EPPM 17.5

September 2015 Volume 17 | Issue 05

The widest range, the brightest solutions Your local partner

Cover Story | Page 8

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Volume 17 Issue 5

IN THIS ISSUE Pg 6 INDUSTRY NEWS German plastics processing machinery sales are set to hit record highs as the ‘Made in Germany’ seal of approval convinces more manufacturers to choose quality over value for money.

Pg 30 COMPOUNDING LINES & EQUIPMENT European compounding is having a period in the sun, as cost savings and quality improvements achieved through automation call manufacturing home.

head office 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/publisher mark blezard C.O.O duncan wood

editorial editor rose brooke rose.brooke@rapidnews.com

production

Pg 8 COVER STORY: ALBIS BRINGS MEDICAL PLASTICS HOME The rise and rise of home healthcare requires special materials to make kit that is hard-wearing, attractive and simple to use. Albis is equipped for this trend, which is sweeping Europe and the world.

Pg 34 NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT A new product has rolled onto Kickstarter, but besides the fact it is set to become the classy camper’s next must-have, it perfectly showcases how the full range of plastics technologies can help designers make their creations to their exact specifications.

art & production robert wood

advertising advertising managers Lisa Montgomery lisa@rapidnews.com Graham Voss graham@rapidnews.com tel: +44 (0) 1244 680222

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Pg 10 SPECIALISED ADDITIVES From the calcium carbonate in your garden furniture to the antimicrobials in your gym equipment, specialised additives play a crucial role in everyday life. We get the industry perspective from Plastics Color, Polydist and the ECPI.

Pg 37 MACHINERY & MATERIALS ROUNDUP A new feature, we make sure no big news is left out with our machinery and materials roundups: the biggest and most exciting stories across plastics processing to catch our eyes.

Pg 18 ENGINEERING PLASTICS

Pg 40 EVENTS NEWS

3D printing is airborne and we get the scoop on the materials Airbus has additive manufactured for flight with SABIC and Stratasys technology.

We gather together the biggest show news in this, the first of our two Fakuma previews, while looking ahead to TCT Show and (pause for effect) ... K 2016.

Pg 26 TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Pg 50 EUREKA SERIES

What heats up, must cool down in plastics and Frigel is at the forefront of temperature control in plastics processing. We find out about its Microgel technology.

From sea to street, Adidas has taken its trainers to the UN to demonstrate how plastic waste dumped in the world’s oceans can be transformed into clothing.

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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. © September 2015.

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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3

Blown Film Technology: It’s Time to Share!

The most innovative European Extrusion Centre is at the forefront of BLOWN FILM TECHNOLOGY, always looking to the future, and BANDERA now wants to share it

WITH YOU!

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From The Editor

Ready and raring We’re back from our summer break and raring to go. It’s autumn, and for the plastics industry that means shaking the sand out of your passports and steeling yourself for four months of shows.

Our first show of the season will be Fakuma next month and we are proud to present the first of our two printed previews in this issue, shining the spotlight on what some of the biggest names in the industry have planned for the five-day event. There is still time to make the second, on-site printed preview if you send EPPM your news before September 14th so make sure your name is seen and get in touch.

We have had great fun putting this issue together, spending time speaking to Polydist and Plastics Color about their exciting offerings in the specialised additives sphere. In our Engineering Plastics spotlight, you’ll find a threepage feature on the amazing 3D printing plastics technology that has found itself soaring above the clouds thanks to the intelligence and innovation of both SABIC and Stratasys. We spoke to experts at both companies to learn more about the materials that can meet rigorous aerospace standards and where additive manufacturing will fly to next?

And the Moon isn’t out of the question.

Temperature control is a *cough* hot topic in injection moulding, so we caught up with cooling specialist Frigel to learn how Microgel is taking Europe by storm on the modern, space-efficient factory floor. Interestingly, space efficiency and compact equipment was the prevailing theme when we spoke to Reduction Engineering Scheer about compounding, not to mention the fact that automation technology is doing much in the drive to reshore plastics processing, as a lesser need for man power, higher accuracy and improved data tips the scales in favour of bringing manufacturing home.

From cooling plastic to cooling sandwiches, our friends at nipi Coolers talked us through how the creation of this exciting little portable fridge makes use of (almost) the entire plastics processing spectrum, proving that the right tools for the job can bring new designs to life in just the way the product developer wanted.

But of course, I can’t summarise our September issue without mentioning our cover star, Albis. We’ve got a great story on pages 8 and 9 for you, drawing on the home healthcare trend and the materials that are facilitating this medical shift with insights from the experts in Hamburg.

Happy reading!

Rose Brooke, Editor

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INDUSTRY

KraussMaffei’s MX injection moulding series is proving popular in China

Made in Germany: German plastics machinery sales to hit €7bn in 2016 Sales of German plastics and rubber machinery will break through the €7 billion glass ceiling next year according to the VDMA - which would be an industry first for the powerful European marketplace.

D

emand for ‘Made in Germany’-quality hardware is continuing to gather momentum, as fresh data has revealed that German plastics and rubber machinery will pass the €7 billion (£4.9 billion) mark in 2016. This would be a first for Germany’s plastics processing industry at a time when optimism amid eurozone uncertainty remains tentative.

The VDMA plastics machinery association had confirmed sales growth will rise by four per cent in real terms in the current year, with a two per cent increase forecast for 2016. This is a positive turnaround from 2014, which ended with output 1.6 per cent lower than the previous year, while exports were down by 0.1 per cent.

Chairman Ulrich Reifenhäuser said: “The Association predicted four per cent growth for 2015 back in October last year. The figures for the last six months have confirmed that forecast.”

Western European market forms firm foundations

Germany 'world export leader'

"Last year, business in Europe made up for declines in other sales regions," explained Thorsten Kühmann, the association’s Managing Director. "At present things seem to have bottomed out in India and an upturn is in sight. Brazil and Mexico have also shown signs of recovery in the last few months. After pausing for breath in 2014, we expect the industry’s two most important customer markets, China and the US, to recover with moderate rates of growth. Exports to Russia on the other hand are set to decline further. But we still expect the other sales markets in Eastern Europe to remain buoyant."

The most recent figures show that German plastics and rubber machinery was exported to 156 countries around the world, including for the first time to such exotic markets as the Maldives and the Marshall Islands.

Orders received from customers in Germany recovered sharply last year and, after years on a downward trajectory, accounted for an 18 per cent increase in the order intake of German machinery manufacturers. Growth rates were appreciably higher than those of orders from abroad.

"Our foreign competitors also benefited from growing demand in Germany," said Reifenhäuser. "After declining for a number of years, imports of plastics and rubber machinery by customers in Germany rose by an impressive 19.5 per cent in 2014."

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Reifenhäuser blown film machinery at its R&D Centre

With export volumes unchanged from the previous year, the German share of growing world trade in plastics and rubber machinery fell slightly to 23.8 per cent. China follows far behind with a share of 12.9 per cent; however, Chinese export volumes include foreign deliveries by German manufacturers based in that country.

The Association predicted four per cent growth for 2015 back in October last year. The figures for the last six months have confirmed that forecast.

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Polish flexible packaging outperforms Europe

INDUSTRY

A report on the flexible packaging marketplace in Europe has shown Poland has outperformed its counterparts as a flexible packaging leader.

The study by PCI Films Consulting put Poland as the market with the strongest growth in this segment (five per cent), while Turkey, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Romania also did better than the 1.4 per cent average.

PCI reports that growth in flexible packaging demand for coffee applications, boosted by changing consumer drinking habits, has been another driver of the market in 2014.

While the volume of coffee consumed in most European markets has been broadly stable or in slow decline, new added-value formats have boosted flexible packaging usage. Examples of this positive trend include increased usage of coffee pod and capsule systems using aluminium lidding and associated outer bags; also of VFFS bags of ground coffee and beans in some markets; and the adoption of refill bags for instant coffee.

In its 15th report on the European market, PCI noted that Europe’s €12.9 billion (£9 billion) flexible packaging market remains one of the largest and most sophisticated in the world, accounting for over 20 per cent of the global total. In 2014, flexible packaging demand in Western Europe grew by 1.2 per cent in both value and area terms, while the previous rapid growth in Eastern Europe has halved following sharp declines in growth in Russia and a real decline in demand in Ukraine.

Looking forward, PCI forecasts that flexible packaging demand will pick up slightly in Western Europe in 2015 as packaged food demand in some of the struggling EU economies continues to recover. However, this is expected to be offset in Eastern Europe where demand growth is expected to fall below one per cent due to expected consumption declines. Between 2014 and 2019, PCI is forecasting European flexible packaging CAGR of two per cent to reach €14.2 billion.

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Author of the report Paul Gaster said: “For the second year running there have been very few inflationary pressures within the European flexible packaging market and volume consumption growth in most European countries has been tracking that of value over the last year.”

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COVER STORY

Bringing medical plastics home Home healthcare is changing the medical plastics landscape - and Albis is prepared.

It has extended its already broad healthcare portfolio with two new polyolefin products, which are ideally addressing the on-going trend to home healthcare a shrewd move in a competitive space.

Words | Rose Brooke

D

emand for increasingly sophisticated medical plastics is on the rise on a global scale and Albis is one company that is undeniably ahead of the curve.

Albis, the international leader in the distribution and compounding of thermoplastic polymers, has introduced two new Purell polypropylene products from the globally active polyolefins giant LyondellBasell to its ever-increasing healthcare product portfolio, which already includes world class healthcare products from Bayer MaterialScience, Solvay Speciality Polymers, BASF, Eastman Chemical Company and Styrolution.

LyondellBasell is pioneering in its dedicated portfolio of polyolefins, which it introduced to the market in 2003. Its Purell portfolio consists of LDPE and HDPE, in addition to PP homopolymers, heterophasic copolymers and random copolymers for medical, pharmaceutical and diagnostic applications, all of which meet strict quality controls and certifications for biocompatibility testing.

The new Purell HP548N and Purell RP315M are optimised for medical devices, laboratory and diagnostic applications and pharmaceutical packaging.

Purell HP548N was developed on the basis of the existing Moplen HP548. It is nucleated and comes with an antistatic additive. Its high flowability and excellent rigidity, accelerated crystallisation and specific surface properties make the PP homopolymer well-suited for injection moulding applications such as ampules, medical devices and rigid packaging solutions.

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Purell RP315M, a PP random copolymer, is characterised by an outstanding sealing capability, while it has excellent optical characteristics and workability. It comes with slip and antiblocking additives and is processed on base of a non-pthalate catalyst system. Purell RP315M is suitable for numerous applications including flexible packaging for medical devices and pharmaceuticals, seals and lab equipment.

Three per cent to fight for These products have arrived at Albis at a time when polymers for medical applications are estimated to count for around three per cent of global plastics demand, so while market potential is low, requirements for quality and regulation are extremely demanding.

