|
| |
|
|
|
Issue 206
| February 2012 | news page |
|
Polymer Industry News |
February 2012 |
Issue 206 |
|
NEWS INDEX
|
|
 A
New Direction
The newly upgraded ControlNet system from Motan Colortronic represents
a major step forward in versatility and integration of controls in the
areas of storage, drying, blending and conveying of plastic materials.
“By using common communication standards, the cost effective modular
controls are expandable and allow for a degree of freedom and flexibility”
states Karl Miller of Motan Colortronic Limited.
This very powerful control system allows the processor a completely new
level of management capability, helping to meet the ever greater demands
for product quality and cost efficiency.
Customers can view how initial stand alone equipment can be integrated
step by step into a fully integrated network at their Chesterfield Tech
Centre.
Website:
www.motan-colortronic.co.uk
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
 UPM
Celebrate 35 Years at NPE
UPM claim to be the longest serving supplier of ancillary equipment to
the worlds plastic industry having participated in the NPE show for the
past 35 years with the emphasis this year of exhibiting Dynacon Belt
Conveyors on booth 1873 with Dynamic Conveyor highlighting the modular
conveyor system that lengthens; shortens; adapts and changes as your need
requires.
UPM have a global agreement with Global Closure Systems (GCS) which
incorporates Zeller Plastik; Massmould and UCP who have taken delivery of
their 700th Dynacon Belt Conveyor in the UK based on the versatility
available from using standard bolt together injection moulded filled
polycarbonate components to allow any shape to be produced in any
configuration plus zero maintenance as the belt is guided in channels
either side eliminating the need to track or tension.
UPM Conveyors have extended the Dynacon principal to their own Syscon
range which are machined from High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE)
and for which UPM were awarded the Queens Award for Innovation being FDA
approved for food contact and high care/hygiene applications plus being
robust for heavy duty systems with UPM having in-house facilities for all
aspects of manufacture including programming and control build allowing
complete control of quality / inspection and maintaining delivery
promises.
Website: www.upmconveyors.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
 SAFERUBBER
PROJECT REACHES MID-POINT IN ITS SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THIOUREA-BASED
RUBBER ACCELERATORS
Thiourea based
accelerators, of which ETU is the most common, are used for more than 80
years in the vulcanization of polychloroprene rubber as they facilitate
the rubber cure system by speeding up the creation of molecular cross
links, decreasing process duration and increasing physical properties.
However ETU is
classed toxic to reproduction, and thereby a CMR within Europe. Therefore
its use could be forbidden or drastically reduced at some time in the
future under the REACH regulations.
Since June 2010 the
SafeRubber (this is the name of the European Community funded project)
Consortium, has been working on a suitable and safer alternative to ETU.
The initial work
concentrated on research into the chemical mechanism of the vulcanization
of polychloroprene using ETU, a mechanism which has never been fully
understood or proven. This enabled the Consortium to design and synthesize
several alternative molecules which it is hoped will be safer than ETU.
These molecules are now being optimized in polychloroprene compounds
before being scaled up to an industrial process.
The mid-point results
of the three-year research based project are available on the project’s
web site: www.saferubber.eu, and through the dissemination activities of
all the Consortium's partners. Raw materials suppliers, distributors,
compounders, converters and users of polychloroprene rubber who wish to
stay informed of further progress on the research are asked to fill out a
reply form on the SafeRubber website.
