of the first NPE since 2018, PLASTICS announced that its triennial show will stay in Orlando and early May for ’27, ’30 and ’33.

1 Dec 2023
Six Years in the Waiting, PLASTICS Igniting a ‘Spark’ at NPE
New features of NPE2024 aim to “bring the whole plastics ecosystem together to innovate, collaborate and share findings.”

27 Oct 2023
Inside the Florida Recycler Gearing Up to Take on Scrap at NPE2024
Hundreds of tons of demonstration products will be created at NPE2024 next spring. Commercial Plastics Recycling strives to recycle all of it.

15 Sep 2023
NPE2024 Registration Opens
After what will be a 6-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, registration is open for the triennial show, which will take place May 6-10, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.

6 May 2022
PLASTICS Announces New Leadership
The Plastics Industry Association has hired from within, elevating Matt Seaholm to CEO and Glenn Anderson to COO.

30 Jul 2021
16 New Inductees Named to Plastics Hall of Fame
Long-time leaders hailing from the U.S., Japan, Germany and Austria and across the entire supply chain, from machinery and materials to training and moldmaking, will be inducted.
Molding See All

20 Aug 2023
What Is the Molders’ and Moldmakers’ View?
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.

15 Aug 2023
Leading Molding, Moldmaking Conferences Combine
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.

13 Jul 2023
Getting the Most Out of Injection Molding Simulation
Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

27 Jun 2023
Injection Molding and Moldmaking Automation in Focus
When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

16 Jun 2023
Pathways to More Sustainable Injection Molding
As self-imposed and government-issued sustainability mandates approach, injection molders reimagine their operations.

29 May 2023
Molding and Moldmaking Conference Agendas Finalized
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.
Extrusion See All

29 Mar 2023
Your Tour Guide to Plastics Technology’s 2023 Events
Get your clicking finger in shape and sign up for all that we have in store for you in 2023.

2 Mar 2023
Robust Molding, Extrusion Conference Programming in the Works
Molding 2023 to take place Aug. 29-30 in Minnesota; Extrusion 2023 slated for Oct. 10-12 in Indiana.
Webinars See All

On Demand
Boost Product Quality and Design With Servo Ultrasonic Welding Technique
In today's manufacturing environment, robust processes that meet strict industry and regulatory standards are essential. With the advent of servo-driven ultrasonic welding technology, enhancing product quality and maintaining consistency has become remarkably effortless. Discover the fundamentals of ultrasonic welding, delve into vital components within these systems, explore how servo-driven ultrasonic welding enhances weld quality via advanced control features and gain insights into optimizing your assemblies for welding in these high-performing machines. Join Dukane to unlock the potential of ultrasonic welding in modern manufacturing for plastic devices and components. Agenda: Fundamentals of ultrasonic welding Key components in an ultrasonic welding system Using servo-driven ultrasonic systems to control your welding process Designing your parts and components for servo-controlled ultrasonic welding

On Demand
Equipment Access Stair Design for Safety and Ergonomics
This webinar will help you make informed decisions to confirm the equipment access stairs in your facility are OSHA compliant and meet the highest standards of safety and ergonomics. Agenda: Identifying opportunities to increase safety in the work place Utilizing space saving stairways Ensuring code compliance for equipment access

On Demand
Increased Efficiency in Your Molding Process Through Data Transmission, Collection and Traceability
4.0, EUROMAP, OPC, OLE, QC, DSN, SQL, VNC, MES, ERP, FTP, CMS, SPI — are you confused by all buzzwords being tossed around in the plastics industry? Not convinced the data collection is necessary? Or are you unsure of how it could be implemented and improve your molding processes? Wittmann has been on the cutting edge of the data collection push for nearly 20 years. In this webinar, take a step back from the idea of the manufacturing facility of the future and discuss what you can do today to improve your process. Using readily-available technology, Wittmann can help reduce downtime, limit scrap and wasted material, and predict required maintenance. Let the experts at Wittmann help you understand: what data can be collected, what that data can be used for, what systems are used, and how to implement them. Agenda: Demystifying the terminology Tracking the material flow and lot information through the material handling system The data available from various auxiliary equipment, such as: dryers, blenders, mold temperature controls and robots Automating the process through changes in the data collected at the machines during production Adding visualization to increase productivity

