Plastics Engineering articles from December 2006

Plastics Engineering archives from December 2006

Notice of proposed bylaw amendments.
December 1, 2006... Dear SPE Member: The Society of Plastics Engineers Bylaws require that all proposed amendments undergo a three-step approval process: a vote of Council to recommend the proposed bylaw amendment(s) for consideration; if the vote passes,...

Nanoclay compounds reduce permeation.(MATERIALS)(RTP Co)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... RTP Company (Winona, Minn.) has developed nanoclay compounds that permit manufacturers of small engines and fuel tanks to meet the new fuel-emission standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for recreational and lawn/garden...

Thermoset composite for compressor vanes.(MATERIALS)
December 1, 2006... A thermoset composite from Norplex-Micarta (Postville, Iowa), NP193PM, promises excellent dimensional stability in compressor vane applications, which prevents warping of the pump blades. In addition, it operates at lower temperatures than...

Low-shrink adhesives.(MATERIALS)
December 1, 2006... Based in Danvers, Mass., ITW Plexus has added a series of low-shrink adhesives to its line of Plexus methacrylate adhesives for structural bonding. The MA 1000 Series feature very low shrinkage and are said to be ideal for the structural...

Biobased polymer can take a hit.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Fujitsu Laboratories (Tokyo, Japan), in collaboration with Toray Industries, has developed a biobased polymer that it says retains the excellent heat-resistance and moldability features of their previously developed biobased polymer while...

For your nice new car.(MATERIALS)
December 1, 2006... Two new grades of Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) from ExxonMobil Chemical address the demands of automotive OEMs for a "more harmonized appearance in exterior components." The need is particularly great in weatherseal applications,...

Ampacet rolls out new masterbatches.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... At the Pack Expo show held in Chicago in October, Ampacet of Tarrytown, N.Y., introduced a range of new masterbatches. * Ampacet 103003 and 103004--two masterbatches that minimize warpage in polyolefins during color changeouts in molding...

Solvay launches new PEEKs.(MATERIALS)
December 1, 2006... Solvay Advanced Polymers, L.L.C. (Alpharetta, Ga.), has added its new line of KetaSpire PEEK (polyetherether ketone) products to the company's SolvaSpire family of ultra-performance plastics. KetaSpire PEEK, which, the company says, combines...

High-impact PS targets appliance applications.(MATERIALS)
December 1, 2006... Based in Channahon, Ill., Ineos Styrenics offers the appliance market two specialty high-impact polystyrene (PS) resins that, together, provide low-temperature impact strength, chemical resistance, and high-gloss surface appearance. *...

For rigid packaging.(MATERIALS)
December 1, 2006... Two resins in The Dow Chemical Company's family of Inspire Performance Polymers have been commercialized for rigid-packaging applications. Combining stiffness, toughness, and clarity, says Dow, these propylene-based materials enable the...

Body armor.(MATERIALS)
December 1, 2006... Netherlands-based DSM has introduced a strengthened ballistic fiber material for soft body armor. Dyneema SB61 offers ultra-high energy absorption to provide significantly increased stopping power. It has been chosen by American Body Armor for...

Castor oil-based polyols for the urethane industry.(MATERIALS)
December 1, 2006... Based in Indianapolis, Ind., Vertellus Performance Materials, Inc., has introduced a new line of polyols--the Polycin GR series--derived solely from the components of castor oil. Described as the first completely natural, renewable seed-based...

Advances in magnesium molding bode well for processors seeking diversity and business.
December 1, 2006... Metal fabrication may seem an unlikely ally in a plastics processor's efforts to increase business and hone a competitive edge. But recent developments in magnesium injection molding, coupled with the relative simplicity of the technology, give...

More plastics in tough trucks: innovations lighten the load for trucks, while maintaining durability.
December 1, 2006... The preconception that trucks require steel components to be truly "tough" continues to be contradicted. Plastics abilities to absorb energy in rugged use and cut vehicle weight are being demonstrated in more heavy trucks and SUVs. This was...

