EPPM 20.6

Nov/Dec 2018 Volume 20 | Issue 06

WHO’S HEAT TREATING FOR SUCCESS?

meusburger.com/stress-relieving-heat-treatment

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Volume 20 Issue 06

head office

IN THIS ISSUE

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

Pg 6

Pg 22

editorial

INDUSTRY NEWS

BLOW MOULDING

editor rose brooke rose.brooke@rapidnews.com

The European Parliament has voted

We home in on a big birthday for BEKUM

assistant editor grace nolan grace.nolan@rapidnews.com

overwhelmingly in favour of a sweeping ban of disposable plastic products, but what are stakeholders saying about the decision?

and some news from our friends at Kautex

production

Maschinenbau.

art & production robert wood

advertising

Pg 8 COVER STORY: MEUSBURGER

Pg 25 PRINTING AND DECORATING

Kicking off our mould and tool making section,

We look at the mechanical side of printing and

Meusburger reveals the advantages of properly

decorating, with news from KraussMaffei at

heat treating steel for moulds.

Fakuma.

head of media sales lisa montgomery lisa@rapidnews.com senior sales executive david roberts david.roberts@rapidnews.com tel: +44 (0) 1244 680222

subscriptions subscriptions@rapidnews.com

Pg 10 MOULD AND TOOL MAKING Featuring interviews with Hasco and thoughtleadership from Broanmain, mould and tool making is being digitalised.

qualifying readers europe - free, ROW - £249

Pg 29 FAKUMA REVIEW Two innovation-packed pages with the biggest

outside qualifying criteria £249 please subscribe online at www.eppm.com

materials and machinery news to come out of Address changes should be emailed to subscriptions@rapidnews.com

Friedrichshafen.

European Plastic Product Manufacturer is published by Rapid Plastics Media Ltd.

Pg 14 AUTOMOTIVE It’s our annual automotive spotlight and this

Each issue is distributed in print and digital format to 17,845 buyers and specifiers in the European plastic processing industry.

Pg 32 CHINAPLAS

year electric vehicles are our topic of choice,

We look ahead to CHINAPLAS 2019, where

with interviews with Solvay and Ascend.

circular economy is high on the agenda.

© November/December 2018 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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From The Editor

The times they are a-changin’ As we bid farewell to another exciting year in our industry, which has been challenged in some ways by the War on Plastics and China’s National Sword, and in other ways by the proliferation of digitalisation, we look ahead to what lies in store for 2019.

One thing that EPPM readers can look forward to in 2019 is a new design and with it, a new Editor, as after nearly five truly enjoyable

I hope plastics processors are honest with all of us about what is going to help undo some of the damage

years I have decided the time is right to step down. It has been more than a pleasure leading this 21-year-old industry publication for a quarter of its life, after taking over from my colleague and friend David Gray in 2014. EPPM has been my identity for so long, and I can honestly say I have put my heart and soul into it. I haven’t been able to please everybody, but I am proud to say EPPM will be turning 21 looking better than ever, with a community that is wider and more engaged than when I started.

It’s a gift indeed to get to travel all over the world, getting to know hundreds of you along the way – most of you at the big industry shows. Fakuma is without doubt my favourite, and the latest edition was no exception, as we collectively enjoyed the warm weather in Friedrichshafen as visitors and exhibitors. I savoured it, knowing I might not be back in 2020.

My canny trade press colleagues, the publicity managers of the big companies and events who have always impressed me with their stamina and ability to shepherd the unruly media at every meeting, and of course the wonderful team here at Rapid Plastics Media, have all shaped my experience as Editor of EPPM and will shape its future.

I thank these colleagues and friends in particular as I say farewell.

So, in closing, those who know me will be aware I feel passionately about two subjects in particular: sustainability and equality. I am to take a step back from plastics, joining the millions of civilians that are scrutinising our world on both these points. I hope plastics processors are honest with all of us about what is going to help undo some of the damage we as society have done to our planet, and I hope plastics processors are honest about what is fair within their businesses to women, to minority groups, to those who are differently-abled.

Thank you, dear readers.

Rose Brooke, Editor

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INDUSTRY

? t u o d e l g Sin

d rliament has vote The European pa of banning single r u o v fa in ly g in rs overwhelm at are stakeholde h w t u b s, ct u d ro use plastic p decision? saying about the ke Words | Rose Broo

M

embers of the European Parliament have voted in their hundreds in favour of banning single-use plastic products.

MEPs have backed a sweeping ban which will include plastic drinking straws, stirrers, cotton buds, cutlery, plates and sticks for balloons.

It’s now up to national The products will be illegal by governments to keep 2021. Moreover, the ambition high, EU states will and resist corporate be obligated to recycle 90 per pressure to continue cent of their plastic a throwaway culture bottles by 2025.

The 571-53 vote on Wednesday October 24th 2018 followed the bill proposed by Belgian MEP Frederique Ries.

Ries said the result was a “victory for or oceans, for the environment and for future generations”.

But what are the various stakeholders saying? The EU has stated that the items it has picked for the 2021 ban have been selected based on the fact there

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are non-plastic alternatives readily available to consumers within the EU, but is the non-plastic alternative always the best choice?

Policy Analyst for the Consumer Choice Center (CCC) Bill Wirtz said: “90 per cent of the Parliament just voted to ban a vast array of single-use plastic items ...

I’m fairly positive that those 90 per cent did not investigate the evidence of whether alternative products are actually better on an environmental level. Studies have shown that the unintended consequences of plastic bans can often be worse for the environment. Take the example of singleuse plastic bags: cotton bags might appear more environmentally friendly, but if their re-use rates are too low - which they are, provenly, on average - then we actually end up using more resources.”

The EuPC added its voice to the CCC’s suggesting the ban could be a risk to public health and hygiene, while the impact the legislation would have on SMEs had not yet been properly examined, nor had the consequences of producing the banned products in other materials.

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Litany of litter Undoubtedly, the catalyst for this momentous prohibition of single-use plastic products is the imagery that swept across screens of the prolific and sinister tide of ocean plastics, with more waste belching into the marine environment by the day. Littering and its catastrophic effects are in the public consciousness, and preventing plastic products from leaching into the environment from the very source of their existence is seen as a practical step to stemming the flow of waste into the seas.

“The European Parliament has made history by voting to reduce single-use plastics and slash plastic pollution in our rivers and ocean," Justine Maillot, EU Affairs Project Officer at Surfrider Foundation Europe on behalf of Rethink Plastic, said. "Citizens across Europe want to see an end to plastic pollution.

It's now up to national governments to keep the ambition high, and resist corporate pressure to continue a throwaway culture.”

Samantha Harding, Litter Programme Director at the Campaign to Protect Rural England added: “Plastic pollution is an issue that has now reached epidemic proportions. It is fantastic to see other countries taking such significant measures to tackle the scourge of drinks and food containers, as well as a wide-range of unnecessary single-use plastic products. Only by removing these items from circulation are we going to eliminate them and the harm they cause to our countryside, oceans and wildlife.”