Healthcare commands strict change control and accountability whereas manufacturers working in this space are typically looking for cost effectiveness and improved production. Albis’ Director of Marketing Healthcare Mike Freudenstein told EPPM Magazine that LyondellBasell was the first to address all these needs adequately.

“The two new Purell grades are addressing changing market needs and thus complementing the current portfolio of Purell-products; a higher degree of efficiency e.g. by improvement of cycle times as well as easy processing properties are key factors if it comes to cost saving initiatives,” Freudenstein said. “Excellent optical properties are fulfilling the increasing demand for cost efficient - but still appealing - materials which inter alia is a trend resulting from the increase of devices for self or home treatment of patients.”

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In spite of medical plastics accounting for such a small slice of the global plastics demand pie, there is growth. A recent report published by Transparency Market Research forecasts the global medical polymers market will reach $17.13 billion (£11 billion, €15.6 billion) by 2020 as consumer awareness and technology continues to advance, with the worldwide medical polymers market increasing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.3 per cent between 2014 and 2020, surging from the still sizeable $9.8 billion-sized slice of the market recorded in 2013.

Healthcare from home The rising global population, together with the growing number of elderly patients around the world, is playing a key role in the growth of the global medical polymers market - particularly where home healthcare is concerned - as is the growing trend for metal replacement, bringing equipment up to date with performance plastics that are lightweight, easy to clean and impregnated with intelligent additives such as anti-microbials.

“For sure there is an increasing trend towards home or selftreatment of patients which requires a different view on devices,” Freudenstein explained. “Optical properties and the safety and simplicity of use of these devices are the leading aspects for developing such articles.”

“For my understanding this is not only linked to an ageing population,” he observed, “this is much more a reflection of the cost pressure in the public health systems. Home- or selftreatment of patients is very often cheaper than a stationary treatment in a hospital or doctor’s surgery. The flipside is that the treatment is not performed any more by professionals who are trained and educated in using certain tools or devices every day but by patients themselves, who are not specifically trained in using the same devices as doctors or nurses typically do. Thus a higher level of simplicity of the device as well as absolute safety in use of the device is key. A higher degree of simplicity and safety often requires other technical or functional features which leads to the use of different materials in the design and construction of devices used for home- or self-treatment.”

A dedicated approach to healthcare Purell HP548N and Purell RP315M expand the Purell polyolefin product portfolio, which also includes LD and HD polyethylene types in addition to polypropylenes. The line addresses this increasing need for new materials, complementing a wide range of technical processing characteristics in what is a high-value, highaccountability industry that requires the utmost from its supply chain in terms of assurances such as consistency of formulation, a bespoke change management procedure, compliance with European Pharmacopeoeia requirements and - crucially biocompatibility.

With just three per cent of the global plastics market to play for, materials developers and their distribution partners have to be equipped with the understanding and precision to serve the medical plastics market well. There are only a few companies in the plastics field that are committed to adequately serving the specific needs of the healthcare industry.

“Albis Plastic with its dedicated approach to the healthcare industry is the distribution partner of choice for those polymer producers who are aware of the stringent requirements of the medical and pharmaceutical industry ,” Freudenstein noted.

treatment is not performed any more by professionals who are trained and educated in using certain tools or devices every day but by patients themselves

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Milliken to im press FachPa ck with UltraCle ar PP Leadin

SPECIALISED ADDITIVES

Bulletin: nches Scratch That! Croda lau anti-scratch additives ped a range

elo mical company, has dev Croda, a speciality che s. These additives stic pla in use itives for of stable anti-scratch add erior stability d visibility, while the sup reduce scratch width an combination is Th e. ing on the surfac results in reduced bloom y of plastics, iet var a in use perfect for of benefits makes them ts. par h as automotive interior used in applications suc The range includes Incroslip SL and IncroMold K for polypropylene impact copolymer and Incroslip G for polypropylene homopolymer applications.

Hallstar Compan y opens Chinese facility The Hall sta

Asia Pac r Company has ific R&D center in celebrated the o Material pening o Suzhou Science China. T & serve as Technolo he Hallsta f its the com g y (S r New uzhou) C pany’s R the Asia ompany &D a Pa Ltd will house ad cific region. In th nd technical sup port bas dit e near fu e in tu the R&D ional functional groups fo re, it is expecte and tech d to r the com nical acti core mark pan vit ets: beau ty and p ies, branching in y beyond industria ersonal c l additive to Hallsta a s marke property ts with a re products as w r’s modifica ell as n empha tions. sis on p olymer

eciality p s d n a p x e Solvay to e with c n e g i l l e t in chemicals n definitive red into a te n a e acquisitio s a h f Cytec, lvay

capital o l group So Jeanent share l chemica c a n r o e ti p a company. rn 0 y 10 g Inte lo e o ir n u h q ls tec wth, hight to ac d materia “Cytec is a high-gro n agreemen a rd ls a ic chem king forwa ay, said: speciality We are loo EO of Solv s.

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g polyolefins ad ditives supplie impress Europe r, Milliken, is al ’s packaging in l set to dustry at Fach 29th-Oct 1st) w Pack 2015 (Sep ith the excitin t g ability of Ultr thermoformed aClear PP to cr food packagin eate g that is eye-ca performance tching, highand resourceand cost-effici Nuremberg Ex ent. Visitors to hibition Center the are invited to how UltraClear see for themse PP clarified w lves ith Milliken’s M series sets a ne illad NX 8000 w clarity standa rd glass-clear mat for PP that is erials. Millad N comparable to X 8000 overco milky appearan mes the traditi ce of PP in ther onal moforming, th highly-attract ereby creating ive transparen cy similar to PE sheet and ther T for moformed ap plications such as meat trays, clamshell cont ainers and lids. Proven statistics support UltraC lear PP’s productiv ity improvements , energy savings, low ca rbon footprint and costefficiency com pared to alternative plas tics.

et set for rk a m ls ia b ro ic -m ti n A ‘double digit growth’ endously” due

wn “trem icrobial agents has gro d The market for anti-m a new report publishe to g lications. Accordin app s y lth rou me hea a nu at ir w the gro to ted to ts, the market is projec t ges lar the is US

by Future Market Insigh the 14–2020. Currently, 20 m fro ly GR like CA are igit double-d future growths ial additives, however, market for anti-microb markets to come from emerging d and foo e Th . ies ntr of BRIC cou accounts beverage industry t share rke ma for the largest es for itiv add l bia in antimicro meet to , ing kag pac plastic wth gro ile safety standards, wh is US the in cts du in medical pro and dem se rea inc to expected s in the of antimicrobial plastic coming years.

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Anti-counterfeit food packaging market to reach $62bn by 2020 Anti-counterfeiting technology in food and beverage packaging is on the rise, with a new report indicating the worldwide market will generate $62 billion in five years' time.

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T

he rise and rise of anti-counterfeit technology in food packaging is generating billions in revenue every year.

According to a fresh report from Allied Market Research titled 'Global Anticounterfeit Packaging (Food and Beverages) Market (Technology and Geography) - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014-2020', worldwide revenues for anti-counterfeit packaging in the food and beverages sphere reached $26.4 billion (â‚Ź24 billion, ÂŁ17.2 billion) in 2014.

Moreover, this figure is set to more than double by 2020, soaring to $62.5 billion - a CAGR of 16.1 per cent.

The main drivers behind the growing demand for anti-counterfeit products in the food and beverage sector include the higher health risk associated with products that are sub-standard, and the economic damage 'pretenders' are causing to established brands.

thermocouple cables thermocouple connectors temperature instrumentation

New technology has revolutionised packaging and enabled a more widespread take-up of anti-counterfeiting.

Novel, multi-layered technologies for food and beverage protection have reduced the impact of financial damage to the manufacturer, further enhancing the adoption of anti-counterfeit packaging, while multi-purpose applications including product tracking and the identification of advanced tracking technologies has resulted in a surge of demand for barcode and RFID (radio frequency identification) technologies.

These technologies are now widely used in the premium food and beverage segments, but the high cost of tracking solutions still limits applications to local product tracking, even though counterfeiting crime is equally prevalent throughout the world.

Much counterfeiting practices in food and beverage products are observed on the Asian and European borders and the globalisation of the food trade has increased the risk of counterfeiting in the logistics process, particularly where premium brands are concerned.

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Certificate No. 4746

info@labfacility.com Bognor Regis tel: +44 (0)1243 871280 Sheffield tel: +44 (0)1909 569446 11

SPECIALISED ADDITIVES

Intelligent additives

Plastics Color Corp may be 50, but the Illinois-headquartered plastics giant has the same attitude to development as a startup, fine-tuning its portfolio of specialised additives to meet customer requirements and anticipate market demand.

We spoke to Sarah Skidmore to get the latest on its MicroBlok and MiBatch products.

Words | Rose Brooke

P

lastics that can prevent the spread of microorganisms - bacteria, mould, fungi and algea - are becoming a major part of the manufacturing landscape across a breadth of industries.

The secret ingredient so many manufacturers are clamouring for is antimicrobial specialised additives, and Plastics Color Corp is leading the way with its innovative MicroBlok technology.

Anti-microbials are not to be confused with anti-bacterials. While the latter product prevents the development of bacteria and is generally a short-term solution, an anti-microbial offers a much broader scope of protection and in the case of specialised additives, is designed to be effective for as long as the lifespan of the product it has been built into. Because of its vast potential, the MicroBlok range has been expanded over the years to meet specific needs and to anticipate market requirement, and Plastics Color does not believe the rise and rise of this intelligent product is about to plateau.

Bringing value

interest in having a product that's going to perform. We've seen an influx in customers really understanding the values and benefits of anti-microbial technology, so they're willing to include it because they understand the value it brings to their product."

MicroBlok could potentially be used in any product where microorganisms can proliferate and an interesting growth area for Plastics Color is in the fitness centre market, where handrails on gym equipment and even the furnishings of a gym such as the bin the towels get thrown into at the end of a workout are all potential breeding grounds.

"We always like to custom create our formulations by working in conjunction with customers to make sure that we provide the best solution to suit their end application, and we formulate so that we are providing the best product for the lifespan of that application," Skidmore said. "That's one of the benefits of an anti-microbial that's built into the product material.

Sarah Skidmore, Marketing Manager at Plastics Color, explained: "MicroBlok is one of those products that we continue to see interest in. Anti-microbial technology specifically in medical - is gaining interest and at the moment in products ranging from components used in surgery all the way to everyday medical products that patients might use either at home or in hospital.

'Game changer'

"The thing we're seeing with our customers who are interested in MicroBlok is a renewed

A rigorous testing process, where Plastics Color works hand in hand with the customer to develop their anti-microbial, is carried out and Skidmore emphasised

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"That's the case for our specialty lines - MicroBlok and MiBatch. We have the framework in place and our engineers understand what is involved in the additive package. It's so important for us to understand the resins being used, the processing requirements, the equipment being used, the end application and how the end user will interact with the part. All those factors give us the insight to ensure we get it right and we provide the additive package that will succeed."

