British Plastics & Rubber articles from February 2001

British Plastics & Rubber archives from February 2001

Electrical discharge leak testing without the sparks.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... IN many applications involving the production of plastic or rubber parts the cost-effectiveness of production testing has been severely hampered by several factors. Often the production speeds of high volume output have been too high for...

Equipment for testing both empty and filled bottles for leaks.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Italian leak tester manufacturer Bonfiglioli Engineering has appointed Giles Associates as UK and Irish representative. BE's standard product range spans from single station in-line or bench testers to 36 station rotary machines for high...

Reflectance colorimeters added to testing range.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Lovibond range of colour measuring instruments now includes two reflectance colorimeters. The RT100 is a handheld spectrometer with an integrated measuring head and 45/0 degree geometry intended for the measurement of regular surfaces. The...

Rapid leak testing of complex film bags.(Uson Europe's testers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... PRECISE non-destructive testing of plastics bags with access tubes or connection ports is made possible with new testers developed by Uson Europe and based on the company's Sprint LC leak and flow testers. Various options and accessories...

Cross Channel colour matching brings compounders closer.(Datacolor International Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... A [pound]30,000 investment in colour matching equipment from Datacolor is cementing the Anglo-French Silvergate-Elian compounding operation. The two companies are part of Vita Thermoplastic Compounds, and are using distributed colour...

End-of-line tester keeps bottle colour under control.(Colormatrix Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Prelux QC system designed to measure the opacity, or colour level, of coloured preforms, bottles and closures has been introduced by ColorMatrix Europe. Control is via software which can be run under Windows 95 or later including Windows...

Improved facilities for impact testing.(Fleming Polymer Testing & Consultancy)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... FLEMING Polymer Testing & Consultancy has upgraded its impact testing services with the addition of a temperature controlled test chamber enabling sub-zero and elevated temperature testing. The company uses a 5 m/sec 200 J fully...

Computerised Inspection Increases Car Production Line Speed.(Lotus Cars)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Lotus Cars now uses Delcam PowerInspect software to improve the efficiency of its inspection routines. The software allows inspection reports to be produced automatically with pictorial, graphical and tabulated data to international standards...

In-house test rig puts shaft seals through their paces.(Blue Diamond)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... BLUE Diamond, which makes O-rings and rotary shaft seals, now has its own in-house test and development facility to subject existing designs to particularly harsh environments and assist in advanced developments. Controllable test rig...

Accurate profile measurement without a datum.(polyvinyl chloride)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... PVC profiles are difficult to measure accurately because, unlike aluminium profiles which have exact, reproducible angles and surfaces, the PVC surface is uneven. The lines are somewhat indistinct and the edges slightly rounded. These surface...

Coloured film shows pressure distribution.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The distribution and actual magnitude of pressure between any contacting or impacting surfaces can be measured using Sensor Products' Topaq Pressure Analysis System in conjunction with Pressurex/Fuji Prescale stress indicating films. These...

Twin screw compounder for laboratory installation.(CLEXTRAL)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... CLEXTRAL has added the HT32 to its Evolum series of twin screw compounding extruders for laboratory applications. Its entire electrical installation and cabinet are positioned so as not to obstruct the operator's view and various...

Continuous static measurement.(ARROWQUINT's Eltex EMF58 meter)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... ARROWQUINT supplies the Eltex EMF58 meter for the measurement of static under laboratory or QC conditions and says that, unlike spot meters, it can be tripod or bracket mounted for continuous use. It has an output port for a plotter or data...

Table-top plunger machine moulds test samples.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Ray-Ran Model 2 is a bench mounted plunger injection moulding machine for the production of test samples. It has 48 [cm.sup.3] shot capacity and 430 bar maximum injection pressure. Size of the cam locking tool block is 175 x 40 x 127 mm...

FEA allows product performance testing before the tool is cut.(finite element analysis)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Every product has a mechanical function, and it is the task of the engineer or designer to ensure that these functional requirements are met. One of the tools in the toolbox is finite element analysis, which can calculate product performance...

Combined curves from a single measurement.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... DSC and TGA curves are produced from one measurement by the new Mettler-Toledo TGA/SDTA 851 module. The DSC curve allows thermal events to be characterised as either exothermic or endothermic and the TGA curve shows changes in mass. The...

Cure monitor.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The JR Technology CM20 cure monitor is for use with thermosetting materials and shows the percentage of a sample remaining uncured. Each division on its scale represents about 10 per cent. A low or zero reading indicates a full cure and a...