On Demand
Go Beyond Blending: Improving Efficiency and Lowering Costs with Innovative Dosing Solutions
Learn how targeted, modular, dosing and blending solutions — covering powders, granules, regrinds and liquids — provide plastics processors of all kinds with best-in-class accurate dosing while delivering significant raw material savings and ensuring highest quality. Agenda: Introduction to Movacolor Blending in plastics applications Movacolor feeding and dosing technology Hybrid blending to combine high material throughput and dosing accuracy

On Demand
Polyurethane Class A Overmolding of Injection Molded Parts
This presentation will explore the in-situ polyurethane (PU) overmolding of injection-molded and composite parts, allowing for direct out-of-mold class "A" surfaces. KraussMaffei will review the process and equipment required. It will also discuss tooling types currently available for PU systems for this process. KraussMaffei will compare the pros and cons of this technology over currently-available coating and painting systems. Agenda: Introduction and evolution of the ColorForm technology Overview of the ColorForm process Equipment required Tooling and PU systems Benefits of the system compared to typical spray-applied coatings Pros and cons of the technology

On Demand
Gravimetric Extrusion Control for Pipe and Tubing Production
Consistent quality is paramount within the production of pipe and tubing applications. Additionally, significant material savings can be obtained by tightly controlling product dimensions with the correct process equipment. In this webinar, Conair will cover gravimetric control of an extruder and production line speed to ensure optimal quality and cost savings are achieved in your product run. A detailed discussion of the upstream material handling system includes: blending resins upstream of the feed throat, detection of the extruder rate at the throat, control of the extruder rpm and control of the product itself in feet per min — all accomplished with a simple recipe configuration which includes product weight per length desired and production line speed.

On Demand
The Future of Mobility: Trends and Potentials for Injection Molding Register Now
Calendar See All

6 May 2024
NPE2024: The Plastics Show
Every three years, leaders from almost every major industry gather at NPE to advance their businesses through innovations in plastics. The largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE offers six technology zones, keynote speakers, workshops and opportunities to build partnerships.

19 Jun 2024
Screw Design Conference-Topcon
The Society Plastics Engineers (SPE) Extrusion Division and the SPE Eastern New England Section will co-host the Screw Design Conference-Topcon on June 19-20, 2024 @ UMass Lowell in Lowell, MA. This highly technical program will focus upon screw design principles for single and twin screw extruders with wide ranging topics relating to screw designs for feeding, melting, mixing, venting and pumping plastics products and parts. Areas of focus will include screw designs for melt temperature and gel management, gel minimization, bioplastics, recycled materials and foaming. In addition to the technical sessions, a tour of the UMass Lowel Plastics Processing Laboratories will be integrated into Day 2 of the event. This program is not just for screw designers, but to help anyone responsible for any type of extrusion operation to evaluate existing extrusion equipment; and also to prepare for future projects. Price to attend: Less than $1000! Registrations will be accepted in early 2024. Call for papers – To be considered to give a presentation, please submit a talk title and abstract on or before December 15 to: Technical Chair: Eldridge M. Mount III, e-mail emmount@msn.com Corporate sponsorships - A limited # of corporate sponsorships (15) are available on a 1st come basis. Included is a 6’ tabletop display (must fit on table), denotation in all promotional activities, and 1 no charge registration. To become a sponsor contact: Charlie Martin, Leistritz Extrusion, e-mail cmartin@leistritz-extrusion.com, cell 973-650 3137 General information: A reception on Day 1 and a tabletop display area will allow the attendees to meet and discuss state-of-the-art screw technologies with industry experts. The SPE Extrusion Division will issue a “Screw Design Certificate” to all participants who have attended the program. Students are encouraged to attend and will receive a discounted rate. For additional information contact: Program Chair: Karen Xiao, Macro Engineering, KXiao@macroeng.com

10 Sep 2024
Parts Cleaning Conference at IMTS 2024
Debuting in 2010, the Parts Cleaning Conference is the leading and most trusted manufacturing and industrial parts cleaning forum focused solely on delivering quality technical information in the specialized field of machined parts cleansing. Providing guidance and training to understand the recognized sets of standards for industrial cleaning, every year the Conference showcases industry experts who present educational sessions on the latest and most pressing topics affecting manufacturing facilities today. Discover all that the 2022 Parts Cleaning Conference has to offer!

