EPPM 19.6

Nov/Dec 2017 Volume 19 | Issue 06

SHAPING QUALITY STEEL Order now ourour web Orderfrom now from webshop! shop! www.meusburger.com www.meusburger.com

Cover Story | Page 8

The Expert in Color Masterbatch Solutions

www.ampacet.com Ampacet is the leading global Masterbatch producer

The technical expertise of Ampacet’s staff, the new

that was founded in New York in 1937 and present in

state-of-the-art color matching labs and advanced

Europe since 1986. Ampacet’s Masterbatches are

prototype molding & film equipment ensure that the

used in almost every polymer, plastic process and

color responds perfectly to customer’s requirements.

application.

From satins and pearlescents to metallic and pastels, Ampacet works with an extensive palette of pigments to provide the most aesthetically unique choice of colors and special effects, which consequently increases appeal and brand awareness. Ampacet’s Masterbatch range also includes from premium to cost-effective whites and blacks, as well as general purpose and technically advanced additive solutions.

Furthermore, Ampacet offers to its customers in-depth technical and analytical support with fast color matching services and on time and flexible deliveries.

We invite you to book your trip with one of our Sales Representatives to Ampacet’s newly opened UK Design Center or to Luxembourg Ideation Center where you will journey from an “Idea to a Realisation”!

For further information please contact us at: marketing.europe@ampacet.com

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Volume 19 Issue 06

IN THIS ISSUE Pg 24

INDUSTRY NEWS

BLOW MOULDING

We round up some of the biggest plastics stories to shake the European and wider industry, including news the HuntsmanClariant merger is now off.

Our blow moulding spotlight looks at an exciting development from Lanxess.

Pg 8

FAKUMA REVIEW

Meusburger talks us through the advantages of F-Plates as a material for a mould base.

Pg 10 AUTOMOTIVE We bring back the biggest automotive developments to shine at Fakuma, including stories from ELIX Polymers, DuPont and Solvay.

Carlton House, Sandpiper Way, Chester Business Park, Chester, CH4 9QE. Tel. +44 (0) 1244 680222 Fax. +44 (0) 1244 671074 Web: www.eppm.com

Pg 6

COVER STORY

head office

C.E.O. duncan wood

editorial editor rose brooke rose.brooke@rapidnews.com assistant editor john carlon john.carlon@rapidnews.com

Pg 26 We summarise some of the biggest machinery and materials technology launches to be made at Fakuma 2017.

Pg 28

production art & production robert wood

advertising group advertising manager lisa montgomery lisa@rapidnews.com senior sales executive neil bamford neil.bamford@rapidnews.com

EUREKA LEGO has launched its Women of NASA set, recognising the extraordinary women who are championing engineering and aeronautics - and maybe these toys will inspire their successors?

tel: +44 (0) 1244 680222

subscriptions subscriptions@rapidnews.com qualifying readers europe - free, ROW - £249 outside qualifying criteria £249

Pg 16

please subscribe online at www.eppm.com

MOULD AND TOOL MAKING Address changes should be emailed to subscriptions@rapidnews.com

Tool and mould making giant Hasco sat down with EPPM to discuss how the industry leader is undergoing a renaissance of digitisation.

Pg 19 PRINTING AND DECORATING We round up some of the biggest printing and decorating news items to catch our eyes in recent weeks.

European Plastic Product Manufacturer is published by Rapid Plastics Media Ltd. Each issue is distributed in print and digital format to 17,845 buyers and specifiers in the European plastic processing industry.

FLIP THIS MAGAZINE OVER FOR THE LATEST FROM THE MIDDLE EASTERN PLASTICS MARKET AND THE MAJOR SHOWS TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE REGION.

© November/December 2017 While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within European Plastic Product Manufacturer is accurate, the publisher accepts no liability for information published in error, or for views expressed.

All rights for European Plastic Product Manufacturer are reserved, and reproduction in part or whole without written permission is strictly prohibited.

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Workaholic with iQ The new e-mac 280 The all-electric e-mac delivers what is needed in series production: stable processes, consistent precision and round-the-clock efficiency. And thanks to an advanced machine concept, it does this with low maintenance costs and a long, reliable life span. Your advantage: intelligent assistance systems from our inject 4.0 programme reduce rejects or downtime to nearly negligible factors. With a self-regulating e-mac, you can rely on problem-free production – for the lifetime of an ENGEL machine.

Now available in the 280 ton size.

be the first

www.engelglobal.com/e-mac

From The Editor

To infinity and equality and beyond LEGO was the one thing in the playroom that seemed to be truly unisex and the new Women of NASA set reinforces this for a new generation.

Without a doubt, one of the most memorable stories to feature in this issue is news that LEGO has launched its Women of NASA set and the fact I am writing this on Equal Pay Day in the UK sets the tone nicely for my editor’s letter.

Anybody who knows me, knows female visibility within plastics is very important to me and the more I learn about the gender gap in plastics and in the wider manufacturing and engineering sectors in Europe, the more I believe that action needs to be taken at grass roots level.

This is why the new LEGO set is such a breakthrough. I loved LEGO as a girl and would spend entire school holidays building cities with my brother, demolishing them, then building them back up bigger and more sophisticated than before. Growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, there were definitely toys for girls and toys for boys, but LEGO was the one thing in the playroom that seemed to be truly unisex and the new Women of NASA set reinforces this for a new generation.

From the future of gender equality to the future of car manufacturing, our November/December edition is our automotive issue and we are sharing some of the latest plastic technologies for car-making from Fakuma with you, as well as news on tool and mould making with insights from Hasco and cover star Meusburger.

The jewel in the crown for this magazine is of course our annual back-to-back double issue with sister title Middle Eastern Plastics, bringing you business and industry news from the MENA region’s thriving plastics sector, as well as show previews for Plastivision Arabia and Plast Eurasia.

So from the infinite possibilities for a gender-equal plastics industry, to the broad horizons of opportunity in the Middle East, our final edition of EPPM for 2017 ends on an optimistic note.

Thank you so much for joining us for another exciting year of following the European plastic product manufacturing industry, see you in 2018.

Rose Brooke, Editor

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INDUSTRY

HuntsmanClariant merger scrapped after shareholder rebellion WORDS| John Carlon

T

he chemicals merger of the year, between Huntsman Chemical and Clariant, has been called off after Clariant faced a rebellion in its ranks of shareholders.

They said: “Given the continued accumulation of Clariant shares by activist investor White Tale Holdings and its opposition to the transaction, which is now supported by some other shareholders, we believe that there is simply too much uncertainty as to whether Clariant will be able to secure the two-thirds shareholder approval that is required to approve the transaction under Swiss law.”

The two masterbatch, colours and chemical companies, based in Texas and Switzerland, scrapped their posited merger after a rebellion by Clariant’s shareholders.

A group of Clariant shareholders opposed to the HuntsmanClariant deal, ‘White Tale’, increased its stock to hold over a fifth of Clariant, preventing a two-thirds consensus required under Swiss company law.

The end of the road for the merger talks lets Clariant walk away without paying a $210 million (€181 million) ‘breakage fee’.

Kottmann said: “While White Tale's position on the merger has been different from ours, we share a common interest in increasing Clariant’s value. We are committed to achieving this through a continuation of our existing and successful longterm growth strategy. That said, we will continue our dialogue with all our stakeholders.”

Both Peter Huntsman and Clariant chief Hariolf Kottmann, said they still thought a tie-up ‘would be in the long-term best interests’ of investors.

www.huntsman.com

www.clariant.com

EuPC publishes recycled plastics materials usage data

T

he European Plastics Converters Association (EuPC) has launched a Europe-wide survey on the existing and future use of recycled plastics in the European converting industry.

