Plastics Engineering articles from February 2002

Plastics Engineering archives from February 2002

Rotomolded housings blend into their neighborhood. (Applications in Plastics).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Rotationally molded outdoor telecommunications enclosures developed by Channell Commercial Corp. of Temecula, Cal., are said to meet the rigorous end-use requirements of new high-speed DSL and cable broadband systems while readily blending into...

Acrylic/PVC alloy creates new "image". (Applications in Plastics).(Medrad uses Kleerdex's Kydex 100 acrylic/polyvinyl chloride)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Medrad, Inc., of Pittsburgh now uses Kydex 100 acrylic/PVC (polyvinyl chloride) alloy from Kleerdex Co. in the thermoformed housings of its MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) receiver coil assemblies. The Kydex 100 alloy replaces the plastic...

Leave a message: this phone "sparkles". (Application in Plastics).(i.Picasso IP business phone uses GE Plastics' Cycology resin)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The i.Picasso IP (Internet protocol) business phone from the congruency company gets its stylish, next-generation look from GE Plastics' new ECO-label conforming flame-retardant (FR) Cycoloy resin. Designers attained the phone's paint-free,...

Weight-saving compound helps skaters go lightly. (Application in Plastics).(PolyOne Engineered materials's Edgetek compound)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A custom-made Edgetek compound from PolyOne is said to offer significant weight savings while maintaining high stiffness and impact resistance. Edgetek is described as a range of polymers for structural applications demanding high modulus;...

OSHA: Plastics plants pose high amputation risk. (SPI News).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., (SPI) has alerted its members to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiative focused on plastics processors and outlined the association's plans for helping the industry...

Year-ending trade mission betokens further success. (SPI News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In late 2001, SPI completed a highly successful trade mission, as more than two dozen members journeyed to the Maquiladora Region to take part in the latest Global Business Council (GBC) event. Held December 2-5, 2001, the trade mission...

SPI offers registrar listing for ISO 14001 certification. (SPI News).(Society of the Plastics Industry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... SPI recently announced creation of a Preferred Registrar Program for member companies seeking third-party audit and registration under ISO 14001. Under the new initiative, plastics companies can choose from among several prescreened...

SPI's Duncan to address SPE's GPEC Conference. (SPI News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... SPI President Don Duncan is scheduled to be a plenary speaker at the 2002 Global Plastics Environmental Conference (GPEC). Formerly called the Annual Recycling Conference, GPEC is being presented by SPE on February 13-14 in Detroit. The theme...

Robotics Industry notes decline in new orders. (Industry News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Statistics released by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) of Ann Arbor, Mich., indicate that the current economic slump is taking its toll on robotics companies in North America. According to RIA, these companies reported a decline in new...

Plastics Pioneers present annual scholarships. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The efforts of 16 college students pursuing careers in plastics have been recognized by the Plastics Pioneers Association, which has awarded each with a $1500 scholarship. The annual scholarship program, begun by the Pioneers in 1988, is...

Dow sharpens cutting edge. (Industry News).(Dow Chemical plans research and development funding)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Dow Chemical Company, based in Midland, Mich., reports that it is investing $1 billion in R&D for 2002, with two-thirds allocated for inventing new products and materials. In this way, says Dow, it is "helping invent the future of materials...

RPPI joins the ranks of APC. (Industry News).(Rigid Plastic Packaging Institute; American Plastics Council)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Rigid Plastic Packaging Institute (RPPI) has announced plans to affiliate with the American Plastics Council (APC) of Arlington, Va. Cutting ties with the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), RPPI says that APC addresses many issues of...

CM Acquisitions LLC. (Acquisitions).(to buy American Roller)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... CM Acquisitions LLC, a private equity firm based in Chicago, announces that it has agreed to acquire American Roller Co. of Bannockburn, Ill.

Hunkar Laboratories, Inc. (Acquisitions).(acquires EVltrak Technologies)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Hunkar Laboratories, Inc., of Cincinnati announces its acquisition of Norwalk, Ohio-based EVItrak Technologies, Inc. While EVItrak operations are being moved to Hunkar's corporate offices in Cincinnati, a sales office will be maintained in...

Rheometric Scientific has been named the winner of the 2001 New Jersey Small Business Development Center's Manufacturing Success award. (Award).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Piscataway, N.J.-based Rheometric Scientific has been named the winner of the 2001 New Jersey Small Business Development Center's Manufacturing Success award. Key to Rheometric's win was its 2001 acquisition of two "complementary" companies,...

Degussa Corp. (Distributors).(Whittaker, Clark and Daniels named official distributor)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Silanes Business Line of Degussa Corp., based in Parsippany, N.J., announces that Whittaker, Clark & Daniels has been named as the official distributor of its organosilanes products in the Northeast (effective Oct. 1, 2001).

