British Plastics & Rubber articles from May 2005

British Plastics & Rubber archives from May 2005

Computer simulation of laser welding.(WELDING)
May 1, 2005... As laser welding of plastics becomes more widely used it becomes correspondingly important to know just what is happening--or what should be happening--in the weld. DuPont Engineering Polymers and TWI (formerly The Welding Institute) have got...

Welding modules for 'price sensitive' applications.(WELDING)
May 1, 2005... NEW diode welding modules from Laserline in Germany are designed for 'price sensitive' plastics welding applications. The LDM fibre 19 inch coupled modules have power levels up to 800W and are available through Laser Lines (Industrial &...

Nylon 12 takes the pressure in gas pipe.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... USING nylon for gas pipes may seem an extravagance, but nylon 12 gas pipes have been in use commercially for the past 20 years in countries including Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Chile. And as the gas industry moves towards higher...

ASTM sets standard for HDPE storm water pipe.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... A new standard has been developed by ASTM for municipal storm sewer applications. It comes as the result of the steady growth of HDPE pipe through agricultural and highway drainage, with the ability to extrude ever larger diameters, to...

Rewinding offline takes the brakes off extrusion.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... PIPE Coil Technology has introduced equipment which separates the coiling process from extrusion. Product is put on to drums and subsequently rewound into coils as an offline operation. One rewind line can typically coil the output of two to...

European approval for Dowlex-based pipe system.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... UNDERFLOOR heating systems and radiator connections made in Dowlex 2344 PE-RT Type 1 pipes have been awarded a European Technical Approval, signified by the CE mark quality standard. Dow Europe says that this is the first time any pipe system...

New blacks for pipe production.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... CABOT has developed a new black masterbatch and a new P-type carbon black for pipe production. Plasblak LL4932 masterbatch is said to provide UV protection in drip irrigation pipe systems and allows processors to achieve high production rates...

Flexible calibration and line control change pipe diameter and class on-the-fly.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... CHANGING pipe diameter or pressure class is a time-consuming operation which reduces the effective production time of an extrusion line. Yet customers for pipe want to buy in smaller lots, meaning more frequent job changes. And the extra...

Pump handles multiple cooling requirements for clean room extrusion.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... A PUMP has been developed by FT Refrigeration for medical plastics extrusion operations where a single cooling system is required to cool several processes at different temperatures in a clean room environment. The PRCHX fits underneath a...

New developments expected to drive WPC extrusion to greater heights.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... ALTHOUGH wood was used commercially as a filler for resins by Rolls-Royce as early as 1916, wood plastic composites were re-born as a modern concept in Italy in the 1970s, and subsequently popularised in North America in the early 1990s. By the...

Lubricant 'increases PVC throughput up to 40 per cent'.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... A NEW family of lubricants from Honeywell is said to significantly increase PVC extrusion speed by improving control over melt viscosity, melt temperature, and stability. The Rheochem materials have already enabled customers to extrude PVC at...

Resotek controls get UK representation.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... EXTRUSION Machinery Supplies, set up by one time Speedex director Peter Musgrave, now handles sales in the UK and Ireland for Resotek which makes integrated extruder control systems. Site Engineering Services deals with service, spares and...

Battenfeld builds quieter calibration tables.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... TO pre-empt EU guideline 2003/10/EU Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik has adapted its calibration tables to reduce noise and energy consumption. The guideline, which becomes effective in 2006, stipulates minimum requirements for employees' health...

British bottle maker to make cables in India.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... Lincoln-based pharmaceutical container and bottle manufacturer Krystals has opened a cable plant in India. Krystals Cables India in New Delhi will make PVC-covered cables for applications such as domestic lighting, switchgear and control...

Add transverse patterns without post processing.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... A DEVICE to produce transverse relief patterns on extruded profiles without post-processing has been developed by a Swedish company. The Markram process has been used to date mainly on rubber profiles, but has also been applied successfully...

Standard profile downstream for Cincinnati Alpha.(PIPE & PROFILE)
May 1, 2005... A PACKAGED line for small rigid profiles is now available from Cincinnati Extrusion to work with its Alpha extruder series. The new downstream has been named Alpha Profline and is available from 46,000 [euro]. Each package includes a 2 m...

Silicone and PU gaskets from the same mixing head.(REACTION PROCESSING)
May 1, 2005... IN-SITU gasketing normally uses polyurethane, but there are applications, such as for high-temperature lighting systems like floodlights and streetlamps, where the operating temperature is too high for conventional polyurethane. The answer is...

