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TEMPERATURE CONTROL
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The versatility of infra-red.
The application of heat is important in the manipulation, processing and finishing of plastics and rubber components. It enables their softening, forming and curing and is also applied in associated processes such as sterilising, heat sealing laminating and glueing. Heat has traditionally been applied by conduction or convection, but there is another way. Ian Bartley of Heraeus Noblelight describes the benefits and applications of infra-red radiation.
Free cooling saves energy and boosts the bottom line.
There aren't many things in life that are free. But free cooling is one of them. The concept isn't new and end users have been reaping the benefits ecologically and financially. Martin Storey of Tricool explains.
Temperature sensor makes real time videos.
Real time video recording is possible with new Raytek Marathon MM Series infrared temperature sensors. It is intended for enhanced remote monitoring when operators can continuously observe and record temperature variations in a process.
Common platform for chiller flexibility.
Rittal chillers are now being offered in a range from 1 to 400 kW built on a common platform and with common components for low cost and easy spares availability.
Countdown timer cuts cost of components.
Watlow has improved its Series SD single display PID temperature controllers by adding an optional countdown timer and an on/off timer which eliminates the need to buy two separate components.
Australian air cooler is a breeze.
The Breezair RPX900 evaporative air cooler recently introduced by Seeley International (Europe) is said to be suitable for applications where there is high static pressure or complex ductwork.
MATERIALS HANDLING
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K-Tron rationalises its product lines.
K-TRON has combined the interests of its pneumatic conveying customers and its process feeder customers by setting up a single division, K-Tron Feeder Group, which incorporates its Process Group and Pneumatic Conveying Group.
Dense phase conveying reduces damage and degradation.
Martis Engineering claims that the Air-Tec Systems range of dense phase pneumatic conveying equipment requires less equipment than is needed for conventional systems.
COMPOUNDING
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More flexibility added to flexible compounding system.
Leistritz has expanded the quick change concept of its FLEXXline extruder system by packaging it with feeding equipment from K-Tron and a pelletiser from Gala.
Milliken lab line handles high filler levels.
A Leistritz twin screw extruder with Brabender gravimetric feeders and a Rieter strand pelletiser has been installed at the Milliken European applications laboratory in Ghent, Belgium. Customers and others will have access to the equipment to help speed development and market introduction.
Discharge stations reduce dust and vibration.
New features of Rospen FIBC discharge stations include a neck/liner clamp to allow open access for dust-free bag connection and low profile rigging frames to reduce installation height.
REACTION PROCESSING
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Spray-up replacement for GRP is latest technique from Hennecke.
A spray-up technique for use with single-sided moulds has been developed by Hennecke as part of a series of polyurethane spraying processes. A main field of application for the new MProTec process is the substitution of traditional glass-fibre reinforced plastic mouldings with fibre spraying techniques.
Automatic system to form different hardness zones.
Krauss-Maffei has developed a proportional system for choke gap adjustment per shot to produce PU foam parts with different hardness zones.
RIM development secures electronics in smart cards.
An offshoot of the reaction injection moulding process is being used to encapsulate electronics into smart cards without requiring the traditional layering manufacturing process. It is currently being used to integrate a radio frequency identification chip and antennae, an integrated circuit, and other electronic components including batteries into a small form factor smart card, key fob, smart tag, memory cards and other portable electronic devices.
Mixing head resists wear from hard fillers.
Spray moulding into an open mould, to make sound absorbing PU parts with up to 70 per cent barium sulphate filler, is possible with a new Krauss-Maffei mixing head.
INJECTION MOULDING
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Ready wired manifolds carry safety certification.
Hasco now supplies ready-wired hot runner systems up to a maximum of eight drops. It says the main advantage of this service is that the electrical wiring of the complete hot runner system is carried out by qualified personnel.
Priamus replaces Ewikon controllers.
Ewikon hot runner systems can now be controlled through Priamus PC software and the standard operating unit omitted.
At home with Boy and Biraghi.
Boy and BM Biraghi are planning an in-house exhibition at their new premises in Milton Keynes in early November.
Boy adds bigger vertical machine.
Boy has responded to demands for insert moulding machines with higher clamping forces and shot volumes by introducing the 55VV 55 tonne machine.
New bushings improve heating and carry a bigger range of shots.
Fast Heat has introduced two new multi-tip bushings for hot runner systems which provide gating for up to four cavities, even when closely pitched.
