Injection Molding

Hourly Rates Rose in Second Half

Custom injection molders raised their machine-hour rates an average of 1% from June to December 2007, according to responses from 93 molders to our latest semi-annual survey.

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PUR Machinery Gains in Versatility and Economy

Polyurethane equipment at K 2007 in Dusseldorf showed incremental advances in cost-effectiveness and ability to handle a wide range of applications.

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Precision Molder Takes on LSR

Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) injection molding makes up just 10% to 15% of U.S. medical or automotive applications that are also served by high-consistency silicone rubber (HCR), EPDM, latex, natural rubber, TPEs, flexible PVC, and even porcelain ceramic. Nonetheless, LSR molding is attracting growing interest (see Learn More), enough to prompt the formation of a new division dedicated to LSR by GW Plastics in Bethel, Vt.

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New Material Cures LSR Molding Headaches

For some problems the solution is to be soft but also be strong.

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Coatings Give Aluminum Molds Cost/Performance Edge Over Steel

New cost-effective technologies are designed to make aluminum an attractive alternative to tool steels in a range of plastics molding processes. One method uses a plasma technique to convert the aluminum surface into a hard, dense, wear-resistant ceramic. Another approach uses electro-deposition to apply a surface coating with high hardness, corrosion resistance, and chemical resistance.

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Conair and Husky Jointly Offer PET Systems

WEB EXCLUSIVE The Conair Group, Inc., Cranberry Township, Pa., and Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., Bolton, Ont., have agreed to jointly supply complete PET preform manufacturing systems worldwide.

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Formable Luminescent Films Can Be Backmolded

Polycarbonate electroluminescent films can provide light in homes, cars, cellphones, and even inside ladies’ handbags.

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K 2007 Injection Molding: Lots of New Machine Choices For Exotic to Everyday Molding

If you were looking for a new machine to mold micro- or mega-sized parts, multiple materials, long fibers, high-speed/high-cavitation packaging, exotic multi-material combinations with compounding on the machine, or just a cost-effective press for general-purpose use—K 2007 had it all.

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Material and Process Developments Highlight SPE Automotive Awards

Custom backlighting with color-converting plastics and robotic extrusion of door seals won two categories of the 37th Innovation Awards presented in November by the SPE Automotive Div.

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Here's Another Way to Save Up To 70 percent in Barrel Heating/Cooling

Four months ago, we reported on a new induction barrel-heating system that promises to save up to 70% in energy costs (see Learn More). Here’s an update on another novel barrel heating—and cooling—system that boasts similarly large savings and has been out in the field long enough to build a track record.

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Plastics Size Reduction