The partners in the SAFERUBBER research consortium are:
• Assocomaplast, Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and
Molds Manufacturers’ Association
• Federplast.be, Belgian Plastic and Rubber Products Association
• BRPPA, British Rubber and Polyurethane Products Association
• ETRMA, European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Associations
• Clwyd Compounders Ltd, UK
• Robinson Brothers Ltd, UK
• MGN Transformaciones del Caucho, S.A., Spain
• Mixer S.p.A , Italy
• Grand Synthesis Latvia Ltd
• University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
• Norner Innovation AS, Norway
• MaTRI, UK Materials Technology Research Institute
The SafeRubber research project has received funding from the European
Community's Seventh Framework Programme managed by REA-Research Executive
Agency
http://ec.europa.eu/research/rea ([FP7/2007-2013] [FP7/2007-2011])
under grant agreement n° [243756-2]"
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
 Quadrant
introduces Proteus® LSG HS PP Sterilizable Polypropylene for Medical
Applications
Material allows the medical industry to more easily operate within the
costs savings imperative Medical parts fabricated from Quadrant’s Proteus®
LSG HS PP heat-stabilized polypropylene withstand repeated steam and
autoclave sterilization cycles. This is possible because the material has
a deflection temperature (HDT) of over 149°C (> 300 °F) under 0,455 MPa
load (66 psi). The material is highly resistant to cleaning agents,
disinfectants and various solvents, making it a suitable material for
surgical trays, caddies and instrument components used in various life
science applications. Such parts are often difficult to produce by
injection moulding, owing to their complexity and the need to use high
viscosity resin.
“Uncompromised quality is key in the medical
industry,” says Stefan Willing, Global Market Segment Manager, Life
Science Industry, at Quadrant. “Materials with excellent cost-performance
ratio are the future in a more and more sensitive medical and life science
Industry. In addition, proof of biocompatibility and controls are
prerequisites for sustainable material qualifications. Proteus LSG HS PP
meets all these requirements.”
Quadrant’s Proteus LSG HS PP will be
available as plates; the production process includes a proprietary
heat-treatment phase. This increases the HDT, improves machinability and
optimizes dimensional stability. The material is a highly cost-effective
alternative to polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) in applications where less
temperature resistance is required, but resistance to repeated
sterilisation cycles is still needed.
 Quadrant
LSG stock shapes are tested and evaluated for biocompatibility according
to ISO10993. This offers the designer increased safety, approval
facilitation, as well as reduced cost and time to market.
Proteus LSG HS PP plate is available in
white and black, in thicknesses of 25.4, 38.1, and 50.8 mm (1, 1.5 and 2
inches). Standard size is, 600 x 1200 mm (24 x 48”). Quadrant has the
capability to manufacture finished parts on a made to order basis.
Quadrant produces machinable semi-finished
parts for life science applications in a range of advanced engineering
materials in addition to heat-stabilized polypropylene. These include
Ketron® LSG polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Quadrant® LSG polyphenylsulfone (PPSU),
Duratron® LSG polyetherimide (PEI) and Quadrant® LSG polysulfone (PSU).
Products are available as rod, plate or tube. All are supported by the
company’s knowledgeable application development team. It also offers
implantable grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW) under
the brand names Chirulen® and Extrulen™.
Website:
www.quadrantplastics.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
 Roquette
and Rhodia Acetow sign joint development agreement for the elaboration of
new plant-based polymers
Roquette and
Rhodia Acetow have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to develop
new plant-based polymers. The JDA will enable both companies to leverage
synergies bringing together respective competencies in the field of
plant-based polymer chemistry.
Jean Bernard Leleu, Deputy CEO and Research Innovation Development
Director of Roquette commented: “Our goal is to continuously search for
new solutions in growth markets and to boost our competitiveness with new
technologies. This agreement is an excellent opportunity to speed up the
development of a new range of starch derivatives, offering a cost
competitive and sustainable alternative to fossil based polymers.”
“This JDA will accelerate the launch of new polymers based on renewable
raw material, for which the demand is drastically increasing. The
plant-based polymer cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate fibre will
remain the key products for Rhodia Acetow. This agreement is one first
step towards the diversification of our product portfolio,” stated Gérard
Collette, President of Rhodia Acetow.
Thanks to Roquette’s expertise in starch derivatives and Rhodia’s
industrial technologies, some trials of starch acetate production will be
carried out from early 2012 providing several tons which will be available
for testing in diverse industrial applications. Potential fields of
application include paper, paint and dye sectors and pharmaceuticals.