Hot runner manifold delivery time cut.
A delivery time of two weeks for a complete straight or cross hot runner manifold system is now offered by Günther.
Engel adds high speed packaging series...
A range of fast-cycling thinwall packaging machines has been introduced by Engel. The Speed machine series will ultimately comprise five models from 135 to 650 tonnes.
...while its tiebarless machines reach the fourth generation.
The new Engel Victory 200/50 50 tonne machine represents the fourth generation of the company's tiebarless models developed over the past 10 years.
Battenfeld claims shortest machine in its class.
The HM 400/2250 Unilog B4 400 tonne machine new from Battenfeld is reckoned to be the shortest of its type on the market and to have the largest distance between diagonally opposite tiebars.
Network card and new software extend controller flexibility.
A new network card expands the functions of Gammaflux LEC hot runner system controllers. Users can combine any two of these units into a single controller handling up to 24 zones.
QPP takes a shine to Delrin.
Quality Plated Plastics of Great Barr in Birmingham is the latest company to join DuPont's growing network of licensees for a special process to treat and then plate or paint Delrin acetal.
A smooth slide means a long pin life.
Ejector and plasma nitrided ejector pin life can be extended by using its new A7002 grease, claims Hasco.
Capture reference curves for restarting machines.
The ScopeRecord mode of the Fluke 190 Series ScopeMeter captures reference curves for injection and mould cavity pressures relative to screw position at finely tuned settings. Actual parameters can be compared with optimum settings when restarting machines.
AUTOMATION
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Six-axis robots chosen to replicate operator movements.
Difficulty in recruiting moulding machine operators led to the installation of Stäubli six-axis robots at the Hereford plant of PRP Polymer Engineering.
Robot has single-phase operation.
Flexibility of the new Kawasaki FS03 six axis robot is said to be enhanced as it operates from a single phase 240 V supply.
BLOW MOULDING
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New 'low output' SB machine from Sidel.
Sidel has introduced an 'entry level' PET stretch blow machine and increased the output rate of its blow/fill/cap machine.
Automa adds injection blow.
Automa has moved into the injection blow market with the introduction of the I&B 52-3. The machine has a 45 mm hybrid injection unit with electric drive for screw rotation and hydraulic injection. Injection clamp movement is electric.
Uniloy cleans up with sterile blowing air.
The new Uniloy Milacron UMR2000CB reciprocating screw blow moulding machine provides sterile blowing air and a pressurised enclosed clamping area.
More automation for bottle inspection equipment.
AGR International has introduced a number of new inspection products, including new automated fill height tester and wall thickness measurement gauges using sensor-integrated digital processing for higher accuracy without the influence of noise-related errors.
Kautex invests in China and Germany.
Extrusion blow moulding machinery builder Kautex is expanding its Chinese operation and its German technology centre.
ENGINEERING MATERIALS
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Lanxess PBT has improved flow.
Lanxess has developed a new generation of thermoplastic polyesters with 'exceptional' flow, toughness and hydrolytic resistance. The new products are based on polybutylene terephthalate and are being marketed under the name Pocan XtremeFlow.
Acrylic copolymer delivers superior clarity and toughness.
Zylar 631, a new acrylic copolymer from Nova Chemicals, combines toughness with greater clarity and is pitched as an alternative to polycarbonate, clear ABS and impact acrylic.
Autumn tour for Ticona Roadshow.
Ticona has announced the autumn tour dates for its noted Roadshow which has a new programme on the theme of 'Your Bridge to the Future'.
PPS composite cuts the weight of aircraft seating.
TEPEX composites made with carbon fibre and Ticona's Fortron polyphenylene sulphide are cutting the weight of aircraft seats. A major seat manufacturer has made weight reductions of 40 to 50 per cent by switching a number of seating elements from aluminium to the TEPEX composite.
New acetal grades at Resin Express.
Resin Express has added the Kocetal range of acetal copolymers from KTP Industries.
Basell metallocene polypropylenes for melt blown fibres.
Basell has added new high melt flow grades to its Metocene line of metallocene polypropylenes. The new grades are suitable for melt blown fibre extrusion applications.
DuPont Hytrel used for self-adjusting component.
A swirl generator used to rotate combustion air before it enters the turbocharger compressor of certain BMW diesel engines is injection moulded from DuPont Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomer. Thanks to the flexibility of Hytrel, and the clever design of the part, the position of the swirl generator's four blades automatically and accurately adjusts to airflow.