Force gauges for repetitive testing.(Mitutoyo Measuring Instruments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Mitutoyo analogue force gauges incorporate a load cell which works in conjunction with a spring to measure the applied load and are available to measure forces up to 200 N. Digital gauges have a load cell which emits a signal proportional to...

Ultrasonics keep sieves clean.(Endecotts Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Endecott stainless steel ultrasonic cleaner has been designed for test sieves but is also suitable for general laboratory use. It operates on 10.5 litres of organic solvent-free water and is equipped with four high frequency 30-40 kHz...

Water content measured in difficult samples.(Metrohm UK product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Metrohm UK has introduced the 774 oven sample changer to determine water content in difficult samples. It may be used for plastics and allows up to 32 samples to be analysed in one run with no sample preparation. Samples are sealed in...

Multiple detector array gives six channels of simultaneous data.(Viscotek Europe's Model 301 Multi-Detector Array)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THE new Model 301 Multi-Detector Array (MDA) provides polymer scientists with six channels of data acquisition to characterise the most complex natural and synthetic polymers, claims Viscotek Europe. The integrated detector array consists...

Microwave sensors measure moisture regardless of density.(JR Technology product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... MICROWAVE moisture sensors from JR Technology determine water content in various materials. The electromagnetic field produced interacts with the material under test and defines moisture content by measuring energy absorption. The technology is...

Film impact tester 'is more representative than falling dart'.(Ray-Ran product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... RAY-RAN's new puncture impact tester is claimed to give more factual results than falling dart testers which rely on the operator's subjective observation. The company has adapted its pendulum impact tester with which energy loss is easily and...

New MVR is easier to clean.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... The new MeltflixerST from ThermoHaake is an automatic MVR measuring instrument conforming to ASTM, DIN and ISO standards. One of its features is an automated weight lifting device, which swivels the weight away from the measuring barrel for...

Rosand acquisition widens Bohlin's rheology range.(Bohlin Instruments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... SINCE Bohlin Instruments' acquisition of the Rosand rheology product line, the Flowmaster series of capillary extrusion rheometers have been built alongside the complementary rotational rheometers at the company headquarters in Cirencester. ...

Hand-held hardness tester improves on conventional designs.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Bareiss HPE is a digital hand-held hardness tester which can determine the hardness of rubber, elastomers and plastics in the ranges Shore A, B, O, Shore OO and Shore D, C, DO. The company claims a number of benefits over a conventional...

Chromatography software has single- or multi-channel options.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... POLYMER Laboratories' new GPC/SEC software package for polymer characterisation includes many practical features for the benefit of chromatographers. These include function-specific views to ensure the uncluttered display of information...

Solution to hot solutions.(Polymer Laboratories PL-SP 260 GPC)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Polymer Laboratories PL-SP 260 GPC sample preparation system is intended for easy preparation and filtration of hot polymer solutions for chromatographic and other analyses. Used with the company's PL-GPC 220 integrated GPC system, the...

Tensile/compression tester can save up to 700 test results.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... AMATEK Lloyd Instruments has introduced the EZ20 tester with 32 bit processor to test high and low density plastics and rubber materials in tension, compression or flexure. Single, cyclic and multi-stage tests may be performed and, using...

Hydraulic and servo drives are interchangeable.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... BATTENFELD's HM series machines can now be retrofitted with a servo-electric screw drive because an identical connection is used for the hydraulic and electric motors. Fitting of a servo-electric drive gives the machines increased...

New robot controller watches where it's going.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... WITTMAN's new C6 controller and teach pendant will be supplied as standard with the company's CNC robots and has an easily learned graphics system. The robot's travel route is expressed in pictures and the programmer is reminded of the...

Hot runner nozzle tip 'eliminates flow lines'.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... HUSKY says that its 750 Series UltraFlow nozzle tip eliminates flow lines and reduces time needed for colour changes by half. Hot tip and valve gated versions are available. Flow lines are prevented in metallic or other filled material and...

Nissei uprates mould temperature controller range.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... CONTROL of the mould temperature on Nissei moulding machines can be integrated with the machine's control system through the use of a temperature controller from the company's revamped NHW series. The NHW controller range now includes a...