Consider the consumer

But the EuPC believes it is consumer education that must be more closely looked at if the marine plastics tide is to recede. Recent Waste Directives, the organisation stated, must be implemented and national measures for anti-littering behaviours ought to be carried out for all packaging of any material, not only plastics.

The Parliament should find better measures to prevent littering from happening in the first place, instead of continuously outlawing items that are useful to consumers

www.plasticsconverters.eu www.consumerchoicecenter.org

© ty - stock.adobe.com

Head of UN Environment Eric Solheim tweeted: “Fantastic news from the EU with a single-use plastics ban approved by European Parliament. An important step not just for oceans, but also towards rethinking our throwaway, inefficient economic models.”

The issue with plastic littering is more related to consumer awareness, not bad practice at industry level, the CCC’s Wirtz noted.

“The Parliament should find better measures to prevent littering from happening in the first place, instead of continuously outlawing items that are useful to consumers. With high littering fines, we should make perpetrators of this pollution pay for the damages caused,” he suggested.

“It would be much better to set up a European Anti-littering Regulation (the same for all EU consumers) instead of banning products that will be replaced by other less environmentally friendly alternatives,” argued EuPC Managing Director, Alexandre Dangis. “Industry is ready to discuss this with regulators in order to enhance more waste collection, improve education, keep an EU internal market and avoid killing jobs in many SMEs. This may well lead to a piece of impractical additional EU legislation with many different interpretations at national level without coherent approach.”

The Campaign for Rural England also believes the EU can take its efforts to prevent the abhorrent leaching of waste into the sea and the environment a step further, making processors and brand owners pay for collection services and securing innovation with tax incentives.

Harding said: “In addition to banning unnecessary products, we must also place an ‘improvement tax’ on other plastic products that need to be redesigned or improved in terms of recyclability; use charges to encourage consumers to reduce their use of certain items; and utilise the power of deposits to encourage people to return packaging for recycling via collection systems paid for by the producers of that packaging.”

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COVER STORY

WHO’S HEAT TREATING FOR SUCCESS? Proper heat treatment paves way to success

meusburger.com/stress-relieving-heat-treatment

N

ot all stress-relieving heat treatment is the same – because only a proper heat treatment process ensures the desired result in the end.

That is why Meusburger has been using its own furnaces for almost 30 years. Meusburger stands for top-quality products – only flawless steel from the best-known steelworks can make it through the quality check. Standard parts that are heat-treated for stress relief are right at the beginning of the die and mould making process chain and form the basis of high-quality moulds and dies.

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The permanent availability of products makes the Meusburger Group the reliable and global partner for die, mould, and jigs and fixtures construction

The heat treatment strength lies in rest In order to reduce tension in the material to a minimum, in addition to the controlled heating of the sheet metal and the maintaining of the temperature at approximately 580°C, it is especially the uniform cooling that is decisive. At Meusburger the entire heating process, which lasts about 24 hours, takes place in a closed furnace.

It is only when stress-relieving heat treatment is carried out correctly that temperature fluctuations and thus the build-up of new tension in the material is prevented, while both the microstructure and the mechanical strength of the material remain unchanged.

Less wear, more capacity The procedure, from the precise inspection of the sheet metal through to the perfectly executed stressrelieving heat treatment, guarantees low-deformation processing of Meusburger products. The tension in the material is reduced to a minimum. This reduces the load on machines and tools, ensures improved surface quality and lowers the risk of tool breakage. The low warping also ensures that less reworking is necessary, and reduces wear on the cutting tools.

The resulting reduced machining time and longer service life allow for free capacity for other tasks.

Being successful with standardisation The Meusburger Group is the leading international manufacturer of high-quality standard parts, hot runner and control systems and selected workshop equipment. More than 18,500 customers all over the world make use of the numerous advantages of standardisation and benefit from the company's over 50 years of experience in working with steel. The permanent availability of products makes the Meusburger Group the reliable and global partner for die, mould, and jigs and fixtures construction.

Meusburger - a reliable partner High-precision standard parts by Meusburger optimise the entire process chain. With the consistent use of high-quality standard parts, you can benefit from a large cost-saving potential in die, mould, and jigs and fixtures construction and the subsequent production of parts. All plates and bars by Meusburger are heat treated for stress relief and therefore provide a reliable basis for high-grade moulds, dies, and jigs and fixtures.

Short lead times Via state-of-the-art production lines and well designed processes, the products arrive at the industry's largest standard parts warehouse for plates and accessories. The in-house quality assurance ensures consistently high quality of all products. The optimised logistics chain guarantees short lead times.

Outstanding service At Meusburger the range of products and services is continuously adapted to meet the customers' needs. Through easy ordering options, continuous availability of the products, short lead times and a reduced number of suppliers, the customer can save time and money. Clearly arranged and informative sales documents as well as top service provided by a competent team of in-house and field sales staff perfectly complete the service package. www.meusburger.com

In-house quality assurance ensures consistently high quality of all products

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MOULD AND TOOL MAKING

Six key questions to ask your toolmaker WORDS | Jo Davis, Operations Director, Broanmain

W

ith fewer toolmakers operating on home turf and production lead times and costs increasing as a result, companies have been looking further afield for their toolmaking solutions. However, relatively cheap and quick services sometimes result in the production of poor quality tools that are not fit for purpose.

Faced with the choice of quality or speed, many companies are left wondering if a middle ground exists. In fact, anyone can get a reliable, high-spec tool within a reasonable timeframe at an affordable price by asking their prospective toolmaker some simple questions.

Do you produce everything inhouse or are some elements of the toolmaking process outsourced?

There’s no problem with outsourcing elements of the toolmaking process, but it’s important to ensure any outsourcing doesn’t impact on the final quality of your tool.

For example, although Broanmain manages the toolmaking process on behalf of our end customers from start to finish, if they need assistance designing their component, we outsource this to a trusted design partner, Jedco. We then send the component design to our Chinese toolmaking partners, who create a tool design. Our in-house engineers then scrutinise the Chinese design and make any changes.

Once the customer has signed it off, our Chinese partners manufacture the tool and inserts. We oversee any final modifications before the finished tool is shipped, when we begin manufacturing the component at our UK facility.

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What are the typical mould tool design timescales?

These can vary greatly, so it’s important to clarify the expected timeframe with your prospective toolmaker early on in the process. Sometimes it can take a year for a tool to be made in Europe. By contrast, Chinese toolmaking firms have several people working on different stages of the same tool, so the timeframes can be much shorter.

Typically, we give an estimated timeframe of between 12-17 weeks from initial design to receipt of the finished tool. On average, it takes us between one and four weeks to finalise the tool design with our Chinese toolmaking partner. It’s then another four to six weeks for the manufacture of the tool, and a further week for us to sample the prototype with the commissioning customer. Finally, there’s a six-week shipping time for the final tool.

Are there any hidden costs?