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that whenever a customer requests a sample for testing, the Plastics Color team will readily send them that sample and await feedback.

"We're happy to give any reassurance and expertise that we have in this field," she stated.

MicroBlok is currently enjoying continuing popularity in the US and a growing customerbase in Europe, in the pharmaceutical markets in particular along with Plastics Color's anti-counterfeiting innovation MiBatch.

Medical and pharmaceuticals are high-accountability marketplaces and therefore value is created when a product is not only anti-microbial but anti-counterfeit, protecting patients from bogus products and protecting intellectual property.

"MiBatch is going to be a big game changer with widespread implementation globally," Skidmore said.

MiBatch microscopic taggants are an intelligent tracking technology, custom-formulated during a spray pyrolysis creating spherical particles forming unique covert taggants.

The taggants can be detected using X-ray fluorescent and laser detection devices and can function under a wide range of environmental conditions without affecting the performance of the product, whether it be a medical device, automotive component, pharmaceutical packaging or a consumer product.

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"The great thing about MiBatch compared to other anti-counterfeiting systems is you can't take the additives out of the plastic part," Skidmore explained. "If you put an anticounterfeiting hologram or sticker on a plastic product, you have the capability of pulling that sticker off whereas with MiBatch, the taggant goes into the material."

Really?

She emphasised that Plastics Color's MiBatch product stands apart from the competition because the information the MiBatch-impregnated product sends back is indisputable and customers can be certain that a package is indeed their product and not a counterfeit.

MIN

"That's the value: having the security of knowing as a brand owner, when you may come up against legal claims, warranty claims - risks of all sorts you will not be held accountable for defaulted products that are not yours."

Anticipating the market Bringing products like MiBatch and MicroBlok to market makes Plastics Color an exciting business to be a part of and Skidmore said the team takes a great deal of pride in what it does, but the business never stops developing, never stops listening to what the market needs, and never stops anticipating what will be required by various industries in the future.

"We definitely listen to the market a lot of our flame retardant line was created because of a customer need, for example," Skidmore said. "Anything that comes from us from a specialty additives standpoint is completely custom made. It's 100 per cent built to meet the needs of the application and we really pride ourselves in having that relationship that is solutionfocused with our customers."

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SPECIALISED ADDITIVES

Europe’s polymer shopping basket Polydist, the Resin Trade re-brand, made the headlines in spring 2015. The forerunner of British plastics is flexing its muscles on wider European stage, offering a costsaving polymer shopping basket service to customers across the continent.

We spoke to Polydist about their European growth strategy.

Words | Rose Brooke

W

hen one of the heavyweights of the British plastics scene Resin Trade announced its re-brand in April, changing its name to Polydist, the company was laying the foundations for extending its European reach and sending a clear message that this is a heavyweight company with the clout to leave the competition - at home and abroad - in the shade.

Polydist came into being on April 1st 2015 to coincide with the establishment of its wholly-owned subsidiary Polydist (Benelux) BV, which immediately acquired the assets of Dutch polymer distributor Merco Polymers BV. Now the dust has settled following the changes, which CEO and industry veteran Richard Bradwell described as a better reflection of the company's increasing portfolio of products and customers, EPPM has taken the time to catch up with Polydist's UK Sales Executive Denis Cooper and Luisa Batista, who recently joined from Brasilian masterbatch producer Cromex, to learn more about how this new identity is strengthening what was already a powerful plastics player.

For Batista, who is responsible for the group’s masterbatch and compound business, the clearest benefit is the Pan-European scope Polydist now has to provide product expertise and the perfect package of materials to customers by pooling the vast resources of the company.

"Polydist can deliver customers the right results. We can now share knowhow about customers and give our customers the right product. We can offer them the package that's best for them and one person can source their complete package - this is one of the greatest benefits of the rebrand," Batista stated.

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Richard Bradwell, Polydist CEO and Managing Director

Shopping basket Polydist's strategy encourages customers to think of their needs like a basket of shopping, which they can collect from the Polydist supermarket.

"We now have a shopping basket of materials, so clients can source a pallet of ABS, 250 kg of nylon, a bag of masterbatch, or up to full loads in bags or bulk across the range... whatever it is in whatever quantities, we are in a position to supply those materials in whatever quantity they require," Cooper stated.

The scope for providing a service such as this for a company whose star is rising is huge. Polydist has already recognised key customers in the marketplace who can take advantage of this service - and the best part is, it is going to help them make cost gains.

Cooper gave an example of how Polydist's pan-European influence is succeeding with its calcium carbonate (CaCO3) range, which he developed for Polydist in the UK. "It's supplied as a compound in powder form which is inexpensive to produce and supply and it's got various additives that can expand its uses," he explained. "It’s a cost-saver as well as an extender in polymer substitution and it speeds the process up, running the material at a lower temperature, so there's energy saving benefits.

"The CaCO3 range allows clients to reduce costs and in many cases improve output. We have successfully introduced the materials across the board with applications such as film, sheet, pipe, blow and injection mouldings including bespoke coloured products and are very excited about the potential for further growth of these products across our growing European network."

Polydist has a large swathe of the market in the crosshairs for bringing the cost-effectiveness of its CaCO3 package into practice; namely coloured plastics, where there are no clarity needs.

"We first discussed the CaCO3 package with a vegetable packaging producer in Northern Ireland - that was the first time we took this approach. The company manufactured trays in black, brown and blue. Because the polymer they buy is totally clear, they would have to add a masterbatch. So what we're doing now is supplying everything they need as one package and it's proven to be a major cost saver for them. There's nobody else doing this," Cooper explained.

Nowadays, it is important to offer suppliers multi-market options as they continue their own growth and restructuring plans.

Quality is king It is not always the price point, but the quality of the end product and inter-business relationship that dictates, as Batista acknowledged.

"I think the market is of the point of view that price is important, but they never lose their focus on the service and the quality. The [eurozone] crisis made cost a very important topic but having the full package is much more welcome to the customer overall."

Cooper agreed: "Price isn't always the major factor. What's more important is the continuity of the material and the service behind it."

Good to talk, good to listen Having the capability to source and supply materials in quantities of anything from half a pallet to a silo in whatever combination to any customer for any application is not something many distributors can boast, but meeting customers' needs is the kingpin in Polydist's mission. The company encourages dialogue with its customers with functions such as its successful live chat tool on the website, and the hotly-anticipated new and improved Polydist smartphone app, which has just launched.

"We try hard to listen to the specific needs of our customer and supply partners in order to provide the best possible level of service to both," said Bradwell. "We are also working with major producers across the world, to add exciting new products and services to our portfolio, which will further strengthen our capabilities.

"We are poised to announce two additional European offices before the year end, which will further add to our strength and flexibility.

Nowadays, it is important to offer suppliers multi-market options as they continue their own growth and restructuring plans." “As part of the Polydist Europe and Global structure, and its link to UAE based company RAI, our position with global producers will continue to strengthen across the plastics and chemical raw materials markets in the future," he concluded.

Richard Bradwell, Polydist CEO and Managing Director, and Jorge G. Jansen, Managing Director the Benelux office.

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SPECIALISED ADDITIVES

The changing European plasticiser landscape Safety, regulation, changing trends in demand and competition overseas are shifting the European plasticiser manufacturer’s horizons. Dr Stéphane Content of the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates elaborates.

Words | Dr Stéphane Content, General Manager of the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates

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he European plasticisers industry has been adapting to the alwaysevolving EU legal framework while continuing to respond to consumer and end-user demands. Regulatory changes have had a major impact on our industry. We have seen a significant decrease in the consumption of low molecular weight phthalate plasticisers such as DEHP after their inclusion in the REACH Candidate List.

Data from the last 15 years shows that the use of some orthophthalates like DINP, DIDP and DPHP has significantly increased while consumption of classified orthophthalates has decreased. In parallel, the use of other plasticisers such as DINCH and DOTP is also on the rise, reflecting our industry commitment to developing new and safe products through important investments in research and innovation.

Safety first

Working together with the industry

Plasticisers are among the most widely researched chemical substances. In the EU, the safe use of plasticisers is enabled by REACH, the strictest product safety regulation in the world. The European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the EU Member States have undertaken 10-year-long comprehensive scientific assessments of plasticisers. Similar regulatory frameworks are being developed in other parts of the world such as Korea and Turkey. EU manufacturers should have some advantages when entering these markets.

The plasticiser industry can only remain competitive by continuing to work together with regulators, other industries and associations to ensure that plasticisers retain a key role in modern society. ECPI’s role in particular is to continue promoting the benefits of plasticisers and soft PVC, and raising awareness about their safety and sustainability. We are seeing new specialty additives being developed but at the same time, industry is in need of high volumes of general use plasticisers. I believe there is room for both types of substances to find a place in the market.

Plasticisers manufacturers have also made large investments in the research and development of new products in order to improve their performance and create new substances that can best respond to current market needs whilst respecting all safety criteria required by REACH. However, in today’s heavily globalised market, competition is becoming increasingly tough and that is why at ECPI we often ask for regulatory uncertainty to be minimised so that European companies can continue to innovate.

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Finally, sustainability is one of the key aspects I believe will help European companies remain competitive and differentiate their products. ECPI is one of the founding members of VinylPlus www.vinylplus.eu - the sustainability programme of the European PVC industry. We have been part of this voluntary initiative since it started in 2000 and its main goal is improve the way PVC is produced across a number of key areas. For example, VinylPlus aims to recycle 800,000 tonnes of PVC a year by 2020. In 2014 alone - and following important growth since 2010 – nearly half a million tonnes (481,018 t) were recycled.

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Specialised additives' silver bullet Does the future of anti-microbial additives for polymers lie in precious metals?

One company believes it might for pasteurised milk products at the very least.

Agrindus, an agribusiness based in Brazil, has increased the shelf life of its grade A pasteurised fresh whole milk from one week to 15 days by incorporating silver-based microparticles into the rigid plastic material of the bottles. The silver microparticles are combined with antimicrobial, bactericidal and selfsterilising properties and then amalgamated into the plastic packaging using a technology developed by Brazilian nanotechnology company Nanox.

SPECIALISED ADDITIVES

Nanox Chief Executive Luiz Pagotto SimÐes said: “We already knew use of our antimicrobial and bactericidal material in rigid or flexible plastic food packaging improves conservation and extends shelf life. So we decided to test it in the polyethylene used to bottle grade A fresh milk in Brazil. The result was that we more than doubled the product’s shelf life solely by adding the material to the packaging, without mixing any additives with the milk.”

Nanox plans to market the product in Europe and the US and has applied for EPSA approval.

FDA approval for food-contact antioxidant Addivant, a global leader in polymer additive technologies, has announced that its WESTON 705 phosphite antioxidant for food-contact polymers, has received additional food contact clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This enhanced clearance increases the limits of WESTON 705 phosphite antioxidant that can be used in HDPE from 1500 ppm to 2000 ppm and removes the limitation on contact with high alcohol food types.

