Plastics Engineering articles from January 2005

Plastics Engineering archives from January 2005

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) for human spinal-cord injuries?(From The Society Of Plastic Engineers)
January 1, 2005... Purdue University's Center for Paralysis has helped dogs with spinal injuries by injecting the liquid polymer PEG within 72 hours of the trauma. According to the center's director--Dr. Borgens, the Mari Hulman George Professor of Applied...

Transparent colors.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Solvay Advanced Polymers has introduced a line of transparent colors of Radel R polyphenylsulfone, a high-performance plastic known for its toughness in reusable medical devices in which it must withstand highly aggressive cleaners and...

High-strength, low-weight fabric.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Moldable Fabric Technology (MFT), described by manufacturer Milliken & Co. as an engineered thermoplastic composite with superior impact resistance and stiffness and lightweight composition, is designed for use in pressure thermo-forming...

Impact-modified PC tolerates low temps.(Materials)(polycarbonate)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... PRL PC-IM is an impact-modified polycarbonate from Polymer Resources that features low-temperature properties for injection molding and extrusion applications. The company reports that the breakage-resistant material has been used successfully...

Low-styrene resin goes underground.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Ashland Composite Polymers' Aropol Q7022 T-08 low-styrene (less than 35%) polyester resin is reported to reduce hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions and provide corrosion resistance to petroleum products, alcohols, and alcohol-gasoline...

Crosslinking compound.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Traditional wire-sheathing materials such as PVC can release toxic fumes and dense black smoke when burning. The ensuing corrosive gases can hinder evacuation from public areas and cause irreparable damage to electronic equipment. Megolon...

Electrically conductive adhesive solders.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Syon electrically conductive adhesive solders from Devcon can be used to form conductive paths in applications in which hot soldering would be ineffective or impractical. These epoxy and epoxide formulations mix and pour easily, fill voids...

Woven roving-based fabrics for closed molding.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Reported to infuse 10 times faster than current materials, OC FlowRo from Owens Corning, which is designed for use by boat builders, is a woven roving-based fabric for closed molding that the company says is priced significantly lower than...

High-flow conductive compounds.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... For the production of complex medical, electronic, and biotechnological devices, RTP Co. has developed high-flow conductive polypropylene (PP) compounds for thin-wall injection molding. Because thin-wall parts have a restrictive flow path,...

Plasticizer-free soft elastomers.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Bayer MaterialScience has developed a group of polyurethane cast elastomer systems that are said to enable casters/molders to produce extremely soft and flexible parts that have excellent tear resistance. The new technology is intended to...

Flame retardant to replace pentaBDE.(Materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Albemarle Corp. has introduced Saytex RZ 243 flame retardant as a replacement for pentaBDE (pentabromodiphenyl ether), which will soon be phased out of production. The company says that Saytex RZ 243, for production of flame-retardant...

"Hot-spot" free.(Materials)(Nexstat-10C896 introduced by NPI)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A static-dissipative polypropylene compound, Nexstat-10C896, has been introduced by NPI. Hot-spot free articles that exhibit consistent resistivity in the range of [10.sup.6] to [10.sup.9] ohms/sq can be molded from the material, reports the...

The wireless factory: increase productivity, reduce costs.
January 1, 2005... One of the strongest growth areas in manufacturing is the wireless factory. The system uses a wireless local area network (WLAN) within a plant and portable devices like PDAs (personal digital assistants), cell phones, and notebook computers to...

Plastic pipe: corrosion resistance, ease of installation stimulate demand for plastic pipe.
January 1, 2005... Plastics have been used in the manufacture of pipe for decades, offering significant advantages over traditional piping materials such as cast and ductile iron, steel, and concrete. Extruded pipe is less expensive to transport, handle, install,...

Horizons: nothing for something.(plastics processing)
January 1, 2005... My first impression of plastics was that of well-chewed chewing gum, soft, sticky, and impossible to process. Processing this stuff requires all the breaks the processor can get. Ultrasonic vibration may be one of these breaks; and, strangely...

Small molders find their niche: multi-material processes like multi-shot molding have become technologies of choice for some smaller manufacturers, allowing them to expand their businesses and stay competitive.(SPE Automotive Division's 2004 Innovation Awards)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... At November's ceremony for the SPE Automotive Division's 2004 Innovation Awards, the winning OEMs were recognized for their key roles in bringing part concepts into production. ,But companies of multiple sizes from multiple tiers also deserve...