This is a really key area to consider, especially when importing a tool from overseas. A reputable toolmaker should offer an all-in price, covering shipping costs, import taxes, customs duty and VAT, with no unwelcome surprises.

Should I get a component production team involved in the prototype?

It is possible to design and manufacture a tool in isolation, but there are risks involved in doing so.

Toolmakers aren’t moulders so will often make a tool without understanding the moulding parameters for the production of the final component.

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Although Broanmain oversees the tool design and manufacture from start to finish, we are injection moulders, so we always have the quality of the finished component at the heart of any decision being made.

How important is it to know what material I’ll be using for injection moulding components when creating my tool?

There are two material choices to consider when making a tool: the material of the tool itself and the material of the final component. It’s important to use the right kind of steel for the tool, to ensure that it can be fully hardened. We favour a nickel-chromium alloy (grade 2767).

As far as the material for the injection moulded components is concerned, this is critical because different materials have different shrinkages.

How much would pushing forward the timescales impact the quality of my tool, and potentially the final quality of my moulded components?

It can be possible to make time savings, for example, by using extra manpower, but this brings risks and is not something we would advise. We always suggest our customers factor additional time into their project planning to avoid having to rush. It’s better to work in a calculated, realistic fashion than a pressurised manner, as this can result in corners being cut. www.broanmainplastics.co.uk

MOULD AND TOOL MAKING

New technology for a new generation There are plenty experienced mould makers who have perfected their craft in the workshop for decades. But what about the next generation?

Hasco is making sure its business it future-proof by investing in digital innovation and harnessing the talents of both the greenest and most experienced of its workforce.

WORDS | Rose Brooke

D

igitalisation was the overarching theme at Fakuma 2018 and mould and toolmaking champion Hasco was one of the innovators leading the charge.

EPPM sat down with Executive Vice-President for Sales and Business at Hasco Dirk Paulmann, who was very enthusiastic about the leaps the company has made in bringing the business up to the cutting edge of digital The key facts are technology – and with it a huge chunk of that it is beneficial for the value chain.

accessing parametric data for NX and it’s completely free

From strengthening the company’s digital offering on the CAD side, to finessing the Hasco NX library and portal, to joining Facebook, Paulmann is proud of the leaps the brand has made in the last year.

“Look at the value chain. If you are able to fulfil the needs of the toolmaker - so if you have all the quality products, the availability and the price - on the toolmaking side that's the fundamental,” he said. “If you look at the value chain, I think being strong in designing the tool and supporting the designers is the next step.

That’s something we’ve been doing for many years but now we’re especially focused.”

Digitally-driven Hasco’s customers are eager to evolve with the company. After its launch in 2014, the Hasco Portal has received strong yearly increases in registrations, with turnover via the digital channel increasing by 17 per cent to date. Within two and a half years, Hasco turnover rose from five per cent to 18 per cent today, with the company eyeing an ambitious 25 per cent target in 2019.

This increase is to be supported by Hasco’s new native database for a CAD system, which was premiered at Fakuma 2018 showcasing its benefits for using design data and parametric data. Optimised for NX, the system has the potential to expand into more CAD systems, which is something the company is working on ahead of K 2019.

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The native database for CAD users gives the customer everything they need in one place thanks to an open access library, allowing customers to share information freely instead of limiting each customer to his or her individual library so they can test components with all the tolerance, surface and 3D data available to them in one place.

“We’ve had lots of great feedback from the designers already,” said Paulmann. “They’ve come here to Fakuma to see us and to tell us about their experience of using it. The key facts are that it is beneficial for accessing parametric data for NX and it’s completely free, so you just download it from the Hasco website and it’s easy to change the parts you don’t need and download more parts.”

Building from the inside Hasco has not leapt into digitalisation and Industry 4.0 both feet first to keep up with the Joneses. The digital innovations the company showcased in Friedrichshafen in 2017 and 2018 came about as a natural next step in the company’s evolution. Buzzwords, Paulmann stated, are of no use to Hasco, where the quality of a physical product will always be the most important factor. Without smacking labels on its products and services, however, the company is continuously improving its service, ensuring products are delivered as fast as possible and steps that can be improved with automation are upgraded.

“We have organic growth and we try to build our organisation and resources from the inside out,” stated Paulmann. “We have a new digital team and these are people who have come from inside Hasco, not being brought in from the wider market.”

With digitlisation comes great new opportunities to entice the next generation into the mould and toolmaking world, which is now as much about milling steel and the workshop as it is about digital technology – CAD, online databases and catalogues, and connectivity. With these new digital competences, Hasco can serve designers and mould makers better than ever before.

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But what about the more mature generation? Mould and toolmaking has gone unchanged for so long, the exponential growth of digitalisation has created a skills gap in the sector, which Hasco is aware of and is working to close by ensuring teams harness the talents of the new blood and those with decades of experience to impart.

“They can learn from each other,” explained Paulmann. “On the one hand, the more experienced people might have known the company and customer base for 20 years and know exactly what the customer wants. The young people know about digitalisation and social media. Bringing that together in project teams is beneficial for both sides and we make sure we mix competencies.”

Closing in on its 100 year anniversary, Hasco has already proven its ability to adapt to changing times, and the company has plenty more to offer its customers and community in the short and the long term. www.hasco.com

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AUTOMOTIVE

Circularity in the bag Circular economy is as much about recycling and creating end markets for recycled materials, as it is making those materials for recycling accessible. Solvay’s Technyl4earth embodies this mission completely and we wanted to learn how the high-spec material made from car airbags is carving out its key markets.

WORDS| Rose Brooke

C

ircularity is one of the most important considerations in plastics processing today, which is why we wanted to learn more about how Solvay’s Technyl4earth is enabling more value chains to close the loop both for its customers and its own corporate social responsibility.

Engineering Plastics Business Unit Director Bertrand Lousteau talked EPPM through the latest milestones for this high-spec polymer, and in particular its potential for automotive applications.

Technyl4earth, launched at K 2016, is a recycled PA6.6-based product made from car airbag cushions offering mechanical properties almost in line with virgin PA6.6.

At Fakuma 2018, it was announced that Kärcher, the cleaning technology innovator, is using Technyl4earth in its spray lances for high pressure cleaners – the latest coup for the material and its developers.

Technyl4earth production is at capacity, and at a time when the virgin PA6.6 supply chain is under pressure, the material has a vital role to play, potentially winning over new business which might not have been in the market for a recycled material under other circumstances.

The recycled PA6.6 is optimised for applications such as plugs and sockets, and railway insulation. Automotive is certainly a tough nut to crack, but now Technyl4earth

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for Techyl4earth, but discusses how best to harvest the material to be recycled – namely exploring the best ‘design for recycling’ practice when constructing the vehicle in the first place, so the airbags can be removed easily.

is becoming more widely used, this ambition will become easier.

“First we want to debottleneck,” said Lousteau, “then we want to make new partnerships in the industry to secure the source of the airbags and secure an outlet into the industry.”

The ultimate goal is to have carmakers buy back the recycled product produced from the airbags they originally manufactured, securing an unlimited supply of material in the future, so there is no waste at all.