“This is another very important milestone in the commercialisation of WESTON 705 phosphite antioxidant,” said Peter Smith, President Commercial Operations. “The FDA’s additional endorsement of WESTON 705 will accelerate the replacement of the old Tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite (TNPP) and Tris(2,4- ditertbutylphenyl)phosphite (AO-168 type) antioxidants both of which are today facing increasing regulatory scrutiny.”

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“Today, several of the world’s largest polymer producers are switching to WESTON 705, recognising the benefit of its superior polymer performance, higher processing productivity and of course its clean toxicological profile,” he added.

Addivant produces its liquid phosphite antioxidants in multiple facilities worldwide ensuring security of supply for customers around the globe.

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17

ENGINEERING PLASTICS

Make it so SABIC and Stratasys are making 3D-printed parts fly with ULTEM 9085 and FDM technology. But just how far can additive manufacturing boldly go?

Words | Rose Brooke

A

dditive manufacturing and aerospace. It is hard to find more exciting topics for discussion in the plastics processing universe - and just like the rocket ship that soars out of the earth’s atmosphere, the fact these two worlds are now colliding is not only broadening horizons, but sailing past them into vastness.

Saudi Arabian chemicals giant SABIC and Israel-headquartered additive manufacturing heavyweight champion Stratasys have been embarking on major 3D printing projects in the aerospace sphere - both together and separately - exploring just how this innovative technology can take aerospace production even further with the help of engineering plastics and some of the most fascinating manufacturing technologies in existence.

SABIC ULTEM 9085, a strong, lightweight, flame-retardant resin, coupled with Stratasys’ FDM (fused deposition modelling) technology has addressed one of the biggest challenges facing manufacturing for aerospace - the ability to produce small volume parts quickly and cost effectively. SABIC and Stratasys have been working together on perfecting the combination of ULTEM 9085 and FDM since 2012, when they partnered on a project with Taylor-Deal Aviation in Texas to create specialty fluid and air handling parts - slashing production time down from weeks to hours.

There are planes out there containing Stratasys FDM parts. It’s not a dream, it’s a fact

It’s not a dream, it’s a fact Additive manufactured ULTEM 9085 affords greater design flexibility, cheaper low production runs and accelerated cycle times in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and OEM flame smoke toxicity regulations. The material provides a high strength-to-weight ratio and high thermal resistance, stiffness and chemical resistance.

“Aerospace parts not only have to ensure standard levels of reliability and accuracy, but we also have to be able to provide aerospace companies with extremely detailed information on every part of the process of manufacturing this particular material,” explained John Jones, Stratasys Materials Business Manager EMEA. “But now, we’re not just talking about using ULTEM 9085 for prototypes but real in-flight parts. There are planes out there containing Stratasys FDM parts. It’s not a dream, it’s a fact - but

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it’s taken a number of years of research approval and Stratasys fulfilling the needs of the aerospace company and them ensuring the materials meet their high criteria.”

ULTEM 9085 has been certified to Airbus material specification and the resin has been used to additive manufacture more than 1,000 flight parts in the A350 XWB aircraft fleet, delivered in December 2014. The 3D-printed parts replaced traditionallymanufactured parts to increase supply chain flexibility, allowing Airbus to meet its delivery deadline.

“It’s almost custom manufacturing,” Jones noted. “We’re talking tens of parts in terms of each manufacturing run and you might not see those parts because they’re behind the panels, but one of the benefits of additive manufacturing is recognising the ease of manufacture of any geometry so they no longer have to consider the restraints of designing a part.”

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Efficiency and intelligence This in turn aids OEMs in succeeding in producing parts that are more lightweight.

Engineering Resins Communications Leader at SABIC Susan LeBourdais added that ULTEM 9085 combined with additive manufacturing technology is making metal replacement development easier for OEMs than trying to upgrade a metal component to a traditionally-manufactured plastic replacement.

“For very valid safety reasons, any transition from metal to plastics has to go through a very intense certification process to ensure it will perform, and the benchmark for the FAA, for example, is it has to meet the bar set by the incumbent material in the incumbent part,” she explained. “So to make those translations from metal to plastic, the OEM needs to re-design, re-certify, re-tool ... that’s a very labour intensive and time-intensive process. But if you bring additive manufacturing into that equation all of a sudden you see designs in place more rapidly.”

Global Marketing Director at SABIC Kim Choate added: “It makes the whole cycle faster and less expensive. But thanks to additive manufacturing, now, instead of having a component made of many different connections, I can make just one product and it’s lighter and more efficient. ULTEM 9085 has the right mechanical strength and performance and a lot of the OEMs are actually converting and are running production for those and other parts as well in 3D printing.

“3D printing has allowed us to go from many parts to one part.

It’s lighter, so saves the airline fuel, making savings for their customers, and they are able to [produce that part] quickly and cost-effectively, bringing operational costs down as well.

There’s no other option to make these parts this way. Technology continues to evolve ... You know you’re not at the point we’re going to print cars every day but we’re at least at a point of proving those concepts have the potential.”

Live long and … prototype

The customisation game

Despite additive manufacturing’s gradual assimilation into the manufacturing supply chain, the technology’s roots in prototyping are just as relevant now as they were 20 years ago.

But it is not only the hidden components where Stratasys and SABIC see potential for 3D printing in aerospace, both have visions for additive manufacturing spreading the trend for customisation into aircraft in the years to come.

“Rapid prototyping has changed the way we interact with customers,” Choate explained. “I work on the high performance side of the business and it’s very expensive to make a conversion.

Sometimes it takes one or two years just to go from a design to a prototype. It would take me six months to go from a specialised tool I could produce 10 parts on to see whether it works or not, to now getting a phone call two weeks later to say the part is on that customer’s desk. That’s changed the way we collaborate together and it speeds up the evolution of technology.

“In aerospace there’s a backlog of everything,” he continued, “so anywhere in the value chain you can help speed things up, letting us play with designs and do things in a way that is lighter while making the cost of a total solution cheaper to the end customers, is a good thing. We can see that 3D printing is helping us to redefine how things look and how we come up with ideas. It’s fun. [From the perspective of] an engineer, any time you can completely change the way you do business is always a wonderful experience.”

For hidden parts, Choate and LeBourdais explained, additive manufacturing is especially attractive. Fluid handling parts are essential to the running of a plane, but they do not require the secondary processing to make them aesthetically pleasing and for low-volume, end-of-life manufacturing in particular, the cost and materials savings benefits are huge.

“The nice thing about aerospace is that you’re helping everyone,” Choate smiled. “So the customer gets a cheaper ticket, the OEM gets a lower operating cost, the OEM gets to make things faster with fewer parts and less risk with less wastage.”

“Airlines are on a major trend to make the interior of the plane match their brands, so they want everything to be customised,” Choate stated. “They’ve made planes one way for 40 years but now we can go from designer’s sketch to making that concept a reality and make what we can imagine real. Now we have transparent materials and other materials beyond 3D printing like composites technology and all of a sudden we can have OEMs produce a truly customised environment for an airline - so when you get on a plane, it doesn’t look the same as the last plane you boarded. It will start in business class and work its way through the cabin - and that’s fun because we’ll have more designers coming into work smiling.”

“There’s definitely a private industry where the [customisation trend] will see personal jets given very personal features,” Jones said. “These Airbus-approved materials would also be suitable for non-critical parts on private jets and there is a real market for this with huge potential for additive manufacturing.”

Aerospace has found the benefits of using additive manufacturing not only with FDM but also PolyJet technology for prototypes and non-in-flight parts, which Stratasys showcased at its vast stand at Euromold 2014. A cross section of an aircraft cabin was used as a demonstration model of how far you can take 3D printing when producing the interior of an aeroplane - and not just air ducts.

The cabin interior employed a combination of FDM and PolyJet 3D printing techniques for prototypes of various seat parts, manufacturing tools for sand casting patterns for seat bases, and end use parts such as the sidewall upper skin, electrical clips and

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air ducts. The armrests were additive manufactured using digital ABS to demonstrate how 3D printing can minimise the amount of material needed to produce a component that is both sturdy and lightweight.

“You can take that one step further,” Jones said, “using the unique ability of the PolyJet to print a rigid part and simultaneously print a rubberlike material onto that part, so you could have an arm rest with soft-touch features that is also very, very light.”

3D printing has lift-off Now ULTEM 9085 3D-printed parts are airborne on Airbus planes, they are one step closer to making it into other aeroplanes, Boeing aircraft for example, and Stratasys has even watched 3D printed parts fly into space.

Rocket manufacturer United Launch Alliance (ULA) has progressed from using additive manufacturing in prototyping, to producing flight hardware on two Fortus 900mc 3D Production Systems from Stratasys, namely the Environmental Control System (ECS) duct on its Atlas C. The ECS duct - which is also made of ULTEM 9085 - is critical to the launch countdown sequence and delivering nitrogen to sensitive electronic components within the rocket booster. The 3D-printed design has cut the ECS duct down from an assembly of 140 parts to just 16, resulting in an installation time that cost 57 per cent less per part.

This breakthrough for ULTEM 9085 and for 3D printing brings the concept of 3D printing parts in space to replace broken components or to create tools the crew do not already have closer to becoming a reality.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of work going on in the background with these things,” Jones mused. “Gravity I’m sure has its challenges with 3D printing but there are problems that could be overcome with having a 3D printer on a space station, or at a military base or desert for that matter. I don’t think it’s achievable yet, but the idea of taking raw materials and a printer for spare parts is interesting and we’ll see it in the not so distant future.”

Choate added that the possibility for thermoset materials that can be recycled - perhaps on-site on a space station or at a remote site - means the materials could be ground down and re-printed, resulting in a continuing supply of material.

Where no man has gone before Whether looking at the amazing things ULTEM 9085 is achieving in aerospace now, or meditating over how it could be used in the future, there is no doubt that additive manufacturing for aerospace presents a brave new world.

Jones said the excitement of what is now possible is thrilling.

“The breadth of industries we work with is phenomenal but the thrilling aspect in a commercial sense is there’s a huge potential for it out there and we’re only scratching the surface. The faster the machines get, the materials that are already available like ULTEM 9085 will work for even more applications. That’s what gets me excited. Opportunities around every corner,” he mused.

“We predicted solar panels 30 years before we started making them. 3D is the same as solar, you can imagine how it will look in the future,” said Choate.

“But ultimately helping customers win is the funnest part of the job,” LeBourdais added.

