Recycling

Recycling 1 Nov 2004

Dedusting Turns Risky Regrind Into a Valuable Resource

Custom injection molder Tessy Plastics, Elbridge, N.Y., used to spend around $117,000 every year on resins that it would not use.

Postprocessing 1 Oct 2004

Plastics Welding: Laser and Infrared Systems Expand Capabilities

A breakthrough in laser welding of three-dimensional parts that eliminates traditional clamping systems was among several innovations in welding and joining highlighted at two recent shows—last month’s Plastics USA in Chicago and this month’s K 2004 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Extrusion 1 Oct 2004

From Paper-Mill Sludge to Plastic Decking

Kadant Composites’ self-appointed mission for the past eight years has been to find commercial uses for paper sludge, a soggy mix of short cellulose fibers, calcium carbonate, and clay that is the copious byproduct of paper recycling.

Postindustrial 1 Oct 2004

How to Turn Auto Shredder Waste Into 60 Million Lb of Plastic Pellets

While much of the world is studying the possibility of getting any economic value out of auto shredder residue—for example, as fuel for cement kilns or power plants—Europe’s second largest scrap-metal reclaimer cranks out polyolefin and polystyrene pellets made from shredder residue at 20,000 to 100,000 lb/hr, or about 40 million lb/yr.Galloo Plastics, the recycling unit of the Galloo Group in Halluin, France, has been so successful at supplying automotive markets with its black PP compounds that it built a second auto shredder residue (ASR) recycling plant this year next to the first, inside its huge scrap yard.

Postprocessing 1 Jul 2004

Lasers Now Clean Molds and Parts

They drill, cut, weld, polish, engrave, and print.

sustainability 1 Jun 2004

Solving Gravimetric Blender Problems

Gravimetric blenders offer plastics processors considerable savings.

nanocomposites 1 Jun 2004

Thermoplastic Polyesters: It's Time to Know Them Better

There’s more to TP polyesters than you think. You may know PET, PBT, and PETG—but what about PCT, PCTG, PCTA, and PTT? If you’re not sure what they are, how their properties compare, and who sells them, we have the answers—and lots of new developments to report.