Wrist-Fixation device provides lightweight support.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The new ClearView Wrist Fixation system from Rigid fx Orthopedics Corp. offers those suffering certain types of wrist fracture lightweight comfort along with the support their injury requires. The new wrist fixator is made from GE Advanced...

PC glazing affords lower weight, design flexibility in car parts.(Products & Applications)(polycarbonate)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Bayer MaterialScience's Makrolon polycarbonate (PC) glazing was selected by Altair Engineering, Inc., for use in aftermarket racing-kit concept parts for the Ford Focus. The parts include a panoramic roof and tailgate design. Makrolon was...

Engineering thermoplastics "empower" new fuel cell.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Ticona reports that it has introduced the world's first fuel cell prototype made solely of engineering thermoplastics. The 17-cell unit contains injection molded bipolar plates of Vectra liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and end plates of Fortron...

Food slicer features acetal cutting board.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The new "Clever Cleaver" kitchen cutter from Ronan Tools integrates a cutting board molded from DuPont Delrin acetal resin with a stainless steel knife and soft-grip plastic handles. Delrin acetal provides a strong, stiff cutting board with...

Human anatomy on display--preserved in plastic.(Products & Applications)(Body Worlds, the Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A human body, with organs suspended by 350 nylon strings, expanded to the size of a nine-foot giant, allowing optimum observation and study: This is among the attractions at Body Worlds, the Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, on view...

PTFE-coated hypotubes ensure optimum lubricity.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A PTFE coating service for stainless steel and nitinol hypodermic tubing used in medical devices has been announced by Applied Plastics Co. The coating does not alter the physical properties of the tubing, the company says. Applied...

High-visibility work gear.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Ergodyne has expanded its line of work gear to include GloWear High-Visibility Apparel. As an incentive for workers to actually wear the protective gear, says Ergodyne, it has focused on providing comfort and style along with rugged...

Direct-drive molding.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The IntElect Series of all-electric, direct-drive injection molding machines from Demag Plastics Group, originally available in larger models (220 to 385 tons), is now offered as well in smaller units (55 to 165 tons). The company notes that...

Horizontal shuttle blow-molding machine.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The UMS 16D horizontal shuttle blow-molding machine from Uniloy Milacron can be fitted for production of two to six parisons in single-station or double-station configuration. The machine offers interchangeability with existing molds, increased...

Process control for injection molding.(Machinery & Processing)(Priamus System Technologies AG)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The eDAQ Process Control Center from Priamus is said to be capable of monitoring as many as 64 cavity-pressure, cavity-temperature, and machine signals in real time. It is virtually independent of the processing machine, according to the...

Control Cabinet with a view.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Diamond America's Swivel View Control Cabinet rotates 90[degrees] to give the operator complete access to the controls when standing downstream of the extruder. The cabinet is useful in many applications, according to the company, especially in...

Airstream clears windows.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... To keep machine processes and parts visible at all times, Exair's Air Disk Window Blowoff System uses airflow technology to eject a small amount of compressed air through a thin slotted ring nozzle. Directed across the entire surface of the...

Control system for blown film.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Brampton Engineering reports that its Italycs4 (Integrated Temperature and Line Yields Controls) System provides completely integrated control of all critical components of a blown film line. Italycs4 provides melt-temperature monitoring and...

Discrete I/O for motion controller.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Delta Computer Systems' RMC family of motion controllers is appropriate for hydraulic, pneumatic, and electric servomotion-control applications to carry out position, speed, and position-pressure/force requirements. The company's Exp70-D8...

Retrofit for elastomer processing lines.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... In addition to Maag Pump Systems Textron's "rubbex' System--a compact and mobile elastomer processing unit--the company now provides a rubbex Expac retrofit for existing rubber extrusion lines. The rubbex Expac consists of a gear pump, motor,...

Central chillers.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Thermal Care has introduced the TC Series, a line of central chillers that utilizes a centrifugal compressor, which the company describes as offering significant benefits over standard compressor technology. Reported benefits include: * an...

Freeze dryers for small-scale production.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Genesis freeze dryers, a part of SP Industries' VirTis product line, are said to be ideal for pilot, research, or small-scale production applications. Developed with an extensive choice of options and add-ons, Genesis allows users to design a...