Grieve Corp. (Distributors).(Muchener Medizin Mechanik GmbH named distributor)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Grieve Corp. of Round Lake, Ill., has announced its appointment as the exclusive distributor of the MMM (Muchener Medizin Mechanik GmbH) line of laboratory ovens, dryers, incubators, and sterilizers. MMM has manufacturing facilities in...

Akzo Nobel's plastics and processing additives business unit, which trades as Akcros Chemicals, has signed an agreement for a management-buy-out (MBO) by a team of key personnel. (Divestiture).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Akzo Nobel's plastics and processing additives business unit, which trades as Akcros Chemicals (Eccles, U.K.), has signed an agreement for a management-buy-out (MBO) by a team of key personnel. The MBO team will form a new company under the...

Chem Polymer Corp. has added a new compounding extrusion line, purchased from NFM/Welding Engineers of Massillon, Ohio. (Expansion).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Ft. Myers, Fla.-based Chem Polymer Corp. has added a new compounding extrusion line, purchased from NFM/Welding Engineers of Massillon, Ohio. The new line has been in production since September 2001.

Sika Industry. (ISO/QS Certification).(companies receive certification)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The following have received ISO, QS, or other Certification: Sika Industry, Madison Heights, Mich., QS 9000, for its plant in Marion, Ohio. Impact Analytical, Midland, Mich., 150 9002:1994.

A collaborative partnership between 4aBetterBusiness, Inc. and Mindware Creative Inc. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A collaborative partnership between 4aBetterBusiness, Inc. (Northfield, Ill.), and Mindware Creative Inc. (Arlington Heights, Ill.), builds on 4aBetterBusiness's existing computer-based learning tools for problem solving, process improvement,...

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) have signed an agreement to further promote licensure among minority engineers and engineering students. The initiative's first offering is...

Degussa AG. (Joint Ventures).(acquisition of 25% of the shares of Egesil A.S.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Dusseldorf, Germany-based Coatings and Advanced Fillers Division of Degussa AG (Frankfurt, Germany) has acquired 25% of the shares of Egesil AS (Adapazari, Turkey), a manufacturer of precipitated silica, with majority shareholding scheduled...

Twinshot Technologies and Spirex Corp. have jointly announced an international licensing agreement authorizing Spirex to provide Twinshot's coinjection process to the retrofit market. (License).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Twinshot Technologies and Spirex Corp. have jointly announced an international licensing agreement authorizing Spirex to provide Twinshot's coinjection process to the retrofit market. Headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, Spirex has numerous...

Bimetalix, a producer of bimetallic single and twin barrels, has become a division of Spirex (Youngstown, Ohio). (Merger).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Bimetalix, a producer of bimetallic single and twin barrels, has become a division of Spirex (Youngstown, Ohio). The new division will manufacture single barrels and other products from Bimetalix's former headquarters location in Sullivan,...

Keith J. Robinson Global Consult Limited. (New Companies).(plastics and rubber industries consutling services)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A new e-business, Keith J. Robinson Global Consult Limited (Sarnia, Ontario, Canada), offers consultancy services to the plastics and synthetic rubber industries worldwide. Accessible at www.kjrglobalconsult.ca, the company targets the...

PDOptions. (New Companies).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A new company has been launched in Burnsville, Minn., to help product development teams speed their companies' new products to market. PDOptions is jointly owned by three companies with reported annual sales (combined) of $60 million:...

Serigraph, Inc. (New Division).(High Tech Division formed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Serigraph, Inc., a West Bend, Wis.-based provider of plastics decorating solutions, has created a new High Tech Division, which will focus on such "hard-to-decorate" items as computer components, backlit applications, and handheld and wireless...

Pactiv Corp. (New Facilities).(plans for new distribution center)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Pactiv Corp. of Lake Forest, Ill., has announced plans to build a western regional distribution center in Bakersfield, Calif. Planning is under way for construction (to begin in May) of a building that will eventually provide 1.6 million...

Resolution Performance Products LLC. (New Facilities).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Resolution Performance Products LLC announces the start-up of a new facility for the production of Cardura E10P glycidylester at the company's integrated site in Pernis, The Netherlands. The plant has a reported capacity of 20,000 MT/yr.

Axess Corp. of Greenville, Del., announces the formation of Ajedium Film Group, Inc., a subsidiary that will manufacture, market, and sell high-performance thermoplastic films. (New Subsidiary).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Axess Corp. of Greenville, Del., announces the formation of Ajedium Film Group, Inc., a subsidiary that will manufacture, market, and sell high-performance thermoplastic films. Located with another Axess company, Empower Materials, Inc., at 100...