Surfactant cuts flame retardants in PU slabstock foams.(REACTION PROCESSING)
May 1, 2005... GE Advanced Materials has developed a silicone surfactant that helps to reduce the use of flame retardants in flexible polyurethane slabstock foam. The new product extends the company's existing NIAX brand line of surfactants that, while not...

Lenticular sheet creates 3D signs.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... A new type of acrylic sheet known as Perspex Lenticular has been developed by Lucite for the production of Solid Vision 3D signs. These are said to be set to 'revolutionise' street furniture and outdoor advertising. The sheet has optical...

Glove machine is faster and more efficient.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... A FASTER machine for making disposable wrist-length gloves has been introduced by Cibra of Italy. Gloves were previously made on the company's SigmaStar general purpose machines but output was slow. There was also no means of stacking the...

Infra red pre-heating improves control of hot embossing.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... HERAEUS Noblelight carbon medium wave infra red equipment has enabled API Foils to achieve higher line speeds and better heating control in the hot embossing of holographic foils. The company produces an extensive range of stamping foils at its...

Polycarbonate replaces steel in nuclear plant safety guards.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... GUARDS for nuclear equipment used by British Nuclear Fuels have traditionally been made of steel, but Barkston has been commissioned to design and manufacture a prototype for a plastics guard for a rotating component used in UK plants. ...

Acrylic sheets for visual effects and projector screens.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... ALTUGLAS Soft Fluo-FX is a new acrylic sheet made by Atoglas said to offer 'unprecedented' colour lighting effects. Colour is heightened, either in daylight or artificial light, and a full range of chromatic themes can be devised. Fluorescent...

Syntactic foam plugs reduce forming cycle times.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... HYTAC syntactic foam has been launched by D4R-CGP Europe for the production of plug assisted in-line thermoforming packaging such as yogurt pots, beakers, containers, flower pots and blister packs for food or pharmaceuticals. The range...

New TFT former selling in the UK.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... HENRY Lenox Industrial has taken a number of orders for the TFT FC 600 E form, cut and stack thermoforming machine which was introduced last year. British Falcon Plastics of Paignton has installed one of the machines, selecting it for medium...

Single station formers from Thermoforming Solutions.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... ADTS single station thermoforming machines, new from Thermoforming Solutions, are made with forming sizes from 1,250 x 800 to 2,500 x 2,000 mm. Standard forming depth is 600 mm. Special sizes are available on request. Infra red heaters are...

Long range ionisation for high speed webs.(FILM & SHEET CONVERSION)
May 1, 2005... THE new Meech 915Ex AC system and the Model 976Ex pulsed DC bar together make up a long range ionisation system for coating, laminating, finishing and gravure printing applications which complies with Article 9 of the Council Directive 94/9...

Food contact approval for light stabiliser.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... BASF's Uvinul 5050 H light stabiliser for polyolefins has been given a Food Contact Notification by the US Food and Drug Administration. This enables its use in applications such as woven tape bags like big bags for flour and grain, packaging...

PP modifier improves twist wrap performance.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... VIBA has developed a masterbatch for modifying the stiffness of polypropylene films. Vibatan SM 350 E1 is used in the core layer of films to improve the twist wrapping performance without sacrificing gloss, transparency, machine handling and...

Masterbatches for agricultural films and monofilaments.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... ITALIAN masterbatch producer Viba has introduced new products for agricultural applications. Its Vibatan Superstabilizers are based on a third generation hindered amine light stabiliser (HALS) combined with inorganic UV absorbers which can...

Polymeric plasticiser replaces phthalates.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... HYPERLAST has developed a new polymeric PVC plasticiser to replace phthalates or enhance conventional plasticisers. Dioplex VLV is described as 'a versatile and highly efficient product that is very easy to process'. It handles in a similar...

Special effects pigment gives sharper colour and glitter.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... ENGELHARD has expanded its Firemist range of special effect pigments with the introduction of Firemist Turquoise. Plastics containing the pigment process with negligible flow lines and have a sparkle finish in blue, teal and green. The...

New black and white masterbatches from Cabot.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... CABOT Corporation has added three grades to its range of black, white and additive masterbatches. Plasblak PE4765 is a concentrated, easily diluted premium-quality black grade specially designed for production of thin film and tape...

Colour Tone enters liquid colour masterbatch market.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... COLOUR Tone Masterbatch is spending 125,000 [pounds sterling] to move into liquid colour masterbatch. The company has set up a new division called Colouring Solutions and the money will be invested over the next year in plant and technical...

