You can download this magazine in sections with all editorial and advertisement web addresses as live hyperlinks.
Other downloadable back issues.
Contact addresses for the Factfinder reader enquiry numbers in this month's magazine
INJECTION MOULDING
Download this section (3,041 KB)
Choice of colorant can reduce shrinkage and warpage
Gerry Wilson, technical director or Performance Masterbatches, describes the effect on product warpage of using organic pigments and suggests the problem may be reduced or avoided by early consultation with the colour supplier.
Design and processing for lowest warpage with Ixef materials
Dr Vito Leo and Ing Brian Alexander of Solvay describe how moulding conditions relate to the warpage of fibre-filled engineering materials.
Machine manufacturers add value with special editions
As injection machine manufacturers seek to maintain volume they are devising special versions of their standard machines with added option packs at a bargain price to increase the perceived value relative to the machine cost.
More sizes and options from Arburg
Alongside its new 500 tonne 920S machine Arburg has added a new insert moulding machine and a larger Universal machine.
SMS sells Battenfeld injection and hires former MPM chairman
The Battenfeld injection moulding machine business is being sold to German capital investment company Adcuram. Coincidental with the sale of the injection moulding business has been the appointment to the SMS board with responsibility for its plastics machinery businesses of Pepyn Dinandt, formerly chairman of Mannesmann Plastics Machinery.
Faster injection for micro mouldings
A new drive system is used on the injection unit of the Battenfeld Microsystem 50 which the company says gives substantially improved acceleration and deceleration performance.
More compact machines and new controls from Battenfeld
The compact HM 400 short-footprint two-platen machine from Battenfeld has been joined by 320 and 500 tonne versions to complete the machine series.
Chinese all-electric to arrive next year
The J5 series of hydraulic machines to be launched in the new year by Haitian will be up to 40 per cent more power efficient and up to 9 per cent faster than the current range, and in the middle of next year the first of a series of all-electric machines will come to Britain.
Dassett injection machine support passes to Renmar
Support for MIR machines which moved to Dassett Process Engineering briefly after MIR closed its British office earlier this year has now passed to Renmar Machinery Sales following Dassett's move into administration.
Meiki moves to toggle lock for all-electrics
Meiki is introducing a range of direct drive toggle locking machines.
Negri Bossi builds twin shot electric
Negri Bossi has launched its first all-electric twin shot machine, a 210 tonne model.
Retrofit motor control can pay back in less than a year
Energy saving equipment for the control of injection moulding machines offering a return on investment of less than a year has been developed by Sandretto UK.
Antennae moulded into PC glazing
Antenna systems can now be moulded into PC automotive glazing with new technology from Exatec and Ficosa Advanced Antenna Systems.
MuCell is key to lightweight thin wall packaging
A thin wall packaging process combining MuCell microcellular foaming with extra thin in-mould applied labels is set to 'turn thin-wall packaging on its head' according to Autobar Packaging Group.
Wood compound is moulded for packaging
Wood/plastic composites have a future, we are told, in wood look-alike products such as furniture and building industry components. But Rexam has taken a different tack and is using it for cosmetic packaging.
Cavity pressure measurement for injection moulding
Mark Schaufelbühl of Kistler Instrumente describes what cavity pressure measurement can do for the injection moulder.
Thermal deflashing of plastic components with infra-red
Conventional deflashing methods are almost exclusively manual and involve the use of special knives or gas flames. Ian Bartley of Heraeus Noblelight describes how infra-red heating may be used to provide a contact-free solution.
Flow line production of electric machines planned by Engel
Faster production and cheaper machines are the goal at Engel, with electric injection machines and dedicated packaging machines in the front line.
Get the whole picture when monitoring production
Priamus System Technologies has introduced a Shop Floor Control system which uses cavity pressure and temperature signals to ensure effective QC of moulded parts.
Hydraulic unscrewing gives precision for internal thread
Use of an EXAflow hydraulic unscrewing device supplied by DMS-Diemould enabled RA Labone & Co to overcome difficulty in moulding a component with a long, fine pitched internal thread. The device is the first to be used in the UK.
Nozzles send melt round the bend
Offset versions of the Heitec Flat-Line hot runner nozzle are being sold by DMS for use in difficult-to-access off-centre gate locations. They allow a maximum offset of 30 mm and a minimum pitch of 13 mm.
Pneumatic valve gate
The new Accu-Line in-line pneumatic valve gate from Mold-Masters can be used for production or the evaluation of flow characteristics in prototype moulds.
