British Plastics & Rubber articles from March 2005

British Plastics & Rubber archives from March 2005

New sulphone polymers work at higher temperatures--and can be coloured.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... POLYSULPHONES which reach new high temperature performance levels for a transparent polymer have been introduced by Gharda Chemicals of India and Solvay Advanced Polymers in the USA. The new material from Gharda Chemicals has been dubbed...

High flow PBT goes commercial with an eye on Questra replacement ...(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... The first commercial component made from BASF's new Ultradur High Speed high flow PBT is a data connector for use in notebook computers, telephones, and other devices with an ISDN or DSL connection. The component is manufactured from Ultradur...

... While Ticona puts Celanex and Vectra in Questra's shoes.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... The demise of Questra has left a number of technical component manufacturers looking for a replacement--and Ticona has been quick to put its Celanex PBT and Vectra LCP in the frame. Ticona says PBT and LCP are highly suitable replacements...

TPEs have low emission for automotive interiors ...(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... KRAIBURG TPE has developed low-emission grades of its Thermolast K TPE-S materials specially for automotive interiors. These new compounds are based on hydrogenated styrene block copolymers and are already being used in a number of applications...

Transparent PA elastomer beats hydrolytic degradation.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... A TRANSPARENT polyamide elastomer combining nylon 12 with a polyether to provide the soft segments of the polymer chain has been developed by Ube. It is noted particularly for--as well as its high transparency--its chemical and hydrolysis...

... And are UV stabilised for exterior components.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... POLYONE has developed new UV-stabilised grades of TPE-S thermoplastic elastomer compounds specifically to meet the demands of exterior automotive applications. TPE-S is a thermoplastic elastomer based on styrene block copolymers. The materials...

Italian thermoplastic elastomers from Performance Plastics.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... ENGINEERING thermoplastics specialist Performance Plastics has added thermoplastic elastomers from Italian producer API to its portfolio of materials. The wide range covers most commercially available TPEs and includes brands that have already...

Lighter, stiffer, tougher--that's the promise of self-reinforced plastics.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... SELF-REINFORCED plastics are relatively recent innovations in plastics technology and are causing a rethink in the way some large components could be produced. In this context self-reinforcement is not the molecular self-reinforcement vaunted...

Polybutadiene polyols create TPU with better properties.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... A THERMOPLASTIC polyurethane based on polybutadiene polyols has been introduced by Sartomer. Poly bd 2035 TPU is designed to enhance the performance of films, adhesives, sealants, coatings, and thermoplastic elastomers when compared to...

'The stiffest plastic in the world'.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... TECAMAX SRP stock shapes recently added to the Ensinger Industries range are made from 'the strongest, hardest, stiffest thermoplastics without fibre reinforcement'. This is Parmax, a polyparaphenylene copolymer material made in the USA by...

First roto nylon from BASF.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... BASF has developed its first rotomoulding grade of nylon. It is a PA6 and is branded Capron BR30HS. BASF sees it fitting between the traditional rotomoulding materials of polyethylene, which has upper temperature limitations, and PA12, which...

Cost-cutting polycarbonate and polyamide compounds.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... 4PLAS is targeting trade and in-house moulders with a range of low-cost polycarbonate and polyamide compounds, with many prices being fixed at pro-increase levels. The company has developed these additional grades specifically to provide...

Recycled polypropylene compounds for UK sale.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... FOLLOWING its acquisition of Synbra Polymers, AKG Polymers has launched Vision recycled polypropylene compounds on to the UK market. The Vision line consists of a complete range of extrusion and injection moulding compounds based oil...

PVDF foams for construction and electrical use.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... ZOTEFOAMS has introduced two polyvinylidene fluoride foam products designed to meet standards in the construction and electrical fields. Both are based on Arkema's Kynar PVDF polymer and are blown by Zotefoams' nitrogen expansion technology....

Nylon 12 eliminates need for bonding layer in fuel tubing.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... A NYLON 12 has been developed by Ube for use in automotive fuel tubing systems, bonding directly to the barrier material, and so eliminating a tie layer. Ubesta 3030J16L has been designed for use in two two-layer systems. Ecobesta 9T...

Acetal stock shapes now in colour.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... Quadrant Engineering Plastics is now producing its Ertacetal extruded acetal stock shapes in seven standard colours in addition to the basic black and white products. The colours--red, blue, yellow, green, orange, brown, grey--all conform to...