High-speed welders.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Two vibration welders for automotive, appliance, and medical equipment parts are designed to handle a wider range of tooling with high reliability and shorter weld times than those of competing units, according to manufacturer Dukane Corp. The...

Lubricants boost PVC extrusion.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A family of high-performance specialty lubricants from Honeywell Specialty Materials for the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is reported to significantly increase the speed of the extrusion process for a variety of applications....

Thickness gauge.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... For powder-coating and paint applications, Paul N. Gardner Co. has introduced two It models of the PosiTest DFT thickness gauge: the PosiTest DFT Ferrous for measuring nonmagnetic coatings on steel, and the PosiTest DFT Combo for measuring...

Revised AAMA standards "get the lead out" of vinyl profiles.(Industry News)(American Architectural Manufacturers Association )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) (Schaumburg, Ill.) has approved stricter certification standards to ensure that vinyl window profiles used by AAMA-certified window and door producers are lead-free. Slated to take...

Report tracks demand for flooring in China.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Flooring in China, a new report from the Freedonia Group of Cleveland, predicts that the Chinese flooring market will outpace growth in most other parts of the world. This growth will be driven by gains in building construction as industrial...

DSM SL material using nanotechnology is commercialized.(Industry News)(stereolithography)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... DSM Somos of New Castle, Del., has announced the full commercialization of NanoForm 15120 following a year of extensive testing. NanoFonn 15120 is a composite stereolithography (SL) material that incorporates noncrystalline nanoparticle...

Having successfully sampled the proprietary XyloX material in several of its rebar support molds, Plasticon International, Inc., of Lexington, Ky., reports, it will proceed with plans to acquire XyloX of North America, a producer of thermoplastic elastomers from crumb rubber and scrap plastic.(Acquisitions)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Having successfully sampled the proprietary XyloX material in several of its rebar support molds, Plasticon International, Inc., of Lexington, Ky., reports, it will proceed with plans to acquire XyloX of North America, a producer of...

Bose Corp., based in Framingham, Mass., has acquired assets related to the development, manufacture, and sale of materials-testing equipment from EnduraTEC Systems Corp. of Minnetonka, Minn.(Acquisitions)
January 1, 2005... Bose Corp., based in Framingham, Mass., has acquired assets related to the development, manufacture, and sale of materials-testing equipment from EnduraTEC Systems Corp. of Minnetonka, Minn. The companies have been collaborating since 1999....

Lyondell Chemical Co. of Houston announces that it has completed its acquisition of Millennium Chemicals, Inc.(Acquisitions)
January 1, 2005... Lyondell Chemical Co. of Houston announces that it has completed its acquisition of Millennium Chemicals, Inc. The transaction is said to create North America's third-largest independent publicly traded chemical company, with consolidated pro...

BASF Corp. of New Jersey, the North American affiliate of BASF AG in Ludwigshafen, Germany, announces that its Freeport, Texas, site has won the 2003 Energy Efficiency Award of the American Chemical Council (ACC).(Awards)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BASF Corp. of New Jersey, the North American affiliate of BASF AG in Ludwigshafen, Germany, announces that its Freeport, Texas, site has won the 2003 Energy Efficiency Award of the American Chemical Council (ACC). During a three-month period in...

Integral Technologies, Inc.(Awards)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Integral Technologies, Inc.'s ElectriPlast/PlasTenna technology has received a 2004 Popular Science "Best of What's New Award" in the General Innovation category. The patented PlasTenna is described in the December 2004 issue of Popular Science...

Great Lakes Chemical Corp.(Expansions)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Indianapolis-based Great Lakes Chemical Corp. says that it will add a new brornine supply well for the extraction of elemental bromine at the company's South Arkansas facility and will double the capacity of its polybrominated styrene (PBS)...

Hommer Tool & Mfg. reports that it will nearly double the size of its Arlington Heights, Ill., facility to 23,500 [ft.sup.2].(Expansions)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Hommer Tool & Mfg. reports that it will nearly double the size of its Arlington Heights, Ill., facility to 23,500 [ft.sup.2]. Slated for completion by February 2005, the additional space will be used to house recently purchased capital...

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP of The Woodlands, Texas, has agreed to license its Aromax process and catalyst technologies for the production of benzene, toluene, and hydrogen to Compania Espanola de Petroleos, S.A. (CEPSA).(License)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP of The Woodlands, Texas, has agreed to license its Aromax process and catalyst technologies for the production of benzene, toluene, and hydrogen to Compania Espanola de Petroleos, S.A. (CEPSA). CEPSA will use...