Website: www.rhodia.com and
www.roquette.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
Asia's No. 1 Plastics & Rubber Trade Fair Expecting to Set New Record of
100,000 visitors
Pre-registered Visitors Enjoy Special Admission
Arrangement
 CHINAPLAS
2012 is approaching to its final countdown, a series of promotional
activities have been carried out in full swing by the organizer. With its
great influence in the plastics and rubber industries, together with the
flourishing development of the application industries and also the green
policy promotion of the 12th Five-year Plan, CHINAPLAS 2012 has become the
focal point of the global industries. It is expected that the number of
visitors this year will hit 100,000, refreshing another new height in
addition to the records of exhibition scale and the number of exhibitors.
CHINAPLAS 2012, Asia's No. 1 and world's No. 2 plastics and rubber trade
fair, will grandly return to Shanghai from April 18 to 21, staging at
Shanghai New International Expo Centre. To maximize the exposure of this
mega show, the Organizer has been showing up in various relevant
international exhibitions over the past few months, including South Korea,
India, Japan, Russia, Thailand and Turkey. These initiatives have
successfully brought the first-hand show news to the visitors there and
recruited a large number of overseas trade buyers to pre-register as
visitors of CHINAPLAS 2012. The organizer's tremendous promotional effort
together with the staunch support from overseas media and travel agents
will help to boost the number of overseas visitors to a large extent.
In order to strengthen the relevancy of CHINAPLAS with its application
industries and to introduce relevant exhibits and exhibitors applied in
each different industry, the organizer has organized a user industry
conference in Shanghai in November 2011, in which over 100 representatives
from plastics industry associations, user trade associations and end-user
enterprises from various application sectors had demonstrated their
support to CHINAPLAS 2012. Due to the overwhelming response, the organizer
will hold two additional conferences in Fuzhou and Guangzhou in the coming
month to meet end user associations and local key buyers from various
industries. In addition, CHINAPLAS also showed its presence in over 20
activities in the past few months, such as annual meetings, seminars and
forums held by different industries' media and associations, covering
sectors of automotive, plastic profiles and windows, plastic pipes,
chemical construction material, plastic pallet, new materials, casting
films, medical equipment and automotive electronic technologies, etc. This
not only enabled the organizer to know more about the demand of users from
different industries, but also allowed buyers to receive the most updated
show information and relevant technologies.
According to the organizer, a large number of end user associations, key
buyers and trade media have showed their keen interest in organizing
delegation to visit CHINAPLAS 2012, including Shanghai Plastics Industry
Association, Ningbo Plastics Industry Association, Shantou Plastics
Industry Association, Suzhou Plastics Industry Association, Hunan Plastics
Industry Association, XinJiang Plastics Industry Association, Yunan
Plastics Industry Association, China Electronics Chamber of Commerce,
Suzhou Integrated Circuit Industry Association, Danyang Automobile
Component Industry Association, Medical Plastic Professional Committee of
China Plastic Processing Industrial Association, Wuxi Die & Mould Industry
Association, Cixi Mould Association, etc. Meanwhile, a number of overseas
trade associations from Egypt, India, Jordan, Philippines, UK, Ukraine and
Vietnam have also expressed their interests in organizing buyer groups.
Such strong response greatly reveals that CHINAPLAS 2012 has been well
recognized by the industry and supported by numerous trade associations
over the world.
As the exhibition scale is ever expanding together with the number of
overseas visitors, the organizer has actively cooperated with many travel
agencies from all over the world as stragetic partners, including Algeria,
Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Finland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, New
Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey, USA, UK and Vietnam, to
promote CHINAPLAS 2012 and provide all around transport and hotel services
for overseas exhibitors and visitors. Till now, travel agents from Brazil,
India, Indonesia, Turkey, etc., have already confirmed to organize
delegation to visit the show. Overseas visitors from over 120 countries or
regions have already pre-registered online, with the top 10 countries or
regions being India, Taiwan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Iran, US, the Philippines and Brazil. A number of famous leading
enterprises, e.g. Hangzhou Wahaha, Philips, Tyco Electronics, BYD, Qingdao
Hongda, Panasonic, Inner Mongolia Yili, BMW, Rexam, Honda, 3M, Parker
Hannifin, Mitsui Plastics, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi, have already
registered to visit this international industry event.