Hydrin ECO moves into tyres.
New research has shown that Hydrin epichlorhydrin elastomeric compounds from Zeon Chemicals have better permeation resistance to gases than most other polymers, including butyl and halo-butyl compounds. The material has always been used in automotive fuel applications, but now tyre manufacturers are studying the use of Hydrin to replace butyl compounds for tyre inner liners.
Halogen-free flame retardant PC/ABS cashes in.
The increased performance level of Bayer's Bayblend FR 3000BBS081 polycarbonate/ABS has met demands on a Wincor Nixdorf International automated teller machines for installation in extremes of climate worldwide.
New BASF PS gives gloss without loss.
In the course of streamlining its polystyrene product range from 400 niche types to only 10 versatile products, BASF developed a new grade that combines good flow and improved impact strength with high gloss.
PET stock shapes optimised for machining.
Stock shape and semi-finished specialist Ensinger has introduced Tecapet, a polyethylene terephthalate optimised for precision machined parts, with improved toughness to minimise the formation of debris and cavities during machining.
PACKAGING MATERIALS
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Dugdale compound solves pine oil packaging problem.
PVC compounder Dugdale has developed a rigid formulation expressly for blow moulded containers used with pine oil, which can attack additives commonly used in rigid PVC compounds, causing clear bottles to turn cloudy.
HDPE for blown film combines stiffness and impact strength.
A new Basell HDPE film grade provides a dart drop performance some 30 to 40 per cent better than its current benchmark grade for the market.
ADDITIVES
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B + H takes thermochromic masterbatch direct to moulders.
Thermochromic masterbatch producer B + H Colour Change is now marketing its masterbatches direct to moulders.
Adhesive polymer for coextrusion.
Modic AP high performance adhesive polymer made by Mitsubishi Chemical has been added to the range offered by Plastribution. It is suitable for coextruded food packaging in the form of film, containers and bottles, also medical and cosmetic packaging.
Sheet masterbatch meets need for small injection mouldings.
A universal colour masterbatch intended for sheet production has been adopted by electrical/electronics moulder Sifam to achieve colour consistency across a wide range of small mouldings.
PIPE & PROFILE
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Tests show air cooling's best.
Cincinnati Extrusion has examined the comparative performance of water, silicone oil and its own air power cooling system (apc) for single and twin screw extruders and concluded that air cooling is the most economical because of its efficiency and need for no maintenance.
AC drive cuts extruder maintenance.
The main difference between the newly upgraded Plastex 25 mm extruder and earlier types is the substitution of DC drive by a 1·5 kW AC motor to give the advantage of maintenance-free drive.
FILM & SHEET CONVERSION
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Single station formers intended for sanitary products.
The Italian QS Group's Plastic Division has developed a new series of single station medium and large size thermoforming machines for use mainly in the sanitary market.
Double drive on new welding extruder.
The new Leister Weldplast EC4.0 is described as a world first in welding extruders, using two brushless motors for drive and pre-heated air.
Flame retardant reinforced nylons for thermoforming.
New high performance thermoforming materials from Ensinger/PennFibre include a nylon 6 with 12 per cent glass reinforcement and improved mechanical, elastic and thermal properties, and a flame retardant grade with UL94-V0 rating.
Polyester film kills bugs.
A kill rate of more than 99 per cent against MRSA, E.Coli 0157 and other harmful bacteria has been demonstrated with Autotex AM hard coated polyester film from Autotype International.
Enhanced impact strength HIPS for domestic appliances.
The new Barlo HIPS rubber modified PS sheet with enhanced impact strength from Quinn Plastics is aimed at production of domestic appliances and sanitary products.
Tape winder switches formats.
The new free-standing AlphaSpool winder enables tapes wound as pancake reels to be converted to traverse-wound spools.
Alarm warns of static hazard, then removes it.
Meech Static Eliminators has incorporated an alarm in its Model 986 system to warn of increasing static charges and the possibility of flammable materials becoming ignited.
FILM & SHEET PRODUCTION
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Distributed architecture for film and sheet line control.
A distributed control system has been developed for Battenfeld Gloucester's film and sheet extrusion lines which breaks down the control architecture into self-contained control modules that mount directly on the pieces of equipment they control.
New interface gives central access to multiple gauges.
A new operator interface produced by on-line gauging systems producer NDC is said to make it more convenient for users to communicate with multiple gauges by providing central accessibility to measurement values and set up parameters for each unit.