In the five months since the survey, which was completed by 485 respondents from 28 countries, EuPC can now publish the results of the report conducted in cooperation with Polymer Comply Europe Sarl (PCE).

The report gives detailed insights into the current state of affairs regarding the use of recycled plastics by plastics converting companies and provides valuable information for authorities and organisations as well as companies throughout the whole plastics value chain.

One of the main conclusions drawn from the survey is that quality remains the biggest barrier to widening the usage of recycled plastics as raw materials.

Indeed, 60 per cent of respondents find it hard to source recycled plastics that meet their standards for quality.

As well as the quality of recycled plastic not meeting enough converters' standards, not enough converters are making their customers aware of the benefits of recycled plastics, with only 27 per cent informing their customers in this regard.

In addition, the current regulatory framework needs to be adapted to adequately support the use of recycled plastics.

Almost 60 per cent of European plastics converting companies think that the current regulations are not suitable to support a stronger use of recycled plastic materials in the future.

The EuPC report forms part of a larger initiative to impart more knowledge about the use of recycled plastics in the plastics converting industry. Further surveys and workshops with national plastics associations are expected to follow in 2018 and beyond.

All EuPC members and participating companies will receive the detailed report on the results of the survey during the following months. www.plasticsconverters.eu

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WWW.EPPM.COM

Silver bullet: Ampacet launches new antimicrobial additive technology

INDUSTRY

A

mpacet has launched G E R M S C L E A N 6 8 4, a n inorganic antimicrobial additive for the effective protection of plastic articles using silver-based technology.

We are all in contact with millions of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and mould during our daily life. Some of them are beneficial to the wellbeing of the host organism, while others are harmful.

Being concerned by the wellbeing of the population, Ampacet is introducing its highly effective antimicrobial additive Masterbatch solution for plastic articles, GERMSCLEAN 684.

Designed for film and moulding applications, Ampacet GERMSCLEAN 684 is a silver-based additive technology. It offers an outstanding long-lasting protection against proliferation of a wide variety of harmful microorganisms by blocking growth of bacteria and slowing down fungi multiplication, preventing the formation of harmful biological layers.

QUALITY ACCELERATES.

This additive is highly efficient even at low let down ratio. It doesn’t affect the appearance or physical properties of the end product thanks to the low concentration of silver.

Ampacet GERMSCLEAN 684 provides a safer environment avoiding food poisoning and protecting human beings from harmful bacteria and consequent possible diseases. www.ampacet.com

The e-mobility trend is gaining momentum, particularly in view of issues such as resource preservation and climate protection.

With our innovative materials, we are already contributing to the ongoing process of making motor vehicles more lightweight and therefore eco-friendly. Our high-tech Durethan® and Pocan® thermoplastics and Tepex® nylon composite sheets open up new possibilities in structural engineering and design. With our flame-retardant product grades, we offer custom solutions specifically for plugs, connectors, mounting elements and housings in electronic components. In this way, quality from LANXESS is helping to shape future mobility. e-mobility.lanxess.com

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COVER STORY

Shaping quality steel The F-Plates from Meusburger offer numerous advantages when used as material for a mould base. The industry leader talks EPPM through the perfect material for the job.

WORDS | Andreas Sutter, Head of Division Technical Marketing, Meusburger

T

he F-Plates from Meusburger are the ideal material for making mould bases. These come complete with pillar and screw holes and are available immediately from stock in sizes 96 x 96 to 1196 x 1196. Another advantage which Meusburger offers is the wide range of materials with 27 materials. Additional side-drilled mould bases with almost quadratic space utilisation save in many cases the use of the next Big improvements are often larger mould.

achieved with simple ideas.

At Meusburger, everything is done with the benefit of the customer in mind.

Three furnaces for 240 tonnes of steel

When steel plates are produced, tension results in the material due to the various machining processes – caused, for example, by the effect of irregular temperature influences. Following the inspection of incoming goods, Meusburger heat treats all steel plates for stress relief in one of its three furnaces for 24 hours. This creates the best conditions for low-deformation processing of parts. The daily capacity of the three furnaces at Meusburger is 240 tonnes.

Lowering tension With stress-relieving heat treatment, the tension in the material is minimised without changes to the microstructure or strength. This is a great advantage during subsequent machining. If there was still tension in the material, it would, for example, cause deformation

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during sawing or milling. During stress relieving it is important to heat the plates slowly and consistently and then maintain this temperature for six hours. This guarantees that thick plates are also heated through to the core.

Cooling for 14 hours The subsequent slow and consistent cooling period of 14 hours in the furnace is even more important for optimal subsequent machining.

Here the plates are cooled at approximately 35°C per hour. If they were cooled more quickly, tension - and even the formation of cracks - could once more occur in the material.

Mould bases with Meusburger standard hole pattern Big improvements are often achieved with simple ideas.

At Meusburger, everything is done with the benefit of the customer in mind. The systematically coordinated standard hole pattern provides a continuous system from the smallest through to the biggest mould base.

Cooling channels can be inserted between the guiding hole and the screw holes of any size of mould. The distance to the edge remains the same for each guiding diameter. The standardised hole patterns of all Meusburger moulding plates, including those used for sliding core and change moulds, follow the same principle and offer many advantages to the customer.

WWW.EPPM.COM

Lever slots and alignment edge A small but very valuable feature is the lever slots provided on all moulding plates with a pillar diameter larger than of 20 mm.

The recessed edges, which are a unique feature offered only by Meusburger, facilitate the manual opening of the mould in the split line face and the removal of moulding plates. This makes the process noticeably easier for the mould maker.

To enable a quick and easy alignment, the moulding plates are provided with a high-precision alignment edge parallel to the guiding holes.

Mounting thread It’s both simple and ingenious: with the thread provided in each of the F70 Risers of the Meusburger mould base, the clamping plate can be removed together with the risers when disassembling the mould. This enables the mould maker to quickly access the ejector set during a revision.

Afterwards, the risers can be easily reassembled together with the clamping plate. The result: double time saving. www.meusburger.com

FAC T B OX Turnover in 2016:

â‚Ź270 million

Catalogue items:

Customers:

86,000 – 99 per cent availability Standard parts and workshop equipment for making dies, moulds, jigs and fixtures; hot runner and control systems More than 17,500 all over the world

Percentage exported:

93 per cent

Sales branches in:

India, China, Turkey, the US and Mexico

Members of staff:

1,450.

Products:

WWW.EPPM.COM

9

AUTOMOTIVE

Pedal to the metal Elix Polymers has carved itself a niche in the premium corner of the automotive market with a portfolio that includes higher-heat and low-density ABS that is colour-accurate, metal-platable and 3D printable.

WORDS | Rose Brooke

A

BS is helping make the next generation of vehicles customised, colourful and cool thanks to Elix Polymers’ plastics technology.

We are focusing on specialties and customised products because then we are more flexible than the biggest competitors.

formulated to be high or low gloss and scratch-resistant.

“We are always making contact with the Tier One and the technical research and development teams for news projects,” said Herter.

And Elix is offering exciting new materials geared towards the interior environment of the car of the future, namely the electric vehicle (EV).

The ABS developer’s natural fibre-

“This [material] is generating some interest with OEMs for interiors especially for new electric cars,” he said. “I would say EVs are ... looking less traditional and want to look more sustainable, which is why the woodlike effect works in an EV for smaller, decorative parts.”

Elix works closely with customers to analyse their needs to develop new ABS technologies.