Imerys Pigments and Additives Group. (Price Changes).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Imerys Pigments and Additives Group, located in Roswell, Ga., announces that prices of its North American ground calcium carbonate products are increasing, effective Feb. 1, 2002. Increases range between 3% and 8%, the amount varying by...

Enercon Industries Corp. announces the appointment of a new representative in Osaka, Japan. (Representative).
February 1, 2002... Headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Enercon Industries Corp. announces the appointment of a new representative in Osaka, Japan: Gunze Ltd. will handle both the induction-cap-sealing and surface-treating product lines.

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP (CPChem). (Shutdowns).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP (CPChem) of Houston announces that it is closing its Performance Pipe plant in Abbeville, S.C., and consolidating that plant's production into the Performance Pipe plants in Startex, S.C., and elsewhere. The...

The Dow Chemical Co. (Shutdowns).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.) has reported its plan to idle the Train i toluene diisocyanate (TDI) production line (with a 130 million lb/yr capacity) at its Texas Operations in Freeport by the end of January 2002. This is one of two...

Websites. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Chemcentral Online, Bedford Hills, Ill., www.chemcentral.com, new site (replacing former site at the same URL) incorporating e-business functions. RPA Process Technologies, Portage, Mich., www.RPAprocess.com, new site. Advanced...

Principia Partners. (Other Briefs).(www.principiaconsulting.com)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Exton, Pa.-based consulting firm Principia Partners announces the availability of a portfolio of research related to the natural/wood fiber-based polymer composites industry. Reports include "Wood Composites and Plastic Lumber Directory," First...

Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI). (Other Briefs).(Preferred Registrar Program)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Based in Washington, D.C., the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI), has announced the creation of a Preferred Registrar Program for member companies seeking third-party audit and registration under ISO 14001. The new initiative allows...

Akcros Chemicals. (Other Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Akcros Chemicals announces that it is investing in increased production of the Interlite ZP range of solid mixed metal soap stabilizers at its facility in Eccles, U.K. Further, Akcros is concentrating European production of PVC additives to two...

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., LP, (CPChem). (Other Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Headquartered in Houston, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., LP, (CPChem) has announced plans to shut down two small Particle Form (PF) Loop Reactors at its Orange, Tex., facility, leaving one PF loop reactor and a Gas Phase reactor in operation....

Zwick introduces testControl Electronics. (Extra Impact).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Zwick now offers its state-of-the-art electronics suite for their complete line of materials testing machines. The German-engineered modular concept of testControl is completely digital, yet cost effective, and runs on testXpert[R] PC software...

Heat transfer fluids report. (Extra Impact).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... This Report compares leading mineral thermal fluids on resistance to oxidation and thermal stability. Made with the patented HT Purity process and special performance enhancing additives, non-toxic CALFLO AF could help lower your operating...

Quantitative residual strain measurement. (Extra Impact).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Strain measurement provides valuable information about expected product performance. Strainoptic's instruments offer both qualitative and quantitative strain measurement for a broad range of transparent plastics. Non-destructive visual and...

How dry I am...? or not! (Extra Impact).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Know when your resins are dry enough to process with Omnimark's Mark 2 moisture analyzer. Reduce dry times by knowing when your resin is within the moisture spec. Eliminate underdrying or splay and overdrying by testing for moisture. Contact:

PMF[R] Fiber. Economical high-performance reinforcement. (Extra Impact).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In applications from phenolics and nylon to polypropylene and polybutylene, PMF[R] Fiber provides reinforcement at a very competitive cost, and can actually improve product performance. It's even heat resistant to over 1,000[degrees]F, and is...

Plastics testing.
February 1, 2002... Plastics testing has evolved, emphasizing precision and speed. Resin producers require data that more accurately reflect the actual operating conditions under which materials perform, so testing products with better performance and reliability...

Scientific graphing and data analysis. (Computers & Plastics).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... OriginLab Corp. has released Origin version 7.0, a Windows-based scientific graphing and data analysis software said to be the first scientific software to combine presentation-quality graphics, the C language, and elements of the library of...

Connect material sourcing and product development. (Computers & Plastics).(with software from Resinate Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... ResinateQEM is said to be the first software that standardizes materials-sourcing activities and unites them directly with product development, thereby improving the accuracy of material selection, accelerating product decision-making and...

A vision of quality. (Equipment & Processing).(Husky Injection Molding Systems, Pressco development machine)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... An integrated injection molding system with vision inspection for the continuous quality monitoring of every preform has been jointly developed by Husky Injection Molding Systems and Pressco. The partners say that their new system provides...