Machinery annual: technological advances boost processing efficiency.(plastics-processing machinery innovations)
December 1, 2006... New developments and technological advances in plastics-processing machinery promise improved efficiency and flexibility, higher-quality parts, and cost savings through reduced energy consumption. Competition from used and rebuilt machinery has...

Patents of interest.(Horizons)
December 1, 2006... The patent is a legal document giving the holder a license to capitalize on his or her invention without competition for a few years. In exchange, the holder teaches us the basis of the invention. The patent is forward-looking, representing a...

Router trimming for large parts.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... Robotic Production Technology (RPT) introduced its RoboTrim RT-500 router trimming system at the recent SPE Thermoforming Conference in Nashville, Tenn. Designed specifically to trim large thermo-formed, injection-molded, blow-molded,...

Cooling towers.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... A new line of cooling towers complements Mokon's existing circulating-liquid temperature-control systems and portable and central chillers. Two types of cooling towers, constructed of galvanized steel or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are...

Blender handles difficult regrind.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... TSM Control Systems has added more features to its TSM 1000 gravimetric batch blender. This model, which can handle up to 1000 kg/hr, is redesigned to work with the most difficult regrind, the company says. The mixing chamber, with its...

High-speed measurement.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... The Helio-Scope from Mahr Federal is a universal optical measuring system designed to facilitate precision control of complex turned parts. Able to operate in the lab and on the shop floor, the Helio-Scope allows the measurement of many...

Bigger ovens for rotational molding.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... Rotoline has extended the length of its cylindrical oven that is unique to the company's range of rotational molding equipment, thus enabling the production of larger parts without the need for a larger machine. The extended-oven "XT" machines...

Mold-making services.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... Canon U.S.A. has announced that Canon Virginia, Inc., is offering its expertise and technology in injection mold-making services to other manufacturers. The technology centers on software that rapidly converts customer designs into machine...

Digital valve positioner.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... The Flowserve Logix 3400IQ Foundation Fieldbus digital valve positioner features a FISCO-compliant user interface board, improved potentiometer, piezoelectric technology, and host interoperability. Suitable for a variety of applications,...

Strand pelletizer prevents cross-contamination.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... A strand pelletizer, the Reduction 800 Series, described by manufacturer Reduction Engineering as being of completely new design, provides safeguards against contamination of compound by stray pellets from previous production runs, makes...

Direct feeding.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... The Buss AG "quantec" kneader is available in a new version adapted for direct feeding to PVC film calenders. It is said to offer the following advantages: * more compact design for the same throughput to save space and investment cost;...

Enhanced control for weather testing.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... Atlas Material Testing Technology has added an enhanced digital control system to its Ci3000+ Weather-Ometer and Fade-Ometer to afford more options, flexibility, and control to their accelerated weathering testing. One notable change, says the...

Supercooling for antioxidant production.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Antioxidants are used as stabilizers in the plastics and tire industries. Without antioxidants, a tire would harden, drastically shortening its operational life and reducing its elasticity properties. Sandvik Process Systems designs, develops,...

Precision hole-cutting.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
December 1, 2006... According to International Carbide Corp. (ICC), cutting precision holes in thermoset plastics is not a metalworking problem and should not be left to metalworking technology. ICC offers a flexible, plastics-specific technology for hole cutting...

Bayer MaterialScience buys Taiwanese TPU producer.(thermoplastic polyurethane producer Ure-Tech Group of Taiwan)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Bayer MaterialScience, based in Leverkusen, Germany, has announced that it will acquire TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) producer Ure-Tech Group of Taiwan. Subject to regulatory approval, the deal is scheduled to close in first-quarter 2007....

DuPont announces Shanghai start-up.(DuPont Performance Elastomers)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... DuPont Performance Elastomers of Wilmington, Del., has launched a new company in China: DuPont Performance Elastomers Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Boosting its commitment to customers in the China market, the new entity follows DuPont's...