LCP makes professional tripod lighter and stronger.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... TRIPODS for professional-quality video cameras suffer from conflicting requirements. They must be rigid and robust but at the same time they must be light in weight for easy use. When designing its new Fibertec tripod, manufacturer Vinten...

Ticona roadshow rolls again.(Engineering Materials)
March 1, 2005... Ticona has created a new programme for the next tour of its popular road show. The theme is Your Bridge to the Future, featuring case studies from a range of industries that highlight different design and material solutions. The road shows...

Two-platen machines from Hong Kong.(Injection moulding machines)
March 1, 2005... A series of two-platen machines built in Hang Kong and designed by former Peco/Windsor designer Richard Sayer will be introduced by Topfine Precision Machinery Co and its UK agent Plastic Machinery Sales UK on stand L18. The A Series...

Machines from 'the world's biggest' manufacturer ...(Injection moulding machines)
March 1, 2005... Last year Haitian of China built 12,000 moulding machines. This year it expects to build 16,000 with the aid of new CNC machine tools and a moving track production system. The company has a 1 million me manufacturing plant with separate...

... Some of the world's smallest machines ...(Injection moulding machines)
March 1, 2005... The 12/90HSE Compact Electric MiniMolder introduced at last year's K exhibition by MCP Tooling Technologies will be shown for the first time in Britain on stand B11. This is the first in a new generation of MCP MiniMolders and is faster, more...

... And smaller still.(Injection moulding machines)
March 1, 2005... Babyplast's newest model is the 6/10, a 6 tonne machine custom-designed for precision mass production in the 0.01-15 g shot weight range. The fully hydraulic machine has a direct-lock design with plunger injection. Material is pre-plasticised...

All-electric with the emphasis on the clean room.(Injection moulding machines)
March 1, 2005... Netstal will bring its newly introduced Elion all-electric machines to Britain with a model 1200-530 (120 tonnes) on stand K21 moulding HDPE medical needle caps in a 128 impression mould made by KEBO (see later under Tooling). It will be...

KM hybrid machine makes British debut.(Injection moulding machines)
March 1, 2005... Two models of Krauss-Maffei's new CX hybrid machine will be demonstrated on stand F39. The CX is built in a range of 35-160 tonnes as a replacement for the company's C-range, from which it inherits the twin-platen design's good platen...

Gas and water assist can take different forms according to moulding requirements.(Fluid assisted moulding)
March 1, 2005... First there was gas injection. Then came water injection. And as the two processes have developed, other variants have evolved such that Cinpres Gas Injection now uses the overall designation of Fluid Assisted Moulding to describe its...

Inks and films for IMD.(In-mould decoration)
March 1, 2005... Autoflex films and Aquatex formable texturing inks from Autotype International will be shown on stand D54. The Autoflex films are based on polycarbonate, polyester or acrylic with a hard coat surface to provide a durable high gloss finish....

Purging compounds defined for the task.(Purging)
March 1, 2005... The new Global grade of Asaclean purging compound shown by Velox on stand G54 is designed for quick colour and material changes on large moulding machines for materials such as PP, ABS, and PC/ABS. This grade is suitable for cleaning hot...

Simplified foam-in-place system is rapid curing.(Foamed in place gasketing)
March 1, 2005... A single component polyurethane foam-in-place gasketing system which offers an alternative to two-component reactive mixing and single-component high pressure gas injection will be demonstrated on stand D30 by Sunstar Engineering. It was...

Packaging machines from Italy.(Thermoforming)
March 1, 2005... A range of thermoforming machines from AL.MA in Italy will be shown by Advanced Dynamics on stand D58. The machines are intended for form-fill-seal and blister packaging. www.wlt.co.uk

You can calibrate a volumetric doser gravimetrically.(Materials handling)
March 1, 2005... The latest range of Movacolor dosing units will be shown by Velox on stand G54. The range includes a new version of the MC-Balance gravimetric single-material dosing unit as well as new models for volumetric dosing. All have new control...

Blender has automatic clean-down.(Materials handling)
March 1, 2005... The TSM50 Gravimetric batch blender to be shown on stand C21 by TSM Control Systems is for on-line/off-line blending applications in both extrusion and moulding. It has a throughput of up to 50 kg/h in batch sizes of 0.5 kg, using TSM's...

Drying options from Summit.(Materials handling)
March 1, 2005... Dosing and drying equipment from Moretto will be shown by Summit Systems alongside the Maguire vacuum drier on stand E35. The Moretto DVR Genius is a masterbatch doser using a reciprocating pocket instead of screws or slide valves. It has a...