Elix Polymers has been developing its special portfolio of 3D-printable ABS for FDM for over a year now, bringing the best ABS technology not only to prototyping, but to customised end-use parts for automotive.

“If it’s a special car like a small series of Rolls Royce or something, you produce 100 cars per year so why not choose 3D printing over injection moulding?” stated Herter. “It’s easy, you just have to make your digital drawing and you can print it.”

The scope for ABS is certainly growing thanks to the research and development work being carried out in Tarragona, and Elix is carving itself a niche in the premium, EV and customised vehicle market with a portfolio that suits the ‘cool’ car.

Fabian Herter, Industry Manager Automotive, at Elix Polymers spoke to EPPM at Fakuma, where the leading manufacturer of ABS resins and derivatives was shining the spotlight on ABS technology that can be metallised using electroplating, as well as its highly colourful and 3D-printable offering.

“We have developed new materials with higher temperature resistance, and lower weight to other plastics,” Herter concluded. “Colour-matching, metalplatable and 3D-printable materials covers a premium end of the market.

We’re not looking to compete with the biggest competitors who can produce more general purpose standard grades cheaply in one colour.”

Herter explained that metal-platable ABS is a boon for carmakers as it affords greater design freedom as an added advantage next to the clear lightweighting benefits of replacing metals with plastics.

Front grilles, exterior trim parts and other decorative parts are all prime candidates for chrome plating, with the premium and American markets proving the most lucrative, especially as metal-platable ABS continues to permeate the automotive interior.

Herter noted that in addition to the weight-saving and design benefits, Elix has added strings to its bow that are helping to convince OEMs of the benefits of the plastic technology.

He explained that Elix is especially proficient at precise colour matching, while offering a material that can be

10

reinforced ABS, which was picked for the 2016 Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation Award, matches the characteristic properties of glass fibre composites and looks attractive due to its natural fibre colouring.

Herter explained that the natural fibre ABS is a good choice for EV interiors.

“You can do something very unique and special when you work alongside the customer,” Herter explained.

“Automotive requirements are quite tough. We are focusing on specialties and customised products because then we are more flexible than the biggest competitors. Service comes with it as well - and all of us are working together.”

WWW.EPPM.COM

www.elix-polymers.com

Say hello to…

The experts in pigments and additives for the plastics sector Venator is the new name for Huntsman Pigments and Additives. We’re still the same world-leading experts in titanium dioxide pigments and performance additives, which include color pigments, functional additives, timber and water treatment chemicals. Our products are essential to thousands of everyday items that are part of millions of lives around the world. They bring color and add vibrancy; reduce energy consumption; protect the environment; extend shelf life and help improve the quality of life of consumers everywhere.

For more information on our products please email:

plastics_expert@venatorcorp.com

Serving our customers from 27 locations worldwide – covering every major market – we employ over 4,500 people who provide the product innovation and technical expertise to help you meet your commercial and environmental demands.

Talk to our plastics experts today about your challenges and find out how we could help you.

www.venatorcorp.com

AUTOMOTIVE

Solvay takes Technyl up a gear New grades of Technyl Red, Technyl Blue, Ixef, Ryton and Amodel launched at Fakuma are aggressively defending Solvay’s position as a leader in automotive materials development.

The experts sat down with EPPM to introduce the latest additions.

WORDS | Rose Brooke

CYLINDER HEAD COVERS

TURBO AIR DUCTS

ENGINE COVERS

RESONATORS

Resonators

Engine covers

CHARGE AIR COOLERS

AIR INTAKE MANIFOLDS FOR TURBOCHARGED DIESEL ENGINES

AIR INTAKE MANIFOLDS

WITH INTEGRATED WATER COOLED CHARGE AIR COOLER

A

lready enjoying a strong position in the automotive market, Solvay upped the ante at Fakuma by taking its benchmark Technyl Red and Technyl Blue into a higher gear.

Technyl Red S is a high-performing, heatstabilised polyamide designed especially for automotive applications It’s exciting really operating at temperatures of over 200°C, making it to be able to the ideal lightweighting solution for under-the-hood make functional operations such as turbo prototypes with engine air ducts or charge Sinterline and air coolers.

put them on the bench and test them

Red hot heat

The new formulation of Technyl Red S can withstand operating temperatures peaking at 210°C, with improved impact resistance and the ability to stand up to acid condensates, while offering flowability, superior surface finish and weldability.

All of these enhanced characteristics are essential if the polyamide is to withstand the harsh under-the-hood environment of the contemporary car, said Gérald Durski from Solvay Performance Polyamides.

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"One of the main advantages of the product is it is easy to mould with a good surface area and good weldability," he explained. "If we compare Technyl Red S with all the products on the market, the Red range is offering so many advantages: very good mechanical properties, acid resistance and easy-flow.

It's an optimal product complementing the range that we have."

in France and China, form part of a development package that is complemented by prototyping technology using Solvay's Sinterline 3D printing portfolio.

Technyl Red S has been extensively tested

by Solvay in France and in China using methodology that is recognised and trusted by OEMs, proving that the material can perform to better-than-the-usual PA 66 standards.

He continued that Sinterline is a technology Solvay is actively 'ramping up', having been qualified by big OEMs.

Tested, trusted The material has been developed as a result from Solvay's long-standing cooperation with leading thermal management system developers, while Solvay's Application Performance Testing (APT) centres can conduct accurate tests in turbocharged environments, ensuring full part performance validation under realistic operating conditions.

The knowledge and experience behind the development of the technology, coupled with the tests carried out on the benches

WWW.EPPM.COM

"It's exciting really to be able to make functional prototypes with Sinterline and put them on the bench and test them," Durski stated.

"The OEMs are sharing development data as part of their work with raw materials suppliers and the major automotive Tiers," explained Durski. "It's a collaboration and we have development loops and feedbacks and so on, and very often the part is tested in our lab for qualification validation - so it's an on-going process."

It's this collaboration between the industry and Solvay Performance Polyamides that expedites products to market, thanks to the advanced material characterisation, application validation, predictive simulation with MMI Technyl Design - which is an advanced software powered by Digimat from e-Xstream Sinterline 3D printing, and part testing at APT Technyl Centres.

THERMOSTAT HOUSINGS OIL FILTER HOUSINGS OIL FILTER MODULES

THERMAL MANAGEMENT MODULES EXPANSION TANKS

RADIATOR END-TANKS

COOLING PIPES AND DUCTS WATER AND GAS INJECTION TECHNOLOGY

Ryton R-4-300 offers long-term thermal stability up to 180°C and short-term temperature resistance of up to 260°C, as well as chemical resistance and an inherent flame retardancy.

Compared to many other PPS based grades it shows excellent welding performance.

"Ryton R-4-300 is the right material if you are looking for a really high temperature requirement and continuous contact with water and glycol cooling agents," explained Andreas Lutz.

EGR HEAT EXCHANGER

Amodel pupil The stabilising end of the spectrum

has been optimised to face, withstanding high voltages while offering a lightweight polymer solution.

While Technyl Red S deals with the hot side of automotive, Technyl Blue has the cool side covered.

Lightweighting for the electric vehicle is, of course, essential to its efficient running, as the lighter the car, the further the battery can take you.

"Typically, the application we're talking about here concerns the cooling systems, so cooling pipes and radiator We think it’s a end tanks, but we're also developing filter housing, great product thermostat housing and - especially cooling valves because the if you look at circuits are getting more and more complex to manage,” the future of Durski explained.

automotive with electrification

The Technyl Blue range is a heat stabilised plastic that combines superior hydrolysis and thermal ageing performance when up against aggressive coolants, that has been built on the strengths of the traditional Technyl 34NG series.

