British Plastics & Rubber articles from February 2009

British Plastics & Rubber archives from February 2009

The only way is up.
February 1, 2009... Since this magazine last crossed your desk there has been a bloodbath in the materials supply sector. Jobs have been axed--as many as 11,000 full-time and contract jobs at Dow--many of the remaining workforce have been put on short time and...

On-line viscosity testing can cut costs in sheet extrusion: the use of online viscosity measurement to optimise production to maintain quality standards is demonstrated in this description by Gneuss of its on-line viscometer used to monitor the viscosity of PET in thermoforming sheet production.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... For polymers which degrade due to hydrolysis, shear stress, or thermal and/or oxidisation influences, monitoring the polymer viscosity on-line can help keep production parameters within the boundaries needed to maintain product quality. ...

Redefining the rheometer.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... Malvern Instruments is stressing the "ground-up" design of its new Kinexus, claiming to have "redefined the rheometer". The company says there are technical innovations throughout the structure of the instrument, from sample preparation and...

Twin bore rheometer for shear and extensional measurement.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... A twin-bore capillary rheometer introduced by Imatek can measure both shear and extensional properties at rates representative of those encountered during normal polymer processing. The R6000 laboratory grade instrument is intended for...

Extra modules increase applications for Haake rheometer.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... An extension for Thermo Fisher Scientific's Haake MARS--Modular Advanced Rheometer System--turns a conventional steady rotational rheometer into an extensional rheometer for melts and semi-solids. The measuring principle of the SER...

Bench-top rheometer has the punch of a floor-standing model.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... The Smart RHEO 5000 is the third in the Smart RHEO bench-top capillary rheometer series from CEAST and has been developed for both QC labs and R & D teams. Despite being bench-mounted it has a maximum force of 50 kN, matching the performance of...

KF titration is improved by sealing the sample.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... A compact instrument for Karl Fischer titration of difficult materials is now available from Metrohm. The water content of many samples is difficult to determine because they are only slightly soluble in alcohols, contaminate the titration cell...

Polymer analyser brings greater speed and ease of use.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dynisco Instruments says that its new VTM polymer analyser gathers a wider range of rheological data more easily and more quickly than similar systems previously available. The VTM series measure properties in a...

Touch screen added to melt flowtester.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... The CEAST melt flow tester is now available in an updated version, model 7028, which has touch screen computer controls and an improved automatic multi-weight testing system. A series of standard masses can be applied in any sequence. Software...

A window into the process.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... SWOPP (Sapphire Window Optical Process Probes) now available from Celsum Technologies fit into standard transducer ports on extruders, injection moulding machines, fluid transfer lines, reaction vessels, and laboratory instruments to allow...

DSC draws more conclusions from a material's melting behaviour: standard melt flow tests on polyolefins help determine their processing characteristics, but really don't go far enough, argue Stephan Knappe and Bernhard Sauseng from Netzsch, who describe what else can be learned by using differential scanning calorimetry.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... In quality control and assurance it is common practice to rely on conventional test data from the granulate before putting the material in an injection moulding machine or an extruder. The melt flow index, MFI, and the melt mass-flow rate...

Polymer characterisation reference is completed.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... The second volume of Characterisation of Polymers has been published by iSmithers Rapra Publishing and completes a two-volume set written by polymer researcher Roy Crompton. Part 1 was published late last year and covers the methodology...

High speed video gives a greater insight to mechanical testing.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... Impact testing, and in particular instrumented impact testing, has become widely used as a method of investigating the properties of materials and structures. As technology moves forward, so does the quality of the instrumentation, with gradual...

High speed visual inspection is backed with high voltage hole detection.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... High speed visual inspection of closures at up to 144,000 caps/hour is possible with the latest CapWatcher inspection system from Intravis of Germany. The CapWatcher II improves on its predecessor with new software and upgraded camera...

Measuring arm adds 3D coverage to ultrasonic scanner.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... The latest ultrasonic scanner in the Sonatest NDTS RapidScan series is mounted on a Faro measuring arm for three-dimensional scanning without the cost of contour-following systems and the complexity of immersion baths and special tooling. ...

Low force digital force tester.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... The latest addition to the Lloyd Instruments Chatillon TCD range of digital force testers, is the TCD110 Series, a stand-alone system designed for low force applications in production, quality control/quality assurance and engineering with...

Fixture tests flexural properties of expanded polystyrene.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... A three point bend fixture for testing expanded polystyrene used for thermal insulation in accordance with the standard EN 12089: 1997 (Method B) has been introduced by Lloyd Instruments for its 'Plus' range of materials testing machines. ...