The debottlenecking stage, Lousteau explained, aims to improve capacity by between 10 and 20 per cent to reduce the stress on the industry. The process is expected to take up to three years, during which time Solvay will be making new partnerships in the industry for its source of airbags. The conversations the materials giant is having with the automotive industry not only concerns securing a circular pipeline

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“Negotiations are tough both outside and inside the company to convince people – which is always the case when you are doing something new,” Lousteau said. “It takes time and patience. Innovation takes time and luckily at Sovay we have a culture of patience.”

Patience is key for Lousteau and the team at present, as demand for Techyl4earth is more than outstripping supply, with Solvay having to ask one German automotive brand to wait a year before it can fulfil its needs – and when they can, the material will begin to cascade down to other brands.

“The performance is already there,” said Lousteau. “It’s at a point where we have a very high-end recycled material, we just don’t have enough of it.”

The quality of the material is so high due to the fact the material it originates from is such a high-end polyamide.

“Kärcher was using Tecnnyl PA6.6 and they switched to using Technyl4earth,” Lousteau said. www.technyl.com

ENGEL automotive

competence is standard

The automobile industry is shaping up for the future with intelligent technology. ENGEL will join your company on this journey: with competence, experience and visionary solutions for injection moulding. Whether your plastic components are to be safe, functional, lightweight or attractive, we at ENGEL will work with you hand in hand, allowing you to make sure your innovations are ready for series production even faster. For example, with our centre for lightweight composite technologies: Here ENGEL optimises new thermoplastic and reactive processes for your pioneering lightweight construction components.

www.engelglobal.com

AUTOMOTIVE

Covestro drives innovative materials to make electric mobility more sustainable Covestro has collaborated in a long-term partnership with RWTH Aachen University to create innovative materials for electric mobility.

WORDS | Grace Nolan

C

ovestro is collaborating with a team of students from RWTH Aachen University and FH Aachen to make electric mobility more sustainable.

A Covestro development team will be involved in the production plans of the solar car, contributing to an even lighter and more aerodynamic solar car design.

Following the successful partnership in the 2017 season, the company’s goal is to develop a solar-powered electric car to take part in the toughest solar car races in the world. Covestro is supporting the solar car project with various materials and technical services as well as being the main sponsor.

As a first step on the way to Australia, the Sonnenwagen team has already successfully mastered the European Solar Challenge on the former Formula 1 race track in Zolder, Belgium. The aim of the race is not only to cover the greatest possible distance within 24 hours, but also to score points with innovations in vehicle development.

Sustainability is a core component of our corporate strategy, and solar mobility can make an important contribution to climate protection and the conservation of fossil resources

The company has already gained some experience in solar mobility, as an official partner of the Solar Impulse project, contributing to the first manned, round-the-world flight powered only by solar energy.

The test of a polyurethane car repair clearcoat from PPG at the World Challenge 2017, in which the biobased hardener Desmodur eco N 7300 from Covestro was used, was also successful, withstanding the harsh climatic conditions in Australia.

"Sustainability is a core component of our corporate strategy, and solar mobility can make an important contribution to climate protection and the conservation of fossil resources," said Dr Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro.

"That is why we are supporting this ambitious project and intensifying our cooperation with the Sonnenwagen team. We use our innovative materials to provide solutions for future mobility.

With this project, we are also promoting young talents.”

Markus Eckstein, First Chairman of the Sonnenwagen team, added: "We are very pleased to have Covestro back as a supporter.

The cooperation with Covestro was already an important mainstay at the recent World Solar Challenge and helped us to reach the finish line in Adelaide as ´Best Newcomer´.”

Both partners have now signed a cooperation agreement on the project and the material and development cooperation will be further expanded for 2019. www.covestro.com

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AUTOMOTIVE

Cool and quiet We sat down with Ascend Performance Materials to learn how the heat resistant and sound insulating properties of PA66 are ploughing an important furrow in the electric vehicles segment.

WORDS | Rose Brooke

P

A66 has proved its mettle in metal replacement plastic products for combustion engine-powered vehicle, but as demand for electric vehicles increases, what is the fate of this high-temperature, incredibly robust plastic?

Leading provider and developer of PA66 Ascend Performance Materials is ahead of the game, with Now we’re not talking a foothold in both the combustion about adopting EVs just and EV for the sake of the planet, engine camps, the latter but because they are of which Frost and Sullivan predicts exciting cars to drive will make up more than 22 per cent of passenger car sales by 2025 – or 25 million new EVs on the road per year by that point.

Currently well established under the hood of a car, as electric automotive technology proliferates, does the advantage of a hightemperature engineering plastic such as PA66 diminish?

At Fakuma, Ascend demonstrated its Vydyne R433H, which has improved energy absorption over traditional glassfilled PA66, reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and absorbing impact energy from crashes. In EVs, R433H is especially good as a lightweighting material and offering NVH reduction, while it is proving especially valuable in the housings for battery frames and plugs.

Ian van Duijvenboode, Global Performance Director at Ascend, believes that instead of 25 million new EVs on the road in 2025, we can actually expect EVs to account for 35 per cent of passenger vehicle sales, so the opportunity for electrification in automotive is greater than many might assume.

“Things are changing and it’s gaining momentum,” he said.

While EVs generally command cooler temperatures than a traditional combustion engine, there are many EV applications where impressive temperature resistance is still necessary. Lithium ion batteries are only effective when working at the correct temperature, and as one of the main challenges to EV adoption is efficient charging times, a powerful charge means higher voltages and therefore very high temperatures.

“You get a lot of dual heating with a higher voltage so that is why PA66 is a major player around battery systems, and we've been very active with some EV leaders establishing ourselves working in partnership with them around battery module systems, frames, and connectors,” van Duijvenboode said.

The opportunity for innovative, flexible design in EV manufacture is an exciting prospect for van Duijvenboode, who used to be involved in automotive air vent design, and he speaks highly of brands such as Tesla that are challenging perspectives and preconceptions about electric vehicles.

“Electric vehicles now have ranges of up to 250 miles, they accelerate faster, stop quicker and their handling is superb, so now we’re not talking about adopting EVs just for the sake of the planet, but because they are exciting cars to drive.”

An electric vehicle driving experience is similar in many ways to driving a traditional vehicle, but there are some key differences, presenting unique challenges to the automotive manufacturing industry. One of the most significant differences between EVs and other cars is that they are virtually silent to run.

As van Duijvenboode explained, the sound of a car engine acts as white noise, blocking out any other noises the car might be making.

“If you take that noise away, you’re going to hear any squeak or rattle your car makes, which is why PA66 is so important as a noise insulator,” he explained Although it is hard to predict the future of automotive manufacture, especially as autonomous vehicles – which would also be electric – are becoming a reality, van Duijvenboode is excited for the future of EV technology and the point at which EVs become as affordable as traditional cars is approaching.