"Developments in EVs are accelerating and it's quite interesting to watch," said Durski.

Unfading flame retardant For EV connectors, Solvay has also developed Ixef 1524 RD 001, a halogenfree flame retardant (HFFR) and 50 per cent glass fibre-reinforced polyarylamide (PARA) grade colour matched to signal orange. The material is processed at higher temperatures than typical nylons, which could affect colour quality, but Solvay has formulated pigments and flame-retardant systems that make the material easy to mould without colour fading.

The material range offers 15 to 60 per cent enhanced hydrolysis resistance versus traditional PA 66 and includes a new compound –Technyl D218 CR V33- that provides superior chemical resistance to road salts used in cooler climates such as Russia, Canada and Japan.

"We have new applications coming onstream such as the electronic thermostat or the oil filter module housing, EGR coolers being made with G2 Technyl Blue," said Durski.

"At this point in time, we have roughly 20 per cent of modules made of plastic in a car - the rest is made out of aluminium, so that's the future of the lightweighting trend in the market.

"There's still plenty of room for growth and with trends such as more compact engines and hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), that leads to a higher requirement overall."

Electric connection It's in the electric vehicle that Durski sees Technyl Blue really flexing its long-term glycol resistance muscles.

"I would say in hybrid and EVs there's potential as the cooling circuits are pretty complex and this is a sector that's just getting started," he said.

Connectors are a particularly challenging application that the Technyl One range

Ixef PARA also presents excellent creep resistance making it a good fit for connectors in EV applications.

"We think it’s a great product," said Andreas Lutz, Automotive Area Development Manager from Solvay Specialty Polymers, "especially if you look at the future of automotive with electrification. There you have lots of connectors and you need a lot of safety, which is why we think this is an innovative product providing a bright colour combined with flame retarding properties, good processability and excellent electrical properties."

Short-term high temperature resistance But the traditional combustion engine is still very important to Solvay. For thermal management solutions, the latest addition to Solvay’s family of linear PPS products, Ryton R-4-300 (40 per cent glass-filled loading), offers excellent thermal stability, dimensional stability, chemical resistance and flame retardancy.

WWW.EPPM.COM

Complementing Solvay’s new thermal management solutions is the Amodel A-89XX series of polyphthalamide (PPA) polymer. The new series of PPA grades ranges from 30 to 50 per cent glass-filled loadings and offers improved dimensional stability, lower moisture uptake and enhanced chemical resistance, and targets applications such as thermostat housings, multi-coolant valves, water inlets and outlets, cross overs, and other under-thehood components.

Lutz said Solvay is really proud to have these and many other product families in its portfolio. However, Solvay doesn’t only provide the compounds. A lot of work was done before these products were ready to enter the market - including up to 3,000 hours testing under heat and in contact with chemicals to provide important data for key OEMs, he added.

Strength and stiffness Out from under-the-hood, Solvay is innovating the interior of the car for example with Ixef 3012, a 55 per cent carbon glass fibre hybrid reinforced grade of polyarylamide (PARA), which has been developed to provide a high-strength and stiffness compared to metal low-density solution, with exceptional surface finish. Ixef 3012 PARA complements Solvay's existing 30 per cent carbon fibre-reinforced Ixef 3008 PARA and is commercially available to the worldwide market in black.

Lutz explained that this Ixef grade is stiffer even than some metals. An additional highlight is the good flowability of Ixef PARA. Ixef has been on a journey, evolving thanks to Solvay's close relationship with its customers who told Solvay the material was not stiff enough originally, and so carbon fibre was added reinforcing the material to beyond the stiffness of some die cast metals.

"The surface quality is excellent, and customers in automotive appreciate this," he said. "If you want to coat a plastic with poor surface quality then the coating doesn't hide the defect, it emphasises it. So, you need a good surface quality to begin with and that is what the material provides.

Typical applications for this material are metallised air vent lamellas with high aesthetic requirements. This is a unique and a stand-alone material - but if you want to decorate it, you can easily decorate it."

"Solvay has a strong position in automotive and we defend it," Lutz concluded. www.solvay.com

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AUTOMOTIVE

Automotive plastics: When lightweighting isn’t the objective Lightweighting shouldn’t be the main reason for switching to plastics in under-the-hood automotive applications - superior performance should come first, says DuPont.

WORDS | Rose Brooke

P

lastics' increasing ubiquity in the world of automotive manufacturing tends to come about because of lightweighting benefits, but in some instances, lightweighting isn't the primary reason to opt for plastic over the incumbent material - often diePlastics have functional cast aluminium.

benefits versus die cast aluminium, and that is the reason to choose plastic versus aluminium - even if there is no lightweighting

Automotive Marketing Manager for DuPont Performance Materials Klaus Bender is realistic about plastics in complex under-the-hood applications and revealed that lightweighting should be treated as a bonus after mechanical performance.

DuPont's Zytel polyamide resin and Zytel PLUS nylon are perfect examples of polymers that outshine die-cast aluminium to such an extent in terms of performance, that any lightweighting benefits are an added bonus rather than a necessity.

At Fakuma, DuPont announced that its collaboration with ElringKlinger and Daimler led to the commercialisation of structural engine brackets and cylinder head covers manufactured with Zytel.

Smooth operator The engine bracket is one of the first all-plastic engine brackets and is destined for mass production for the Mercedes Benz M2 6F. As with luxury cars, the smooth driving experience is key, which is where Zytel's outstanding mechanical properties shine.

"The all-plastic engine bracket has a major benefit in NVH (noise, vibration and harshness)," explained Bender.

"The engine bracket is connected to the engine mount and the engine mount is - let's say a rubber damper - to absorb the vibrations of the engine improving the overall comfort of the driver.

That is exactly where the advantage of our Zytel lies because it improves NVH by reducing the structural bond noises in a very significant way."

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A smooth driving experience is especially important for a Mercedes and the NVH factor in this instance is the most important factor in favour of replacing the incumbent engine bracket with its Zytel counterpart.

Burn baby burn The new cylinder head cover is the very first of its kind as a commercial application of Zytel PLUS nylon, and responds to the trend of engines becoming more compact and hotter due to the proximity of exhaust lines. For this application, superior high temperature performance was required, adapting to changing turbo charging demands. Zytel PLUS has been optimised especially to be resistant to temperatures of over 200 °C for more than 3,000 hours.

"The difficulty was that the cylinder head cover has a sealing function at the top of the engine and due to proximity to the exhaust line, hotspots may make the material softer," explained Bender.

"There needs to be pressure on the sealing and that pressure would - for a normal material - cause a kind of a deflection that can lead to oil leakages which is why we've used 50 per cent glass reinforced nylon 66 again."

Bender noted that both of these applications of Zytel are in mass production for Mercedes Benz and are being moulded by Tier One companies, with all parties working together in harmony.

"It doesn't just sound perfect - it is perfect," exclaimed Bender.

"To make a long story short," he concluded, "I think there is potential for lightweighting but not in every application. I think the key highlight really is that plastics have functional benefits versus die cast aluminium, and that is the reason to choose plastic versus aluminium - even if there is no lightweighting. I think we need to refresh that thinking."

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www.dupont.com

Toyota abuzz for EconCore honeycomb technology

AUTOMOTIVE

Toyota has adopted EconCore's unique honeycomb technology for its new hybrid model Prius PHV.

T

he solution, based on ThermHex thermoplastic honeycomb core technology developed by EconCore, is implemented in the boot cover of the car. This was achieved thanks to developments of Gifu Plastic Industry from Japan using technology licensed from EconCore.