The total exhibition area is expected to hit a new record high of 200,000
sqm. Over 2,600 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions together with 13
country/region pavilions from Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Korea, PR China, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK and USA will gather
under the same roof to showcase their diversified chemicals and raw
materials and over 2,500 sets of machines. A number of prestigious
enterprises have already confirmed their large exhibition areas. They
include chemicals & raw materials suppliers like Du Pont, SABIC, Borouge,
BASF, Bayer, Dow, ExxonMobil, LANXESS, etc; machinery suppliers like
Haitian, Chen Hsong, Husky, Borch, SHI, EDI, Fangli, Liansu, Jwell, Jinhai,
Dailian Totani, Demark, Akei, Matsui, Kawata, Wu Xi Yang Ming, Tongyu,
Zerma, Avian, Conair, and mould and die suppliers like Mold-Masters, Yudo,
etc. Through this platform, every exhibitor will unveil its latest
research and development achievements ranging from new materials,
processing technologies to final applications.
In order to ease the endless stream of visitors, crowd control will be
implemented at Entrance Hall 1. Only online pre-registered visitors, badge
holders and visitors by invitation are allowed to register or enter
Entrance Hall 1 on April 18 & 19 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Visitors not of
these categories have to register or enter either at Entrance Hall 1 after
11:00 am or Entrance Hall 2 and 3. To enjoy this special admission
arrangement, free admission and free coupon to redeem the exhibition
catalogue (worth RMB100), please pre-register now at
www.ChinaplasOnline.com
In addition, by using the online function of myChinaplas, pre-registered
visitors can search exhibitor's profile, plan visiting route, personalize
their own visitor guides and join the online business matching service.
Visitors who visit CHINAPLAS from April 18-20, 2012 before 3:00pm will
have the chance to win iPad2 or digital camera. For details, please visit
www.ChinaplasOnline.com/luckydraw
CHINAPLAS' mobile website has been launched. Visitors can access CHINAPLAS'
latest show updates, transport and accommodation information, conference
details anytime at their fingertips. They can also pre-register online by
simply clicking the icon on the phone. For more enquiries, please visit
www.ChinaplasOnline.com
Website:
www.ChinaplasOnline.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
High performance reinforcing additive from Milliken helps Mecaplast make
lighter car parts
French automotive plastics component producer Mecaplast says it can make
significant weight reductions in injection moulded TPO parts by partially
replacing talc filler with Hyperform® HPR-803i high performance reinforcing
agent from Milliken.
 As
proof, Mecaplast has used a TPO compound containing a mix of talc and
Hyperform HPR-803i (total additive content around 10% by weight) to mould
prototype B-pillar covers that it normally supplies in a conventional 20%
talc-filled TPO (elastomer-modified polypropylene). The prototype parts
weighed
524 g, seven percent less than the commercial parts. The compound has a
density of 0.98 g/cm3, which compares with 1.04 g/cm3 for a 20% talc-filled
TPO with similar mechanical properties.
Nathalie Samson-Maguet, Mecaplast’s Research &
Innovation Manager, says its final product costs are exactly the same:
Hyperform HPR-803i costs more than talc, but this is cancelled out by the
reduced total material requirement. The compound is produced by Inno-Comp in
Hungary. Car
drivers will benefit because they will use less fuel. The savings achievable
by using Hyperform HPR-803i in B-pillar covers will be relatively small, but
Samson-Maguet says Hyperform HPR-803i can also be used to reduce weight in
larger parts such as C-pillars and sill panels. Mecaplast plans to use
compounds containing Hyperform HPR-803i for this kind of parts.
Nathalie Samson-Maguet says that for a typical
C-segment car, use of compounds containing Hyperform HPR-803i in these parts
alone could yield a total weight saving of at least 225 g, leading to a
potential reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 0.022 g/km.
In other words, just one typical driver
covering 20,000 km in a year would save 440 g of CO2, – and in a country
like Germany that has some 40 million cars on its roads, the total saving
could be measured in thousands of tonnes. (Further savings could be achieved
with the use of such compounds in the production of larger parts, such as
instrument panels, which Mecaplast does not produce.) This is very
important, given the pressure being put on car makers to reduce emissions
from their vehicles.