12 Sep 2024
AM Workshop - 3D Printing for Job Shops
Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology, the 3D Printing Workshop at IMTS 2024 is a chance for job shops to learn the emerging possibilities for part production via 3D printing and additive manufacturing. First introduced at IMTS 2014, this workshop has helped hundreds of manufacturing professionals expand their additive capabilities.

8 Apr 2025
Formnext Chicago 2025
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).
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NPE 8 May 2024

PT, MMT Announce Leadership Changes
NPE 8 May 2024

Dynamic Tool Corp. Wins MoldMaking Technology’s 2024 Leadtime Leader Award
NPE 8 May 2024

Arthur Eichengrün: Pioneer of Cellulose Acetate Manufacturing Processes
NPE 8 May 2024

The Titanium Man: Arthur P. Haag's Legacy in Plastics Innovation
NPE 8 May 2024

Kick Back at the Beer Garden (and Other Places to Recharge)
8 May 2024

Read the Wednesday Issue
Additive Manufacturing 8 May 2024

Additive Technologies for Injection Mold Tooling Ride Tailwinds
sustainability 8 May 2024

Italian Machine Builders Bandera, Macchi Running Film Lines
Drying 8 May 2024

PiovanGroup Announces Transition In Leadership In North America
Extrusion 8 May 2024

Get Ready to Be Blown Away With New Extrusion Technology

News

Engineering Resins 20 Feb 2024

Polyplastics and Selex Motors Collaborate on Electric Two-Wheeler Battery Covers

Electric motorcycle startup Selex to mold battery packs with Polyplastics’ Duranex PBT.

Engineering Resins 19 Feb 2024

Chase Plastics Now Authorized Distributor for Envalior

The new global engineering materials entity Envalior brings together DSM Engineering Materials and Lanxess High Performance Materials.

Biopolymers 16 Feb 2024

Advanced Biobased Materials Company PlantSwitch Gets Support for Commercialization

With participation from venture investment firm NexPoint Capital, PlantSwitch closes it $8M bridge financing round.

Postconsumer 15 Feb 2024

Bollegraaf and Greyparrot Team Up in AI Vision Deal

Recycling facilities builder Bollegraaf invests in AI vision technology.

Extrusion 15 Feb 2024

Freudenberg Medical Breaks Ground on Second Costa Rica Production Facility

The $25 million investment will quadruple the manufacturing footprint for high-volume, minimally invasive catheters with injection molding and extrusion capabilities.

Additive Manufacturing 14 Feb 2024

Hawk Ridge Systems and DyeMansion Form Printed Part Postprocessing Partnership

Hawk Ridge Systems will add DyeMansion's finishing solutions to the product portfolio.

pet 14 Feb 2024

Eastman Will Recycle Colored and Opaque PET Supplied by Rumpke

Agreement with MRF operator will send colored and opaque materials to Eastman for chemical recycling.

Biopolymers 14 Feb 2024

CJ Biomaterials PHA-Based Polybag Makes Same-Day Delivery More Sustainable

New polybag provides similar properties to traditional PVC bags, including durability, opacity and adhesive properties.

All Electric & Hybrid Machines 14 Feb 2024

Mack Expands Injection Molding Capacity, Staff

The custom molder and contract manufacturer added a 240-ton Milacron Electric Roboshot E240 and a 125-ton Milacron Q110 Hybrid press to its facility in Cavendish, Vermont.

Injection Molding 12 Feb 2024

LS Mtron Names MCSI its Midwest Sales Representative

MCSI will represent LS Mtron in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Michigan.

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Guill - World Leader in Extrusion Tooling

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