Bayer to offer 'rubber drill' mould cooling technology.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Bayer is extending the service package it offers to European injection moulders by setting up a formal alliance with Innova of Germany which has a patented technology for improving mould cooling. This extends a co-operation between the two...

Hey Presto! now the mould fills.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... USE of two DME Presto hot runner manifolds enabled Universal Tooling of Leicester to overcome a problem at a customer moulding commercial vehicle heater cases on a 350 tonne machine. Shot weight was 1,200 g and cavity depth 234 mm. ...

Top loading frame for interchangeable inserts.(from Master Unit Die Products)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... A QUICK change mould frame which can be loaded with inserts from the top has been introduced by Master Unit Die Products, a DME company. It is said to be easier and safer to load with heavy inserts than MUD side loading frames. Insert sizes are...

Sub-second machine for small mouldings.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... A 0.6 SECOND cycle time is claimed for the new Nissei ES200H all electric 20 tonne machine designed to make miniature parts. LCP connectors have been made in a twin cavity mould at 0.68 second. The machine is capable of fast plasticising,...

'The smallest insert machine on the market'.(MCP Minimoulder 12/90VSP)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... LOADING and unloading of inserts is facilitated by a sliding and rotating mould carrier fitted to an MCP Minimoulder 12/9OVSP 9 tonne machine supplied to a biomedical manufacturer to make catheters. The pneumatic benchtop machine, which has a...

Stork steps up UK deliveries.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... A STORK 550 tonne machine has been delivered to Stadium Group, Hartlepool, and an 800 tonne to Wavin Building Products, Chippenham. Stadium is also due to take delivery of a 1,200 tonne machine. Stork says that it has increased its...

Efficiencies from injection lead to price cuts.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... TWO rubber injection moulding machines installed by Schiumberger Group company Metflex in Blackburn have replaced 10 compression presses making gaskets. The 190 tonne horizontal Maplan machines cost [pound]200,000, and have brought savings in...

Two component F-M goes into CTP Davall.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... CTP Davall Group's Northern Division at Harthill in Lanarkshire has taken delivery of a 155 tonne Ferromatik Milacron K-Tec 155S-2F two-component machine to produce fully articulated components using dissimilar materials. It will run with a...

Metal-detectable silicones in demand for food processing equipment.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... DALE Polymers has extended its production of food quality metal-detectable silicone rubber products. Demand is growing for mouldings in this material from the food, pharmaceutical, brewing and cosmetic industries for reasons of improved...

Clean room investment by Metflex.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Schlumberger Group subsidiary Metflex has invested [pound]70,000 in a clean room to enable it to handle coloured rubber compounds without the risk of cross-contamination. The 25 [m.sup.2] room includes an extruder, four presses and a...

Government adds funding to fast cure research.(rubber compounding research)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THE Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme has joined Materials Engineering Research Laboratory's advanced rubber compounding consortium project to develop processable low temperature cure (PLTC) compounds. The provision of...

TPV can make CV joint boots cheaper.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... A major supplier of transmission systems for a European four wheel drive vehicle is using a specially developed grade of Santoprene, made by Advanced Elastomer Systems, for boots to contain grease in constant velocity joints and exclude dust,...

PU 'living hinge' makes more lifelike prototypes.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... PROTOTYPE parts can be made more realistic in operation using a new technique to add a 'living hinge'. The technique, developed in the USA, involves producing a polyurethane/linen composite as the hinge and encapsulating it in the...

Clear TPE is replacement for PVC.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... MULTIFLEX SEBS 0 Shore A hardness clear TPE material which has been introduced by Pan Polymers is intended to replace soft PVC. The material is made in France by Multibase, and is semi-transparent, approved for food applications and is...

TPE for coloured window seals.(Advanced Elastomer Systems L.P.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... NEW grades of Santoprene thermoplastic elastomer have been introduced for window seal manufacture by Advanced Elastomer Systems. They have been tested at the suddeutsche Kunststoffzentrum (SKZ) at Wurzburg in Germany and meet the RALGAZ716/1...

Safe cornering with PU pads.(Park Patterns)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The high tensile strength and abrasion resistance of polyurethane has led to its use as knee and toe sliders in motorcycle racing. Park Patterns has produced a range of Dex reinforced knee and toe sliders with pads moulded in Hyperlast PU...

Victrex enters the fuel cell arena.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... VICTREX -- best known for its ex-ICI PEEK polyaryletherketone business -- is becoming involved in the development of proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. This is an emerging technology in which hydrogen and oxygen are reacted without...