The EU recently set new standards for CO2 emissions for cars. It has set a
maximum of 120g/km on average by the end of this year, with a further
reduction to 95g/km on average by 2020. Lightweighting will be an important
weapon for auto makers in helping them achieve these targets.
Mecaplast is aiming to go into production with
TPO parts reinforced with Hyperform HPR-803i within the next two years. The
company makes parts for several major car companies, including BMW, Citroen,
General Motors, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, and Volkswagen. According to
Nathalie Samson-Maguet, Mecaplast is also developing a new process, still
confidential, that will yield Hyperform reinforced TPO interior and exterior
parts between 35 and 40% lighter than current versions.
In addition to reducing part weight, Hyperform HPR-803i improves scratch
resistance. This is important as the B-pillar covers are normally installed
in the car unpainted, and get their colour from masterbatch.
Milliken will present Hyperform HPR-803i
reinforcing agent, as well as other additives that improve performance in
automotive parts, on its stand at the Plastics in Automotive Engineering
conference and exhibition organized by the Association of German Engineers (VDI)
in Mannheim on March 21 and 22.
Website:
www.millikenchemical.com or
www.milliken.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
 Songwon
takes its place at VDI 2012 as a global leader in the world of polymer
additives and as a valued automotive industry contributor
At the international VDI Conference “Plastics In Automotive
Engineering” in Mannheim, Germany (March 21 – 22), Songwon Industrial Co.
Ltd., the global number two supplier of polymer additives, will
demonstrate it is moving onto the next level to focus more intensively on
specific industry segments to meet tough application needs. Songwon’s High
Heat OPS (One Pack Systems) range offers customers a complete toolbox for
designing tailor-made solutions to meet the requirements of longer service
life and/or durability under harsh conditions. OPS products combine
several additives into an integrated dust free, pellet form. In 2011,
Songwon acquired Additives Technology Greiz (ATG), one of Europe’s largest
manufacturers of One Pack Systems products for the polymer industry.
Songwon can be found at booth 24B.
No other industry than Automotive can set such exacting challenges;
specifications are some of the toughest known and competition is fierce on
all levels. The Songwon High Efficiency OPS range on the one hand, aims at
base stabilization packages already up-stream allowing lowered
concentration levels in e.g., PP resins through more efficient
stabilization packages. On the other hand, this new range also offers
concepts for formulations targeting lowered emissions of VOC and/or smell/odor
during service life. In addition Songwon offers stabilization concepts for
achieving superior UV protection, both for exterior and interior
automotive PP applications. The Songwon UV OPS range has been designed in
particular for protection of surface properties like gloss and surface
crazing under severe weathering conditions.
Joachim Bayer, Director of Global Technical Service and New Product
Commercialization at Songwon, who will be present in Mannheim, said: “We
are working with OEM’s and their tier suppliers to define the needs of new
models and we are pushing the boundaries in a number of directions. Heat
and UV are areas of development; at the same time we understand the
pressures of today’s market place. A significant step forward is the use
of OPS and recently we have acquired Additives Technology Greiz (ATG) in
Germany. ATG has one of Europe’s largest OPS manufacturing facilities and
has produced dust free polymer additive packages at the plant since 2006.”
According to Elena Scaltritti, Manager Main Accounts in Europe, and also
present at the show: “Songwon can add value in many ways; we are a global
player with capacity to meet the needs in locations where it is needed.
We also take on specific challenges such as weight reduction to stabilize
products at lower wall thickness as well as providing recycle security
throughout the waste stream. OPS allows greater flexibility to the
processor and greater control of economics and we will be delighted to
demonstrate this at VDI.”
Songwon will be discussing a range of their products and their end-use
applications at the VDI Conference in Mannheim, Germany. Meet Songwon on
stand 24B.
Website: www.songwonind.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
 Venting
the extrusion mould
Extrusion mould specialist fhw-moulds GmbH of Bottrop/Germany presents
a special solution for removing air from extrusion moulds and proves its
innovative strength. This brand new, optimized product is perfectly
adapted to blow moulders’ requirements for improved cycle times.