All-PVC colour masterbatch for window profiles.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... PVC masterbatch specialist Astropol has developed a new colouring concept for uPVC extrusions, particularly window profiles. The company's Astrobatch colour masterbatches have been specially formulated and processed for rapid disintegration and...

Colour and additive masterbatches for biodegradables.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... Polyone has introduced a new European range of colour and additive masterbatches for biodegradable resins. The colour masterbatch products are known as OnColor Bio while the additive masterbatches sell under the OnCap Bio name. These include...

Glass microspheres whiten and enhance colour.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... GLASS microsphere specialist Engineered Glass Materials has unveiled its latest product, Spheriwhite. It has been developed to colour enhance a polymer in its final application and is the result of a patented process and two years of testing....

Process aid improves PC moulding.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... THE efficacy of MoldWiz processing aids in polycarbonate injection moulding has been demonstrated by UK distributor Genie Kenraw in trials over the past six months with several of its customers. They had different requirements: some needed...

Injection process aid for nylons and ABS.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... SASOL has developed a new process aid that improves the injection moulding processability of ABS and polyamides, both filled and unfilled. EnHance ENG contains a well-dispersed fine inorganic additive that reduces polymer viscosity and improves...

Bacteriostat keeps bugs at bay.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... A 'BACTERIOSTATIC' masterbatch, Vibatan PS bacteriostatic 02687, for use in white goods components in contact with food has been introduced by Viba of Italy. It is recommended particularly for PS, SAN and ABS sheet formed into refrigerator...

Spherical boron nitride fillers keep chips cool.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... GE Advanced Materials has introduced its Polar Therm XLR boron nitride fillers to address one of the most difficult challenges facing chip manufacturers, namely how to dissipate the increasing heat generated by smaller and faster...

Hydrocerol chemical foaming agents now available directly from Clariant.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... PROCESSORS in Britain can now obtain the full line of Hydrocerol chemical foaming and nucleating agents directly from Clariant Masterbatches. When Clariant purchased the worldwide CFA business of Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals in January 1999,...

Higher output for latest gravimetric blender.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... THE latest Multi Weigh blender from Colormax incorporates the Posimax 13300 solid phase pumping feeder and is designed to blend and feed screwlessly up to four materials simultaneously at significantly higher rates than the standard Multi...

Enclosed weighing and mixing keeps dust contained.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... THE new Conair TrueBlend gravimetric blender has a completely enclosed weighing and mixing section to prevent the escape of fines and dust. Non-stick vertical dispensing valves in each material compartment allow free flow even when handling low...

Gravimetric option for Colorblend.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... Colortronic has introduced a gravimetric version of the Colorblend dosing unit using a disc dispensing system synchronisee with the moulding machine or extruder. Dosing consistency is accurate and repeatable at low rates and with large...

Blender batch accuracy is improved.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... TSM Control systems has devised new Opti-Mix dosing technology for its gravimetric blenders. It is claimed to improve batch accuracy to 0.001 per cent compared with the [+ or -] 0x1 per cent previously attained. The software is available on the...

Free software minimises ingredient cost.(ADDITIVES)
May 1, 2005... K-TRON Feeder Group says that processors can minimise total ingredient cost by using its new FeedSmart recipe optimiser tool. Recipe proportions for each ingredient are entered with cost per ingredient and feeder setpoint tolerance range and...

Energy adapted to drying demand.(MATERIALS HANDLING)
May 1, 2005... KOCH Technik equips its new KKT driers with a control which allows energy consumed to be adapted to actual material throughput and the characteristics of the granulate. The mobile driers are suitable for highly hygroscopic materials and the...

Braby expands its materials handling interests.(MATERIALS HANDLING)
May 1, 2005... SILO manufacturer Braby has been expanding its operations, taking on distributorships. It now represents a German big bag unloading system and is in partnership with a Belfast-based plastic silo builder. Braby is exclusive UK distributor...

Angled body improves access to hopper loader.(MATERIALS HANDLING)
May 1, 2005... THE latest Conair Access self-contained hopper loaders are available in two sizes, and in three for central vacuum systems. The angled body makes it easier for maintenance personnel to see and reach inside for cleaning and allows better...

Milacron delivers first Chinese-built injection machine.(INJECTION MOULDING)
May 1, 2005... MILACRON's Chinese joint venture with Jiangnan Mould & Plastic Technology Co has delivered its first Chinese-built injection moulding machine--the first of a number ordered by Jiangnan for delivery this year. The 1,000tonne Maxima...