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I don’t think it’s achievable yet, but the idea of taking raw materials and a printer for spare parts is interesting and we’ll see it in the not so distant future

Intelligent Solutions

n for TRB Aerospace accreditatio

ENGINEERING PLASTICS

Bulletin

ned AS9100 (BS EN ures has successfully gai TRB Lightweight Struct industry-recognised itation. AS9100 is the 9100) aerospace accred the aerospace and for risk management and y alit qu of ard stand ndards and product at improving service sta defence industry aimed leading aerospace ported by the world’s reliability, which is sup tory of providing his g ins. With a stron cha ply sup and ies compan g AS9100 is part of transportation, obtainin lightweight solutions for e by TRB Lightweight investment programm a long-term strategic d Holland, Managing g aerospace sector. Richar Structures in the growin and engineering of ign des specialists in the “As d: sai B TR of or ect Dir challenges that the solutions, we enjoy the lightweight composite 0 now allows us to vides. Obtaining AS910 aerospace industry pro vider further into pro e vic an end-to-end ser as ise ert exp r ou end ext improving our service ing industry, as well as the heart of this demand aerospace and defence.” to existing customers in

ARPRO hits slopes, su

rf and cycle path

JSP’s super-robust hig h-performance engine ering material ARPRO is blazing the trail for future-proof outdoor wear and sporting equipment. ARPRO has been used in the des ign process across a spectrum of outdoor sports, creating stateof-the-art kit that is durable and lightweigh t, providing a dynamic solution for designers looking to advance the way they can develop bet ter sports equipment.

Paul Compton, JSP Pre sident, said: “ARPRO is an incredibly versatile material meaning it can be used for the develo pments that will transform sports equipm ent in the future. It’s gre at to see [it] being used in applications tha t encourage people to be more active.” The innovative material has a high strength-to-weigh t ratio and toughness, while also being easy to mould, allowing product dev elopers to be more imaginati ve and ambitious in the cre ative process and ARPRO has already proved its versat ility in designs from CLOSCA and Salomon. Salomon, wh o selected ARPRO becaus e of its multiple protectio n qualities, have enhanced the performance of their ski boots and have made them lighter , more comfortable and better insulated, as well as improving fit.

DSM and NHU form joint PPS venture Royal DSM and NHU have announced the formation of a new joint venture company for the market development and manufacturing of high performance plastics compounds based on polyphenylene sulphide, PPS. The compounds will further enhance DSM’s offering in the high performance engineering plastics space, adding to its leadership positions with Stanyl polyamide 46 and Stanyl ForTii polyamide 4T. All sales at the joint venture, including those in China, will be handled by DSM’s Marketing and Sales organisation with the brand name of Xytron PPS.

ing plastics Radici gauges engineer environmental impact

commitment to transparency, clarity and on nce sta rm fi p’s ou RadiciGr taining Environmental d further results. After ob lde yie has ility nab tai sus EPD compilation and cess Certification for its Product Declaration Pro for its PA6 and PA6.6 tem and publishing EPDs internal verification sys respectively) Radici A n dilon S and Radilo (Ra s stic pla ng eri ine eng p Plastics Business pany of the RadiciGrou Novacips SpA - head com ental impact of both disclosed the environm Area - has measured and and its polyamide s stic l engineering pla ria ust nd st-i po MID RA its HE ry service. waste and scrap recove

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Engineering p la

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tally Global life sc iences and m aterials compa commitment to ny DSM has doing business made its the green way upgrade of its by investing in Engineering Pl astics facility in a The Netherland major The face-lift s.

- which took five years at represents se the Emmen-b veral million ased plant euro in fundin system that us g and includes es waste water a capture from the prod emissions to th uction plant to e air of volatil e organic com reduce zero. Koen De pounds (VOCs vits, Director ) to almost DSM Engineer “Thanks to this in g Plastics Europe major step forw , stated: ard, we are ab around the glob le to offer our e products that customers are more sust continue to m ainable than ev ake improvem er. We will ents such as th reduce enviro ese in an ongo nmental footpr ing effort to ints, both with along all our va in our own op lue chains.” erations and

ENGINEERING PLASTICS

Demand for engineering polymers in Europe to increase by 11% Converters in Europe - and in the UK and Germany in particular are anticipating a notable rise in their requirements for engineering polymers, as findings by David Marchant of DJS Research reveal.

Words | David Marchant, Research Manager, DJS Research

C

onverters in Germany and the UK are expecting a notable increase in their requirements for engineering polymers.

While many cite product lightweighting as a significant driver behind increased demand for engineering polymers, this is just one of several beneficial product characteristics allowing engineering polymers to substitute other materials in a wide variety of applications.

Growing demand is not only the source of optimism, however.

It brings challenges too.

Engineering Polymers are fast becoming the material of choice for components in often hostile environments.

Companies are increasingly looking to use them for complex applications, and this creates both an opportunity and a challenge.

Over a six-month period, we have interviewed hundreds of purchasers across the entire Engineering Polymer value chain.

With the report available in August, DJS Research has released a sneak preview of results below.

The combination of new applications, new clients and as yet untapped opportunities in emerging markets are all cause for optimism. One Product Manager at a German moulder supplying the aerospace industry summarised his take on the positive outlook. "In China and India," he said, "customers are only just starting to replace components with substitutes made out of engineering polymers, so we'd expect a consistent increase in our requirements."

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In light of the constant flow of requests to cater for the needs of new clients and applications, it is unsurprising that businesses across the engineering polymer value chain are under increasing pressure. The challenges faced range from product feature requirements such as thermal and chemical stability through to colour consistency, but also encompass supply reliability and consistency of product quality. Consequently, converters are looking to their suppliers for higher levels of support, reliability and for closer cooperation and a deepening of the customer supplier relationship.

Having ascertained the satisfaction levels of more than 300 European businesses with their respective Engineering Polymer suppliers, this research provides senior management with vital intelligence to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their value proposition in the current market place.

For further information, please contact Alexandre Tatry-Gautier or David Marchant at DJS Research Ltd via dmarchant@ djsresearch.com or visit www.djsresearch.co.uk/polymers

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TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Striking flow/ temperature balance Frigel’s compact Microgel temperature control system is helping injection moulders to cool their plastic in the mould without taking their eye off the ball with flow.

Al Fosco sat down with EPPM to explain just why this little unit is transforming how plastics processors approach cooling.

Words | Rose Brooke

get to the end point and there won't be enough water pressure to efficiently cool the mould, so you need more temperature control units to boost the temperature control at the mould site."

J

ust as 'what goes up, must come down', in the world of injection moulding 'what heats up, must cool down'. The latter issue is what so many plastics processors treat as a trial and error exercise, resulting in wasted time, material and electricity - but this is not how it has to be.

Global Marketing Manager at Frigel Al Fosco spent some time with EPPM Magazine back at NPE2015 in March to explain why Microgel cooling technology is helping manufacturers make gains thanks to innovation and efficiency.

Most injection moulders, he explained, utilise a central chiller system that supplies cold water around an injection moulding machine room, so a moulder could have 25 moulds in operation, with water cooling them from a single source. The problem with this, however, is that a central chiller system set at 50°F (10°C) can only supply water at 50°F to the moulds. This is not an ideal solution when different resins require different cooling temperatures, which is where temperature control units come in.

"What we see is people refrigerating the water at the central chiller and then heating water up at the moulds so you can run half a mould at 150° and the other half at 7°, so you’re cooling it and heating it and that doubles your electrical bills," Fosco explained.

Maximum pressure at the mould This is inefficient both in terms of electrical usage and the fact the system is rigid in terms of what temperatures can be delivered to the moulds.

"Even worse than this is the fact you have a central chiller somewhere you can't even see the moulding machine, so a separate chiller has to supply water all the way to the other end of the factory with loads of machines in between, so you're going to

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Frigel has a trick up its sleeve. "We put a small portable chiller right next to the machine with two temperature control units in it."

The Microgel chiller with its two mould taps running temperatures from 45°F to 195°F gives plastics processors total flexibility, so if they choose to change moulds and resins they can adjust the temperatures of the mould cavities and core at different temperatures without the interconnected piping required for traditional temperature control units.

"More importantly," Fosco added, "the pumps on this unit are right here at the mould - where they belong, increasing turbulence. You want the water to be consistent for all parts, [so they have to be] cooled exactly the same. The only way to do that is if they have maximum pressure at the mould to push the water through so all the cavities are cooled the same, meaning no bad parts and faster cycle times."

According to Fosco, 60 per cent of the time, a moulding machine is sitting redundant while the plastic is being cooled, but if a moulder has the temperature control and pumping system at the mould, this will reduce cycle times and produce consistently high-quality parts "which is your cash register".

The innovation is fast gaining popularity in the US and Europe as manufacturers come around to Frigel's thinking that, as Fosco says, the central chiller is "a useless piece of equipment".

"With Microgel you only have one set of pipes, so all you have to do is run your cooling tower water, cutting insulation costs in half."

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Machine after machine after machine Microgels have been on the market since the early 1990s and Fosco claims the technology has proved successful in Europe since the beginning. In the US, however, Frigel is still educating the wider plastics processing market.

"Here," he said, "we explain that the temperature control unit and chiller are in one box. No hoses, just roll it up and plug it in and you get faster cycle times, less scrap because you're not running bad parts, and repeatability. "[Adoption is] one of the battles we have but our experience is once you've got a Microgel in next to the machine, we've seen many people go ahead and shut their chiller off and use it only in an emergency while they continue to add Microgels. You end up with machine after machine after machine lined up and there's a Microgel next to each one of them. Clean, efficient and totally flexible."

The technology is intelligent too. In cases where a mould has been optimised and cycle time is at its lowest, if that mould is taken out and put back into the machine a week later, the operator has to note the settings for the parameters for the tool - which is different for every job in terms of injection speed, production time, blending settings and more. The engineer who comes back a week later with the same mould will more than likely see their cycle times have risen and their flow is reduced.

"What does that tell you?" Fosco asked. "It tells you that somebody circuited the mould differently or the mould has plugged and the passages are dirty or something." Without the flow readouts Frigel's system offers, not to mention the two-temperature control units with their high-pressure technology for producing consistently high-quality products - it is very difficult to correct this problem quickly.

"We understand the importance not just of temperature, but of flow. Flow determines turbulence, churning and ripping the heat out the mould," Fosco explained.

"Bear in mind, whenever a moulding operation starts, it becomes a cooling situation ... When you're injecting plastic it could be 500°F, but as soon as that plastic is injected, you are cooling that part, even if you’re cooling at 195°F. "Molten plastic in the mould has to be cooled, but if you cool it too fast, you won't fill the cavity. That's why temperature control units were invented: to strike the balance between flow and temperature. It depends on the part and the resin but these are the only units that can give you that flexibility. They are the only units on the market that can do it and I've never had an unsatisfied customer."

That’s why temperature control units were invented: to strike the balance between flow and temperature. It depends on the part and the resin but these are the only units that can give you that flexibility.

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TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Maag’s closed-loop underwater technology makes pellets “shine like diamonds” Maag’s new-to-market Optimized Temperature Pelltizing process produces super shiny pellets in a “revolutionary”, energy efficient, closed-loop system that can even process optical and medical applications.

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cooling step. In the transfer unit, the pellets are separated from overheated water and handed over to the second cooling circuit (< 95°C).