Take-off device makes samples from lab extrusion system.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... A sample take-off device has been developed by extrusion specialist Bernhard Ide for the Thermo Scientific Haake PolyLab OS and Haake PolyLab QC laboratory extrusion systems. The new Sample Sizer enables customers to quickly and automatically...

Lab press has new controls and enhanced sample cooling.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... Compression presses can produce test samples without the moulded-in stresses that may come with injection moulding. UK agent InteliCare has just installed a 40 tonne Fontijne Labpro400 press at Total Petrochemicals' Stalybridge laboratory for...

Improved accuracy for micro IRHD tester.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... The third generation Bareiss IRHD Micro Compact III bench hardness tester has been introduced by Bareiss--UK agent MAPRATechnik. It tests parts like thin-walled rubber O rings and soft elastic moulded parts with material thickness from 0.6 mm....

Four-way stretch helps design robot caterpillar.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... Researchers at Tufts University in the US are using a custom-built Zwick biaxial testing machine to test biological and engineered biocompatible materials for the development of the world's first soft-bodied robot. The softbot prototype is...

Colour code gives simple check of surface resitivity.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... Knowing the surface resistivity of a material can help control static electricity levels during processing. Finding out the surface resistivity is one of the functions of the 990SRM hand-held meter from Meech International. The meter...

2D measurement system uses a PC for display.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... The latest Type MA 331-705-Z1 video measuring system from Marcel Aubert of Switzerland includes a zoom-optic with detent providing field of view from 13.6 to 2,1 mm (magnification from 22x to 144x), and a compact CCD colour camera. The new...

Bodycote benchmarks imported components against British standards.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... Bodycote Testing Group's Polymers division has established an environmental and durability testing centre at its Nuneaton laboratory. The facility is able to offer a full range of evaluation tests and techniques that simulate in use...

DMA sees 'what modulated DSC can miss'.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... Gearing Scientific has expanded its capability in thermal conductivity testing and is now able to test solid polymer or composite samples up to a mean temperature of 250 degC and polymers in the melt up to a mean temperature of 190 or 200 degC....

Fluid Engineering products testing extended.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... More facilities have been added to the Fluid Engineering Center at SABIC Innovative Polymers' Bergen op Zoom site in the Netherlands. The centre was opened in 2005 to give the then GE Plastics customers for engineering materials for use in...

Testing hard coats on polycarbonate car glazing.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... The standard means of testing abrasion resistance of polycarbonate automotive glazing is inadequate, says Bayer MaterialScience, which developed a "real life" testing system to show the efficacy of its own materials. The abrasion...

FDA green light for Smithers Rapra.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... Approval has been given by the US Food and Drug Administration for Smithers Rapra to test products for pharmaceutical use. An audit of Rapra's facilities at the end of last year--the first inspection of the Shawbury laboratories by the...

Outsource high temperature testing to the USA.(testing & inspection)
February 1, 2009... High temperature testing is now available from a US testing laboratory through Nortest of Castle Ashby in Northamptonshire. Typical turn round time for test results is 2-3 weeks. Anter Laboratories has added five test instruments designed...

Rosti injects capital into Technical Plastics.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... A vote of confidence has been given to Rosti Technical Plastics with an expansion of its capital base by its parent company. Rosti A/S has increased the share capital (it is the only shareholder) of the division by DKK 100 million (around 12...

Arburg adds another country to its world map.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... Arburg has established its 24th subsidiary company worldwide with the setting up of a sales and service office in Ras al Khaimah, one of the states in the United Arab Emirates. The new office has links with the Higher Institute for Plastics...

Tighter team for Ferromatik Milacron sales.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... European sales of Ferromatik Milacron injection moulding machines are now under the control of Robert Burzler, who has also taken on marketing as director of sales and marketing. He takes over from sales manager Thomas Schwarzer and marketing...

Plant for innovative lightweight packaging planned for Tyneside.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... An Italian specialist packaging company is planning to build an injection moulding plant in the Tyneside area to produce a new lightweight container, creating 20 jobs. IMS Eco-Pac is a joint venture between Internova Pack of Pianezze in Italy...

Macfarlane Plastics sold to Belgian closures group.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... Glasgow based packaging group Macfarlane has found a buyer for its loss-making Irish packaging business Macfarlane Plastics, which it put up for sale early last year. It is selling the business to Procap Holdings of Belgium, a closures group...

Swanstone gets brush making equipment agency.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... Brush systems manufacturer Zahoransky of Germany has appointed Swanstone as its agent in Britain. Zahoransky supplies all aspects of brush manufacture, from injection moulds through the moulding and bristle insertion machines to blister packing...