Due to its strength and rigidity, the ultra-low weight honeycomb delivers weight savings of 50 per cent as a core part inside the trunk cover compared to traditional materials.

The cover itself was developed

by Gifu Plastics together with its local automotive supplier partners.

Gifu Plastic developed capabilities and products to conform to the specifications of automobile parts including durability, heat and cold resistance.

Gifu started out using the ThermHex process to make thermoplastic honeycomb products for packaging and logistics applications, achieving notable success in these areas and recently extended its portfolio to include automotive interiors.

The light, rigid and easy-to-thermoform honeycomb core materials have attracted the interest of automotive OEMs in Europe and North America as well.

"We are proud that our uniquely produced honeycomb cores are becoming increasingly accepted in the highly sensitive automotive industry," said says Jochen Pflug, CEO of EconCore and inventor of the ThermHex technology.

Pflug noted that the efficiency of the unique and patented continuous ThermHex process enables the honeycomb structure to be brought to more cost sensitive applications, ultimately saving natural resources by replacing heavier sub-optimal designs.

EconCore’s ThermHex technology is a continuous process for the production of thermoplastic honeycombs integrated with an in-line lamination of skin layers. Due to the efficient process, the resulting sandwich panels are not only exceptionally strong and lightweight but also very cost-effective.

EconCore has licensed the technology to several companies operating within packaging, automotive, furniture, building and transportation markets. www.econcore.com ADV 164X235 EPPM_UK.indd 1

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MOULD MAKING AND TOOLING

Moulding Expo gears up for industrydefining 2019 outing

A

fter a hugely successful event this year, Moulding Expo has set its dates for 2019.

Messe Stuttgart earlier in the year.

After a great second edition, which was attended by 14,000 visitors from 52 countries over the course of the four days, Moulding Expo 2019 will take place at Messe Stuttgart from May 21st-24th, falling outside of the Whitsun Holidays, making the event even more convenient to attend.

The dates provide exhibitors and visitors to Moulding Expo 2019 with new ways to connect to an industry that has many overlaps within the tool, pattern and mould making sector.

70 exhibitors have already confirmed their attendance and the show will run concurrent with the Automotive Show, which will have a positive impact on visitor figures and visitor experience, Messe Stuttgart believes.

On May 21 to 23 2019, the third edition of Moulding Expo will run concurrently with the Automotive Show organised by UKi Media & Events Ltd. combining five trade fairs from the automotive supply industry under one roof.

The most important representatives of the industry will be there, including partners of the BVMF, VDMA, VDW and VDWF, who settled on the 2019 dates with

"The themes of the Automotive Shows are an ideal supplement to Moulding Expo," said Roland Pfletschinger, Managing Director, Pfletschinger and

Gauch, Plochingen. "They offer synergy on a broad scale – both for us as exhibitors and for trade fair visitors who will then have a complete technology overview."

Gabriele Urhahn, Head of Marketing/Communication, GF Machining Solutions, added: "In our opinion Moulding Expo 2019 kicks off with the perfect dates."

www.messe-stuttgart.de/en/moulding-expo

Portuguese mould makers make German impression

P

ortuguese mould makers have returned from Fakuma having made a strong impression on the German plastics processing sector.

CEFAMOL reported that together with its 26 Portuguese industry partners it believes Fakuma to be one of the most important industry fairs in Europe and it remarked that interest from German media was a particularly pleasant by-product from the association's participation.

"Fakuma is a fair where there is an analysis of the various capacities - whether Portuguese or foreign of the mould industry," said Faustino. "In the industry, there is always that expectation of how the coming months will be in terms of orders and workload.

"I think that, in general, all companies were pleased with this participation," said JoĂŁo Faustino, President of CEFAMOL. "It was very gratifying to realise this [media] interest. From what we learned, it focused on the Portuguese representation for its weight and importance as a supplier of moulds to Germany.

He added that Fakuma is an exhibition where several of the national mould producers have been present for many years and once again found it to be a positive experience.

Classifying Fakuma as "one of the best fairs in the industry", Faustino justified the fact that it is a fair, even by geographic location, where "all those who look for suppliers of moulds regardless of location" are present.

The Portuguese representation, Faustino added, was garnering interest from businesses across Europe, but the lion's share of enquiries came from central and eastern Europe.

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This fair and the contact it allows is important for companies [for] customer feedback on new projects." www.cefamol.pt

MOULD MAKING AND TOOLING

Hasco makes mould-making digital Hasco is investing in digitisation, helping customers to find and design mould-making hardware efficiently via a single platform.

EPPM caught up with Dirk Paulmann, Executive Vice-President of Sales and Business Development, at Fakuma.

WORDS | Rose Brooke

H

asco presented itself in Glorious Technicolor at Fakuma, lighting up Hall A2 with an enormous digital display showcasing how the mould-making innovator is bringing the industry into the digital age and attracting a brand new generation of tech-savvy specialists.

The Friedrichshafen-based plastics industry event was the perfect platform for Hasco to show off its portal www.hasco.com, which allows customers to access Hasco products, innovations and services online We will never be the 24 hours a day, cheapest company from anywhere quality engineering and in the world.

the brand are the most important things to us.

Featuring a mould-making assistant, the system offers mould-makers a solution that is efficient, fool-proof and time-saving, allowing individualised innovations to be brought to market in weeks and allowing customers to find the right tools and parts from an enormous library at the click of a mouse.

Big animal This is all part of Hasco's on-going investment in digitisation.

"Designing this new site was a big animal," Dirk Paulmann, Executive Vice-President of Sales and Business Development at Hasco, told EPPM at Fakuma.

"Over the course of two-and-a-half years, the biggest challenge was taking all 100,000 products and bringing them into the software - that takes quite an effort."

He continued that Hasco's main objective is to simplify the work of its customers, making the design of tools easy and the selection of products straightforward.

The company invested â‚Ź3 million three years ago into the software and designing program and it took two-and-a-half years to lay the foundations for a system that has a dedicated team working to bring upgrades to the platform every six months.

The practical mould-making assistant can be called up via the platform's start page and can lead to a fully-configured mould in just five steps, supported by a layout editor.

While remaining competitive, Hasco is working hard to adopt contemporary practices and to look attractive to the next generation of mould making technicians.

The drag-and-drop system intuitively operates graphic surfaces allowing for the rapid configuration of moulding tools tailored for individual applications. Graphic interaction guides the user seamlessly through the configuration process making the adding of plates, stripper packages and the removal of mould elements from the mould layout quick and easy.

Paulmann explained that Hasco is investing in video content, search engine optimisation and expanding its digital presence to bring a new dimension to the company, as well as seeking the best and brightest talent to help drive innovation in the company.

Moreover, possible positions for the mould parts are highlighted so that only feasible combinations of mould-makng elements can be created, eliminating wasted time and resources should the mould not function correctly once produced.

Virtual world

"Saving time for customers is the main objective of this digitisation. We want to help our customers streamline their processes and we have dedicated teams generating a lot of momentum on our virtual platform," Paulmann explained.

"We are the first to have this digital offering," said Paulmann. "We have to be competitive."

This drive to improve and stay current chimes with Hasco's mantra that it is quality and service you are investing in when you choose Hasco.

"We will never be the cheapest company quality engineering and the brand are the most important things to us," Paulmann stated. "Customers receive our reliable service and the best quality first."

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"To attract people to work with metal and plastic is a challenge and - so as an industry leader we need to be digital."

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PRINTING AND DECORATING

DuPont puts stamp on luxe packaging An exciting partnership between DuPont Performance Materials and technology leader in hot stamping and transfer technology LEONHARD KURZ has come about to develop sumptuous effects for luxury products.