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), of Tokyo has reported plans to establish a new company in Hong Kong dedicated to machine tool sales and service.(New Company)
January 1, 2005... Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), of Tokyo has reported plans to establish a new company in Hung Kong dedicated to machine tool sales and service. Slated to begin operations in December 2004, the new unit, MHI Machine Tools H.K., Ltd.,...

To improve its service in East China, Clariant Masterbatches has established a dedicated production operation in a new facility in Xinzhuang Industrial Park, Shanghai.(New Facility)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... To improve its service in East China, Clariant Masterbatches has established a dedicated production operation in a new facility in Xinzhuang Industrial Park, Shanghai. The largest of Clariant's three production sites in China, the new operation...

Albemarle Corp.(Price Changes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Albemarle Corp., headquartered in Richmond, Va., is increasing prices for its entire line of Antiblaze phosphorus-based flame retardants, effective Jan. 1, 2005, or as contracts allow. The prices of chloralkyl phosphate products will increase...

Albemarle Corp.(Price Changes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Albemarle Corp. is also increasing prices globally by up to 20% for Saytex 102E flame retardant, effective Jan. 1, 2005, or as contracts allow.

The Dow Chemical Co.(Price Changes)(Dow Epoxy Products and Intermediates Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Epoxy Products and Intermediates (EP&I) business of The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.) is increasing both the list and oft-list prices for epoxy resins in North America. Effective Jan. 1, 2005, increases are as follows: liquid epoxy...

Dow.(Dow Epoxy Products and Intermediates Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dow's EP&I business is also increasing prices for all UCAR solution vinyl resin (SVR) products globally by 15%, effective Jan. 1, 2005, or as contracts permit.

The Dow Chemical Co.(Price Changes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... UCAR Emulsion Systems (UES), a business unit of The Dow Chemical Co., is increasing list and off-list prices on its emulsion products and rheology modifiers, and is adjusting package pricing differentials. Increases are effective Jan. 1, 2005,...

Sartomer Co.(Price Changes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Based in Exton, Pa., Sartomer Co. reports that it has increased the list prices of its Norsolene W-Series (Alpha Methyl Styrene) hydrocarbon resins by $0.15/lb. Sartomer has also increased the list prices of its Norsolene A-Series (C9/C5...

Sheffield Plastics, Inc., of Sheffield, Mass., has announced a reorganization plan in which Bayer Films Americas becomes a division of Sheffield Plastics, effective January 2005.(Reorganization)
January 1, 2005... Sheffield Plastics, Inc., of Sheffield, Mass., has announced a reorganization plan in which Bayer Films Americas becomes a division of Sheffield Plastics, effective January 2005. This is in furtherance of Bayer AG's realignment of its corporate...

Extrusion Dies Industries, LLC (EDI), of Chippewa Falls, Wis., has named ZAO Axiom Polybag of Moscow as sales agent for EDI's complete line.(Representative)
January 1, 2005... Extrusion Dies Industries, LLC (EDI), of Chippewa Falls, Wis., has named ZAO Axiom Polybag of Moscow as sales agent for EDI's complete line of flat-die systems in Russia and Ukraine.

Websites.(Industry News)(wwmnanotechnologv.com)(www.stopolauctions.com)(wwmhollandcolomw.com )(www.engineeringk12.org)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Nanotech Co., LLC, San Diego, Calif., wwmnanotechnologv.com--redesigned and updated website. Stopol, Inc., Solon, Ohio, www.stopolauctions.com--new interactive auction website for buying and selling new or used plastics equipment. ...

ABS3D.(Other Brief)
January 1, 2005... Offering same-day prototyping, ABS3D of Wilkes Barre, Pa., "prints" three-dimensional prototypes in durable ABS directly from customer-supplied files such as CAD models. In a matter of hours, says the company, a customer can get a fully...

Duncan speaks on global economy.(SPI News)(Society of the Plastics Industry)(Don Duncan )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... In a November 2004 talk to The Greater Philadelphia Senior Executive Group (GPSEG), SP1 president Don Duncan predicted worldwide economic growth will be up 4% in 2004, marking the best full-year performance in four years. North America and Asia...

SPI takes industry issues to capitol hill.(SPI News)(Society of the Plastics Industry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SPI representatives met in November 2004 with seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives, introducing the association and talking with the legislators on issues that included energy, trade, and health-care costs. SPI also urged those...

