Articles
Waking Up to a World Without Manufacturing
The world now knows what those of us in the manufacturing sector have known all along: the incredible importance of U.S. manufacturing to the overall economy.
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What Are You Risking With Outdated Controls?
Though introduced about 50 years ago, many extruders in operation today are still running without PLCs. What’s at risk? Increased downtime and scrap, machine damage and, more importantly, risks to the health and welfare of employees.
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Variable-Diameter Air Ring Cools Film Above Frost Line
Tower-mounted adjustable ring adds cooling so that blown film can run at optimum line speeds with structures having soft inner skin layers that tend to block.
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Eight Ways Manufacturers Can Attract & Retain Customers–Part 1
The time and effort invested in cultivating customer relationships and creating new ones deliver the most value.
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PET-Like Bioplastic from Biomass
Switzerland’s EPFL School of Basic Sciences have developed a biomass derived plastic that is similar to PET.
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Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials: The Commercialization of Acrylic
We covered the invention of acrylic in our last installment. Here, we discuss its commercial development.
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Fish Waste to Nano-Onions: New Milestone in Recycling ‘Garbage’
No, it’s not a joke, but a new means of producing a high-tech product from a high-volume waste product of food production.
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Processing Slips as Summer Simmers
Monthly index suggests slower growth in June for plastics processors overall and contraction for custom firms.
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50 Years...600 Issues...and Still Counting
Matt Naitove marks his first half-century in plastics reporting, with a few of his favorite headlines.
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Still an Up-and-Down Picture for Commodity Resin Prices
Supply/demand imbalances or sharply rising feedstock costs account for the mixed pricing trajectory for the five biggest-volume resins.
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Injection Molding Simulation Meets the Real World
Direct data interface between molding simulation and the injection machine links the computer model to the real-world process. This can improve results from product and mold design through ongoing production. A case study demonstrates these benefits for automotive components in a family mold.
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How to Detect and Prevent Hot-Runner Manifold Leaks
Minding the temperature gap at startup between the nozzle and manifold; visually and electronically monitoring signs for leaks; and preventive maintenance between runs can save you from hot-runner leak horror stories.
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