Both companies have been working on beautifying Surlyn with a metalised effect - a technological challenge that has been months in the making.

"We are constantly working on new material developments and decorative effects for Surlyn," explained Maria Carcolé, EMEA Marketing Leader Perfumes and Cosmetics at DuPont. "It takes a careful screening of the market trends and needs coupled with active collaboration along the value chain to develop innovative solutions that help leading brands create imaginative and unique packaging. In this project, hot stamping allows us to obtain a coloured or metallic high-gloss decoration, which gives the cap a truly luxurious feel with outstanding tactile and surface qualities."

The challenge for this technically complex project was in the development of a foil specifically suited for efficient heat marking, even at low temperatures.

The technical team at DuPont Performance Materials worked with the best specialists in hot stamping technology and first carried out in-depth testing on materials with the expert support of C. Bracco EIRL.

The LEONHARD KURZ group, experienced in complex projects, took on the challenge of further developing the foil.

"For us, the challenge was twofold: to obtain a good adhesion of the film at low temperatures, while retaining the high gloss of the material," explained Stéphane Royère, Head of Business Area Industrial Products at KURZ. "After comprehensive testing ... we developed a solution specifically dedicated to hot stamping of Surlyn, ensuring a perfect rendering on the material, producing excellent smoothness and surface finish."

The newly developed foil offers very high bond strength and successfully passed all abrasion resistance tests. With this new hot stamping development, DuPont adds to the broad range of decoration possibilities that Surlyn enables.

"The Surlyn portfolio offers a wide palette of grades for high quality packaging to create luxurious finishes, as well as more simple and highly effective designs, including opaque and metallic renderings," said Carcolé. www.dupont.com

Verstraete IML has blockbuster a-peel Belgian IML leader Verstraete IML has developed a "One of the best features of our new plastic IML peelable in-mould label for reusable popcorn buckets. packaging is that it’s environmentally friendly; it complies with legislation that promotes recycling The brand-new IML packaging, produced by Fosko and extended producer responsibility, and it’s a sofor Cinemark, sets itself apart from the pack with its called ‘3R’ product: 100 per cent reducible, reusable sustainability and reusability. and recyclable," said Boitano.

"Our customers believe popcorn is a major part of their cinema experience," said Loreto Boitano, Concessions Manager at Cinemark. "A lot of our customers are frequent cinema visitors, and their loyalty deserves to be rewarded. That’s where our idea of reusable popcorn packaging came from."

The new IML packaging is hygienic too: it can be easily washed, meaning it is particularly sustainable — the buckets can be reused over and over again.

"Our huge sales and refill figures are the best response we could have wished for. Some months, customers refill more buckets than they buy, which is the best Consumers are better informed than ever before evidence that they love and value our reusable and expect companies to act in an environmentally packaging and the refill concept," concluded Boitano. responsible manner, which provides a commercial www.verstraete-iml.com advantage.

Like so many cinemas, Cinemark customers traditionally used cardboard packaging for their popcorn, but a reusable popcorn bucket offers a more sustainable and robust packaging alternative.

Fosko proposed an IML bucket with Peelable IML labels to meet the requirements of the popcorn bucket.

"Peelable IML is exceptionally userfriendly," said Oscar Peres, Verstraete IML. "On the Cinemark packaging, only the cup’s refill coupons are removable, meaning the rest of the IML label on the packaging continues to convey the brand message."

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Temperature control made simple Feeling the heat? Relax, we’ve got it covered. Flexible, reliable and ready-to-use, our Modular Process Control Platform makes process heating and cooling incredibly effortless. Based on your injection molding or extrusion requirements, we configure a solution that’s utterly reliable: temperature-resistant up to 200°C (392 °F), no moving parts, and a dynamic range of 1:200. Benefit from a complete control loop manufactured by fluid experts – it saves you valuable engineering and assembly time. Leave temperature control to us, and take it easy.

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PRINTING AND DECORATING

Heidelberg launches rotary die-cutter for IML Heidelberg, partner to the global printing industry, has launched a new rotary die-cutter for the growing in-mould label (IML) market.

Heidelberg is now offering an enhanced rotary die-cutter based on the XL technology, in addition to food-safe, highly efficient print production in the new Speedmaster XL 106-DD. The die-cutter unites two key production steps in a single machine.

The first unit places the injection hole in the label for production by means of a die on a magnetic cylinder. Traditionally. This would be a separate process adding to the length of production.

The cut-out material is removed by means of an extraction system. The second unit of the XL 106-DD subsequently cuts out the contour of the label from the sheet. This combination of the two production steps in a single pass means a doubling of the die-cutting throughput.

The XL 106-DD can process foils and papers at up to 10,000sph, which Heidelberg says is double the speed of a flatbed diecutter, and takes materials ranging in thickness from between 0.05 mm and 0.3mm.

Apart from in-mould labels, the XL 106-DD can also cut plastic or paper packaging elements, such as POS items which, due to their design, need a ‘window’ or hole for mounting in the shelf or for attaching to the product. www.heidelberg.com

Ink with staying power for greasy packaging The continued popularity of ready-to-eat meats from the supermarket chiller has presented a challenge for packaging manufacturers - how to make the ink on the packaging stick to a greasy surface.

Linx Printing Technologies has widened its range of specialist inks with the introduction of a new formula that meets the challenges of coding onto oily surfaces. Linx Black oilpenetrating ink 1062 is able to print effectively through light layers of oil onto a wide range of materials, including plastics, metal, glass and waxy surfaces. Linx 1062 ink also provides good adhesion on Oriented Polypropylene (OPP) and other plastic films, making it ideal for a variety of both industrial and food applications.

Compatible with the full range of Linx 8900 printers, Linx 1062 ink is an MEK-based ink with a fast drying time of one to two seconds that is able to adhere to substances with an oily or greasy film to deliver reliable long-term code durability. It offers excellent contrast and legibility on transparent and pale coloured materials, and is able to resist a range of oils including engineering cutting fluid, petroleum and kerosene. Its heat-resistant properties also ensure good code legibility after autoclaving or cooking processes.

Typical applications include light engineering, automotive, aerospace, wax-coated PVC cables and all types of metal components, as well as canned foods and packaging film for flow wrap, pouches and bags in food sectors such as meat, bakery and confectionery.

“Our new Linx Black oil-penetrating ink 1062 has identified and overcome the perennial challenge of coding onto oily surfaces,” explained Charles Randon, Senior Product Manager at Linx.

“This latest addition to our range of inks broadens the options available to our customers to ensure they can achieve consistently reliable and long-lasting codes, however challenging the application.” www.linxglobal.com

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BLOW MOULDING

LanXess launches thermostabilisation system polyamides to blow mould engine parts LanXess has made an improved stabilising system for its Durethan polyamide series, designed to provide a long-term temperature resistance for blow-moulding applications, up to 230°C. WORDS | John Carlon

L

anXess has developed a new heat stabilisation system called XTS2 (Xtreme Temperature Stabilisation) for polyamide 66 variants of Durethan. This system increases the heat aging durability of the polyamides to reach into the heat deflection temperature range. The grade was There are already numerous tested at 230 °C for 3,000 hours, with no reduction in tensile strength or applications in which blow elasticity to a measurable degree.

moulded parts are used for tubes in the engine compartment

The PA 66 has also opened new possibilities for plans to offer XTS2 product variants with higher and lower glass fibre contents. A blow-mouldable Polyamide 66 for turbo charger components of cars that is stabilised with the XTS2 system is also in development, which will allow more efficient production of a highly temperature resistance range of highperformance engine components.