As the mould closes around the parison and is inflated and pressed to the
cavity wall by air blown into it, air is trapped between the parison and
the two mould halves. This trapped air must be removed. In order to
expedite this venting process, conventional moulds are often equipped with
vents at the parting line for expelling any trapped air, sometimes with
the help of vacuum. The downside of this method is the fact that air can
only be removed locally and the introduction of a vacuum leaves small
marks on the finished part.
Specialist fhw-moulds has developed a new solution for this problem: the
extrusion mould for a 20 litre jerry can is now vented in all four corners
of the mould and vacuum can be used to increase the ventilation effect.
The vent is cut across the entire height of the mould corner so as to
eliminate the occurrence of marks on the finished part. This way,
entrapped air can be removed quickly and effectively.
During extrusion blow moulding, cycle times are highly dependent on mould
cooling times. The new mould design with corner venting allows significant
cuts in cycle times. “Thanks to optimized cycle times, the additional
costs for this special mould have a very short payback time,” Jean
Ingenbrand, Managing Director of fhw-moulds points out. An additional
benefit of this solution is that exchangeable corners can accommodate
different designs of hollow plastic products, which translates into more
versatility and cost-efficiency for blow moulders.
Website: www.fhw-moulds.de
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
Trexel
Promotes New Process Solutions at NPE 2012
 Trexel
is expanding its product portfolio to bring new process solutions to the
plastics marketplace, and will demonstrate the Rapid Heat Cycle Molding
process (Variotherm process) utilized in conjunction with the MuCell®
process in a moulding demonstration at the booth. A tackle box will be
moulded that not only demonstrates the design freedom and weight reduction
potential offered by the MuCell® process, but also will demonstrate
how users can take advantage of the RHCM/MuCell combination to
achieve outstanding part surface appearance never available before now.
The Trexel exhibit is located at Booth 1303.
The tackle box, to be produced on an 250 Ton Arburg hydraulic Allrounder
630 S is to demonstrate the variable wall thicknesses and 1:1 rib
structures that are possible through use of the MuCell® process, and which
offers designers the potential to reduce weight by a factor of 20% - 30%
in many applications. The tackle box lid will be molded using RHCM in
combination with the MuCell process to demonstrate the excellent high
gloss surface appearance now possible with this process technology
combination.
The tackle box mould is being produced by Proper Group, of Warren, MI; and
Synventive Molding Solutions, Peabody, MA, is supplying their new eGate®
high performance electric valve gate hot runner system for this
application.
Trexel will announce that going forward from NPE, it will sell, service
and support equipment solutions for the RHCM/Variotherm process in its
major markets. “There are major opportunities for us to bring this new
process combination to a variety of end-use markets,” said Steve
Braig, President and CEO of Trexel. “From interior class A parts in
automotive, to exterior housings for indoor and outdoor appliances, power
equipment and applications in many other markets, Trexel can now offer all
of the design freedom and weight reduction advantages our customers have
come to expect from the MuCell process, combined with the outstanding
surface appearance we can achieve with Rapid Heat Cycle Molding,” he said.
In addition, the following major topics are highlighted in the exhibit:
* Trexel Has Eliminated License Fees – For more than six years, MuCell®
process users have not been required to pay license fees.
* MuCell® Process Now Offered by Leading Injection Molding Machine
Suppliers Worldwide – The three leading European Molding Machine OEMs,
Arburg, Engel and Krauss-Maffei now offer the MuCell® process as a
standard option for their moulding machines worldwide, including fully
trained sales and technical service professionals who know the MuCell®
process, can apply it and
put it to work for their customers.
* Design Freedom Using the MuCell® process – The MuCell process offers
tremendous potential for weight savings (part weight reductions of greater
than 20%) vs. traditional injection molding techniques. Application
examples will be on display.
* The MuCell® Process Reduces CO2 Emissions – A study in the US showed
that for a fleet of just 100,000 cars, Trexel estimates automakers that
take full advantage of the MuCell® process could reduce the carbon
footprint of cars that feature optimized MuCell® component applications by
some 238.5 million litres of gasoline, along with CO2 reductions of nearly
65000 metric tons over the course of a 240,000 kilometre life span.