“Tesla has shaken up the automotive world and it's kind of shown there’s a different way to look at cars,” he said. “They’ve taken the consumer electronics speed of thought and challenged everything - nothing is the way we did it yesterday.” www.ascendmaterials.com

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Imagine plastic products changed for good.

DuraSense

by Stora Enso TM

Demand the game-changing biocomposite.

Demand more. Demand renewable.

Imagine a green, cost-efficient and versatile material for a wide range of injection moulded products. A blend of wood fibres and plastic material, offering a light and flexible solution with the mouldability of plastics, yet the sustainable benefits of wood. Resulting in up to 80% reduced CO2 footprint.

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DuraSense™ creates endless design possibilities that are limited only by your imagination. With little or no change to existing production techniques, our material is developed to match conventional plastics and therefore fit existing moulds.

Visit us for a cup of coffee. We’ll show you around the biocomposite plant, and tell you more about this gamechanging material.

Demand more. Demand renewable. www.storaenso.com/biocomposites

Increase throughput without compromising quality

The Branson GSX Series Ultrasonic Welding Platform is a highly configurable system, designed and customised to meet your specific plastic joining needs. The Branson GSX Platform helps to transform your ideas into realities, while still respecting your budgetary considerations. Enhanced process control and improved energy delivery ensures quality welds and fewer rejects. This enables you to increase production throughput and meet project timelines that deliver expected return on investments.

For product information: Emerson.com/Branson

The Emerson logo is a trademark and a service mark of Emerson Electric Co. Š 2018 Emerson Electric Co.

New mobility

AUTOMOTIVE

Facing the PA6.6. shortage and a growing trend for electric vehicles, LANXESS is prepared for the challenges ahead for plastics in automotive.

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ANXESS expects the number of electric and electronic components in the car of the future to rise sharply, which is why new mobility was its main focus at Fakuma 2018.

The specialty chemicals company says it is also focusing on the possibility of replacing PA6.6 with PA 6 and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) compounds to tackle the current supply difficulties for the engineering plastic.

LANXESS presented its new Durethan Performance product range for the first time at Fakuma. The PA6 material grades are several times more resistant to fatigue under pulsating loads than standard products with the same glass fibre content.

Static mechanical properties, such as tensile strength at higher temperatures has also been improved. Potential applications include air-intake systems, oil-filter modules, parking brakes and furniture-locking systems and housings for power tools.

LANXESS has also developed new PA6, PA6.6 and PBT compounds especially for complex formed components that are manufactured in series by laser transmission welding.

They have a high level of transparency with laser light from the near-infrared range, which is used in this joining process.

“With these products, we are responding to the growing demand for housings for sensors, control units, and display systems, which are needed for applications ranging from driver assistance systems to autonomous driving,” explained Jan Bender, Head of Marketing EMEA in the High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit.

Lanxess.com

Minghua selects ELIX ABS H801 for new BMW spoiler parts BMW has selected ELIX ABS for spoiler and aeroblade parts for the new X5, X7, and X6M cars.

Shenyang Minghua Mould & Plastic Technology (Minghua) is using ELIX Polymers ABS H801 for a series of spoiler and aeroblade parts in the new BMW X5, X7, and X6M cars.

The ABS grade modified with polycarbonate (PC), ELIX ABS H801, is suitable for roof spoilers due to its high durability, heat resistance and good paintability.

Both the tensile modulus (2400 MPa) and flexural modulus (2300 MPa) of the grade are higher than many PC/ ABS grades with a greater PC content.

With a Charpy notched impact strength at 23°C of 30 kJ/m2, and its impact resistance, it is in the highest range of an ABS grade.

investment as there is no need to acquire sophisticated and expensive vibration welding machines and equipment.

Its good performance of ELIX ABS H801 material in glue joint assembly, together with its suitable mechanical properties, allows the use of the same material for both exterior painted parts such as “outer skin” and reinforcement interior parts.

At the vehicle’s end of life, the entire spoiler part can be treated as one single piece of ABS, without the need to selectively separate the parts.

Minghua says assembling parts using glue joints allows processors to benefit from saving on inventory and

“A roof spoiler is one of the largest components in automotive, with a complex geometry. This aerodynamic part has to deliver an outstanding mechanical performance and it needs to have a very high aesthetic appeal,”

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said Fa b i a n H e r te r, Marketing Manager Automotive & ABS specialties at ELIX Polymers.

“The selection of a material that fulfils all the strict requirements of this application is crucial. Furthermore, the easy processing and excellent paintability in both body colour and deep black finished parts has definitely contributed to the selection of ELIX ABS H801.” www.elix.com

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BLOW MOULDING

Blow moulding leader BEKUM celebrates half a century A story 50 years in the making, BEKUM is celebrating its half century of blow moulding expertise, looking ahead to the next 50 years.

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elebrating 50 station blow moulders years in the blow for canister production. © BEKUM moulding business, This is how extremely BEKUM Maschinenfabrik successful large-scale Thomas Woisetschläger, Gottfried Mehnert, DI Michael Mehnert, Heidemarie Mehnert.

Traismauer’s family blowing machines in owners, the Mehnerts, the BA series evolved, marked the occasion with staff, their families and guests of honour with their development being the full responsibility of the BEKUM in Traismauer in October 2018.

Traismauer site from 1994 onwards.

Quality, service and leading technology are the three things that encapsulate the brand essence of BEKUM

The ceremonial programme focussed on presentations of the latest xBLOW blow moulding series of machines, and tours of the company.

The Traismauer industrial complex, which currently includes the BEKUM Maschinenfabrik Traismauer GesmbH building, was founded more than 90 years ago as a manufacturing facility for aircraft components. BEKUM took up the premises in 1968, ten years after it was founded in Berlin, and over the subsequent months, the new site’s production extended from machine parts for production in Berlin to key components, eventually graduating onto full machines.

Advanced and new developments resulted in machines for technical parts, fuel tanks for automobiles and double-

The machine range has been continuously improved and enlarged through the company’s own design, development and process engineering departments. Down through the years, other globallysignificant customers in the automobile, packaging and additional industries have also been brought on board.

“Quality, service and leading technology are the three things that encapsulate the brand essence of BEKUM,” said Managing Partner, Michael Mehnert. “This was the basis for success in the past and these values are also our way ahead into the future.”

With an innovative machine design of well-known quality, the positive commitment of BEKUM’s people, reliable partners, as well as loyal and new customers, the company is evolving continuously and looks forward to what lies ahead for the next 50 years, building on its reach across some 100 countries, delivering and installing 18,000 machines to date. www.bekum.de

© BEKUM

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BLOW MOULDING

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uropean plastics processing machinery companies have an important role to play when it comes to harnessing efficiency. In Germany alone, industry consumes 30 per cent of the country’s entire energy demand.

This is why Kautex Maschinenbau is proud to present its energy-saving KBB Series, which has just been recognised by Euromap for its outstanding efficiency. In the latest test runs based on the Euromap 46.1 standards, several Kautex machines of the KBB series achieved the best energy efficiency classification 10. The industrial Euromap standards developed by the association permit the comparison of machines by different manufacturers on the basis of standardised parameters, measuring electrical consumption, the cooling water consumption and heat energy of the plastic.

