Articles
Processors Pulse Is Healthy
Plastics processors continue to be optimistic about business conditions, according to our monthly Processors’ Pulse survey results. Nearly two-thirds of processors surveyed in October said they were more optimistic or much more optimistic about the future of their business.
Read MoreBuying Used? Be Careful
An old extruder is unlikely to have the same capabilities--especially in the area of torque--than a new one will have.
Read MoreStainless Steel Screws
For smaller screws up to 2.5 in. diameter, and for PVC processing applications, you might find this to be the best choice.
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Nylon Replaces Stainless Steel in Surgical Devices
WEB EXCLUSIVE: A 50% glass-filled Ixef polyarylamide (PARA, also known as MXD6 nylon) from Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, Alpharetta, Ga., delivers the high strength, rigidity, moldability, and ultra-smooth finish needed to replace stainless steel in new, single-use surgical devices.
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Ultra-Stiff Glass-Filled Nylon 66 in Photovoltaic Mounting System
WEB EXCLUSIVE: The new Aixtralight Clip rooftop solar-panel mounting system from Germany’s Aixtra Solar AG is made of ultra-stiff, 35% glass-reinforced, flame-retardant Ultramid A3WG10 nylon 66 from BASF (U.S. office in Wyandotte, Mich.). The plastic bracket is mounted on a roof, and the rails attached to the photovoltaic modules can be quickly and easily inserted into the bracket.Installing an Aixtralight Clip is said to avoid stresses caused by differences in the expansion coefficients of the trapezoidal sheet metal and the mounting rails.
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‘Breakthrough’ in Nylon Characterization
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Malvern Instruments, Westborough, Mass., has a novel gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method for characterizing nylon that is said to significantly reduce the cost of analysis while simultaneously improving safety, compared with existing methods.
Read MoreR-PET Pricing Stable for Now
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Recycled PET orders are starting to pick up, and prices are beginning to stabilize.
Read MoreNew U.S. Production of Engineering-Resin Stock Shapes
ZL Engineering Plastics Inc., Lenexa, Kan., a supplier of stock shapes, has started up its first U.S. extrusion operation in response to growing demand.
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Resin Prices Go Up, Down and Sideways
Tight resin inventories and upward pressure from feedstocks were two factors pushing prices of PE, PP, and PVC higher last month.
Read MoreGloucester & Dolci Share Stretch-Winding Technology
Gloucester Engineering Co., Inc., Gloucester, Mass., and Dolci Extrusion S.r.l. of Italy have announced that they will share winding technology so that each firm can offer the other’s winders for cast stretch film.
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MGP Bioplastics Launches High-Heat Biodegradable Resin
The Bioplastics Div.of MGP Ingredients, Inc., Atchinson, Kan., has expanded its portfolio of Terratek renewable-content plastics with a new line of biodegradable compounds.
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Sheet Processor Adds Former for R&D
Industrial sheet extruder Premier Material Concepts (PMC) has added a thermforming machine to its Findlay, Ohio, plant to allow it to conduct performance tests on new sheet products and to offer prototyping services for thermoformers.The forming machine was furnished by MAAC Machinery, Carol Stream, Ill.
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