Piovan reinforces its British presence.(Materials handling)
March 1, 2005... A number of recent innovations from Piovan will be introduced to the British market on stand J15 as part of the company's international sales strategy which has seen it augment its agency network with its own subsidiaries in the Americas,...

Mixing and dosing independent of the moulding machine.(Materials handling)
March 1, 2005... Plasticolor builds both gravimetric and volumetric dosing units, mixing stations and throughput measuring units. Among the dosing units to be shown by B A Thorne (Machinery) on stand A50 will be a twin mixing station, typically for the main...

A hose for all reasons.(Materials handling)
March 1, 2005... A range of flexible hoses and ducting will be shown on stand M24 by Masterflex. Specifications include appropriate compliance with EC and FDA food and chemicals directives, transport of solid, liquid and gaseous media, abrasion resistance,...

Motan control system reaches new levels.(Materials handling)
March 1, 2005... The new GRAVInet Ethernet-based control system will be demonstrated by Motan on stand E19 controlling a Gravicolor 100 gravimetric blender. GRAVInet is part of the CONTROLnet suite of control systems for drying, blending, conveying and storage...

Keeping materials free from dust.(Materials handling)
March 1, 2005... De-dusting equipment from Pelletron will be shown on stand D58 by Advanced Dynamics. It is intended for the removal of dust and debris during the processing or recycling of plastics. www.wlt.co.uk

British-built temperature controller range is expanding.(Temperature control)
March 1, 2005... The first in the range of temperature controllers built in Britain by Eaton Williams Process Cooling and distributed by Aqua Cooling Solutions will be shown by Aqua Cooling on stand D16. The company will also introduce the next series which is...

New chillers beat corrosion.(Temperature control)
March 1, 2005... Tricool will be showing its recently introduced range of TRE process chillers and other temperature control products on stand J31. Fifteen models are available in the TRE range with the base model offering 3 kW and the top of the range TRE...

High precision claim by Piovan.(Temperature control)
March 1, 2005... Two mould temperature controllers will be introduced by Piovan on stand J15. The TP3ST-OD and TW9 are both pitched at high precision requirements. www.piovan.com

Regloplas on Motan stand.(Temperature control)
March 1, 2005... Temperature control units from Regloplas of Switzerland will be shown on stand E19 by Motan. www.motan.co.uk

Corema equipment far extrusion and film blowing as well as moulding.(Temperature control)
March 1, 2005... Chillers and temperature controllers from Corema will be shown by FT Refrigeration on stand C4. They will include the easy line range of water and oil heating units for operation up to 350 degC, the Junior Chiller standard range of small...

Hot air staking and new hand held ultrasonic welder from Branson.(Assembly equipment)
March 1, 2005... A hot air/cold stake assembly system is being added by Branson Ultrasonics to its existing range of ultrasonic, vibration, orbital, hot plate, spin and laser welding equipment. A low velocity jet of heated air is directed at the area of the...

Pad printer has a long reach.(Printing equipment)
March 1, 2005... The mid size, pneumatic/electric drive TPX201 pad printer will be introduced by Kaye Dee Marking Solutions on stand E4. The TPX201 has a sealed ink pot system which can accept ceramic ring bladed pots from 56 to 115 mm diameter and has been...

Screen printer added to pad range.(Printing equipment)
March 1, 2005... A range of semi-automatic screen printing machine will be introduced by Pad Print alongside the company's one, two and four colour pad printing machines. The four colour machines will be displayed with product shuttle and conveyor systems. ...

Pad printers for the cost conscious.(Printing equipment)
March 1, 2005... A 'low budget' standard pad printer series will be introduced by Printing International on stand A26. The Quartz CE series are closed cup electro-pneumatic machines with 65, 90 and 130 mm diameter cup sizes. All are available as bench...

Chinese granulators from STV.(Granulators)
March 1, 2005... STV is now the exclusive UK and Irish distributor of granulators made by Shini of China, and has set up Shini UK to handle the business. The range of CE-compliant granulators starts with the SG-1621 low speed beside-the-press machine at a...

Summit introduces CMG range and new small Moretto machine.(Granulators)
March 1, 2005... Towards the end of last year Summit Systems took over the agency for the Italian-built CMG granulators (CMG at one time built granulators on behalf of Cumberland for European distribution) from UPM to augment its existing range of small and...