Delicate geometries realised The first product from the XTS2 product range is a polyamide 66 reinforced with 35 per cent glass fibres (by weight), which will be marketed as ‘Durethan AKV35XTS2.’

Compared to Durethan-brand polyamide 66 variants with the same glass fibre content containing H2.0 thermostabilisation, Durethan AKV35XTS2 exhibits better flow characteristics. “This makes it easier to realise delicate component geometries and thin walls,” Linder added.

Another advantage is the high surface quality, which is improved against similar plastic grades with LanXess’ XTS1 heat stabilisation.

Blow moulding under the hood LanXess’ experts in High Performance Plastics for blow-moulding explained: “In contrast to injection moulding, blow moulding processes are often used where hollow moulds are required. These include also pipes, such as air intake pipes in the engine compartment. There are already numerous applications in which blow moulded parts are used for tubes in the engine compartment.

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“With the trend towards downsizing, these pipes are positioned closer and closer to the combustion zone and are - as a result - exposed to higher temperatures. Therefore, we are also working on a blow moulding solution with our XTS2 stabilisation system.”

LanXess tested the high long-term temperature resistance of the new Polyamide 66 by conducting hot air aging tests. The plastic will be applicable for high-tech engine applications with exposure to excessively high temperatures, such as air intake manifolds with integrated charge air coolers, or air pipes located near a turbocharger.

Thomas Linder, Durethan development expert at LanXess, said: “Thanks to the new iron-free thermostabilisation, our polyamide 66 variants can withstand temperatures of up 230°C in the longterm. They therefore provide an alternative to costly heat stabilised speciality thermoplastics, such as fully or semi-aromatic polyamides and polyphenylene sulphide.”

“Even after 3,000 hours of storage at 230°C, the reduction in tensile stress at break and elastic modulus is barely measurable, meaning the material maintains its initial strength and stiffness despite the high thermal load,” said Linder.

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www.lanxess.com

BLOW MOULDING

Alpha Packaging acquires Dutch plant from Graham Packaging

L

eading blow moulder of bottles and jars for the consumer market Alpha Packaging has acquired a plant in Etten-Leur, the Netherlands, from Graham Packaging Company.

"Alpha’s business model uniquely positions us to deliver the flexibility, speed and reliability needed in today’s complex marketplace. Brand owners and consumers want diversity in their product options, which requires packaging suppliers to be quick and agile," added Kellar.

The deal was completed on November 2nd 2017 and the acquired plant is Alpha’s second in Europe, located just a few kilometers from its existing facility in Roosendaal, the Netherlands. Alpha now operates a total of ten manufacturing facilities, with the others based in North America.

www.alphap.com

"The acquisition more than doubles our production capacity on the continent making Alpha one of the largest single stage blow moulding operations in Europe," said Jeffrey Kellar, Alpha President and CEO. "The addition of the operation in Etten-Leur significantly expands our capabilities in this geography and supports future European growth."

Alpha is already a meaningful packaging supplier to the vitamins, minerals and supplements and personal care markets in Europe.

The acquisition provides Alpha with a strong foothold in the European food packaging sector. The Etten-Leur facility has earned a grade 'AA' certification for the BRC-IoP Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials, which is the highest possible rating for the quality management system for food packaging suppliers.

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SIPA's XTRA special Drinktec unveiling SIPA had a very special launch at Drinktec, the Munich-based beverage industry event, where the blow moulding technology leader unveiled its new 'revolutionary stretch-blow system for production of PET bottles'.

adjust all parameters extremely quickly and safely. In addition, all planned and assisted maintenance activities can be carried out without the use of tools for either quick mould change or neck changing.

The XTRA offers the highest unit output (bhc) in the sector, an extra-wide processing angle, reduced energy consumption, high flexibility and ease of use, as well as compatibility with other machines upstream and downstream.

Finally, XTRA makes it possible to optimise energy consumption, reducing operating costs and maintaining a high performance level with its air recovery system and reduced dead air volumes during blowing.

"With over 30 years of experience, SIPA is the benchmark in technologies for the production, filling and packaging of PET containers," said Paolo De Nardi, SBM Product Manager at SIPA. "XTRA is the result of our unmatched expertise, constant research, and concentration on process innovation."

BLOW MOULDING

www.sipasolutions.com

XTRA is capable of producing 2,550 bottles per hour per cavity. Such a high figure makes it possible to reduce the number of blow moulds for any given total output requirement, accelerating changeover times and lowering investment costs.

XTRA can produce bottles from 0.2 up to 3.5 litres in volume. It can also accommodate different neck sizes (28/38 mm). In addition, the clamp stroke has two settings: short, to produce bottles of up to 1.5 litres at a maximum speed of 2,550 bhc; and long, for containers up to 3 litres and an output of up to 2400 bhc. This mechanical flexibility is complemented by the ability of the machine to produce hot- and cold-fill containers, without any changes to the system.

XTRA was designed to be able to integrate and interact with other machines and make the work of its operators easier. Thanks to its simple interface, each user can

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REVIEW

MACHINERY ROUNDUP

Live long and prosper

Y’say you want an evolution

Growth, prosperity and the rise of Inject 4.0 were the overarching themes of ENGEL’s gargantuan Fakuma presence this year. ENGEL was proud to brandish the phrase ‘Inject 4.0 now on the shop floor’ at Fakuma, proving that intuitive upgrades can be just as exciting as big machine launches, because they are being adopted far and wide. “Our inject 4.0 solutions are represented everywhere,” Dr Stefan Engleder, CEO, told the media. “Inject 4.0 is already on the shop floor. I think we have to read between the lines - we have a wide product portfolio… it shouldn’t be just the focus on the machines and big announcements because these other innovations are worth talking about.”

Arburg’s presence at the 25th Fakuma represented a great deal for the plastic processing goliath: evolution as opposed to revolution, highly practical solutions and the fact Arburg has incomparable industry clout.

The size of the stand alone was statement-making in terms of scale and the first thing that caught your eye when passing the booth was the mammoth hybrid Allrounder 1120 H. A truly gigantic machine first seen at K 2016 and returning to Fakuma with its sister the hybrid Allrounder 920 H, which was presented for the first time in a new design with the new Gestica control system. The hybrid Allrounder 1120 H has enabled Arburg to extend its clamping force range by 30 per cent, to 6,500 kN. The new machine has been successfully used by pilot customers and can be ordered by customers worldwide.

www.engelglobal.com

www.arburg.com

Hire love

Five years

KraussMaffei has launched an exciting new programme it believes offers injection moulders a flexibility that at present does not exist in the machine engineering sector. At Fakuma, CEO Dr Frank Stieler presented a new leasing programme allowing plastics processors to lease injection moulding machinery if their production needs change. “We believe the market is changing - due to digitisation and production cycles being reduced,” Dr Stieler told the press.

Sepro Group has signed a new partnership with Haitian for the supply of three- and five-axis robots throughout Europe. Sepro’s control will be integrated into the injection moulding machine operator interface and the robots will be branded ‘Haitian by Sepro’. The news comes as Sepro revealed it is celebrating its fifth consecutive year of record sales, with an expected €125 million and around 20 per cent year on year growth for 2017. The company will deliver 3,000 robots this year and says the growth is a result of its collaboration with new partners. “We are very proud that this will be our fifth record year in a row. The growth is really excellent at 20 per cent,” said Jean-Michel Renaudeau, CEO of Sepro Group.