“Our machines are often operated over several decades,” said Dietmar Michels, Product Manager for the KBB series. “We therefore would like to offer our customers long-term solutions, which are not only in accordance with the state of technology, but which for many years achieve outstanding results in the area of energy efficiency.”

“It is our objective to satisfy the customer requirements for transparent and comparable energy consumption values and to present the energy efficiency classes under a neutral label,” commented Heinz-Werner Eckerskorn, Director R&D. “Energy saving potential can mainly be found by looking at the main energy consumers of a blow molding machine: the extruder drive and the heating. Kautex Maschinenbau continuously tests different machine components to guarantee the highest energy-efficiency.” www.kautex-group.com

Oriented quality for a sustainable tomorrow NATURAL RESOURCES EFFICIENCY

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Less use of raw material in the manufacture. Only 43% of the PVC composition depends on oil.

The energy consumption is lower in all phases of the life cycle: raw materials extraction, manufacturing and in use.

EFFICIENCY IN WASTE MANAGEMENT

OPTIMIZATION OF WATER RESOURCES

PVC is a 100% recyclable material that can be reused in the manufacture of other plastic applications.

The complete watertight and durability of the pipes against degradations prevent leakages of the conveyed water.

BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

SUSTAINABILITY TOM® and ecoFITTOM® form sustainable networks in which design the preservation of the environment has been taken into account.

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The CO2 emissions into the atmosphere are lower with which the global warming is reduced.

Oriented PVC pipes and fittings

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This project has received funding from the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Union under Grant Agreement Nº 756698

Molecor Tecnología, S.L. | T: +34 911 337 090 | www.molecor.com | info@molecor.com

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FarragTech GmbH is proud to look back on over 25 years of experience in the field of plastics periphery.

With our products come long term improvements in plastics FarragTech GmbH is proud to look onaover 25 years manufacturing and equipment for which weback grant 5 year full warranty. of experience of plastics periphery.

We insist on qualityin-the youfield should insist on FarragTech!

With our products come long term improvements in plastics manufacturing and equipment for which•we grant resin a 5 year full warranty.

Plastics drying We insist on quality - you should insist on FarragTech!

• Internal cooling for blow molders • Mold sweat protection •• Plastics drying Special resin solutions Internalfor cooling for blow molders FarragTech is ••looking representatives Mold sweat protection insolutions the Arab-markets!

• Special

FarragTech is looking for representatives in the Arab-markets!

Visit us at www.farragtech.com Visit us at www.farragtech.com

PRINTING & DECORATING

Beck to basics T he BASIC IML series from Beck Automation AG, Oberengstringen, Switzerland, is now available for two cavities. The new variant is suitable for 1-5 litre buckets. This model complements the established and successful BASIC IML model, which is particularly deployed for buckets with product sizes from 5 to 33 litres and was designed for one cavity.

The new BASIC IML system with two cavities has an impressively short and attractive delivery time. Standardised construction means the system can be delivered ex-works just 12 weeks after receipt of order.

Along with numerous “Beck standards� already available in the basic version, great emphasis is also placed on high levels of flexibility. The labels are removed from the magazine and centred, ready for application. The labels are retrieved cyclically and positioned directly on the cores.

The labels are electrostatically charged and fixed in position in the mould by means of our

newly-developed sintered cores, while the injection-moulded products are removed from the ejector side of the machine and the finished products are stacked directly on the conveyor belt.

The main arm, which enters the open injection moulding machine from the side, is mounted on a stable linear axis. All components are designed for continuous operation and require very little maintenance.

menu navigation, error messages and other information are displayed onscreen. The BASIC IML system from Beck Automation meets the highest safety and international ergonomic standards.

The design also guarantees the highest levels of process stability and service life. www.beck-automation.com

The system is controlled and operated with the new Beckhoff control concept, which uses a touchscreen panel.

The intuitive menu navigation facilitates the operation of the BASIC IML system.

Operating status,

Shiny happy bottles M etallisation is a key trend in plastic packaging printing and decorating – and what used to be the quality standard for luxury beauty products, is beginning to percolate other elements of packaging too.

to enhance the aesthetics and visual appeal of plastic packaging. Designed for PET, ABS, PS and polyolefin resins, FauxFoil is recommended for use in rigid structures such as energy drink bottles, automotive

components, plastic dinnerware, cosmetic and personal care products and small appliances. www.ampacet.com

Ampacet, a global specialised polymer provider, is on top of this trend with an alternative to vacuum metallisation for rigid plastic applications with FauxFoil.

FauxFoil technology has been optimised for moulding applications, offering processors an alternative to costly vacuum metallisation while still producing a surface that is reflective, with a metallic gloss and shine in a single step.

The FauxFoil one-step technology for processors is a time-saving innovation, as most traditional vacuum metallisation processes cannot be achieved in a single step. FauxFoil requires a one-step process

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PRINTING & DECORATING

‘Precision and dynamics’ A precise and dynamic system for the highest-quality décor for cutting-edge electronics was on display at Fakuma, proving that once again KraussMaffei is the injection moulding champion of digital.

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t Fakuma, KraussMaffei demonstrated the ultimate in efficient packaging technology with its new all-electric PX 320 with both IML electric film and IMD decorated film.

The machine is said to demonstrate just how far integrated injection moulding technology is able to now go. The PX320, in a single production step, creates a complete 10-inch HMI display with integrated electronics and a scratch-proof coating. A six-axis robot insets the IML film with printed conductor paths on the nozzle side, while on the injector side an Manufacturers IMD film with single-image décor is run through the mould, transferring the ink appreciate the high with the design layer and UV-hardening precision and dynamics, top coat onto the component.

as well as the low energy consumption

Moreover, the PX 320 can be rapidly docked to other machines using mechanical fixture points, thus increasing flexibility in production as the machines can be operated for components with or without IMD technology.

"The market for all-electric injection moulding machines is developing very positively, especially in Europe and the US,” said Dr Hans Ulrich Golz, President of the Injection Moulding Machinery segment of the KraussMaffei Group. “Manufacturers appreciate the high precision and dynamics, as well as the low energy consumption. With the new PX series, KraussMaffei has set new standards regarding the precision and flexibility of the allelectric injection moulding machines, with which we will continue this growth long-term.”

Beside the IMD film for the HMI display, an additional film runs through the mould providing a second cavity with another decoration, made possible thanks to the IMD SI DUO feed from Leonard Kurz, the first of its kind worldwide that is able to position two single-image décors independently of one another within a hundredth of a millimetre accuracy. The technology is patent pending.

