US plastics industry seeing steady growth
The U.S. plastics industry also climbed from the country’s eighth-largest industry in 2020 to No. 6 on that list in 2021, based on the value of shipments.
Milliken launches production at clarifier plant
Officials with Milliken in Spartanburg, S.C., said that the new plant “will enhance access to Millad NX 8000 additives for customers worldwide.
A Lollapalooza of Injection Molding Star Power
Injection molding innovations will be front and center at K 2022 from Oct. 19 to 26 in Düsseldorf, Germany. From efficient cleanroom processes to Industry 4.0 data solutions for real-time process monitoring, industry leaders including Arburg, Haitian International, KraussMaffei, Wickert Maschinenbau, and Wittmann Battenfeld are showing off a wealth of advances at their respective booths and booths of partners throughout one of the plastics industry’s premier events.
Electro-Active Polymers Offer Alternative to Mechanical Massaging in Car Seats
Massage seats generally require multiple mechanical components, which can add considerable weight and bulk to the seat. In turn, this can lead to a less comfortable ride for the passenger. Further, multiple mechanical components are not only costly, but also require a considerable amount of energy to operate. Heat generation and loss also is an issue, alongside the fact that the components create a constant noise when in operation. This…
Wavin enters North American market with Bow Plumbing deal
Wavin BV has acquired Bow Plumbing Group Inc., a Montreal-based manufacturer of plastic pipes and fittings.
Time to Show Off
Plastics Technology is still accepting submissions for its second annual Top Shops injection molded part competition. Two awards—Technical Sophistication and Molding Economics/Efficiency—will be presented at this November’s Molding Conference (Nov. 8-10; Charlotte, N.C.) based on people’s choice voting. Is there a part that your company took on after others said it couldn’t be molded? Which component gets pride of place at your facility’s showcase display in your lobby or conference…
Register Now for Molding 2022
Be sure to checkout the technical program for Molding 2022, Plastics Technology’s annual conference for injection molders? It’s scheduled for Nov. 8-10 in Charlotte, N.C. If you register now— or at least before Oct. 7— you can save yourself a couple of hundred bucks. For more than 30 years now, the conference has provided a robust educational program and unique networking opportunities for the injection molding community. Executive Editor Tony…
Molding Simulation Software’s Superpower Is Simplicity
As adages go, “less is more” has an enduring appeal. It’s especially relevant when it comes to over-engineered products, and Sigma Engineering has taken the saying to heart in developing its new SigmaSoft 6.0 injection molding simulation software, which it will present at K 2022 next month in Düsseldorf, Germany. That principle notably has been applied to the user interface. Tools, functions, and options dynamically appear in the working area…
Self-Sterilizing Plastic Film Kills Viruses Using Ordinary Light
A self-sterilizing low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film containing nanoparticles of titanium dioxide kills viruses, such as COVID-19, when exposed to an ordinary light source. The first-of-its-kind material costs little to produce, can be easily scaled, and could be used for disposable aprons, tablecloths, and curtains in hospitals. The thin coating absorbs UV light and produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which kill viruses, said researchers at Queen’s University Belfast. The technology used…
M. Holland adds Braskem materials to 3D printing filament portfolio
Materials supplier M. Holland Co. has added 3D printing filaments from Braskem SA to its product portfolio.