End Markets

Packaging

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING: Slew of New Developments in Materials, Equipment

Three companies unveiled new developments in additive manufacturing and prototyping as 2013 came to a close, a testament to this technology's vibrant growth.

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APPLICATIONS: High-Heat PLA in World's First Bioplastic Touchscreen Computer

The high-heat-resistant PLA compound used for the housing of the first bioplastic touchscreen computer is based on lactides from Corbion Purac.

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Materials

Coming Up: LSR That Sticks to More Thermoplastics

A next-generation self-adhesive LSR will bond to additional engineering thermoplastics.

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Packaging

BLOW MOLDING: Lighter PET Water Bottle Doesn’t Squish

New PET preform and bottle designs are said to create a super-lightweight 0.5-liter bottle for still water that not only weighs 34% less than the average commercial bottle of this size, but also achieves 32% more topload strength than the lightest commercial bottle.

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MATERIALS: Invista Starts Pilot Nylon 12 Production

A new producer with its own unique precursor adds security to nylon 12 supply.

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Automotive

‘Reshoring’ Benefits Mexico, Too

Another molder is betting on Mexico getting its share of the “reshoring” trend from Asia to NAFTA.

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Packaging

Husky Buys Another Moldmaker

Husky Injection Molding Systems recently acquired Schöttli Group in Switzerland, a moldmaker specializing in medical and closure molds.

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Commodity Resins

Exxon to Film Processors: Go With Five Layers

For a company that did not exhibit at K 2013, ExxonMobil Chemical certainly was busy at October’s Dusseldorf trade show. Material from the Houston-based resin giant was running on a handful of film lines producing everything from five-layer collation-shrink blown film to five-layer hygiene film, three-layer lamination film, and 33-layer nano-cast stretch film.

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k show

EVCO Plastics at 50: Still Thinking Big

In its first half-century, EVCO Plastics has grown from one half-ounce injection machine in a basement to a $130 million company with 148 presses and 900 employees at nine plants in the U.S., Mexico, and China.

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More Growth & Equipment Investment For Processors This Year

Gardner’s research projects that processors will invest around $3.3 billion in primary machinery, auxiliary equipment, and molds and related supplies this year, about 10% more than its projection for 2013.

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Blending & Dosing