UK springboard for niche nylon compound expansion.(Frisetra Polymer)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... GERMAN nylon compounder Frisetra Polymer has now opened for business in the UK as part of two-pronged expansion, firstly into the UK and later this year with a subsidiary company in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Frisetta is a family-owned firm...

Liquid nylon 12 can be used for composites and casting.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... A LIQUID form of nylon 12 has been introduced by Ems Chemie for use as a matrix for high performance thermoplastic composites, and in unreinforced form for rotational moulding. In composites moulding Grilamid Liquid Matrix System is...

GE plans award far innovation in design.(GE Plastics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... GE Plastics is to hold a students' design competition to create and develop innovative ideas for the application of engineering thermoplastic materials. Entitled Merging Boundaries the design areas to be explored relate to the trend towards...

Ultra fine carbon gives low resistivity at low density.(Pyrograf III)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... A NEW ultra fine carbon fibre is now being used by RTP Company in selected polymers, and is available for trial by other engineering materials producers. Pyrograf-III from Pyrograf Products, a subsidiary of Applied Sciences, is a patented,...

Now Ticona adds high thermal conductivity PPS.(polyphenylene sulfide)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... TICONA continues the expansion of its Fortron PPS range with four high thermal conductivity grades. Last month we detailed new grades for electrical conductivity, coating, lining, fibres and injection moulded magnets. Now the company has...

High demand for polycarbonate triggers compound plant expansion.(Cotswold Compounds)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... COTSWOLD Compounds, which has been making hay out of the polycarbonate shortage by slashing the delivery times for coloured compounds quoted by the major suppliers, is now having to expand. It is currently fitting out one of its buildings at...

Reducing energy costs.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The first steps The plastics processing industry generally regards energy as an overhead and as a fixed cost. This is untrue: energy is both a variable and a controllable cost. Most processors could easily reduce energy costs (without...

Higher volumes, not lower temperatures, for better cooling.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... SIZE MATTERS -- at least, it does when you are talking about the volumes of water used for mould cooling. RE Promotion Services specialises in tooling temperature control and advocates pulsed cooling of moulds for maximum efficiency....

Still no eligibility list for ECAs.(The Energy Technology Product List)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Energy Technology Product List, listing specific equipment approved as meeting the governments energy saving criteria and so eligible for enhanced capital allowances, is still not available. It was scheduled to be posted on...

Dyson machine contract put energy efficiency high on the list.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... ENERGY efficiency was a key factor in the machine specification for the expansion of the moulding plant at the Dyson vacuum cleaner plant in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Dyson is buying 14 Sandretto injection moulding machines, supplementing the 20...

Good practice for rubber processors.(energy reduction)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... It is estimated that the rubber processing industry has the potential to reduce its energy use by some 15 per cent over the next 8 - 10 years. While energy is often regarded as a fixed cost, this cost can be limited and reduced by some common...

Electronic end for limescale build-up.(Flocare Scalewatcher)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... THE latest Flocare electronic systems for preventing scale build-up in cooling systems can be implemented on pipework up to 1 m in diameter. The Scalewatcher industrial system has a range of signal outputs which can be tuned to suit each...

New low capacity mixer and beside the press dryer.(Volmix E 30 LC)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... NEW colour dosing and drying equipment has been added to Mann & Hummerl's Pro-Tee range for use at the processing machine. Volmix E 30 LC is the new volumetric colour doser and mixer which stores only a small amount of mixed material. It is...

Flex wall metering feeder fits tight corners.(Brabender Flex Wall)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... THE latest Brabender Flex Wall screw type metering feeder has an externally massaged flexible PU hopper with pneumatic flexing units agitating the hopper at intervals to assist material flow. The circular arrangement of the equipment permits...

Granule cleaner de-dusts materials on the move.(Simco Granule Cleaner)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Simco's new In-line Granule Cleaner de-dusts granules within the materials conveying system. It works by blowing granules upwards through an ioniser before accelerating them into a collision chamber where the neutralised dust, fines and 'angels...

25 kg bag emptier keeps dust problems down.(Spiroflow Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... FEATURES of new Spiroflow 25 kg bag emptying stations include integral dust collectors, a removable grate and a gas spring assisted door. A high capacity fan is fitted and air filter cleaning is by reverse pulse. Optional fittings are...

