close up on technology
Digital Twin Creates New, Virtual Paths for Robots with Real-World Cycle-Time Impacts
Realtime Robotics seeks to get more robots involved in manufacturing by addressing the biggest current barrier: programming costs.
Tony Deligio
Executive Editor, Plastics Technology
Impacts of Auto’s Switch to Sustainability
Of all the trends you'll see at NPE2024, this one is BIG. Not only is the auto industry transitioning to electrification but there are concerted efforts to modify the materials used, especially polymers, for interior applications.
Read MoreAutomotive Awards Highlight ‘Firsts,’ Emerging Technologies
Annual SPE event recognizes sustainability as a major theme.
Read MoreAt NPE2024, Follow These Megatrends in Materials and Additives
Offerings range from recycled, biobased, biodegradable and monomaterial structures that enhance recyclability to additives that are more efficient, sustainable and safer to use.
Read MoreScaling Up Sustainable Solutions for Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials
Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies Group helps industrial partners tackle the sustainability challenges presented by fiber-reinforced composite materials.
Read MoreFiltration System Helps Film Processor Manage Recycled Material Mandates
Global film processor RKW teams with Nordson to enable it to process blown film with high recycled content.
Read MoreCobot Creates 'Cell Manufacturing Dream' for Thermoformer
Kal Plastics deploys Universal Robot trimming cobot for a fraction of the cost and lead time of a CNC machine, cuts trimming time nearly in half and reduces late shipments to under 1% — all while improving employee safety and growth opportunities.
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PHA Compound Molded into “World’s First” Biodegradable Bottle Closures
Beyond Plastic and partners have created a certified biodegradable PHA compound that can be injection molded into 38-mm closures in a sub 6-second cycle from a multicavity hot runner tool.
Tony Deligio
Executive Editor, Plastics Technology
Freeform Injection Molding Eases the Path to Medical Device Product Testing
A development and manufacturing service provider is using dissolvable molds to build injection molded silicone prototypes.
Read MoreMeasuring Strain — Not Pressure — for Precision Injection Molding
A contact-free sensor measures the strain the melt imparts on the mold wall and promises precise, reproducible measurements with lower maintenance, longer service life and blemish-free parts.
Read MoreSustainability, Innovation Intertwined at TC Transcontinental Packaging
Just 10 years in the plastics packaging business, TC Transcontinental has invested heavily to help its brand owner and retail customers meet their sustainability goals.
Read MoreAdditive Fusion Technology Optimizes Composite Structures for Demanding Applications
9T Labs continues to enhance the efficiency of its technology, which produces composite parts with intentionally oriented fibers.
Read MoreKraussMaffei and NIAR Propel Injection Molded Thermoplastic Composites
The maker of plastics processing equipment has placed a machine and an injection molding expert in NIAR’s ATLAS lab in Wichita, Kansas, to help molding, composites and aerospace take off.
Read MoreProcessor Turns to AI to Help Keep Machines Humming
At captive processor McConkey, a new generation of artificial intelligence models, highlighted by ChatGPT, is helping it wade through the shortage of skilled labor and keep its production lines churning out good parts.
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New Blown-Film Cooling Technologies Set to Debut at NPE2024
Cooling specialist Addex to roll out new auto-profiling air ring for rotating dies, and new single-plenum air ring.
Jim Callari
Editorial Director, Plastics Technology
Captive Molder Beefs Up Auxiliaries to Boost Quality, Consistency
SeeScan adds conveying, drying, feeding and chilling technologies to improve quality — and enhance employee safety — in production of its underground/underwater inspection systems.
Read MorePurpose-Built System Enhances Capacity and Flexibility for Recycler
A Boston recycler invested in a turnkey shredding, granulation and elutriation system to expand its plastics reclaim business.
Read MoreSystem Offers 'Lights Out' Mold-Channel Cleaning & Diagnostics
New system automatically cleans mold-cooling lines—including conformal channels—removing rust and calcium, among other deposits, while simultaneously testing for leaks, measuring flow rate and applying rust inhibitor.
Read MoreDesign Optimization Software Finds Weight-Saving Solutions Outside the Traditional Realm
Resin supplier Celanese turned to startup Rafinex and its Möbius software to optimize the design for an engine bracket, ultimately reducing weight by 25% while maintaining mechanical performance and function.
Read MorePolyethylene Innovations Abound for Films, Conduit
Highlights of the 2023 SPE Polyolefins Conference include a novel HDPE for oriented films, high-performance recycled LDPE and LLDPE film resins, and a bimodal HDPE for conduits.
Read MoreNew Facility Refreshes Post-Consumer PP by Washing Out Additives, Contaminants
PureCycle prepares to scale up its novel solvent recycling approach as new facility nears completion.
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At NPE, Cypet to Show Latest Achievements in Large PET Containers
Maker of one-stage ISBM machines will show off new sizes and styles of handled and stackable PET containers, including novel interlocking products.
Matthew Naitove
Contributing Editor, Plastics Technology
Booth Demos, Learning Opportunities Highlight Second PTXPO
Trade show for North American plastics processing market will feature an ample exhibit area and free educational programs in molding, extrusion and moldmaking.
Read MoreEnergy Efficiency in Focus at K 2022
As much as cycle time, kWh/kg was an oft-cited metric by injection molding machine suppliers at October’s big show.
Read MoreNew Technology Enables ‘Smart Drying’ Based on Resin Moisture
The ‘DryerGenie’ marries drying technology and input moisture measurement with a goal to putting an end to drying based on time.
Read MoreFast, Easy Six-Axis Robot Integration Created by a Molder for Molders
Custom injection molder Noble Plastics has done its own six-axis robot integration with several brands of injection machines for over 20 years. Now it’s offering a turnkey service with what’s said to be unmatched speed, affordability and ease of implementation.
Read MoreNew Designs for Electric & Hybrid Packaging and Industrial Blow Molding Machines
Introduced at K 2022, Bekum’s 21 models in the new EBLOW 8 Series and XBLOW designs include all-electric packaging machines from small to large, plus industrial units with a novel two-stage clamp in servohydraulic or hybrid versions.
Read MoreSPE Automotive Awards Applaud ‘Firsts’ and Emerging Technologies
The 51st annual SPE Automotive Innovation awards gave nods to several ‘firsts’ and added alternative vehicle systems category.
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