Rapid insert change without damaging the pressure sensor.(INJECTION MOULDING)
May 1, 2005... KISTLER has introduced the Type 6155AE mould pressure sensor based on an adaptor to allow tools to be disassembled and inserts changed rapidly without risk of damage to the sensor or its cable. The sensor is mounted on the mould retaining plate...

Screw and barrel cleaner purges high temperature materials.(INJECTION MOULDING)
May 1, 2005... Polyklene R is a new granular cleaning material from CRC, which also makes Ambersil mould cleaners and release agents, to remove residues from barrels, screws and hot runner systems. It is said to expand into dead areas around screws and the...

Nissei hybridises its FN series.(INJECTION MOULDING)
May 1, 2005... NISSEI has introduced electric screw drive for its FN series of eight machines from 80 to 460 tonnes. The recently introduced TACT control system is also now used and the design's hydraulic circuits have been improved. The FN retains...

Process optimisation software split for offline configuration.(INJECTION MOULDING)
May 1, 2005... THE latest version--2.3--of Kistler's DataFlow production process optimisation and monitoring software separates the management facility into two levels for setting up and production. Filters can be used during off-line analysis to simplify...

No need to replace interlocks.(INJECTION MOULDING)
May 1, 2005... Interchangeable wear surfaces of new DME IN2 interlocks eliminate the need to replace the entire side interlock. The interlocks align mould halves and are available in three standard sizes. Inexpensive wear inserts of graphitic steel are held...

Production monitoring keeps everyone in the picture.(INJECTION MOULDING)
May 1, 2005... SINCE installing Intouch production monitoring, TP Moulding of Telford is making as many parts in five days as it previously did in seven and has reduced tool changing times by about half. The company produces precision components for...

Up to six-axis articulation for heavy tooling.(AUTOMATION)
May 1, 2005... NEW Wittmann 7-Series linear robots are intended for injection moulding machines up to 2,000 tonnes and can handle large automotive or appliance components or insert moulding with heavy end of arm tooling. The Model W753 has a 75kg payload and...

Tool change target for steelmaking support company.(AUTOMATION)
May 1, 2005... CORUS Northern Engineering Services has linked with Tool Change Systems to offer tool change equipment, services and consultancy to injection and blow moulders, particularly those engaged in the automotive and aerospace industries. The...

Fanuc integration.(AUTOMATION)
May 1, 2005... MICROMECH Robotics has been appointed a system integrator in the UK by Fanuc Robots. www.micromech.co.uk Factfinder 106

Modular assembly station made from off-the-shelf components.(AUTOMATION)
May 1, 2005... MODULAR Automation is now supplying a twin cam operated Modular Assembly Cell for a wide range of applications. It can be configured with feed systems, grippers, sensors and appropriate tooling to customer's specification within a few weeks,...

Assembly machines for small mouldings.(AUTOMATION)
May 1, 2005... HIGH speed assembly machines made by CST of Italy are being introduced to the UK by Capsolutions. Established in the 1970s, the company supplies machines for the assembly of small and medium sized injection moulded components for packaging,...

Long-fibre glass-reinforced PBTs.(ENGINEERING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... GE Advanced Materials has introduced two new grades of glass-reinforced LNP Verton polybutylene terephthalate intended as alternatives to competitive short-fibre glass filled PBTs, polypropylenes and nylons. LNP Verton WF-7007 compound...

Innovative TPUs from Distrupol and PTS.(ENGINEERING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... DISTRUPOL has added two new ranges of plasticiser-free super-soft thermoplastic polyurethanes to its product portfolio while Plastic Technologie Service in Germany has been working with Bayer on soft TPEs incorporating Bayer's TPUs. The...

High glass content masterbatch cuts the cost of long fibre PP.(ENGINEERING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... ARKEMA has developed a new Pryltex long-fibre glass-reinforced high content range with 50 and 65 per cent glass fibre contents which it says makes Pryltex one of the highest glass fibre content products in the market. It is used as a...

FDA approval for Gatone PEEK.(ENGINEERING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... GATONE PEEK (polyether etherketone) plastics produced in India by Gharda Chemicals have gained food contact approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration. The product is now listed on the agency website (www.fda.gov) as an approved food...

Universal overmould TPE adheres to virtually all rigid plastics.(ENGINEERING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... AMERICAN thermoplastic elastomer specialist GLS Corporation has introduced a universal overmould TPE alloy that it says will adhere in two-shot and insert moulding applications to almost any rigid plastic substrate including ABS, copolyester,...

Nano technology blends PP and PS.(ENGINEERING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... USING a modified nano additive, German companies Sud-Chemie and Putsch Kunststoffe have succeeded in manufacturing the first completely compatible blends of polypropylene and polystyrene. These PP/PS blends are intended primarily for moulded...