The second décor presented at Fakuma demonstrated dead-front surface aesthetics, animated only when backlighting is applied, for example. This additional process is – like the IMD DI DUO – completely integrated in the compact manufacturing cell. The UV lamp on the conveyor ensures the hardening of the scratchproof layer followed by a laser station, which removes flakes and flashes, then cuts sprues. Robots operate in this compact space and cleanroom functionality is available for more specialist environments including a specialist cleanroom hood designed by Max Petek Reinraumtechnik for over the clamping unit, ensuring a dust-free mould chamber to prevent inclusions.

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www.kraussmaffei.com

PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY UNDER CONTROL

Whatever the material – Tinius Olsen has the solution

INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIST IN TEMPERATURE AND PROCESS CONTROL FOR PLASTICS AND COMPOSITES HOT RUNNER CONTROL

MOLD TEMPERATURE CONTROL

The VEM Series of Video Extensometers

• • • •

VALVE GATE CONTROL

Sub-micron resolution Multiple modules Non-contacting

• Record, playback • Strain mapping/DIC • Scaleable LED lighting

Post-process functionality

PRODUCTION & PROCESS MONITORING

www.tiniusolsen.com sales@tiniusolsen.co.uk 01737 765001

www.sise-plastics.com e-mail: sise@sise-plastics.com

www.rpc-group.com

EPPM_Nov_Dec_Mould_SuperLock.indd 1

@rpc_group

©2018 RPC Group Plc. All rights reserved.

RPC – MAKING MOULDS FOR YOUR ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT

02/11/2018 15:11

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INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP CONFIDENCE

PIONEERS FOR FLUID INJECTION Since more than 15 years the core business at PME is the development, process support and production of components and installations for fluid assisted injection moulding using water or gas cavity pressure technology.

Do you have an idea for a plastic component? - We implement it successfully with you! Get caught up in our passion. Be swept away by our fascination - Our focus is (on) you!

INNOVATIONS ARE OUR PASSION Already several times awarded with the SPE Award for the sucessful implementation of innovative components in the automotive area, we are always seeking after new ways for process developments.

Renowned companies like Renault, Audi, BMW or Bosch and many more rely on our extensive know-how.

Our maxime: Always looking to move forward and strive for the best. Simply trendsetting and one step ahead!

THE MOST POWERFUL ENERGY ON EARTH IS USED IN A FUTURE TECHNOLOGY

PME fluidtec GmbH Rudolf-Hell-Str. 12 77955 Ettenheim, Germany fon +49 7822 3006-0 fax +49 7822 3006-28 info@pme-fluidtec.de www.pme-fluidtec.de

MATERIALS ROUNDUP

REVIEW

50 shades of nature

On form

PolyOne revealed its newest collection of on-trend colours for polymers, called Shades of Nature. As part of the OnColor Polymer Colorants masterbatch portfolio, this group of ten masterbatch colourants enables plastic to mimic naturally-occurring materials such as stone, marble, and granite. It was developed to address a trend toward creating products that appear more natural and less manufactured, as designers today increasingly value individuality over uniformity in markets such as cosmetics, electronics, appliances, and building materials. This trend began with the ‘green’ building movement, which revels in imperfect and textured natural materials such as bamboo, stone, marble, and minerals.

The colours can be processed using standard equipment and are available in standard finishes. They can also be customised in various polymers or recycled resins for multiple applications.

An innovative new silicone-based technology that slashes the coefficient of friction (COF) of LDPE film has been launched by Dow Performance Silicones at Fakuma. The new masterbatch addresses the traditional drawbacks of organic additives by delivering stable, long-lasting slip performance and avoiding migration to the film surface. The new DOW CORNINGTM MB25-235 Masterbatch, together with Dow Performance Silicones’ 2017 launch of DOW CORNINGTM HMB-6301 Masterbatch for reducing COF in bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, are the latest additions to the company’s growing family of silicone-based masterbatches for flexible packaging. MB25-235 is approved for food contact under European Union, US Food and Drug Administration and Chinese regulations, and is well suited for use in food and non-food packaging using form-fill-seal (FFS) technology.

www.polyone.com

consumer.dow.com

The way you fused to do

Hybrid theory

VELOX presented its new VELOX 3D printing portfolio at Fakuma, which focuses on specialist raw materials suitable for manufacturing Fused Deposition Modelling or Fused Filament Fabrication (FDM/FFF) filaments and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) powders. The company also showcased alongside its partners. Asahi Kasei, highlighted its ASACLEAN purging compounds, which are used to optimise thermoplastic injection moulding, extrusion and blow moulding production runs, and an extruder demonstrated how ASACLEAN compares to conventional purging methods at the VELOX stand. Lubrizol Engineered Polymers introduced its latest material breakthrough, Estane ZHF 90AT8 NAT01, designed for cables in robotics, construction and communications. In addition, Lubrizol showcased its new Estane TPU for 3D printing applications, ranging from flexible to rigid technologies. The material is available as FDM/FFF filaments and pellets, as well as powder TPU solutions.

KRAIBURG TPE showcased thermoplastic elastomer hybrids featuring an application-specific combination. Due to its properties, such as high media and temperature resistances, the resulting compounds can be used as an alternative to common crosslinked rubber solutions. When bonded with technical plastics such as polyamides and thermoplastic polyesters, it can also offer options for multi-component applications. The performance properties of these TEH materials include hardness from 55 to 80 Shore A, permanent operating temperatures of up to 150 °C (302 °F) and chemical stability against materials such as oils, lubricants, fuels and coolants. www.kraiburg-tpe.com

www.velox.com

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REVIEW

MACHINERY ROUNDUP

Hot stuff

Winner takes it all

Milacron’s Mold-Masters product brand launched a new advanced thin wall packaging hot runner system - ThinPAK, along with new hot runner technologies. The Mold-Masters ThinPAK-Series hot runner has been specifically engineered for producing exceptionally high quality thin wall packaging products with the strength and durability to mould with complete reliability even in high pressure applications up to 2,800 bar. In addition, Mold-Masters debuted its Melt-Cube EVO hot runner for high cavitation moulds producing deep draw medical parts. The hot runner was designed to minimise maintenance turnover by up to 85 per cent.

Motan Colortronic presented innovator Reinhard Herro with the gold prize at its Motan Innovation Awards at Fakuma 2018 for his GAK system gravimetric suction box. The GAK gravimetric suction box’s ability to open up completely new possibilities for the control and monitoring of suction conveyor systems thanks to automation technologies wowed the expert judging panel, who were impressed with the entire shortlist. Managing Director Sandra Füllsack stated that all those shortlisted were of such high quality that their ideas have immense value to Motan and the wider industry and they will still be used by the company.

www.milacron.com

www.motan-colortronic.com

The robots

The welding present

Sepro announced its agreement with Tederic Germany to supply its full line of 3-, 5-, and 6-axis robots and sprue pickers to be sold in Tederic injection-moulding equipment packages offered in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. “With this concept, Tederic Germany is pursuing innovation in the areas of energy saving, automation, precision and humanisation, with the aim of creating more profitability for our customers,” said Mirko Schnur, Geschäftsführer, Tederic Germany. “We share the vision of Tederic Germany to bring new options to its injection moulding customers, including access to a wide range of Sepro robots that integrate fully with IMM controls and are easy to program and operate,” added JeanMichel Renaudeau, Sepro.