Maag describes the Optimized Temperature Pelletizing (OTP) process as “revolutionary” for pelletising special engineering polymers.

After subsequent cooling, the pressure is released and the pellets are separated by the CENTRO dryer from the process water. Leaving the drying process, the pellets are ready for subsequent processing or packing.

process covering the entire process from plastic melt to finished quality pellets - all underwater - has been brought to market by Maag Automatik.

Spherical pellets have less wear during any transportation process compared to other geometries. Less wear equals less dust formation, which results in less effort for dust removal or cleaning. The improved process results in a better pellet quality, and therefore increased profits for customers.

In the presence of pressurised over-heated water (> 100°C) pellets are cut and subjected to the first

OTP pellets meet the high standards of plastics used in medical applications. Even optical applications like glasses or screens can now be handled with polycarbonate, pelletised with OTP. Also there is a large scope of utilisation in the automotive industry: Panorama roofs, cable connections or parts of the engine can be produced from OTP pellets.

With OTP, pellets “shine like diamonds, no voids, no dents, no other defects”.

The closed loops result in operating conditions without any emission to the air and without contamination of the product.

Based on the higher temperature level in the isolated first cooling process, this energy could easily be used for heating purposes or transformed e.g. into electrical power, suitable for the involved consumption elements like pumps, motors, etc.

i-Temp units slash automotive moulder cycle times

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n automotive injection moulding company has seen its cycle times slashed by 25 per cent with help from temperature control specialist ICS Cool Energy.

latest i-Temp cd90t 9kW temperature control unit with touchscreen C8 advanced controller to work with the Arburg machine to improve cycle times.

The company, which produced injection-moulded parts for major automotive brands such as BMW, Nissan, Jaguar and Renault, is in the process of expanding its production line and has recently invested in a new 750-tonne Arburg injection moulding machine.

The injection moulding process involves polymer pellets being heating in a barrel and then injected under pressure into a mould cavity, where it must then cool down and harden to the configuration of the cavity.

The machine is used to mould front fog light mounting and tow hooks for one of its top automotive customers and ICS Cool Energy has supplied its

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Dave Palmer, Sales Director of ICS Cool Energy’s Heating Division, explained: “The production line requires a high flow rate across each mould circuit due to the tool design. In addition, a high cooling capacity is required across a

narrow approach temperature due to the lower operating temperature, which is common when moulding polypropylene.

"The increased cooling capacity and direct cooled operation helps to keep the process temperature stable and consistent by dissipating the excessive residual heat in a controlled manner."

ICS Cool Energy’s engineers conducted an evaluation of the customer’s site before recommending the i-Temp unit. The range is perfectly suited for the plastics moulding process, as the units offer accurate management of a wide range of operating parameters.

The units come with direct cooling

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operation which offers a maximum of 195kW of cooling, and has the ability to precisely control to the required set point with the use of a motorised cooling valve.

Palmer said: "Before the addition of the new machine, the customers' cycle was around 25-30 seconds. With the new unit in place, the cycle time has reduced down to 20 seconds, putting the company in the best possible position to maximise production."

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Bulletin akthrough Moulding bre system

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RECYCLING Solutions Efficient + Flexible

Granulator SB Series with Forced Feeding Device

Thermal Care introduces first for chillers Illinois-based Thermal Care introduced a first for chillers back at NPE 2015: the NQV Series of portable chillers that use variable frequency drive (VFD) on the compressor. The VDF creates a virtual “variable-size chiller” according to Thermal Care, which can alter its capacity to match the load without the need for a hot gas bypass or running the compressor at full amperage. President of the company Thomas Benson was quoted by Plastics Technology as saying: “Now, with VFD, if you have a five-tonne load, you’ll have a five-tonne chiller. The energy is matched exactly to the load.”

re output Flowmeter provides temperatu er from The new TRACERvm Flowmet earlier d che laun US the in ow Smartfl nona is er this year. The Flowmet 3.5 to 0.5 a ides prov display sensor that , ture pera tem cess pro for put volt out sor sen ow fl as well as flow rate. The e and technology is extremely accurat the to tion nec Con c. ecifi direction-sp pipe dard stan g usin e mad is cess pro 38mm. threads in NPT or BSP up to osioncorr are ls eria Flow body mat dized ano n, nylo s, bras t resistan l. stee aluminium and stainless

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30 % – 100 % more capacity with the same granulator cutting chamber size. Up to 50 % less power consumption. Suitable for dry and wet operation.

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Agglomeration of bottle flakes, powders, fibres, film and foam materials Re-crystallisation of PET flakes Thin-film drying from post consumer washing lines

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Eurochiller signs Czech/Slovakian agreement International tempe rature control leader Eurochiller has signed an agreement with Plastc ompany, which kicks off both comp anies’ agreement to cooperate within the Czech and Slovakian markets.

The agreement, which was signed at PLAST 2015 in Milan, stipulates tha t Plastcompany will promote and ass ist the sale and servicing of Eurochil ler’s cooling units in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Agricultural films Plastics from post consumer waste PET bottles Bottles and hollow components out of PE/PP PE films, also stretch ch films 5 a 201152 FFaakum 6550 025202 6 th 6 o A o 6B oth HabblloA 2 am122500115 inoggrdhha2m0 0645 elfin m PMRBEBirirTm RRW 0 WM N Cth6G9 Boo4oth Haallllb12o8obth H

Herbold Meckesheim GmbH Industriestraße 33 D-74909 Meckesheim Tel.: +49 (0) 6226/932-0 Fax: +49 (0) 6226/932-495 herbold@herbold.com

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COMPOUNDING LINES & EQUIPMENT

The future of compounding is clever, compact and closer to home Compounding is coming home according to Reduction Engineering Scheer, as more manufacturers take advantage of the cost savings afforded by automation. Paul Merich gave us his expert insights.

Words | Rose Brooke

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urope is an optimistic market for the compounding end of the plastics processing value chain, and Reduction Engineering Scheer is one organisation with the wind in its sails.

as the touch screen graphic interface Reduction Engineering has fitted its new RE 500, RE 1000, RE 1500 and RE PASS next-generation pulverisers, which it unveiled at NPE 2015.

Paul Merich, Managing Director of the German arm of Reduction Engineering, believes the changing landscape of the factory floor driven by trends towards space efficiency and an increased adoption of automation technologies is playing a key role in reshoring to Europe.

"A digital interface can help the operator by giving them more information," Merich said. "They help reduce machine downtime but mostly they are beneficial because they convey as much information as possible from a single point for the operator."

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Business-wise, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having a terrific year in Europe at the moment and our home market in Germany is very strong thanks to changes in the export market,â&#x20AC;? he explained.

Re-shoring Much business that had moved to Asia has returned to the Continental markets and with this change comes the trend of shifting from manual granulating to automatic systems that are not only faster, but require less man power, providing processors with higher throughput.

Traditionally, the operator would have to check numerous gauges such as temperature settings manually, but now everything is available on one screen, allowing them to identify any failure and seek a solution. This sort of intelligence used to be the luxury reserve of the biggest plastics processors in the global market, but Reduction Engineering's compact technology is making it increasingly available to small and medium-sized companies who are less flexible in terms of cash and - crucially - space.

Space economy Space efficiency is a key concern of Reduction Engineering, which emphasises the compactness of its machinery.

"The problem is space is often limited in an old factory," Merich explained. "If you build a new factory on a greenfield site, you have in theory as much space as you want. But if you want to upgrade an existing line you are limited in the space. We see space limitation often is one of the key factors if a company will invest."

There is no room for clutter in the European marketplace, where safety regulations demand certain spacing between machines, so it is no surprise that Reduction Engineering identifies this trend as being a solely European one, compared to the US and Asia where there is more space for companies to play with.

Europe is a good place for compounders to be doing business in, Merich noted. The climate for this end of the plastics processing chain picked up at the end of 2014 and, according to Merich, this period in the sun will continue into 2016.

"This is cost-cutting when it comes to labour expenses," remarked Merich. "Until recently, labour costs were not a big issue in Asia - especially in China and Thailand where there was a lot of lowcost labour available. But even there it's changing, not only are labour costs rising but there have been a lot of issues in recent years with labour unions and strikes. So things are changing. Companies are reducing the number of employees with automation.

We are benefitting from this at the moment."

"The big compounders in Europe are either increasing or modernising their capacities because I believe there's a lot of capacity coming back to Europe.

"Before, everybody was leaving because it was too expensive, but the truth is labour savings thanks to automation means it's not much cheaper to produce in Asia compared to Europe any more. So a lot of compounders are coming back to Europe so they're closer to the key markets. We can confirm that is happening at the moment."

By bringing automation into the pelletising and pulverising process, plastics processors are not only cutting down their labour costs, but the quality of their products improves. And this improved output is complemented further by the increased adoption and availability of digital technology, such

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So things are changing.

Companies are reducing the number of employees with automation.

We are benefitting from this.

Reduction Engineering Scheer will be on-site at Fakuma on stand 6212 in Hall A6, where the company is showcasing machinery to help small and mediumsized companies.

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The right extruder for every compounding application

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inzig-based manufacturer of co-rotating twin-screw extruders FEDDEM GmbH & Co. KG, has extended its range of FED MTS machines and now delivers the right extruder to suite every compounding application, with screw diameters ranging from 26 to 82 mm.

Designed according to the same principle as all other machines in the product family, the FED 82 MTS also has screws without kneadingblocks, ensuring gentle processing of engineering plastics, and offers the same operational versatility.

The first machine in the new model size was recently commissioned at AKROPLASTIC GmbH in Niederzissen.

Thorsten Cöln, Head of Process Engineering at AKRO-PLASTIC, commented: "With a processing length of 32 L/D, this new extruder demonstrates extremely good scaleup results. On this machine, even the highly reinforced compounds with up to 50 per cent glass-fibre content produced to date have excellent product quality."

As with all models from FEDDEM, with the appropriate accessories, such as a process extension and custom-made side feeder / side vacuum degassing unit, the extruder can be configured for a wide range of compounding tasks.

quantec ® 85 G3-14 C

WWW.BUSSCORP.COM

The new FED 82 MTS frame size has a powerful gearbox with a torque density of over 16 Nm/cm³ and drive power of 800 kW. The compounder is therefore the perfect partner when manufacturing larger production batches of engineering plastics and depending on the product formulation, a throughput of 2 to 4 t/h is possible.

COMPOUNDING LINES & EQUIPMENT

Economical PVC compounding redefined BUSS Kneader series quantec ® G3 The specialists in heat and shear sensitive compounding are setting new benchmarks for quality and productivity. quantec ® G3 – an ongoing success story in the third generation > More cost effective due to increased throughput > More flexible due to a larger process window > Improved plant availability due to minimal product changeover times

Buss AG Switzerland www.busscorp.com

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30.06.15 16:12

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TESTING & INSPECTION

NDC presents new innovations for quality and productivity

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the light beam to determine the top surface of the product to sub-micron accuracy. An integrated eddy current sensor measures the distance of the sensor to the surface of the roll. The data from the CCD array and the eddy current sensor are combined to provide a total thickness measurement. The optical measurement technique is unaffected by the colour, density or gloss of the product. The OptiMike OM 190’s high-accuracy, reliable, repeatable performance enables manufacturers to realise superior product quality and significantly reduce scrap.