Husky adds more hot runner components
Hot runner components for stack moulds, closure tooling and small component multi-cavity tools have been introduced by Husky.
Machine suppliers increase E European support
Two major injection moulding machine companies have opened new premises to give further support in Eastern Europe. Husky Injection Molding Systems has opened a sales office in Vienna and Engel has opened a new service centre in Prague in the Czech Republic.
Hot bushes for direct feed
A new range of hot bushes for direct feed applications has been introduced by Fast Heat and is available in a wide choice of tip styles.
Moulds need no further machining for insulating plates
Hasco now makes its thermal insulation mould clamping plates as a sandwich, with the insulating sheet between two steel plates bonded by a special adhesive.
Training for free - but hurry, places are limited
Free-of-charge training programs open to anyone are being run by Distrupol and Engel over the next 10 months at Engel's Warwick base.
Wittmann adds the equipment for turn-key IML
To improve its position in in-mould labelling technology Wittmann has bought French mould maker Regad, reasoning that by coupling mould design with good labels and the automation, it can better devise turn-key IML projects.
Large robots designed for production data networking
To meet demands for large take out robots with networked production monitoring, Yushin has introduced the RA/RAII alpha series servo driven traverse types with Internet and LAN capabilities.
New side entry robot, controller and enhanced axes
A space-saving side entry robot has been added to the Wittmann series, and existing robots have a new controller and an improved AC servo wrist axis.
Sprue picker offers fast pay-back
Eastern Plastics Machinery is selling a new sprue-picker from Matsui, and has recently installed four at Molex.
ENGINEERING MATERIALS
Download this section (1,100 KB)
Delrin is hotter, less smelly and you can find it in your food
The future development of DuPont's Delrin acetal homopolymer involves grades for automotive gear mechanisms running at higher than current temperatures, low emission grades for vehicle interiors, and detectable grades for food conveyor components.
Developmental EPDM for low temperature use
A new developmental grade of Nordel MG hydrocarbon rubber from Dow Chemical addresses the market need for an EPDM that delivers good performance in low-temperature applications.
Transparent PEBA elastomer extends design options
A new transparent elastomer added to Degussa's Vestamid E product line is a polyether block amide with low temperature impact strength, good recovery, low tendency to creep, and good resistance to chemicals and solvents.
New PC blend for car instrument panels
A new polycarbonate blend from Bayer MaterialScience has been formulated for good adhesion to polyurethane foams in automotive instrument panels.
Viton now not just in black
Colour-coded Viton fluoroelastomer parts in a range of colours including translucent are now available from Advanced Polymers.
New TPU grades formulated for laser marking
Bayer MaterialScience has expanded its Desmopan range of thermoplastic polyurethanes with the addition of laser-marking grades.
Halogen-free flame retardant PBT compounds
Halogen-free alternatives have been added to PolyOne's Bergadur flame retardant polybutylene terephthalate range.
Nylon bonds to EPDM
A process for making hard-soft components combining nylon and EPDM without an adhesion promoter has been unveiled by Degussa.
High flow nylon with 50 per cent GF
A grade of Zytel HTN high-temperature nylon added by DuPont Engineering Polymers has a 20 per cent higher flow than comparable grades, and contains 50 per cent glass fibre reinforcement.
PACKAGING MATERIALS
Download this section (1,006 KB)
High flow transparent PP for food containers
A high-flow polypropylene random copolymer has been developed by Total Petrochemicals specifically for injection moulding transparent containers.
New PET cuts AA levels by 25 per cent
A new generation of PET bringing enhanced bottle clarity, product purity, production and supply chain efficiencies and 'significant environmental benefits' has been developed by Eastman Chemical.
TPE alloys have high barrier performance
American TPE producer GLS Corporation has developed a TPE alloy with high barrier properties with potential in food and beverage packaging applications such as beverage closures, flexible food packaging films, and other storage containers.
Highly transparent SBS to compete with polyester
BASF has developed a highly transparent grade of its Styrolux styrene-butadiene block copolymer which needs no drying and can make films which are a third less dense than multi-layer polyester.
ADDITIVES
Download this section (529 KB)
Nucleating agent prevents warping with fast crystallisation
A process aid developed by Begg and Co is said to improve productivity across a range of converting processes using polyolefins.
Monomeric HALS approved for food contact plastics
A new monomeric hindered amine light stabiliser from BASF has become the first of this type to be approved by the FDA for use in plastics that come into contact with foodstuffs.
Additive gives a product a hidden signature
An additive that provides a signature trace to discourage counterfeiting has been introduced by Addmaster.