Next-generation ultrasonic plastic welding technology was unveiled at Fakuma 2018 by E m e rso n Branson. The new GSX generation of B ra n s o n ultrasonic welders has been designed to support the growing demand for the assembly of smaller and more intricate plastic components. The modular flexible welding platform will provide greater welding precision, control and efficiency, ensuring weld quality and improved operational efficiency. Leveraging major advances in actuation and control, the GSX series provides superior weld strength and quality with speed and flexibility for complex geometries and precision applications.

www.sepro-group.com

www.emerson.com

Freeformin’

IntElectual property

Promoting its ‘Road to Digitalisation’, Arburg mentioned it would be introducing a new member to the Freeformer family of additive manufacturing machines at Formnext 2018.

The Freeformer 300-3X will be able to process three components. “This will be the first time we are able to create resilient, hard-soft combinations with a support structure,” said Gerhard Böhm, Managing Director of Sales. Arburg was also promoting its GESTICA control technology, which has been optimised for the packaging industry.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag demonstrated its newest IntElect - the S series all-electric machine at Fakuma 2018. The company believes with its upgraded motor design and a package of added features, the machine fills an important gap for the thin wall packaging segment, described by the company’s UK MD Nigel Flowers as the twilight zone. Available with clamping forces between 500 kN and 1,800 kN and with injection speeds between 350 and 500 mm/s, the machine has been specially built for extremely narrow tolerance applications requiring fast cycle times between 3 and 10 seconds. www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu

www.arburg.com

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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.

Want to know more? Contact us: +49 (0)79 40 10-0

Black Masterbatch White Masterbatch Colour Masterbatch Additive Masterbatch Conductive Masterbatch and compounds

www.burkert.com/TemperatureControl

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offer hot solutions.

Do you wish to realise hot runner solutions in the optimum manner?

Benefit from our outstanding HASCO product quality, optimum availability and competent advice.

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Simplicity through extensive standardisation Ultra-rapid delivery Variable, flexible, maintenance-friendly Worldwide service included

www.hasco.com

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12.10.18 09:10

Chinaplas 2019 to highlight circular economy

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Organisers of the annual exhibition believe a ‘circular economy’ is to become a megatrend after “Industry 4.0”.

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hinaplas believes fostering a circular economy is a global consensus and is a major Chinese economic and social development strategy in achieving sustainable development.

It’s going to be the 33rd edition of Chinaplas in 2019. Every time, it responds to the market demand and introduces new moves accordingly

In the past three editions of show, Chinaplas has boosted the significance of Industry 4.0 and will now highlight circular economy as the next big trend.

"It's going to be the 33rd edition of Chinaplas in 2019. Every time, it responds to the market demand and introduces new moves accordingly,” said Ada Leung, General Manager of Adsale Exhibition Services, organiser of Chinaplas.

"We've been aware of circular economy for some time. As early as 2011, we launched the 'Bioplastics Zone', introducing biodegradable plastics and bio-based plastics. We have also set up a 'Recycling Technology Zone' since 2016 in Shanghai. In the upcoming Chinaplas, circular economy will be promoted to a prime position, leading exhibitors and visitors to explore the enormous potential."

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New trends The exhibition will also be paying attention to new market trends and demands, such as new business opportunities that the ‘Belt and Road Initiative' has spawned in the plastics and rubber industries. As well as changes in the world economic situation, opportunities and challenges for plastics innovations resulting from the Sino-US trade debate.

In light of this, the organisation is striving to expand overseas markets, and has launched publicity in ASEAN countries and key countries along the 'Belt and Road Initiative', sending staff there to invite local associations and enterprises to visit Chinaplas.

The modelling of big brands has massive influence on the implementation of circular economy, with more and more businesses announcing their environmental protection policies of recycling.

Adidas sold one million pairs of running shoes made of ocean plastic waste, in 2017 and has plans to stop using new plastics by 2024, with only recycled plastics to be used as raw materials.

Large companies such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, Volvo, IKEA, Nike, and H&M have also announced plans to use recycled plastics.

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Huge Recycle, Lumao, iXiandou, Qianniao, Zhangyuhuishou, a group of enterprises in the recycling industry are also working on the front and back ends in recycling to improve efficiency through the internet.

The exhibition says with the handling of waste plastics transforming and adjusting rapidly there are ways to integrate the recycle environmental protection industry chain, to build and perfect China's renewable resource recycling system.

Also, to develop new types of renewable waste plastics, upgrade technology and equipment for the high-efficiency sorting, granulation, waste plastic pyrolysis.

The recycling of POM, PTFE, nylon (-6, -66), PVB, in addition to the traditional types of waste plastics such as PET, PC, PS, PP, PE, PVC, ABS, is gradually favoured by enterprises.

Global recycling power

Seizing new opportunities

It is predicted that by 2025, China, one of the world's largest waste plastics recycling countries, will produce urban solid waste amounting to nearly a quarter of the world's total.

Chinaplas 2019 will see an upgrade to the Recycling Technology Zone, and a Plastics Recycling, Recovery & Sustainability Conference will be on the itinerary.

Therefore, by improving the recycling rate of waste plastics, the development of a circular economy can be greatly promoted.

Steps to help facilitate the mastery of advanced technology, promote technological innovation, and help the industry seize new opportunities is also an aim of Chinaplas 2019.

In the upcoming Chinaplas, circular economy will be promoted to a prime position, leading exhibitors and visitors to explore the enormous potential

According to statistics, waste plastics imported into China amounted to 7.3 million tons in 2016, worth $3.7 billion (approximately ÂŁ2.8 billion, â‚Ź3.2billion), accounting for 56 per cent of the world's total imports of waste plastics.

The core of circular economy is the efficient use and recycling of resources, and plastic waste recycling is an indispensable part.

The entire industry chain, from policies and regulations, recycling technologies to back-end innovative applications, will be analysed by experts in the industry.

Chinaplas 2019 will return to the China Import and Export Complex, Pazhou, Guangzhou, from 21st-24th May, 2019.

An estimated total of more than 3,400 industrial leaders from around the world will be showcasing their products and solutions to at least 180,000 professional visitors from 150 countries and regions.

In the past, the waste processing and recycling industry relied heavily on imports, lacking a complete recycling chain, while recycling rate and proportion of largescale recycling are both low.

Chinaplas believes with the implementation of the ban, it is bound to intensify the shortage of raw materials, and the recycling system of renewable resources is in urgent need of change.

The entire chain of garbage classification, waste collection and treatment, recycling and reuse has yet to be fully established.

Supported by the government's policy, as well as "Internet of Things and smart recycling", technologies are being disseminated quickly.

Among intelligent waste separation and recycling enterprises, Xiaohuanggou Environmental Protection Technology is a rising star, realising the model of classified recycling of domestic garbage at the front-end, unified transportation in the middle, and centralised treatment at the back-end.

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