New small granulator from Piovan.(Granulators)
March 1, 2005... The latest low speed beside-the-press granulator from Piovan, the RPS15/38, has scissor cutting action with multiple staggered rotor knives. Stand J15. www.piovan.com

New distributor for Tria.(Granulators)
March 1, 2005... With the ink scarcely dry on the new distribution agreement, Motan will show the Tria range of granulators on stand E19. www.motan.com

From design to production.(Process control)
March 1, 2005... The various software packages that make up the Moldflow design-to-production software suite will be shown on stand J52. Moldflow Plastics Advisers (MPA) goes back to the roots of the company and is a 3D solids-based plastics flow simulation...

Wireless data collection for latest MES.(Process control)
March 1, 2005... The new PlantMaster manufacturing execution system from Barco (stand H22) continues the former BarcoCIM product range and incorporates Barco's latest wireless technology for data collection, together with support for the latest machine...

Controlling and using static.(Process control)
March 1, 2005... Static control systems from Simco to be shown by Advanced Dynamics will include ionising air blowers, guns and knives, web cleaners, anti-static bars and Chargemaster systems. One of the latest additions to the range on stand D58 will be...

Cost nylon parts without steel tooling.(Prototyping equipment)
March 1, 2005... According to MCP vacuum casting is still the world's most commonly used method of producing prototype plastic parts and among examples of its range of vacuum casting equipment and materials the company will show the new 5/04 vacuum caster,...

Expanded European range of standard components.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... American supplier Progressive Components will be on stand G44 with its range of standard components for injection and blow moulds and die cast tooling. Newly introduced are additional sizes of guide locks. The four new metric sizes have...

High output tooling from Switzerland.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... A 128 cavity mould made by KEBO of Switzerland (stand K4) will be running in the Netstal Elion fully electric machine opposite on stand K21 making medical syringe needle protector caps in a 7 second cycle. KEBO specialises in high-precision...

Tools from Taiwan.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... Tools from Taiwanese toolmaker Acemind will be shown by Marfortec Tools (stand M26) which can supply tooling manufactured in the Far East from very small tools up to 10 tonnes in weight, project managed from the UK. The company has...

Metal coatings improve productivity and do away with lubricants.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... The improvements in cycle time and mould filling consistency from surface coating of melt-contact parts will be demonstrated on stand A38 by Balzers, which supplies PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) coatings. The company says that its...

WS2 Coatings.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... Another form of metal coating for dry lubrication and mould release is tungsten disulphide ([WS.sub.2]), which will be demonstrated on stand M20 by WS2 Coatings. WS2 says its coatings have enabled moulds that previously would not fill to be...

Blast off contamination with dry ice.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... Although dry ice is now a well established method of cleaning in many fields, it is not universally employed in the plastics industry according to Clean Surface of Leicester, which will be on stand G42 to show how dry ice blasting can clean...

Clean tooling without abrasion.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... Turbex will be showing spray wash and ultrasonic machines on stand El4. The MC range is designed specifically for cleaning moulds and dies without abrasion. www.turbex.co.uk

Hot runner controller modules can be fitted wherever you like.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... Altanium CX being shown by Mold-flow on stand J52 is a small footprint modular format hot runner controller that supports from two to 192 zones. The self-contained controller units can be used freestanding, mounted on the mould or mounted...

Permanent electro magnetic mould mounting.(Tooling and machine components)
March 1, 2005... Summit Systems (stand E35) is now supplying Tecnomagnete's new Quad Press permanent electro magnetic mould clamping system. A short electric pulse activates the system and secures the clamp to the mould without using any further power or...

Measure by sight and by touch at the same time.(Testing and inspection)
March 1, 2005... Visual and multi-sensor inspection instruments will be demonstrated by OGP UK on stand A14. Hi-Eye is a new video inspection microscope which has been designed to alleviate the strain caused by the repetitive use of traditional binocular...

Be sure dry air is really dry.(Testing and inspection)
March 1, 2005... To monitor the dryness of process air Vaisala (stand A18) makes dew point measuring instruments which are suitable for checking the performance of refrigerant and desiccant dryers. The patented Drycap sensor technology used in the probes gives...

Improved ABS, PP and PA66 grades.(Polymers)
March 1, 2005... A new series of enhanced performance ABS grades will be introduced on stand B41 by JGP Perrite. The VE family includes Ronfalin VE820 which is V0 at 1-6mm and VE820E, a high impact extrusion grade also V0 at 1.6 mm. Also new will be the...

German compounder pitches for British business.(Polymers)
March 1, 2005... German engineering plastics compounder PolymerChemie is starting to sell in the UK market through ALMS Connections of Leicester, and will make its debut on stand G42. Polymer-Chemie has a 160,000 tonnes plant in Bad Sobernheim making compounds...