The programme promises to keep customers “up to date at all times” but without major investment and with no obligation to disclose any accumulated production data over the period of the lease. www.kraussmaffei.com

www.sepro-group.com

Ridin’ solo

EcoPower trip

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is to expand its production capacity for automation systems at its site in Wiehe in the coming year, after setting up an independent automation unit. It will select technology for targeted industries, an example is a part-tracing application developed for the automotive industry.

This application uses an automated cell with standard removal and integrated laser coding (DMC), which can be scaled to other machine sizes or applications with the same basic design.

Using its network of robot, handling and testing experts, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will continue to design and implement wide-ranging and specialised automation solutions for its customers.

The star of the WITTMANN BATTENFELD booth was the EcoPower Xpress 400 - shown for the first time as a prototype at K 2016. The all-electric high-speed injection moulding machine boasts operations that are rapid, clean and green. EcoPower Xpress is a high-speed, all-electric machine model primarily geared to the requirements of the packaging and thin wall industry. The highly dynamic drive axes for injection as well as closing and opening of the EcoPower Xpress are designed for fast movements and ultimate control accuracy.

uk.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu

www.wittmann-group.com

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MATERIALS ROUNDUP

REVIEW

Blend ambition

PLA it cool

Swedish producer of tailor-made thermoplastics compounds Polykemi, turned the spotlight on its blends at Fakuma, showing its composition families of two base polymers. The compounder presented its SCANREX family of high-performance plastics like PPA GF, with POLYfill PP HC - the high-tech polypropylene based material that saves weight and gives a total cost reduction, and an environmental focus with the REPRO and REZYcom compounds. With the latter compounds, the customer has access to environmentally friendly materials meeting the specifications of various businesses. For instance, thermal aging at 150°C and UV resistance tests.

Applications based on Luminy PLA were on show at the Total Corbion PLA stand at Fakuma. The Luminy PLA portfolio includes both high heat and standard PLA grades and is used in a wide range of markets from packaging to durable consumer goods such as coffee cups. Total Corbion PLA has also announced that PLA made from Bonsucro certified feedstock is now available. The company is committed to sustainable sourcing of raw materials, and works closely with Bonsucro and suppliers for continuous development, support and improvement of the Thai sugarcane industry.

This latest achievement allows converters to use a certified PLA bioplastic that has been produced from sugarcane grown supporting the principles of sustainable agriculture.

www.polykemi.se

www.total-corbion.com

PA to play

Just boot it

Ascend Performance Materials, a producer of Polyamide 66 resin, brought product and application innovations for automotive and e l e c t ro n i c s to Fakuma. Ascend’s growing Vydyne family is helping solve automotive challenges to increase fuel efficiency and improve performance and comfort. These products find use in applications ranging from fasteners and electrical connectors to under-the-hood and external components, and are particularly prized for their ability to perform in harsh environments. Ascend’s latest PA66 compounds exhibit enhanced high temperature and hydrolysis resistance.

Evonik presented an exciting new high-performance plastic for demanding applications in professional sports. Vestamid CW1401 is an impactmodified polyamide 12 (PA 12) which combines good elasticity and stability, at temperatures as low as -40°C, making it ideal for winter sports. The new PA 12 moulding compound has excellent low-temperature impact strength which, at 101 kJ/m², is twice as strong as other materials. This means that it can be used in applications where extreme pressure is applied and where stable properties are required from the materials at low temperatures. corporate.evonik.com/en

www.ascendmaterials.com

Pigment of your imagination

Only TPU

Clariant has introduced Telasperse PVC for plasticised and nonplasticised PVC. The new family currently comprises seven colours – one blue, three reds and three yellows – as well as two blacks and a white, with more colours to be released in the coming months.

Until now, plasticised PVC compounders and processors have had a limited choice of global suppliers of high quality pigment preparations. The entry of Clariant into this important market will provide a welcome addition to their options.

Telasperse PVC products are free-flowing, dust-free powder pigment preparations, fully dispersed with approximately 40-50 per cent organic pigment. If requested, they can also be supplied in pellet form.

Huntsman and ChemiePlast co-exhibited their TPU technologies at Fakuma. First launched at K last October, SmartLite PF 1560 TPU is proving popular with product designers around the world. This innovative, low density TPU has the potential to deliver an energy return up to 50 per cent. Alongside SmartLite PF 1560 TPU, Huntsman and Chemie-Plast brought a range of other TPU materials from Huntsman’s well-known IROGRAN, AVALON and KRYSTALGRAN portfolios. These TPUs are used in the manufacture of sports footwear, clothing and equipment; cables and wires; conveyor belts; reinforced glass; and hoses and tubes.

www.clariant.com

WWW.EPPM.COM

www.huntsman.com www.chemie-plast.de

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EUREKA SERIES

LEGO launches Women of NASA The world’s favourite plastic building block toy is giving the accomplishments of NASA’s brightest women a platform with its new Women of NASA set, which aims to inspire all children to pursue their STEM dreams.

Words | Rose Brooke

LEGO has launched its much-anticipated Women of NASA set, which celebrates some of the most accomplished women in STEM professions.

The set was inspired by LEGO fan designer Maia Weinstock’s ‘Ladies rock outer space’ submission to the LEGO Ideas crowdsourcing platform. The theme gained much support from other fans and was eventually selected for development, going on sale on November 1st 2017.

The final set was designed by LEGO’s Gemma Anderson and Tara Wike and includes four NASA women, including acclaimed computer scientist Margaret Hamilton.

Weinstock hopes that giving women of NASA a platform via one of the world’s most famous toys is a great way to celebrate the women who might have been “underappreciated for their often groundbreaking work”.

She added that women and girls who are given more encouragement and are representation in STEM fields are more likely to pursue careers in these areas.

My dream would be to know that the first human on Mars - or an engineer or computer scientist who helped her get there - played with the LEGO Women of NASA as a child

“With this project, I wanted to spotlight a fantastic group of women who have made seminal contributions to NASA history,” said Weinstock. “My dream would be to know that the first human on Mars - or an engineer or computer scientist who helped her get

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there - played with the LEGO Women of NASA as a child and was inspired to pursue a STEM career as a result.”

“It was a great experience to give these amazing women their new LEGO identity and a great honor to personally present Margaret Hamilton with her very own Minifigure,” said LEGO Design Manager Tara Wike. “What they have achieved is truly inspiring to me, and I hope it will inspire children to make their dreams come true.”

To celebrate achievement and to inspire all children to realise their dreams, a challenge titled Breaking Boundaries will soon be launching on LEGO Life - a safe social network for children under the age of 13. The campaign asks children to build their dream job and share their creation on LEGO Life using the four role models to remind them that the sky can be the limit - and beyond.

WWW.EPPM.COM

www.lego.com

EPPM Classifieds

To advertise here please contact Neil Bamford: T: +44 (0)1244 680222 E: neil.bamford@rapidnews.com

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Contact: Neil Bamford Tel: + 44 (0) 1244 952 374 Email: neil.bamford@rapidnews.com

New and used granulators, shredders, pulverisers, pelletisers, wash plants

USED. TESTED. ALL RIGHT.

EPPM advertise here.indd 1

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06/04/2017 16:59

Conveyors MACHINERY TO THE PLASTICS MANUFACTURING AND RECYCLING INDUSTRY New blades and screens

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Phone: +49 2173 8 950 790 www.mhborowski.de

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Tel: +44 (0)1793 827666 Email: sales@transxl.co.uk Web: www.transxl.co.uk

Used Plastic Processing Machinery

In line Welex coextrusion PS line with Illig RDM 50K cup forming machine. 1996

1050mm Diamat PET/PP sheet extrusion line.

2002

SHEET LINES

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580mm wide Illig RDM 58/3 In line extrusion and lid forming

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