Dating small mouldings.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... Stainless steel date stamp inserts for very small mouldings have been introduced by fiasco. The Z48715 inserts are 2.6 mm in diameter and are complemented by the Z48700 series in diameters of 5-12 mm which can combine month, year or month and...

Electric valve gate 'is faster and more effective'.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... An electric valve gate which is said to overcome problems with previous electric valve gates, such as piston overheating, limited cycle times, slow pin actuation, high price and lack of closing forces, has been introduced by Mold-Masters. ...

MuCell and core-back moulding combination on trial at Engel.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... A combination of the core-back process and MuCell microcellular foaming is being investigated at Engel's US plant following similar trials in Japan at the Mazda car company. The core-back process reduces the density of foamed parts by...

Billion aims to prove all-electric power saving.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... A 150 tonne Select all-electric machine is being installed at Billion's UK technical centre for energy comparison testing. The company will test the power consumption of a process at a moulder's site, then run the same process on the Select...

Beam robot series now has fewer size gaps.(injection moulding)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] More of KraussMaffei's LR series beam robots are now available in the LRX increased flexibility/more cost-effective format. The LRX was introduced a year or so ago with three models for 5, 10 and 15 kg payloads and...

Support services aid PET bottle innovation.(blow moulding)
February 1, 2009... More potential for PET bottles is promised by new moves from European plastics recyclers and by French packaging specialist Sidel. The recycling move is a collaboration by four organisations to create a platform for assessing the recyclability...

HDPE raises the bar for stress crack resistance.(blow moulding)
February 1, 2009... An ESC-resistant HDPE has been added to LyondellBasell's materials for extrusion blow moulding. Hostalen ACP 5231 D, has been produced with the company's Advanced Cascade Process technology and is intended particularly for personal care...

Roto-moulding research seeks to shorten cycle times.(rotational moulding)
February 1, 2009... A research project into the efficiency of rotational moulding has been started at Smithers Rapra. The company is leading the EU-funded Rotoflex project which aims to improve cycle times and process efficiency and enable greater flexibility in...

Thompson Technik rotomoulding plant is revived.(rotational moulding)
February 1, 2009... The Thompson Technik rotational moulding plant in Bridgend, Wales, which went into administration at the end of last year alongside Thompson Plastics and Plastics (Manchester), has been bought and restarted--and has shipped product. It has been...

Intelligent control halves dryer energy input.(materials handling)
February 1, 2009... New Dry-Flex central dryers from Colortronic have a new automatic energy control system. The I-Tronic is an intelligent automatic air flow control that controls both air flow to the drying hoppers and the main drying cabinet. This enables only...

Centralised materials handling on demonstration at PTL.(materials handling)
February 1, 2009... The PTL training centre at West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield has been kitted out with a centralised blending and loading system from Piovan, to demonstrate the benefits of centralised handling and potential cost saving from centralised...

Simple removal of ferrous contamination at speed.(materials handling)
February 1, 2009... A new magnetic separator from S+S Inspection cleans ferrous and magnetised stainless steel from fine-grained, powdery materials in vacuum and pressure conveyor pipes up to 2.50 mm diameter at flow rates of up to 25 m/s. The Pneumag in line...

Pex A and B in the same coextrusion.(pipe & profile)
February 1, 2009... A system for coextruding pipe with two crosslinked polyethylene layers using different cross linking technologies has been installed at a German extrusion company by iBA. The pipe is for underfloor heating and has a PEX-A peroxide cured...

Eurocell buys specialist building profiles producer.(pipe & profile)
February 1, 2009... PVC building profile extruder Eurocell--a subsidiary of major Belgian PVC producer Tessenderlo based in Alfreton, Derbyshire--is buying Cavalok Building Products of Tewkesbury Cavalok makes cavity closure systems from 100 per cent post-consumer...

More control factors added to medical tube haul-off/cutter.(pipe & profile)
February 1, 2009... Producers of small-diameter plastic medical tubing can now automatically set, control and validate the gap between haul off belts on the MedLine haul-off/cutter from Conair Extrusion. A small servo motor, in-line planetary-gear reducer and...

WPC decking offers potential for growth.(pipe & profile)
February 1, 2009... European consumption of wood/plastic composites in 2007 was 66,000 tonnes and will double by 2010, according to John Nash, Strategic Research Manager of AMI Consulting. He was reviewing the market at a symposium staged by Cincinnati Extrusion....

Customised ultrasonic cleaner improves die maintenance at Eurocell.(pipe & profile)
February 1, 2009... A Kerry ultrasonic clean and rinse machine has been installed by Guyson International at Eurocell Profiles for cleaning extrusion dies. Eurocell regularly needs to clean dies of plate-out and other residue build up, and the cleaning process...

