Plastics Engineering articles from September 2005

Plastics Engineering archives from September 2005

Helping babies breathe.(MATERIALS)(Clarissa, continuous positive airway pressure)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Cyrolite GS-90 acrylic-based multicompound has been selected for molding the swivel connector on the new Clarissa Infant Nasal CPAP assembly from Kenilworth, N.J.-based Airways Development. The Clarissa is a continuous positive airway pressure...

PE powder grades for rotomolding.(MATERIALS)(polyethylene)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Two new Borecene Compact PE grades from Borealis (Lyngby, Denmark) are said to meet rotomolders needs for polyethylene (PE) resins with enhanced flow characteristics that combine excellent wall-thickness distribution and surface appearance with...

TPE Alloy offers alternative to silicone and PVC.(MATERIALS)(thermoplastic elastomer)(polyvinyl chloride)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Based in McHenry, Ill., GLS Corp. has introduced Versaflex CL 2200 TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) alloys as a lower-cost, more versatile alternative to silicone and PVC in applications ranging from infant-care products and toys to kitchenware...

Electrically conductive nylon compounds.(MATERIALS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Techmer Lehvoss Compounds (TLC) of Clinton, Tenn., has developed electrically conductive compounds based on traditional polyamide resins that are modified to maintain physical properties such as impact resistance and tensile strength. The PA/EC...

Metallic-effect resin replaces paint.(MATERIALS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... GE Advanced Materials (Pittsfield, Mass.) has introduced Cycoloy Engineered Filler (EF) resin technology--an "engineered metallic filler"--to create metallic-look special effects without the need for secondary painting operations. With a...

Soft TPU is plasticizer-free.(MATERIALS)(thermoplastic polyurethanes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... BASF's Elastollan thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) business in Lemfoerde, Germany, has introduced in North America HPM grades that produce soft thermoplastic components compliant with heat-resistance, strength, and processing specifications...

Bullet-resistant building laminate.(MATERIALS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Norplex-Micarta (Postville, Iowa) has announced a bullet-resistant fiberglass laminate called Brass, said to be the only commercially available Class 1-A fire-rated projectile-resistant building material. "Lighter than steel,...

Fully molded acetal bearings outwear competitors.(MATERIALS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Sarnatech BNL has designed plastic ball bearing assemblies for GAF's Master Flow rotary roof turbines that outlast competitive bearings by up to 700%, the UK-based company reports. Molded from a specialized grade of acetal manufactured by...

Clear acrylic copolymer for injection molding.(MATERIALS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Nova Chemicals (Moon Township, Pa.) has announced the commercialization of Zylar 631, an acrylic copolymer for injection molding. Nova says that this latest addition to the Zylar line offers a combination of clarity and toughness that suits it...

High-performance polymers for thermoforming.(MATERIALS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Ensinger/PennFibre is introducing new polymer materials for thermoforming applications at the SPE Thermoforming Conference in Milwaukee this month. They include: * Pennite 4512--a type 6 nylon with 12% glass reinforcement; * Pennite...

Compounders thwart counterfeiting with covert additive techniques.(MicroTrace LLC. develops Microtaggant Identification Particles)
September 1, 2005... Compounds and masterbatches are joining the battle against product counter-feiting. The use of additives that can be detected only by scanners, microscopes, or lab analysis is proving to be a reliable way of authenticating brand identity. As...

Macro challenges in micromolding: molders of very small parts know that you can't just shrink your process and expect good results.(Miniature Tool & Die Inc.)
September 1, 2005... Injection molding of very small parts is slowly maturing as a specialized field, drawing the interest of people who are experts at molding standard-size parts. But they should be wary of making assumptions about micromolding, says Donna Bibber,...

Thermoforming 2005: spreeding our wings: September 24-27 Midwest Airlines Convention Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin.(Directory)(Illustration)
September 1, 2005... 2005 THERMOFORMING Conference Exhibitors (at press time) Absolute Precision Tooling apttools@aol.com Inc., Willoughby, OH (440) 918-1593 Airtech Vacuum Inc., Crystal jhupp@airtechusa.com Lake, IL (815)...

Automotive plastics: designers and engineers seek materials to reduce weight for improved mileage.(Department of Energy and Council for Automotive Research )(Cover Story)
September 1, 2005... Materials Research The U.S. Dept. of Energy and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) recently announced a $70 million, five-year agreement to develop lightweight, high-strength materials, including polymer-matrix composites,...

Patents of interest.(Horizons)
September 1, 2005... 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 a teaching document that includes...

Wireless orientation sensor.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Inertia-Link wireless inertial sensor suite from MicroStrain, Inc., includes three orthogonal rate gyroscopes, three orthogonal accelerometers, a microprocessor, data logger, and RF transceiver. The suite provides user-adjustable sampling...

Improved blending.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Maguire Products has added enhancements to its compact gravimetric MicroBlender that the company says increase its reliability, durability, and resistance to contamination. Intended for use with small or low-throughput processing machines, the...

Cool compartment for large electrical enclosures.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Exair's 2800 Btu/hr Cabinet Cooler keeps electrical enclosures cool and protects sensitive electronics from harsh environments. The cooling capacity is ideal for large electrical enclosures or in locations in which high heat loads are present....