DC Technologies, a leading global provider of precision measurement and control solutions for the plastics industry, has revealed several new, innovative non-contact systems that provide accurate and reliable measurements across a wide range of applications for sheet, film, converting, calendering, pipe and tube industries. These new products enable plastics manufacturers to produce higher quality products, increase productivity and realise a number of production savings.

Film/sheet extrusion and calendering solutions

Pipe and tube extrusion solutions

NDC’s FG710S gauging system measures the thickness of structures such as clear, voided, cavitated, porous and translucent films in applications such as singleor multi-layer composition for most polymeric film and sheet products ranging from 10 microns to 5 mm. NDC’s patented FG710S combines discrete near infrared filters and powerful gauge algorithms for direct thickness measurement of these films.

In addition, the FG710S can measure the oil content in PE battery film across the entire process, beginning with the wet cast film, after the biax stretch and the final film itself.

Complementing NDC’s family of non-nuclear measurement solutions, the OptiMike OM190 optical micrometer provides direct, single-sided thickness measurement for extruded sheet and non-metallic thick film products. Its LED sensor projects a beam of light across the apex of the product wrapped

across a precision reference roll with low run-out characteristics for accurate, absolute measurement performance. On the opposite side of the roll, a precision charged couple device (CCD) micrometer array measures the exact interruption point of

The new AccuScan 6012 is the industry’s first fouraxis diameter and ovality gauge for measuring pipe and tube products of up to 12 mm, enabling tubing and other extruded product manufacturers to measure product diameter and ovality with higher accuracy than two- and three-axis diameter gauges for added quality assurance and bottom-line savings.

It performs ultra-fast measurements at 2,400 scans per second per axis, totaling 9,600 measurements per second. The AccuScan 6012 improves ovality measurement accuracy by up to 100 per cent, and provides the highest flaw detection accuracy with 25 per cent improvement over three-axis gauges The latest LN3040 lump and neckdown detector quickly and reliably spots product flaws before they become costly production problems. Fast-sensing and processing technology instantly detects sudden changes in the product diameter (up to 40 mm) to effectively catch the smallest of flaws.

Helping build the business case for lab modernisation Instron, a leading provider of testing equipment for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of materials and components, has launched its new Lab Health Check initiative.

The new campaign is designed to help laboratories get the best out of their equipment by assessing its existing situation, and helping build the business case for modernisation within the lab.

Inston argues that investing in existing equipment is often dismissed too soon, but can in fact be a cost effective and efficient way of increasing a lab's capability and throughput, while also reducing machine downtime and maintenance costs. This in turn leads to increased productivity and efficiency with access to the latest software and training, enhancing testing capabilities in a world where the

needs of customers and the materials on the market are constantly changing.

Instron is helping companies achieve all these plus points without the need for capital expenditure, by supporting laboratories to bring successful business case for upgrading old equipment. The benefits of this could have a greater impact than just within the lab, as previous Instron customers have reported an increase in operator satisfaction adding that a modernised lab improves both the ability to win new customer business and the intake of engineering talent within their teams.

have successfully applied for the funding to upgrade their first system, the benefits are so clear that it becomes even easier to get the future funding required to invest in other systems. With the Lab Health Check initiative Instron can set you off on the right path."

Nick Shrubsall, Product and Marketing Manager for Instron’s Dynamic Upgrades and Accessories, and leader of the Lab Health Check initiative, said: "The most encouraging thing is that when customers

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NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Are you feeling nipi?

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A cool piece of kit for the outdoorsman in all of us even the most tech-dependent city mouse has rolled onto Kickstarter. Introducing, the nipi.

Words | Rose Brooke

1 2 6

10 7

8 9

4

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ot only has the nipi inspired our inner-adventurer, it has excited EPPM because, from prototyping to what Industrial Designer and nipi coolers Co-Founder Luke Guttery has planned for mass production, it is a fantastic showcase of modern-day plastics technology.

“The classic design conundrum” The nipi was born out of what Guttery described as “a classic design conundrum”: how do you transport your drinks and snacks across stretches of road, field or sand and store them so they will keep cool for more than a few hours without everything costing an arm and a leg? On the market now there are very expensive travel coolers that are capable of keeping drinks chilled for a week or more, while there are the chunky box coolers we all know and love that barely keep the milk cold for a picnic lunch.

But not only did Guttery’s client want a product that could keep his pop and sandwiches chilled from packing the car for Glastonbury, right up to the gruelling return drive, he wanted a gadget that was easy to carry, could charge a phone, keep valuables locked away safe, light up and look great.

“Didn’t want to be square” With the plastics processing technologies at Guttery’s disposal, the nipi underwent two stages of prototyping; the first was the additive manufacturing stage at LPW Ltd in the UK, followed by CNC machining the nipi out of ABS in China.

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“We didn’t want to be square,” Guttery said. “All coolers are square monstrosities, so we set about making a more automotive design and tried to create a product you would feel a connection with, like people do with their cars and phones we want you to be proud to own it.”

The nipi is a cabin baggage-sized portable party. Not only can the nifty little cooler be wheeled along with its extendable handle like a suitcase, but the cooling technology inside keeps ice frozen for up to six days and comes with storage compartments for wet and dry items - including a lockable unit for iPads,and purses. The nipi lights up to save knackered campers from tripping over their guylines and fumbling for midnight snacks, while it features USB ports for charging phones and playing music. The nipi can be charged normally, but it can also go off-grid thanks to its solar panels, which are assembled in the US to meet strict regulations and can be detached from the main unit and daisy-chained.

A product that lasts Guttery has chosen rotomoulding for the main body of the nipi, which presents the unique challenge of rotomoulding a product with built-in electricals.

Nevertheless, rotomoulding is the perfect manufacturing process for the nipi because of its toughness.

“I don’t believe we should be making a product that doesn’t last a long time, because it’s such a waste of resources and money. You want a product that’s going to last 10 years in not a lifetime of use,” Guttery stated. “Rotomoulding will achieve that goal because it’s so robust.”

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1st prototyping phase: 1 1st prototype additive manufactured by Gary Miller

at IPF Ltd, UK, using Stratasys FDM technology with ASA thermoplastic which offers mechanical strength and UV stability.

2 3D printing allowed each component to be

individually tested.

3 Wheels multi-material 3D-printed on an Objet additive

manufacturing system. Tango Black rubber-like material was chosen for its shore hardness of 70 and for a smoother rolling sound.

2nd prototyping phase: 4 2nd round of prototyping carried out in China.

Whole body was CNC machined from ABS.

Proposed for mass production:

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5 Solar panels assembled in US to meet regulatory

requirements. Housing injection moulded.

6 Dual lids for cooler insulation and storage units

injection moulded for highest quality finish.

7 Main body rotomoulded for toughness out

of polyethylene or polypropylene if viable for environmental Brownie points.

8 Handle made of powder-coated extruded

YOUR RAW MATERIALS SPECIALIST FOR

aluminium for toughness.

9 Wheels injection moulded and over-moulded

Engineering plastics

with thermoplastics.

10 Varied textures for a premium finish.

Medical plastics

A mixture of gloss and matt.

Plastics for packaging Purge compounds Additives Much of the nipi will be injection moulded for a high-quality finish, including its dual lids, internal divider (which doubles as a chopping board), kick stand, the solar panel housing and wheels, which will be over-moulded with a thermoplastic for a better rolling sound. The toggle handle will be thermoplastic for durability and flexibility, while the main ‘suitcase’ handle will be extruded aluminium from an established manufacturer for quality and finish.

From CAD, to Kickstarter, to consumer Now the successful Kickstarter campaign has reached its goal of $60,000 (£38,650, €55,000), Guttery has reflected on the processes that have brought the nipi to mass production.

“The ability to 3D print and to check and then send your CAD file for the second stage of prototyping improves the outcome of the process enormously,” Guttery said. “Sending a CAD file is great, but having something physical for the people doing the CNC machining at second prototyping stage gives them another reference.”

Visit us at Fakuma 13 – 17 October 2015 Friedrichshafen Germany Hall B5 · Booth 5001

VELOX GmbH

From prototyping right up to commercial production, Guttery has made use of the best plastics processes to ensure the nipi is high-quality, robust, aesthetically pleasing and functionally optimised.

+49 (0)40 369 688 0

Pledging for ‘nipi: The “SMART” COOLER & ultra portable SOLAR generator’ closes on September 8th 2015. To learn more about this smart little accessory, go to www.kickstarter.com/projects/nipicoolers/nipi-the-smartsolar-powered-cooler.

www.velox.com

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mailplastics@velox.com

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Kongskilde - your conveying specialist

Continual improvings and innovation Involved and experienced people Unequaled customer service Trusted for reliable performance

Hall A6 Stand A6 - 6216 13 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17 October 2015

www.gala-europe.de

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Kongskilde offers complete systems for conveying and handling large volumes of plastics materials generated from todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production lines.

These systems ensure a high efficiency, significant savings and an improved working environment.

Kongskilde UK Tel. 01263 713291 mail@kuk.kongskilde.com www.kongskilde.com

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Moving industry ahead

MACHINERY & MATERIALS ROUNDUP

Hot metal ENGEL has unveiled its Liquidmetal injection moulding technology.

Developed with manufacturing partner Liquid Metal Technologies.

The system is uniquely provided by ENGEL and was presented at its June Symposium (June 16th-18th 2015). The new injection moulding technology is based on the ENGEL e-motion series as can produce ready-to-use parts in a single step.

That’s a stretch AMUT DOLCI BEILLONI has responded to popular demand by introducing a new generation of machines utilising the merged intelligence of AMUT and Dolci Beilloni.

The new concept line has a sevenlayer configuration, six extruders and is available in 2000 and 3000 mm – width versions, for a net output respectively of 1500 kg/h and 2400 kg/h.

That’s a wrap WM Wrapping Machinery has installed the largest thermoforming machine in France. The Swiss company installed an FC 1000E Speedmaster Plus thermoforming machine in the clean room of CatoluxTiers - part of the Top Clean Packaging group - back in February.

The FC 1000E is the largest vacuum and pressure forming form-cut-stack machine, with steel rule cut, in production. It can run forming moulds with a maximum size of up to 1,060 x 750mm and its forming press has a clamping force of 600kN and with platen strokes of 160 mm. The machine thermoforms PS, ABS, APET, CPET, PETG, PP, PC with sheet thickness of up to 2.0 mm.