Colour and additive masterbatch for biodegradables
PolyOne has extended its range of masterbatch products for use with starch blend bio-polymers, PLA, co-polyesters and other biodegradable polymers.
COLOUR MANAGEMENT
Download this section (538 KB)
New effects from Clariant tap into consumer trends
According to ColorForward - the new colour-trends initiative from Clariant Masterbatches - reflective light, see-through designs, and tactile experiences are playing an increasingly important part both in mass-market and luxury consumer packaging. In response to these themes, the company developed an Enigma effects pack to demonstrate how special-effect colour systems, incorporated into a package's design, can make the most of these 'hot' trends, giving products increased consumer appeal.
Colour Vision adds 36 colours for Gabriel Chemie
Thirty six colours have been added to the Gabriel Chemie masterbatch range in three groups identified under its Colour Vision 2007/2008 concept.
Bayer makes the case for colour
The Bayer MaterialScience Color Competence Center in Filago, Italy, has designed a special sample case to help its field service people present Fantasia, the company's services and technologies for dyeing and coating thermoplastics.
New shades of white for electronics
BASF's design factory has developed new shades of white specifically for manufacturers of electronic devices. The familiar RAL colour chart only contains five shades of white but the design factory now offers 12 EverWhite shades in gradations ranging from extremely white to slightly tinted.
UK colour measurement offices combine
The GretagMacbeth UK sales office at Preston Brook in Cheshire has been closed as part of the takeover by X-Rite.
BLOW MOULDING
Download this section (409 KB)
Melt accumulator shows advantages over reciprocating screw
Graham Engineering has improved its melt accumulator 'shooting pot' type extrusion blow moulding machines with a new SPM model to produce containers up to 1 gallon/4 litres capacity in HDPE.
New German machine puts Porcas back into blow moulding
The new Extraplast range of blow moulding machines from Germany has gone on sale in the UK through Proma Machinery.
TOOLING
Download this section (409 KB)
New anodising technologies revolutionise aluminium tooling
Project Alamo is drawing to a close with some encouraging results. The project studied the use of innovative anodised aluminium for injection moulding and rotational moulding tools, with the ultimate aim of competing directly with steel tooling.
High hardness mould steel needs no heat treatment
Hasco now offers Toolox 33 and 44 tool steel grades as alternatives to conventional steel materials. Manufactured by Swedish steel producer SSAB, Toolox 33 is a stress-free pre-hardened tempered tool steel with high toughness, tensile strength and dimensional stability.
FINISHING
Download this section (409 KB)
Rubber-metal bonding system for tough conditions
A cover-coat rubber bonding system introduced by Chemical Innovations is intended to meet demands for where rubber-to-metal bonded components must survive higher temperatures and longer exposure to chemicals and fuels.
Acrylic adhesive bonds large surface areas
New Penloc VT acrylic adhesive produced by Eurobond Adhesives bonds most plastics, composites, metals and ceramics in any combination.
Two sided foiling for crates and boxes
The S4100 HY hot foil machine is now available from PBE Marking Systems for high speed foiling of bins, crates and boxes.
COMPOUNDING
Download this section (577 KB)
Pelletiser aims to beat contamination and downtime
More detail has been given about the design of the new Reduction Engineering 800 Series strand pelletiser which is designed to safeguard against contamination from previous production runs and to make string-up and system configuration simpler than with other systems.
Twin-screw compounder has replaceable barrel liners
A new twin-screw laboratory compounder from Thermo Electron has replaceable barrel liners that can be manufactured from special materials to withstand aggressive applications.
Cryogenic plant to supply powdered plastics
A German compounder is claiming to be the only company in Europe offering fine grinding and compounding from a single source. Geba Kunststofftechnik has installed two cryogenic fine grinding units with an overall annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes which can grind thermoplastics, waxes and rubbers to a particle size of 80 microns or less in some cases.
MATERIALS HANDLING
Download this section (577 KB)
Reverse flights improve homogeneity
The new TSM Control Systems Opti-Mix batch blender has four removable hoppers with individual slide valves and a throughput range up to 200 kg/hr.
Dosing calibration is simplified
CSC (Colortronic Smart Calibration) software has been incorporated into the Colortronic C150 control unit for volumetric dosing equipment to simplify calibration.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Download this section (577 KB)
Tighter control than typical auto-tune
The Tru-Tune adaptive control algorithm now used in Watlow SD PID temperature controllers provides tighter control and finer thermal loop tuning than typical auto tune, says the company.