SPD plans 2005 conference and design competition.(SPI News)(Structural Plastics Division )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SPI's Structural Plastics Division (SPD) will host its 33rd Annual Conference and New Product Design Competition on March 20-23 at the Contemporary Resort and Conference Center at the Walt Disney, World[R] Resort in Orlando, Fla. The meeting...

SPI releases 2004 Labor Survey.(SPI News)(Society of the Plastics Industry )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SPI has published 2004 data on wage rates for plastics-processing companies in its Labor Survey of plastics-processing companies. A total of 63 firms reported data for 78 plants in the survey, which covers plastics-processing companies of all...

CES releases report on machinery shipments.(SPI News)(Committee on Equipment Statistics)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SPI's Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES) has released its "Third Quarter 2004 Report." The publication provides an overview of plastics-equipment shipments from Third Quarter 2003 through Third Quarter 2004 and includes an analysis of the...

Xaloy.(Personnel)(Chris Weinrich appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Xaloy Inc., Pulaski, Va., has announced Chris Weinrich has been named twin-cylinder product manager.

NSL Analytical Services.(Personnel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Kelly Miller has been hired as technical inside sales representative for NSL Analytical Services, Cleveland.

Sika.(Personnel)(Sika Automotive)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Sika Automotive, Madison Heights, Mich., has announced Paul Meunchen has joined the Automotive Applications Engineering Group as a group leader.

Great Northern.(Personnel)(Rob Swannell appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Rob Swannell has been named director of new business development for the Specialty Group of Great Northern Corp., Appleton, Wis., in addition to his role as sales manager of Rollguard products.

Solicore.(Personnel)(David Corey joined)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Solicore, Inc., Lakeland, Fla., has announced David Corey has joined the company as CEO.

Progressive Components.(Personnel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Progressive Components, Wauconda, Ill., has hired Randy Schwenk as technical programmer.

Alga Plastics.(Personnel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Brian Flynn has been named account manager for Alga Plastics, Cranston, R.I.

Eckart.(Personnel)(Eckart America L.P.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Eckart America L.P., Louisville, Ky., has announced the appointment of Guy Decelles as technical director-coatings & plastics.

Control Instruments.(Personnel)(Debra Woods-Haley,Robert Nutting and Jeffrey Sampson appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Control Instruments Corp., Fairfield, N.J., has announced changes in its sales-management team. Debra Woods-Haley has been appointed director of sales, and Robert Nutting and Jeffrey Sampson have been promoted to regional managers, along with...

Xenon.(Personnel)(Kent Kipling)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Xenon Corp., Woburn, Mass., has hired Kent Kipling to serve in the newly created position of vice president of operations.

United Southern Industries.(Personnel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... United Southern Industries, Forest City, N.C., has promoted Todd Bennett to president.

Rhodia Engineering Plastics.(Personnel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Charles C. Waldschmidt has been appointed to the position of North American area director. He is responsible for all business, commercial, and production operations for the engineering plastics business in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Obituaries.(Obituary)
January 1, 2005... SPE notes with sorrow the deaths of Charles J. Kaderbek, a member of the Chicago Section and the SPE Educational Foundation; and Edward J. Fitzpatrick, member emeritus of the Philadelphia Section. SPE mourns the passing of Vivian...

SPE conferences.(Upcoming Events)(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... Feb. 24-25. SPE's GPEC 2005. Creating Sustainability for the Environment. Site: Atlanta. Contact: Michelle Mikulec, GPEC Technical Chair, at (313) 274-9712, or e-mail: michelleMikulec@peoplePC.com. Feb. 27-Mar. 2. SPE's International...

SPE seminars.(Upcoming Events)(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... Mar. 7-11. Industrial Thermoforming Symposium & Workshop. With Bill McConnell, Jr. Site: Dallas. May 2-5. Seminars at ANTEC 2005. Multiple Seminars--Various Topics. Site: Boston. June 20-22. Extrusion of Engineering Plastics Seminar &...

SPE meetings.(Upcoming Events)(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... Jan. 27. SPE's Detroit Section. Site: Greektown Casino, Olive Room. Subject: Material Auction. Contact: Tom Pickett, (586) 492-2454. Jan. 31. SPE's Detroit Section. Site: Sterling Inn, Sterling Heights, Mich. Subject: Board of Directors'...