New compounds improve surface appearance.(design)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Engineering compounds tailored to prevent specific performance and appearance problems, particularly in automotive applications, have been introduced by Putsch of Germany. Nano-additives are used to impart a...

Fan-cooled headlights impose a new set of property demands.(design)
February 1, 2009... As LEDs are used increasingly for car headlamps they have created a new vehicle component: the headlamp fan. LEDs enable more variations in headlamp design, they are long lasting, and they use less power than a conventional headlamp bulb, so...

Hollow EPP beads cut NVH in automotive interiors.(design)
February 1, 2009... Noise and weight can be reduced in car interiors with a new form of expanded polypropylene from JSR Arpro Porous is a closed cell foam that has additional voids formed within its hollow cylindrical bead structure. This structure reduces bead...

Film insert moulding adds graphics to car windows.(design)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Decorative finishes can be added to vehicle glazing with a film insert technology introduced by Exatec, the automotive glazing subsidiary of SABIC Innovative Plastics. In the Exatec E900 Grafx process a piece of...

DSM pushes PA4T closer to commercialisation.(engineering materials)
February 1, 2009... DSM's polyamide 4T has been officially declared a member of the Stanyl family and named Stanyl ForTii, The material was heralded as "the first new polymer to be introduced in the new millennium" when it was introduced towards the end of 2007....

TPEs are tailored for medical use.(engineering materials)
February 1, 2009... Thermoplastic elastomers specifically for medical use have been introduced by Teknor Apex and Vita Thermoplastic Compounds. The new Medalist compounds from Teknor Apex are part of a package of high purity TPEs backed with tools and...

Distrupol adds modPPE.(engineering materials)
February 1, 2009... A PPO/PPE modified with polystyrene produced by Italian company Aquafil has been added to the company's materials sold by Distrupol. It is being pitched at, among other applications, fluid handling systems, for which it offers dimensional...

New generation of HDPE ready for stronger bio-diesel fuels.(engineering materials)
February 1, 2009... Improved resistance to bio diesel has been achieved with a new family of HDPEs from LyondellBaselI.There are both blow moulding (Lupolen 4261 AG BD) and injection moulding (Lupolen 4261A IM BD) grades, bringing potential for fuel tanks and...

Sabic moves into UHMWPE.(engineering materials)
February 1, 2009... SABIC Europe is expanding its product range into higher performance materials. The company has introduced an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with four grades scheduled to cover a broad molar mass and impact range, UHMWPE has high...

Green light for green PE.(biopolymers)
February 1, 2009... The main board of Braskem in Brazil has given the go-ahead for the company's Green Polyethylene Project, to produce polyethylene from ethanol sourced from sugar cane. A 200,000 tonnes plant has been scheduled at Triunfo for 2011 start-up and...

Dutch partners aim to produce bioplastics without sacrificing food resources.(biopolymers)
February 1, 2009... Two Dutch companies are to combine their expertise in the extraction of chemicals from organic products and their conversion into petrochemical alternatives to develop new biosourced plastics. The key to the collaboration is that the bio-source...

Teknor Apex moves into bioplastics.(biopolymers)
February 1, 2009... A deal has been struck between compounder and engineering plastics producer Teknor Apex and Canadian bioplastics producer Cerestech giving Teknor Apex exclusive rights to produce starch-containing compounds based on Cerestech's patented...

Plan for volume production of heat-resistant PLA gets underway in Japan.(biopolymers)
February 1, 2009... A major drawback to the adoption of the biopolymer PLA--polylactic acid--has been its limited temperature and impact resistance. A number of manufacturers--notably in Japan where the government has a target of 20 per cent of all plastics used...

Dow takes a dose of Castor oil.(biopolymers)
February 1, 2009... The potential of castor oil as a source of bio-based alternatives to petrochemicals is being explored by Dow Chemical in India through a new research agreement with Royal Castor Products, a division of Standard Greases Group, India's largest...

PLA for styrenic replacement.(biopolymers)
February 1, 2009... An improved injection moulding grade of PLA has been introduced by NatureWorks. Ingeo 3251D has been designed for use in consumer goods such as electronics, cosmetics, housewares and toys. NatureWorks says it gives shorter moulding cycles and...

Ceramic/organic hybrids offer potential for product enhancement.(additives)
February 1, 2009... Specialist chemicals supplier Thomas Swan has joined with research and technology organisation TWI--at one time The Welding Institute--to commercialise a series of organic/inorganic additives which can impart improved abrasion resistance,...