Website: www.trexel.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
Solvay Marks 25th Anniversary as Global Supplier of Ixef® Polyarylamide
(PARA) Resin
 Solvay
Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the
global supplier of Ixef® polyarylamide (PARA) resins. Since its
development in 1986, Ixef PARA has provided a unique combination of
strength and aesthetics, making it ideal for complex parts that require
both overall strength and a smooth surface. To commemorate this milestone,
Solvay has commissioned a 25th anniversary edition of a commercialized
archery bow to demonstrate Ixef PARA’s unique and valuable performance
attributes in structural applications.
“Solvay is immensely
proud of Ixef PARA’s outstanding track record in terms of quality and
stable and secure supply, offering end users a high-performance material
with exceptional properties for demanding applications,” said Vincent
Meunier, product and business development manager for Ixef PARA.
For metal replacement
applications, Ixef compounds typically contain 50%-60% glass fiber, giving
them high strength and rigidity. Even with high glass loadings, the smooth
resin-rich surface delivers a high-gloss, glass-free finish suitable for
painting or metallization. In addition, the high-flow material can readily
fill walls as thin as 0.5 mm even with glass loading as high as 60%.
Structural parts made from Ixef resin can be simultaneously very thin,
extremely rigid, strong, and dimensionally stable. The tensile strength of
Ixef compounds is similar to many cast metals and alloys at ambient
temperature.
Over the years, Ixef
PARA has found significant success in structural parts for transportation,
medical, food, chemical processing, semiconductor, mobile electronics, and
plumbing applications.
Ixef compounds boast
excellent coloring capabilities and select grades are formulated for
flame-retardant applications. Solvay manufactures Ixef resin at its
Rheinberg, Germany, facility and compounding is done at various plants
throughout the world.
The commemorative
archery bow, manufactured by Plastiques-Paillard, a France-based injection
molder, clearly illustrates the strength, flexibility, and aesthetics of
the 50% glass-filled Ixef resin, according to Solvay’s Meunier. The bow
stands out as a unique application amid the typical structural parts made
of Ixef compounds. It not only requires strength and durability but also
an appealing look and finish.
The 1.5 m-long bow,
which is sold primarily in Europe, has a mono-block design that allows for
the frame to be injection molded in one piece from the high-flow 50%
glass-filled material. The strength and power of the archery bow can be
enhanced by increasing the fiber content of the resin compound by up to
60%.
Website:
www.solvayspecialtypolymers.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
Glueless production
of disposable syringes
In association with the companies Engel of A-4311 Schwertberg and
Transcoject of D-24539 Neumünster, ZAHORANSKY will display a fully
automated system for the glueless production of disposable syringes at the
upcoming Medtec event in Stuttgart.
 To
achieve absolute success, ZAHORANSKY developed a highly efficient needle
feeding system (NFS) capable of separating as many as 400 needles per
minute. Once separated, a custom servo driven linear robot places
singulated needles into an injection mould (Optionally, needles are first
aligned prior to being placed into the mould). Once in the mould, needles
are then sheathed with a high-grade technical polymer, usually COC (cyclo-olefin-copolymer).
The glueless production of syringes is an absolute novelty, considering
that well over 95 % of all cannulas are still to this day assembled with
glue – and mostly in countries abroad using manual labor.
The process steps in detail:
The NFS system singulars needles in batches of 16 using a slide plate at
the feeder magazine. The dual axis linear robot then transfers the
singulated needles to the pickup plate for mould insert position match and
then finally to the ejector-side of the mould cavities.
Simultaneous with the insertion phase, the previously injected parts are
removed at the nozzle-side mould half by a 6-axes articulated robot made
by Engel. This dual process substantially reduces cycle time because both
in-feed and removal functions take place in parallel. The glass-like COC
polymer is then injected via a Ewikon hot runner system with needle valve
nozzles. Due to the nature of the plastic material, the cavity inserts are
heated, while the rest of the mould is cooled as usual. In order to
achieve this, the inserts are thermally separated from the mould to
minimize loss of energy and to accomplish a rapid thermal equilibrium in
the system.