Tracking movements.(BMH Chronos Richardson)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THE Batch Tracker MTS suite of software modules introduced by BMH Chronos Richardson tracks raw material movements and consumption in manufacturing processes and compatible modules allow for warehousing control, picking for shipment and data...

Mixer feeding system updated after 50 years.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Hydro Polymers has engaged STB Engineering to extend a mixer feeding system it installed 30 years ago and has worked reliably since. The original system had an inclined conveyor with a ribbed and cleated belt to feed pre-weighed sachets of dry...

Pipehead and calibrator for large diameter pipe.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... CINCINNATI Extrusion has produced a spiral distributor pipehead for the production of pipes in the diameter range of 630 to 1,600 mm, and with it a new design of vacuum calibrator. The new PH-PO 100 pipe heads have Cincinnati's standard...

Coiler company introduces gantry range.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... GANTRY type take-off and pay-off machines represent a new product range for Pipe Coil Technology, which makes coiling equipment for plastics pipes, composite hoses and electric cable. The stands are used to wind product on to steel or wooden...

Two UK pipe producers are sold to Europe.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... RECENT weeks have seen two major players in the UK pipe market falling into foreign ownership. Glynwed's Pipe Systems division was bought by Etex of Belgium (which also owns Marley) and Hepworth was bought by Vaillant of Germany. While...

Robot handles tubes up to 2 m long.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THE new ABB Flextube handling system comprises a robot, tube gripper assembly and pallet stations. Modular grippers incorporate crash detection to ensure that the robot stops immediately in the event of a collision with tubes or containers. ...

Ex-Critchley extrusion job goes to Ravenscroft.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... RAVENSCROFT Plastics has won a three-year contract worth in excess of [pound]3 million to supply Tyco, an American-based corporation, with a complete range of profile extrusions for use in the electronics industry. The range was formerly...

Insulated IBC prevents volatiles condensation.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... An insulated multi-level IBC system has been produced by Windmoller & Holscher to overcome problems caused by volatiles emanating from the film build up of on internal cooling elements. Deposits may be dragged along by the cooling air and...

www.dupont.com/engpolymer/europe.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... WHERE better to start this series than the thoroughly European site of DuPont Engineering Polymers? DuPont has long been noted for the quality of its publications and this site is full of them, downloadable in Adobe Acrobat PDF format so...

The e-outlook for polymer distribution.(electronic commerce)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... AS e-business has boomed, at least in startups if not in profits, so too has the business of web watching. Sometimes it seems a much safer bet than e-business itself. Back in the short-lived Klondike days a little over a year ago, just about...

New ways with the web.(online training seminars)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... NEW ways to use the web are turning up all the time. Two recent initiatives in e-plastics have a common theme; you can do from your desk what used to require a lengthy excursion from the office or the plant. Take Moldflow's new web...

e-epoxy.(Dow's new Web site)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 1, 2001... The press briefing is another thief of time. Magazines are always glad to receive information; depend on it in fact. But can we afford to spend all day to catch a one-hour presentation in a Brussels airport hotel? The answer is almost always...

Portiche.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THERE is something about the web that is causing new words to be coined left and right. Perhaps it is the cavalier way with case and punctuation engendered by the net. At any rate, portiche has made an appearance and to me at least, it has a...

A universal colour language for e-commerce.(from Pantone's TheRightColor Division)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... PANTONE, the internationally recognised provider of colour standards, is aiming to do for the web what it has already done for print, textiles and plastics. A new business division, TheRightColor, will develop technologies and solutions for a...

Europe -- another contender.(online procurement through Plasticsgrid)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The latest contender for the European plastics e-business championship is Plasticsgrid (Figure 2), an organisation based in Stockholm and with sales offices in the UK, Holland and Belgium. Plasticsgrid is led by Uwe Wascher and Goran...

Moldflow sets its sights on Branden Technologies.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Moldflow has pulled out of its proposed deal to acquire the plastics business of FullMetrics and has switched its attention to Branden Technologies, again by means of a non-binding letter of intent. Branden produces CIM systems, and...

Underwriters Laboratories.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... What a difference the web has made to finding out. What once took days or weeks can now be done in minutes and without leaving the room. These thoughts are prompted by the arrival on the internet of a superb new resource from Underwriters...

STV.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Small machine specialist STV has launched a marketplace aimed at the UK market and dedicated to used injection moulding machines in the smaller size range. The concept is to put a potential buyer directly in contact with the company disposing...