Masterbatches for bio-degradation.(colour management)
February 1, 2009... A series of colour masterbatches for use with compostable biopolymers has been introduced by VIBA Laboratories of Italy as the Vibatan Bio series. Colours include white, yellow and red in a biodegradable and compostable polymer carrier for the...

Colour control investment by ColourTone.(colour management)
February 1, 2009... Masterbatch producer ColourTone has invested 40,000 [ponds sterling] in a colour matching system from Konica Minolta comprising two CM-3600d bench top spectrophotometers and Ciba Colibri CCM (computer colour matching) software. The system is...

New purge source.(colour management)
February 1, 2009... A purging compound from Brae] has been added alongside the Silvergate Plastics range of colour and additive masterbatch. The company has taken on marketing and distribution for the EkoSave range of purging compounds from Kibbutz Mossada ...

Scanning service makes CT available to all.(TESTING AND INSPECTION)
February 1, 2009... A CT scanning service for moulding analysis will be launched at PMI by Carl Zeiss. CT--computed tomography is--a 3D X-ray of a component and is the same technology (also known as computed axial tomography, or CAT scanning) as is used in...

Koch focuses on granule and masterbatch dosing.(MATERIALS HANDLING)
February 1, 2009... The modular design of Koch-Technik's mixing, dosing, conveying and drying systems makes it, says the company, one of the few suppliers of complete systems for plastics granulate handling who are able to offer tailor-made solutions for single...

A taste of what to see at the Dublin show.(PMI preview)
February 1, 2009... Plastics Manufacturing Ireland is a new exhibition being held at the RDS Centre in Dublin on March 25 and 26. Exhibitors include Atbis, American Khune, Ashland, Carl Zeiss, Cooper Technology, Davis Standard/DS Brookes, Demag, Eastern Plastics...

Side gating nozzle tip for medical and packaging.(INJECTION MOULDING)
February 1, 2009... A new design of hot runner nozzle for direct side gating in multi cavity moulds will be introduced by Ewikon with the emphasis on medical and packaging applications. The new HPS III-MH nozzle would be used for long, slim or tube shaped...

Integrated integrats create high gloss surfaces.(INJECTION MOULDING)
February 1, 2009... The temperature control needed for high gloss optical components and "piano finish' aesthetics will be shown by gwk. The surface gloss is achieved by heating the cavity wall to keep the melt at its most fluid during injection, enabling it to...

FDM 3D printing on your desk for 12,500 [pounds sterling].(PROTOTYPING)
February 1, 2009... A desktop 3D printer costing 12,500 [pounds sterling] plus VAT will be introduced at PMI by Laser Lines. The uPrint is made by Stratasys company The Dimension 3D Printing Group and builds fused deposition models with Stratasys ABSplus--a...

Find research funding with Pera.(FINANCE)
February 1, 2009... Investing in R & D puts pressure on already over-stretched internal finances, and investment in innovation and R & D can be perceived as high risk, particularly within smaller firms. There are many regional and national public funding...

High flying at Peerless.(finishing)
February 1, 2009... Peerless Decorative Finishing put an extra sparkle into executive flying with these cocktail tables, used on o fleet of executive aircraft. The company was approached by a major aircraft interiors supplier to apply a brushed aluminium and high...

Reduced intensity makes marking laser more flexible.(finishing)
February 1, 2009... A series of lasers with more power and a flatter power distribution from SPI Lasers includes plastics marking among its potential applications. The 30W pulsed fibre laser is aimed at faster and higher quality marking, engraving and...

Build a laser marking system based on the cube.(finishing)
February 1, 2009... A configurable laser workstation for marking applications has been introduced by Rofin-Baase. The Cube acts as a kind of hub, enabling laser sources such as solid-state, fibre or diode lasers to be combined with an array of focusing optics and...

Laser supplier expands in contract marking.(finishing)
February 1, 2009... ES Technology was founded in 1987 and has built its business on manufacturing special purpose industrial laser marking systems. But it also operates a sub-contract laser marking service, and this has been expanded with another laser, bringing...

Coated plastic meets metal standards for electromagnetic shielding.(finishing)
February 1, 2009... A weight and cost reduction programme by vacuum pump manufacturer Edwards and its electronics closure supplier Nordell involved the replacement of metal components with plastic. To meet EMC requirements the companies involved Applied Coating...

Spray gun cuts operator fatigue.(finishing)
February 1, 2009... A new range of industrial spray guns has been introduced by ITW DeVilbiss. The Advance HD (High Demand) range has been designed to meet requirements for a smaller, lightweight, easier to handle gun to reduce operator fatigue, coupled with high...