Flexible conveyor.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The mobile Flexible Screw Conveyor, which can be operated by a single attendant, is suitable for diverse applications in different areas of a manufacturing facility. The system design allows for easy changeover, permitting different products to...

Direct-connect cameras.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Cognex Corp. has announced that its new software allows the direct connection of FireWire (IEEE 1394) cameras to its PC vision systems. The implementation of Cognex FireWire simplifies integration, expands acquisition options, and allows users...

Mold release.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Specific properties of Solvay Solexis' Fluorolink PFPE polymers for mold release applications are reported to be beneficial to molders and formulators of mold-release products. Product advantages include good surface coverage as a result of the...

High-speed machining.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The EcoRaptor CNC router is the most recent addition to Datron Dynamics Raptor Class of machining centers. A step up in size from the miniRaptor, the EcoRaptor's 40 x 27.5 x 9.5-inch working envelope is ideal for nested (batch) machining or...

High-capacity thermoformer.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Lyle Industries has introduced a continuous, roll-fed thermoforming machine that features 30% greater mold area and 30% higher product output compared to other machines in the company's line. Designated the 162FM, it accepts molds up to 62 x 62...

Mold for threaded parts.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... With its PERC System, B A Die Mold--a designer and manufacturer of molds for thermosets and thermoplastics has reportedly achieved unscrewing times of less than a second, and overall cycle times of 12 sec, in the production of thermoplastic...

Disconnects for mold sensors.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Many molded parts are made, not with the mold platen itself, but with the aid of mold inserts, the use of which make it easier to manufacture and maintain the cavities. However, cavity pressure and cavity temperature sensors cannot always be...

Honored Service Members 2005.(Society of Plastics Engineers)
September 1, 2005... We proudly introduce 17 new SPE Honored Service Members, who are being recognized for their contributions to the Society. According to SPE Bylaws, "To be elected an Honored Service Member, a candidate shall have demonstrated long-term,...

'2005 Fellow.(Society of Plastics Engineers)
September 1, 2005... We are proud to introduce the newest Fellow of the Society members. These twelve SPE Senior Members are honored for their contributions in the field of plastics engineering, science or technology, or in the management of such activities....

SPE Automotive Division names Lifetime Achievement Awardee.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Society of Plastics Engineers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Shigeki Suzuki, general manager of the Materials Engineering Division of Toyota Motor Corp. in Japan, has been named this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the SPE Automotive Division. He will be honored at the Division's 35th annual...

SPI: China's currency revaluation is a "major breakthrough".(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), has welcomed as a "major breakthrough" China's announcement in July that it will revalue its currency. The organization describes China's action as the first of an expected series of steps that...

API allies with OSHA in worker-protection effort.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry)(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry (API) (Arlington, Va.) has announced a cooperative relationship with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to focus on reducing and preventing exposures of diisocyanates during...

Demag Plastics consolidates sales networks in China.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... To heighten its market presence in China, injection machine maker Demag Plastics (Schwaig, Germany) is merging the sales activities of Chinese joint venture Demag Haitian Plastics Machinery Ltd. in Ningbo and Demag Ergotech China in Shanghai....

PolyOne seeks to advance color & additive sales in Mexico.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio, PolyOne Corp. reports that it is stepping up efforts to serve the growing color and polymer additives market in Mexico. One move toward this goal has been to name a new general manager for the Mexican...

PP plant in Russia to use Unipol process.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Dow Chemical Co. subsidiary Union Carbide and the Russian company Lukoil-Neftekhim have announced a license agreement under which Lukoil subsidiary Stavrolen will use Unipol PP process technology for a new polypropylene plant at Budennovsk,...

Dow's SVR production gets back on track.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(solution vinyl resin)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Dow's Epoxy Products & Intermediates (EP&I) business (Midland, Mich.) reports that it is now able to meet 100% of annual contractual volumes and future forecasted demand for UCAR solution vinyl resin (SVR) products. A tight market environment,...

RIM-equipment suppliers merge.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(LCC/Decker)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Gusmer and LCC/Decker, providers of RIM equipment including metering machines and mixing heads for processing multicomponent polyurethane and hybrid urethane chemicals, have merged into a single RIM-focused business unit called Gusmer|Decker,...

Asahi Kasei subsidiaries consolidate.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Asahi Kasei Chemical Corp. subsidiaries Thermofil, Inc., and Asahi Kasei Plastics America, Inc., have been consolidated. The new organization, based in Fowlerville, Mich., is called Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. The company says...

Videojet revamps website.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Videojet Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Videojet Technologies, Inc., of Wood Dale, Ill., reports that it has redesigned and streamlined its website, www.videojet.com, to facilitate searches for marking and coding solution information. Sections on specific markets give details on...

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... * SPE CONFERENCES Sept. 24-27. SPE's Thermoforming Conference 2005. Site: Midwest Express Convention Center, Milwaukee. Contact: SPE Event Management Department, (203) 775-0471; fax (203) 775-8490; email conferences@4spe.org. Sept....

European machinery manufacturers report successful 2004.
September 1, 2005... According to the latest data from EUROMAR the leading plastics and rubber machinery-manufacturing businesses of Europe increased production by an overall 2.6% in 2004 to reach an output of 16.1 [euro] billion. The year 2005, however, will see a...