Arkema has also used nano-technology to blend polymers in a way not previously possible.(ENGINEERING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... Arkema has also used nano-technology to blend polymers in a way not previously possible. It has developed the Nanostrength range of acrylic block copolymers which can be compounded into epoxies to improve their mechanical properties. The...

Ticona COC forms films practically free of gels.(PACKAGING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... A SECOND generation cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) material from Ticona produces highly transparent blown films that are practically free of gels. Topas 8007F-400 is described as an excellent choice for multilayer films, where it can be...

A secure future for polymer pricing?(PACKAGING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... The London Metal Exchange is about to begin a system of futures trading for commodity plastics. Futures trading smacks of big business, but the LME's Director of Exchange Development Neil Banks explains how smaller businesses can also benefit...

Corn-based co-monomer promises stronger bottles.(PACKAGING MATERIALS)
May 1, 2005... A collaboration in the USA between the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has opened the way for renewable resources to improve conventional polymers. The scheme involves the...

Welsh plant aims to become a major centre for agricultural recycling.(RECLAMATION & RECYCLING)
May 1, 2005... A GROUP of companies in South Wales is developing a recycling centre with an emphasis on reclaiming the agricultural plastics waste that farmers are about to be banned from burning or burying. The site at Capital Valley near Cardiff is...

Composite technologies replace metals in business jet.(COMPOSITES)
May 1, 2005... WHEN designing and building its new Falcon 7X business jet aircraft, Dassault made good use of composite technologies from Hexcel in the drive to replace costly metal assemblies by highly integrated composite parts. Hexcel's NC2 multiaxial...

German natural fibre composite research agreement.(COMPOSITES)
May 1, 2005... RELATED German injection moulding and compounding companies Krauss-Maffei and Berstorff have joined a research project with the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials to develop natural fibre composite materials. Part of the...

Cage System may be the way to Class A composite surfaces.(COMPOSITES)
May 1, 2005... THE Cage System, an innovative high speed composite moulding technology developed in France by RocTool Company, has attracted the attention of Azdel. The company, a 50:50 joint venture of GE Advanced Materials and PPG Industries, is evaluating...

New glass rovings and strands.(COMPOSITES)
May 1, 2005... ROVINGS for pultrusions and weaving have been introduced by Owens Coming and Johns Manville. The new Owens Coming glass roving is for pultruded high voltage applications. SE 8400 LS is a single-end type 30 roving made from the company's...

World class imaging technologies for Midlands SMEs.(TESTING & INSPECTION)
May 1, 2005... SMALL and medium sized business in the West Midlands can now benefit from some of the most advanced imaging and visualisation technologies in the world thanks to a new initiative launched by the University of Birmingham. These include...

New tensile and compression test frames from Mecmesin.(TESTING & INSPECTION)
May 1, 2005... A RANGE of motorised test stands for tensile and compression testing has been introduced by Mecmesin. Systems based on one of these MultiTest stands together with a force gauge or loadcell and appropriate fixtures and accessories can be used to...

Instron adds thermal test chambers.(TESTING & INSPECTION)
May 1, 2005... INSTRON SFL has introduced the first of a planned range of affordable thermal environmental chambers for testing materials under extremes of temperature. These new Heatwave chambers use forced air convection to attain temperatures up to 350...

Thin thermocouples.(TEMPERATURE CONTROL)
May 1, 2005... Tuerk+Hillinger has developed crush-proof thermocouples only 1 and 1.5mm in diameter. The components have quick reaction times and high precision of measurement. Movements and vibrations are not transmitted to the inside contact points....

Improved control options for low cost temperature control unit.(TEMPERATURE CONTROL)
May 1, 2005... REGLOPLAS now offers its 90smart low cost mould temperature controller with an integrated RT60 controller at slight extra cost. Heating capacity of 9 kW is combined with 24 kW cooling capacity at 90 degC. Upper and lower temperature limits...

Piovan sets up British subsidiary.(TEMPERATURE CONTROL)
May 1, 2005... PIOVAN of Italy, which makes temperature controllers and other ancillary equipment, has set up its own subsidiary company as part of a continuing policy to have its own subsidiaries rather than agents. Towards the end of last year it set up a...

Stratasys introduces PC-ABS prototyping blend.(PROTOTYPING)
May 1, 2005... STRATASYS is claiming a first for a PC): ABS blend material it has produced for use with its fused deposition modelling rapid prototyping and rapid production machines. Blends of polycarbonate with ABS are widely used in the manufacture of...