Turnkey system feeds coex forming line.
An Amut coextruded sheet line installed by JF McKenna, a mushroom grower which produces its own packaging, has been augmented with a turnkey materials handling system from Summit Systems.
In line compounding system makes roofing sheets.
A complete production line to make fabric reinforced roofing sheets is to be supplied by Berstorff to the FATRA Division of Allachem, near Brno in the Czech Republic.
FINISHING
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UV adhesive has good clarity for transparent materials.
Dymax Ultra Light-Weld 3099 adhesive has been formulated by Intertronics for PMMA, PC and glass assembly. It cures quickly, has good clarity and tensile strength, 95 per cent elongation at break and good resistance to moisture and thermal cycling.
Chrome-free fasteners meet new EU rules.
BigHead mild steel bonding fasteners now have a chrome-free, zinc passive finish at no extra cost. This type of finish is now mandatory under an EU Directive for plated metal parts used in the motor industry.
PBE to sell Dubuit screen printers.
PBE Marking Systems has taken over British and Irish representation of Machines Dubuit screen-printing equipment.
Infra-red 'hot plates' are more controllable.
Infra red heating used on a CleanWeld welding machine from CPR Automation supersedes hot plate welding, where the level of control on the heating plates can cause problems of burning and distortion.
RECLAMATION & RECYCLING
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Nanotechnology turns tyre reclaim into artificial grass.
Super Rubber, a new rubber granulate made from old tyres,
may be used to make artificial grass pitches and neither smells nor causes pollution.
Baylis invests more in plastics recycling.
Waste reprocessor Baylis Recycling is to expand its mixed can and plastics reclamation scheme, and to build a PET reclamation plant at its Berkshire headquarters.
New granulator is not afraid of hard work.
Rapid has developed its 15 Series into the 150 Series of granulators for extremely tough applications.
Jenco adds German granulator.
Jenco has become exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for granulators made by Wanner Technik of Germany.
TOOLING
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Laser sintered moulds now better, stronger, faster.
Following new investment in its direct metal laser sintering equipment, High Wycombe rapid manufacturing specialist CRDM has lopped two to three days off its already rapid delivery time for injection and blow moulding tools.
TESTING & INSPECTION
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Low-cost leak detector for packaging.
Witt-Gasetechnik of Germany has introduced a low-cost leak detection system that does not use trace gases. The Pack-Vac is suitable for the non-destructive testing of nearly all food, pharmaceutical, industrial and consumer packages, both rigid and flexible.
Australian leak detectors claim speed record.
Australian company Profile Solutions claims its leak testers for plastics containers run faster than the competition, even though the company bases rates on smaller test holes.
Mecmesin force gauges are better, cheaper, sooner.
A redesign of Mecmesin's Advanced Force Gauge and Basic Force Gauge instrument lines has cut prices and delivery times significantly while increasing the load range.
Video extensometer improves accuracy.
Instron's new non-contact Standard Video Extensometer provides more accurate measurements by removing external influences from the test specimen.
Tensile testing for rubber O-rings.
Lloyd Instruments has developed a system for tensile testing rubber O-rings consisting of a special motorised ring grip in conjunction with a universal materials testing machine.
Automated measurement of dilute polymer solution viscosity.
Viscotek has introduced an automated system for measuring the viscosities of dilute polymer solutions.
SOFTWARE
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Safe by simulation.
Establishing the risk to food quality from the constituents of its packaging leaching into it is a task for sophisticated laboratory testing. But, amazingly perhaps, it is possible to simulate this testing on a computer and get approval certification. And more than that, as Clive Maier finds out, you can do it over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis.
New Moldflow software distributor for the UK.
Moldflow Corporation has signed a software distribution agreement with Imass of Newcastle upon Tyne. Imass is a provider of integrated IT solutions for the water, electricity, fire, police, chemical, property and automotive industries.
IQMS sets up European subsidiary.
PlasticsGrid, which distributed the IQMS EnterpriseIQ manufacturing enterprise software, has been integrated into IQMS to form IQMS Europe.
Pathtrace integrates EdgeCAM with SolidWorks.
The latest release of Pathtrace EdgeCAM computer-aided manufacturing software includes support for SolidWorks 2006 3D mechanical design software.
CAMPUS big in China.
Those worried about the impact of China on the plastics industry have further evidence with the news that already more than 10 per cent of all CAMPUS data requests come from China.
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