Laser units check the needle in-feed and the sheathed needles for
completeness. The finished syringe bodies can then be siliconized on an
integrated downstream station to improve the sliding ability of the
needles. Finally, the overmoulded and inspected needles can be
automatically packaged, ensuring that no particle contamination by human
hands occurred during the entire process chain.
The functioning automated production line in clean room design can be seen
at the Medtec in Stuttgart at the Engel stand 4415 in Hall 4 running on an
Engel Emotion 200-100T injection mould tool.
Website:
www.zahoransky-group.com
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
DSM
Engineering Plastics global HQ has moved to Asia
DSM Engineering Plastics makes a strategic move to quicker anticipate
customer needs around the globe.
 DSM
Engineering Plastics announces that its global headquarters have moved to
Singapore. The Company, which has development, sales and manufacturing
facilities located in The Netherlands, USA, Japan, China, Taiwan, India,
Belgium and Russia has moved a number of its key functions to Asia in
order to underline its commitment to the Asian market which is expected to
represent the major share of the company’s growth in the coming years.
According to Roelof
Westerbeek, President DSM Engineering Plastics, the move - which was
pre-announced in 2010 – is making good progress and will be completed in
2012: “This is a significant step as it puts us right at the heart of the
fast-growing Asian marketplace. It will help DSM Engineering Plastics to
quicker anticipate the needs of our customers, both regionally and
globally. In addition, it underlines the high importance that DSM puts on
high growth economies as one of the key growth drivers.”
At present, DSM
Engineering Plastics has the following key facilities in place in Asia:
manufacturing facilities in China, Japan, India and Taiwan – as well as
Research facilities in China. The Company also has the intention to
establish research capabilities in Japan and India. Combined, these
facilities provide an excellent backbone for the company’s extensive
market development and sales support activities throughout Asia.
Rein Borggreve,
Global R&D Director: “As a global supplier of high-performance engineering
thermoplastic solutions, we want to ensure that our world-class product
portfolio and technical support are available throughout Asia – for both
local and global players.” Around the world, DSM has a team of specialists
ready to offer support, provide answers and help with design and
engineering, as well as provide specific product or application testing.
Following the move,
DSM remains committed to its world-wide customer base, many of whom also
have a large presence in Asia Pacific. Roelof Westerbeek: “Throughout the
world, in Asia, Europe and the Americas, DSM offers an industry-leading
portfolio of sustainable thermoplastic technologies. Our leadership in
Eco+ solutions is demonstrated by a complete portfolio of halogen-free
engineering plastics, developed for a wide range of high-performance
applications.
This has been further strengthened by the successful launch of new
innovations such as Stanyl® ForTii™, a revolutionary new breakthrough high
temperature polyamide for demanding applications in the electronics,
lighting, automotive, white goods, industrial and aerospace industries.”
DSM strives to
further improve the environmental performance of its products. The most
innovative developments in this field are new bio-based polymers and
bio-based building blocks. DSM is already making good progress with
EcoPaXX™, the best-performing green polymer available, with a zero carbon
footprint (cradle to gate).
Recently, DSM
introduced Arnitel® Eco, a unique material creating more value with lower
environmental impact. With up to 50% made of renewable resources, this
thermoplastic elastomer delivers a lower carbon footprint, a lower impact
on climate change and improved durability.
DSM is passionate
about playing a leading role in the development of more sustainable
solutions with reduced environmental impact. Recognizing the growing
interest in recycling with the ultimate goal of achieving closed-loop
systems, DSM has adopted the Cradle to Cradle® concept as part of its
sustainability strategy. DSM is also actively replacing hazardous
materials, particularly by introducing halogen-free alternatives, such as
Arnitel® XG (used in consumer electronics cables), and Arnite® XG (used in
electrical insulation in white goods). Another recent example is Stanyl®
ForTii™ (especially in electronic connectors), a new breakthrough
high-temperature polyamide with halogen-free flame retardant grades.
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
The Industry Directory
|
PEplus launch a
FREE directory for the Polymer and associated Packaging industry.
-
Companies,
Conferences, Exhibitions, and Courses are all listed
FREE OF CHARGE.
-
Access to the
directory is FREE OF CHARGE.
Website:
www.the-industry-directory.co.uk
|
|
top of page |
|
|