FT-IR Imaging System cuts analysis time. (Equipment & Processing).(Perkin Elmer Spectrum Spotlight 300 IR Imaging System)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The PerkinElmer Spectrum Spotlight 300 IR Imaging System generates images with complete chemical information in minutes instead of hours, the manufacturer reports. Moreover, says PerkinElmer, the device's sensitivity, speed, and flexibility...

Vacuum Tester for plastic containers. (Equipment & Processing).(AgrTopWave launches VacTest)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Hope Molinare Agr(*)TopWave announces the VacTest (VTl100), a tabletop device designed to measure the vacuum resistance of rigid plastic containers. VacTest enables an operator to quickly and easily determine the maximum level of vacuum...

QC/QA Rheometer. (Equipment & Processing).(Bohlin Instruments' CBO100Rehometer)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Bohlin Instruments has introduced its CVO100 Rheometer as a dynamic-range system specifically designed for QC and QA testing. Incorporating many features found on the company's research-grade system, the CVOlOO ensures high levels of accuracy,...

Low-gloss acetal for auto interiors. (Materials).(Ticona's Celcon UV14OLG)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... New from Ticona, the Summit, N.J.-based technical polymers business of Celanese AG, is a low-gloss acetal copolymer designed for use in applications where gloss consistency is critical, notably, automotive interiors. According to Ticona, the...

Colors are brewing for PET beer bottles. (Materials).(Americhem launches green and amber color line for plastic beer bottles)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A new line of green and amber color, concentrates for PET (polyethylene terephthalate) beer bottles has been introduced by Americhem of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Designed specifically for use with the many different methods of processing PET beer...

Metallized OPP film. (Materials).(Toray Plastics (America)'s new metallized oriented polypropylene film)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... New from Toray Plastics (America) is a high-barrier metallized OPP (oriented polypropylene) film designed as a "drop in" direct foil replacement in multilayer extrusion and adhesive laminations. Designated 45-gauge Torayfan PCF, the new...

OTR packaging films. (Materials).(Atlantis Plastics' low-density polyethylene blended film)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Atlantis Plastics has developed packaging film that simultaneously offers clarity and high oxygen transmission rates (OTR), the company reports. Offering 300-plus OTR, the film is available in two low-density polyethylene blends--Clarity, Hi...

Plastics Analysis--The engineer's resource for troubleshooting product and process problems and for competitive analysis.
February 1, 2002... If you are not taking advantage of state-of-the-art analytical methods, your competitor or the company suing you is. This article will help the plastics engineer or chemist select methods that will be part of the solution. Advances in...

Personnel.(includes multiple assignments and promotions)
February 1, 2002... PPG INDUSTRIES PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, has named Michael J. Petley as fiberglass reinforcements sales director and Robin E. Snyder as reinforcements market development manager. CUMBERLAND John Farney has been hired as...

Obituaries.(R.W. Rees; Carl V. Leunig)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... SPE mourns the death of R.W. Rees of the Detroit Section. SPE notes with sorrow the death of Carl V. Leunig of the Hudson-Mohawk Section.

Kudos to SPE staff, from you, from us. (SPE News).(Society of Plastic Engineers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In 1999, the Society of Plastics Engineers introduced an Employee Recognition Award, which honors SPE employees who have delivered exceptional service to a member or customer. The SPE Customer Service Committee presents the award quarterly. It...

Best student papers, ANTEC 2001. (SPE News).
February 1, 2002... Student presentations are important to the success of ANTEC, as well as to the success of the industry. Several students have been honored for their papers at ANTEC 2001: * The Injection Molding Division presented its third place award to...

TM&F Best Paper Award. (SPE News).(Thermoplastic materials and Foams Division's awards)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division's ANTEC 2001 Best Paper Award in the Polyolefins category was given to the paper titled "Impact Enhancement of Clarified Polypropylene With Selected Metallocene Plastomers," written by Thomas Yu (at...

Chinaplas 2002 in Shanghai. (SPE News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The 16th International Exhibition on Plastics and Rubber Industries will be staged at Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Pudong, Shanghai, China, on June 25--29. An official U.S. pavilion will be at the show, certified by the U.S....

SPE is looking for a few good authors. (SPE News).(The Societ of Plastics Engineers Technical Volumes Committee)
February 1, 2002... Got an idea just begging to burst forth? How about penning the great American plastics novel? Have you always wanted to see your name on a book jacket? The SPE Technical Volumes Committee is here to help you. Not only can the Committee...

Canadian members--call home. (SPE News).
February 1, 2002... To make life easier for SPE members in Canada, a special local phone number has been set up for you to use. Thanks to the newly formed strategic alliance agreement with the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA), a CPIA staff member will...