Uprated control for budget-priced TCUs
Upgrades have been made to Conair's TC90/200 9 and 18 kW budget-priced water and oil temperature control units.
RECLAMATION & RECYCLING
Download this section (717 KB)
Improved access gives visible confirmation of clean-down
The new 'open-hearted' design is now used across Rapid's 300, 400 and 500 granulator range. The aim is to improve performance by simplifying access for rapid cleaning and maintenance to speed up production change-overs.
Granulator blades
Kamadur granulator blades now available from Simplex-Turbulo are alternatives to OEM blades from many granulator manufacturers.
Granulators for bulky scrap
The new KX series granulators from Dreher are intended for the reclamation of large blow mouldings such as fuel tanks, L-ring drums and IBCs as well as purging lumps.
Rubber reclaim process now at a commercial size
A mechanical process to recover scrap vulcanised rubber has become an industrial reality with a tie-up between the process's licensor, Watson Brown HSM, and 'the largest manufacturer of elastomer compounding machinery in the People's Republic of China'.
The real value of reclaiming in-house scrap
What is the real value of recycling? According to Motan it could be a pay back on the cost of equipment within 10 weeks.
On-line tool to calculate granulator RoI
To calculate the return on investment when buying a granulator Rapid has added a cost evaluation tool to its web site.
Carpet contractor sets up recycling plant
Reeds Carpeting of Coventry, which says it is the largest independent events carpeting contractor in the UK, has set up a project to reuse scrap exhibition carpet as moulding material.
Plant-wide reclaim system keeps energy costs down
A thermoforming scrap recycling system installed at Huhtamaki UK by Health & Safety Engineering works with lines producing two grades of product, one of which is also produced in two colours, and was designed to convey the granulate to central storage with the minimum amount of pipework and as cost-effectively as possible.
Electrostatics keep materials apart
German recycling equipment supplier Hamos says that floating-sinking separation of PET flakes from PVC in conventional separation equipment does not work due to the difference between the densities being too small, and separation of entire bottles with the aid of NIR technologies or manual sorting do not work 100 per cent. So it proposes its EKS-PET electrostatic separator.
Delleve aims for food-grade rPET
Plastics recycler JFC Delleve is to install a PET hot wash facility at its St Helens plant in Lancashire and plans to produce food packaging-grade recycled PET.
PET scrap-to-pellets keeps up the IV and saves energy
For some years Erema has been using its Vacurema technology make products such as PET film, fibres and packing straps directly from reclaim with only one melting process. Now the company has added a system for making crystallised cylindrical pellets.
Erema chalks up improvements for film reclaim
The addition of calcium carbonate can overcome problems with ink residues when reclaiming printed film. Erema has been recommending this to its customers for some time, but has now got together with Omya to establish the optimum way of adding CaCO3 and has quantified the cost benefits.
Black and white operation cuts cost of Spektrum sorter
A lower-priced version of the Spektrum optical sorting machine has been introduced by S+S to separate light and dark materials such as dark rubber seals from lighter PVC window frames during recycling.
Re-use film trim without the cost of granulating
Solutions 4 Plastic is now selling the asr system from Process Control which feeds reground film as fluff back to the extruder, cutting energy costs compared with pelletising systems.
More demand for film/sheet reclaim
Herbold Meckesheim has developed dedicated equipment for the handling of edge trim, film, sheet and other extruded scrap based on its large range of standard granulators and rotor designs.
Ring extruder drives second PET reclaim line
The multi-screw Extricom extrusion system will be combined with the IV control process from Ohl Engineering in a second PET recycling plant for PKR in Beselich, Germany.
TESTING & INSPECTION
Download this section (359 KB)
Production line leak tester for packaging
German company Witt has expanded its Leak Master series with a new production line leak tester for packaging.
Water vapour transmission tester for materials and packages
A new version of the Versaperm water vapour transmission rate meter measures the permeability of both materials and finished packages in as little as 30 minutes in some materials.
Electrodynamic testers from Instron
A new family of electrodynamic test instruments has been introduced by Instron under the brand name of ElectroPuls. They can perform both static and dynamic testing on a variety of materials and components.
SOFTWARE
Download this section (507 KB)
Plant mastery
Knowledge is key to the success of a business, and ultimately the future of the planet, as Clive Maier discovers when he looks deep into BarcoVision's manufacturing execution system.
ON-LINE
ON-LINE Home
You can download this magazine in sections with all editorial and advertisement web addresses as live hyperlinks.