Plastics Engineering articles from May 2008

Plastics Engineering archives from May 2008

SPE chooses Wiley-Blackwell to publish Plastics Engineering.(From SPE)(Society of Plastics Engineers)
May 1, 2008... Wiley-Blackwell, the scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and SPE have agreed to partner in the publication of Plastics Engineering. "SPE, through its organization and membership, is...

Training: many needs, many options: companies can consider various approaches for keeping their operators trained.(NORTH AMERICA)
May 1, 2008... Molders and processors face a "double whammy" when it comes to keeping their workforce trained, according to Sam Belcher, longtime plastics consultant, Plastics Hall of Fame inductee, and president of Sabel Plastechs Inc. (Moscow, Ohio, USA)....

Automotive plastics: an accelerating market: the plastics content of today's cars is around 15%, but some observers expect it to increase to 20% over the next five years. If expectation becomes reality, it will be a phenomenal achievement. But where will all this plastic be used?(EUROPE)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Klaus Bender is automotive market development manager at DuPont Engineering Polymers' European operations. He says that projects at advanced stages in the development centres of OEMs and "Tiers" include bodywork and...

President's message.(2007 Annual Report)
May 1, 2008... This has been an exceptional year for me as an SPE member and President; I've spoken with many Society members and have shared the outlook for SPE with the global plastics industry. My year has focused on three key programs: Member Value;...

Auxiliary equipment: innovations generate energy savings, efficiency, higher performance.(NORTH AMERICA)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Manufacturers of auxiliary equipment are responding to plastics processors' demands for upstream and downstream machinery that can help them reduce costs and stay competitive in the global marketplace. Loaders and...

Compounding in Europe: market report: both complex and diverse, Europe's compounding market involves many different kinds of companies. We examine the structure and the drivers, and look at how the market is developing.(EUROPE)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thermoplastics compounding is a relatively complex industry involving the manufacture of a wide variety of materials. These materials often include additives such as colorants, flame retardants, and modifiers to meet...

Polyamide 6 grades are claimed to meet new gas-permeation rules: manufacturers of gas-powered vehicles and power tools are under pressure to develop fuel-delivery systems and even portable fuel containers that meet stringent federal and state hydrocarbon-emission standards.(NORTH AMERICA)
May 1, 2008... In North America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) both have mandated low permeation rates for the fuel tanks of almost every device powered by a gasoline engine. In Europe,...

For members only: SPE's online membership directory.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Many SPE members tell me that they've joined SPE for technical information and training, and equally as important, for the people. And for good reason: SPE members are a tight-knit and dedicated community ready to assist fellow members. ...

Conductive Composites.(industry PATENTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Patent 7,320,762 (January 22, 2008), "Polymer Compound With Nonlinear Current-Voltage Characteristic and Process for Producing a Polymer Compound," Felix Greuter, Yvo Dirix, Petra Kluge-Weiss, Walter Schmidt, and Reto Kessler (ABB Schweiz...

Phase-change insulation.(industry PATENTS)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Patent 7,320,770 (January 22, 2008), "Method for Making a Quasi-Incompressible Phase-Change Material, Shear-Thinned and With Low Heat Conductivity," Ange Chomard, Jean-Franc Argillier, and Jean-Claude Hipeaux (Saipem S.A. and Institut...

Superhydrophobic surfaces.(industry PATENTS)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Patent 7,323,033 (January 29, 2008), "Nanostructured Surfaces Having a Variable Permeability," Timofei Nikita Kroupenkine, Mary Louise Mandich, and Joseph Ashley Taylor (Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, New Jersey, USA). ...

Hot-runner manifolds.(industry PATENTS)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Patent 7,326,049 (February 5, 2008), "Cast Hot Runner Manifold for Injection Molding Apparatus," Jobst Ulrich Gellert and Denis Babin [MoldMasters (2007) Limited, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada]. Manifolds for use in hot runners must have...

Efficient desiccants.(industry PATENTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Patent 7,326,363 (February 5, 2008), "Dehumidifying Element and Manufacturing Method for the Same," Stephan Faust, Guido Falk, and Dae-Young Lee (Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea). Conventional desiccants...

The living hinge.(industry PATENTS)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Patent 7,328,480 (February 12, 2008), "Coextruded Living Hinge, a Component Incorporating the Hinge, and Methods of Making the Component," Michael P. Schoemann (International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc., Dearborn,...

Liquid crystal cables.(industry PATENTS)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Patent 7,331,269 (February 19, 2008), "Apparatus and Method for Interconnecting Items With a Flexible Member," Xinhua He and Mansour Ashtiani (Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, Michigan, USA). Driving cables are used in many movable...

Adhesives for tissues.(industry PATENTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... U.S. Patent 7,331,350 (February 19, 2008), "Photochemical Tissue Bonding," Irene E. Kochevar, Robert W. Redmond, and Dimitri Azar (The General Hospital Corp., Boston, Massachusetts, USA). Traditional wound-closure methods, such as staples...

In Memoriam: George P. Schmitt.(death of George Schmitt)(In memoriam)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... It is with sadness that SPE announces the passing of one of the Society's long-time members and Past President, George Schmitt. George died just three weeks after the death of his wife, Frances. They had been married for 55 years. ...

Ken Braney's monthly look at SPE's European activities.(EUROPE: SPENEWSROUNDUP)
May 1, 2008... SPE Executive Committee Meeting At a recent meeting at the Society's headquarters in Brookfield, Connecticut, USA, SPE personnel updated the Executive Committee on developments and activities affecting the Society. Tobi Gebauer, Senior...

Industry events.(EUROPE)(Calendar)
May 1, 2008... MAY 27-29, Techtextil Site: Moscow, Russia Website: www.techtextil.messefrankfurt.com 27-30, Plastpol Expo Site: Kielce, Poland Website: www.plastpol.com JUNE 2-3, Central Eastern Europe PET Conference ...

Industry events.(NORTH AMERICA)(Calendar)
May 1, 2008... * SPE conferences June 9-11. SPE's Decorating & Assembly TopCon. Site: Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. Sponsored by the Decorating & Assembly Division. For further information, contact Jeff Peterson, +1 785-271-5801; Email:...