October 2024 Issue

October 2024

Digital Edition

Annual Benchmarking Survey of Injection Molders Released

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.

Features

Featured articles from the October 2024 issue of Plastics Technology

Injection Molding 14 Oct 2024

Get the Most From Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Parts

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

economics 25 Sep 2024

Plastics Processing Activity Contraction Continues in August

Four months of consecutive contraction overall.

Extrusion Know How 18 Oct 2024

How to Decrease the Extrudate Temperature in Single-Screw Extruders

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

Blow Molding 16 Oct 2024

Custom Molder Pivots When States Squelch Thriving Single-Use Bottle Business

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

Materials Know How 11 Oct 2024

Polymer Science for Those Who Work With Plastic — Part 1: The Repeat Unit

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.

Automation 7 Oct 2024

Injection Molder Amplifies Automation for Optimized Production

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

sustainability 9 Oct 2024

The Importance of Mass Balance in Chemical Recycling

Approaches to mass balance can dramatically impact calculations of recycled content.

top shops 2 Oct 2024

COVID-19’s Long Shadow

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.