High performance polyamides.(Polymers)
March 1, 2005... Only 5 minutes is all EmsGrivory is asking to convince visitors of the benefits of its high performance polyamide materials on stand D7. Characteristics of the product ranges are: Grivory GV: Strong, stiff metal replacement materials. New...

TPEs for potable water.(Polymers)
March 1, 2005... The suitability of its thermoplastic elastamers for components in contact with drinking water is emphasised by German manufacturer Kraiburg TPE (stand A34). Its Thermolast K compounds are based on hydrogenated styrene block copolymers and are...

Elastomer manufacturer adds ETP compounds.(Polymers)
March 1, 2005... Dutch rubber and TPE manufacturer Wittenburg has extended its product range into speciality plastic compounds under the name of Witcom Engineering Plastics. It can make compounds based on any polymer in combination with reinforcements such as...

LGF range to be added by Plastribution.(Polymers)
March 1, 2005... The polymer portfolio from Plastribution will be extended with Polytron, a series of long glass fibre filled compounds from Polyram which can save costs by replacing more expensive compounds or metals in components. Stand D31. ...

Performance TPUs.(Polymers)
March 1, 2005... Details of the Estane range of thermoplastic polyurethanes for demanding applications from Noveon will be available on the Velox stand, G54. www.velox.com

R & D focus has fuelled additive masterbatch growth.(Additives)
March 1, 2005... In the five years since it was established AddMaster has built up a range of more than 700 additive masterbatches through its focus on research and development. The most recent has been its work with Glassflake which has resulted in the...

What you can achieve when you increase the flow.(Additives)
March 1, 2005... Genie Kenraw represents Axel Plastics from the USA which makes MoldWiz process aids for compounding, masterbatch production, extrusion and injection moulding, and release agents for vacuum forming and rotomoulding. MoldWiz compounds are...

More than mere masterbatch.(Additives)
March 1, 2005... Enigma and Perceptions are two themed colour effect collections which Clariant Masterbatches will be showing on stand C31. Enigma encompasses effects such as glitter, interference and irridescence, luster, metallic and Splash. Splash...

Product development from design to niche production.(Product design)
March 1, 2005... ARRK is a Japanese-based international product development group of more than 100 companies and more than 10,000 employees worldwide. Its European arm employs around 250 people in the UK, and more than 400 in Europe--with this number expanding...

Clinic emphasises materials for extremes.(Product design)
March 1, 2005... DuPont Engineering Polymers will be running a 'Material and Design Clinic' on stand G19. Among concepts and ideas for discussion are DuPont products for protection of components exposed to extreme environments, structural materials and designs...

Delcam plans interactive CADCAM and 3D mould design promotion.(Product design)
March 1, 2005... As well as demonstrating its CADCAM and tooling design software on stand G15 Delcam will be hosting a CADCAM clinic and holding a 3D Mould Design workshop. At the CADCAM clinic the company will demonstrate how the latest CADCAM techniques...

SLA capacity on the increase.(Product design)
March 1, 2005... SLA capacity at Ogle Models & Prototypes is being increased to four machines with the installation of a Viper machine from 3D Systems. The company now uses a wider range of resins, including Si50 and Bluestone. As well as its SLA prototyping...

Design from concept to moulding capability.(Product design)
March 1, 2005... Product design services being promoted by Rapra Technology on stand F2 cover materials selection, finite element analysis, injection moulding simulation and six sigma analysis. In materials selection Rapra can help to select the best...

Emphasis on automotive.(Moulding services)
March 1, 2005... Bourne Technical Mouldings has tripled production since it was set up only two and a half years ago, and has just invested in a 165 tonnes Sandretto Nove T injection moulding machine to supplement other Sandretto, Krauss Maffei and Engel...

From CAD to moulding.(Moulding services)
March 1, 2005... Moulder and toolmaker Hi-Technology Group of Waterlooville will be showing examples of its design success on stand H10 and will be describing its moulding service at the conference, with a separate talk on its 'Gateway' structured approach to...

If you must do it, do it better.(Moulding services)
March 1, 2005... Engineers from PICME--the DTI-funded Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence--will be demonstrating best practice in moulding, and in particular in tooling change overs, on stand L31. The aim is to show how necessary but...

Seeking skills data.(Human resources)
March 1, 2005... Seeking skills data--Cogent Sector Skills Council will be interviewing and gathering information on all aspects of innovation, design and technology and its impact on company competitiveness and productivity, together with its relationship to...