PolyOne extends in China.(Ngai Hing PlastChem Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Ohio-based PolyOne Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and operations of Ngai Hing PlastChem Company Ltd., the vinyl-compounding subsidiary of Ngai Hing Hong Company Limited, headquartered in Hong Kong. The transaction...

Lanxess creates separate EPDM entity.(ethylene propylene diene terpolymer)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Lanxess Corp. (Pittsburgh) reports that it will be regrouping EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) resources to form a wholly owned, separate legal entity. These products are currently handled as part of the company's Technical Rubber...

Teknor Apex expands European operations.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Headquartered in Pawtucket, R.I., the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex Company has created a European sales and service organization based at affiliate Chem Polymer's headquarters in England. Further, Teknor Apex has announced...

Chemtura divests non-core businesses.(Chemtura Corp. acquired Davis Standard LLC )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Supporting its strategy of focusing resources on core businesses, Chemtura Corp., based in Middlebury, Conn., has sold its majority interest in Davis Standard, LLC (Pawcatuck, Conn.) to joint-venture partner Hamilton Robinson LLC for...

Ashland details recent activities.(Ashland Inc. acquired Northwest Coatings)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Ashland, Inc., of Covington, Ky., has agreed to purchase the assets of Northwest Coatings, an Oak Creek, Wis.-based manufacturer of adhesives and coatings employing ultraviolet and electron beam (UV/EB) polymerization technologies. The...

Ciba & Max Planck Institute begin research project.(Max Planck Institute)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Ciba Specialty Chemicals (Muttenz, Switzerland) and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Mainz, Germany) have established a three-year research project to develop novel conductive polymers for printable electronic applications. The...

Dow foam protects Egyptian treasure.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... When the 85-ton granite statue of Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II was moved from downtown Cairo to a museum near the Great Pyramids in Giza, it was wrapped in Dow's Voracor rigid polyurethane foam. Voracor was selected because it met the project's...

New ExxonMobil facility is planned for Louisiana.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... ExxonMobil Chemical (Houston) plans to build a new facility at its Baton Rouge, La., complex to produce specialty compounded products. Expected to start up in second-quarter 2007, the plant will manufacture a broad spectrum of commercial...

Arburg builds Tech Center in California.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Headquartered in Lossburg, Germany, injection-molding machine maker Arburg announces that it has broken ground for its new West Coast Technology Center in Irvine, Calif., which is expected to be complete by September 2007. The approximately...

Arkema closes plant in France.(Arkema (Paris))(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Citing "recurring losses and a cost structure that no longer aligned with market demands," Arkema (Paris) has announced that it will shut down operations at its organic peroxides production plant in Loison-sous-Lens, France. At total of 57 jobs...

Husky to shut U.K. Technical Center.(Husky Injection Molding Systems )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Husky Injection Molding Systems has announced plans to close its Technical Center in the United Kingdom and relocate to a smaller office while leveraging the capabilities of its recently upgraded Luxembourg Technical Center. Husky says the move...

Vinyl industry group helps house houston families.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Vinyl Partners for Humanity)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... In spring 2006, Vinyl Partners for Humanity (VPH) volunteers worked to help three families in Houston, Texas, build homes for themselves in eight days. VPH, led by The Vinyl Institute (Arlington, Va.), is a collaboration of vinyl materials and...

Daniel Eberhardt (1949-2006).(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Daniel L. Eberhardt, president, CEO, and founder of MRC Polymers, Inc., died on October 19, 2006, when his single-engine plane crashed in Maryland. Chairperson of SPE's Recycling Division and co-chair of the City of Chicago's Committee on...

Upcoming event.(Calendar)
December 1, 2006... * SPE CONFERENCES Feb 25-28, 2007. SPE's International Polyolefins Conference. Site: Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel, Houston. Contact: William A. Diecks, Conference Chair, 832-813-4451, email dieckwa@cpchem.com. Mar. 6-7, 2007. SPE's GPEC...