Melting moment In the world of PET extrusion, processors want the ability not just to monitor, but control melt viscosity in real time, producing end products with consistent intrinsic viscosity. These features give Gneuss’ MRS Extrusion Technology clout. The MRS Extruder, processes amorphous PET pellets or recycled material without pre-drying and melt viscosity can be measured in real time with the Online Viscometer. While other manufacturers also offer online viscosity measurements, Gneuss’ MRS extrusion technology is the only technology to measure and actively control the end product.

Friends in high places Sepro has struck up partnerships with two big players.

The automation and robotics leader has joined forces with Stork, agreeing to make top-entry Cartesian robots for the company to sell under its own name worldwide, as well as drawing up a deal with fellow French business Billion, bringing customers an intelligent processing package encompassing both injection moulding and robotics.

Wide boy

Buy-2K

Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating has sold the widest cast film line in Europe.

Reifenhäuser has adapted to the growing popularity of wide lines as the industry vies to make cost savings for volume applications such as metallisable and laminating films and is installing a 5,300 mm-wide MIDEX cast film line at a film producer in Portugal. It will be the widest cast film line in Europe, enabling the production of films with a finished width of up to 4,800 mm.

KraussMaffei is celebrating its 2,000th MX injection moulding machine sold. The popularity of the large injection moulding system has grown from strength to strength, with processor and supplier to the automotive industry Sanko Gosei, based in Skelmersdale in the UK, purchasing the 2,000th MX to be installed anywhere in the world. The MX 1300 is used with a clamping force of 13,000 kN and additional bolt-on injection unit in L design for manufacturing hard-soft components out of PP and TPE for the automotive industry.

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Get a grip

Bumper crop

PolyOne has announced what it calls a “significant enhancement” to its existing TPE technology, which will help products with nylon grips and deliver superior resistance to oil and abrasion. The new GLS Versaflex OM TPE material bonds tightly to nylon substrates to deliver a soft, yet resilient grip for safety, ergonomics and comfort.

Material testing shows that it surpasses other TPEs on the market in resisting the oil and abrasion often encountered with demanding usage.

Styrolution’s Luran SC has set a new standard for automotive bumper brackets following a partnership with systems and service provider for polymer-based solutions Rehau. Luran SC, which has become a trusted staple in automotive exterior applications, was selected due to its high impact resistance, overall toughness, UV stability and resistance to creep and heat.

Given its successful application, the Luran SC bumper bracket from Rehau and Styrolution will be implemented as the standard material for several top automotive manufacturers.

Bricking it

Baby Bio AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre is participating in the SINTEPOL project, which is co-funded by the ERDF and IVAC, to develop new biopolymer synthesis and modification routes in a single stage by means of reactive extrusion processes. In this way, real and competitive production processes for biopolymers can be achieved in the future, enabling such products - once they achieve the right mechanical properties for demanding applications - to be sold on the market.

Un-PARA-lleled LANXESS subsidiary Bond-Laminates’ Tepex dynalite composite material is helping skywalk GmbH & Co to make reclining harnesses for its RANGE X-APLS paraglider. Tepex dynalite performs excellently in extreme sports applications thanks to its high-performance, continuous fibre-reinforced and polypropylene-based characteristics. The harness’s footboard is made of a sandwich composite that is 1 cm in thickness, comprising thin Tepex facings measuring just 0.5 mm and a polypropylene honeycomb core from EconCore N.V.

In June, LEGO bosses announced it would be sinking DKK 1 billion (£96.7 million, €134 million) into its scheme to research sustainable raw materials to manufacture LEGO bricks, as well as finding green packaging alternatives. Currently, the bricks are manufactured in ABS, but the children’s brick toy manufacturer is looking for a greener alternative, recruiting some 100 experts to help it find a new material that will still offer youngsters the same unique play experience by its 2030 deadline.

Glass house DuPont Performance Polymers has upped its production of its glassreinforced Zytel PA 66 and PA 6 by 20 per cent at its Uentrop facility in Hamm, Germany. Demand is growing for the highperformance nylon, which is often used to replace metal in automotive components and is at the forefront of industry efforts to improve fuel efficiency. It can often be found in components such as air ducts, engine covers, transmission components and radiator end tanks, while it is widely used in electronics and electrical systems for switches, relays, circuit breakers and sockets.

Wheely good International chemicals leader Solvay has launched the production of Highly Dispersible Silica at its new plant in Wloclawek, Poland. The announcement addresses the growing demand for energy-saving tyres. The plant’s annual HDS capacity has been logged at 85,000 tonnes and more than 100 jobs are being created to produce the HDS reinforcing agent, which reduces a vehicle’s fuel consumption by up to seven per cent.

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MACHINERY & MATERIALS ROUNDUP

PLEXIGLAS plunders the deep Evonik has extended its agreement with the Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation - which aims to capture footage of the giant squid in its natural habitat - with its PLEXIGLAS technology for submersibles for two more years.

Evonik Industries is continuing its support of non-profit organisation the Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation in its deep sea explorations for two more years.

The two organisations have been in cooperation since 2013, with Evonik providing the crucial PLEXIGLAS for the submersible’s observation dome.

Rebikoff-Niggeler operates one of the few manned submersibles in the world that is able to descend to a depth of 1,000 m to carry out marine research. The centerpiece of the Lula1000 submarine is its 1.40 m-diameter PLEXIGLAS observation dome.

PLEXIGLAS is not only much more robust than glass, its optical qualities are also superior.

“The Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation has established a very good name for itself in the world of science,” said Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik. “Evonik wants to contribute to ensuring that research can continue in the fascinating and precious deep sea living environment.”

The Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation cooperates with Cologne University in Germany, the University of the Azores, and the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund and is currently working on a BBC scientific television series about marine life, which will be screened in Germany, Austria, and the US.

Kirsten and Joachim Jakobsen, the German couple who are behind the Foundation, have made hundreds of hours of high-res films and collected numerous samples from the deep sea around the Azores. Their discoveries include the only known living coral reef in the Azores and a more than 500-year-old Neopycnodonte zibrowii deep sea oyster, which is regarded as the oldest living animal in the world. They are pursuing the main aim of their project - to film a giant squid in its natural environment - with passion. Special lighting systems and a feed syringe have been installed on Lula1000 to entice the largely unknown giant of the deep sea.

The innovative process that Evonik used for the Lula1000 dome is in demand among other producers of deep sea submersibles - as it is currently utilised in the Jago unmanned submersible belonging to GEOMAR, the Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Kiel, Germany, and is used in submarines produced by Triton in the US.

Evonik wants to contribute to ensuring that research can continue in the fascinating and precious deep sea living environment.

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Fakuma 2015 on course to break records Over 46,000 international visitors, 1,700 exhibitors from 35 countries, new applications, fresh innovations and big ideas. The 24th Fakuma is ready to show the world what plastics processing can achieve.

Hang onto your hats, because Fakuma 2015 is gearing up to be a record-breaker in its 24th year.

Organisers of the show, which takes place from October 13th-17th in Friedrichshafen, claim the hotly-anticipated event will be the most international in its history, cementing its place as one of the most important plastics processing events on the world stage.

"With its user-oriented focus on plastics processing, Fakuma has acquired a special status, because similarly-positioned trade fairs have a more plastics-polytechnical orientation and thus a different emphasis," organisers stated.

Every imaginable application

German prominence

Manufacturers and distributors from 35 countries will present what has been dubbed a 'sparkling array' of fresh plastics processing technologies and processes at this year’s Fakuma, while there will be innumerable examples of how new innovations can be applied to every application imaginable, from packaging, to toys, to underthe-bonnet car components, to in-flight parts on aeroplanes: applications from which the industry sector will already be able to profit in October 2015.

The extent to which the Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing has established its omnipresence within the industry sector is illustrated by further increases in the number of foreign manufacturers and distributors from more than 35 countries who will attend. As has traditionally been the case, Germany is represented by the largest number of exhibitors (925 companies) followed by Italy (102), Switzerland (97), Austria (63), France (43), China (41), Portugal (27), the Netherlands (25), the Czech Republic (20) and Turkey (17). Moreover, 46,000 visitors from over 100 countries will attend.

The time-to-market factor has been made a real focal point in 2015 with Fakuma's spotlight on innovative processes that slash lead times, downtime and costs. Indeed, this October the event will pay additive manufacturing its dues as a fullyfledged part of the manufacturing supply chain, as advances in 3D printing means the technology can now stand up to traditional manufacturing techniques.

"Additive and generative 3D processes have of course taken on an exceptional role, even though precisely this segment and its associated processes, such as STL and laser sintering, have been part of Fakuma’s exhibition portfolio for more than 20 years," organisers stated. "Whereas they were used in the past above all for prototyping and the production of samples. Based on rapidlyexpanding material diversity and material characteristics which are customised for specific functions, the spread of 3D processes might well be greatly accelerated and more than just round out offerings for manufacturing processes involving plastic processing."

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Manufacturers and distributors from all over the world view Fakuma as the most suitable business platform for presenting their companies to expert visitors in the highly demanding German and European markets.

For a glimpse of what some of these companies have in store, browse the first of our two printed previews.

CAN’T SEE YOUR COMPANY’S NEWS? There’s still time to make the on-site printed preview.

Email rose.brooke@rapidnews.com by September 14th.

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www.artec.at 26.05.15 13:12

Aerogen

Arburg

Aerogen is spreading its wings in the European marketplace, which is why it is targeting Fakuma as a crucial platform for its special flame treatment technology.

Fakuma 2015 will be a brave new world for ARBURG, as the plastics technology juggernaut will be presenting itself as much more than a machine manufacturer.

Flame treatment technology is widely utilised throughout the plastics industry.

It provides a practical and economical method of preparing surfaces to give excellent adhesion prior to painting, bonding, laminating, labelling and coating.

The broad utilisation of flame treatment across industry distinguishes the technology for giving a significant advantage to the processing of plastic articles for cosmetics, packing, automotive and converting.

The company that brought the market the iconic Allrounder and the groundbreaking Freeformer will be bringing eight Allrounders and three Freeformers to Friedrichshafen, together with the ARBURG host computer system ALS and integrated automation technology.

At Fakuma, Aerogen wishes to extend its reach to companies that are newly considering flame treatment and companies that are already familiar with the technology. Aerogen can explain the benefits of using the technology and explain features of the flame treatment equipment. Those with existing flame treatment installations can discuss improvement possibilities for automation of data collection, process measurement and control of the flame device for the purpose of faster flame treatment processing, improving flame optimisation and more economical gas usage.

Aerogen will also be exhibiting machinery at its stand, allowing visitors to see firsthand the quality of the UK designed and manufactured Aerogen equipment.

ARBURG is on top of industry trends, such as the customisation of massproduction parts by combining injection moulding and additive manufacturing, including integration with Industry 4.0 technologies.

The Freeformers on show at Fakuma will be producing complex components from common plastic granules without a mould through industrial additive manufacturing, which customise injection-moulded mass-production part and perfectly showcase the subject of Industry 4.0, while a micro production system based on an electric Allrounder 270 A will also be on display. Beyond the Industry 4.0 applications, all exhibits at the Arburg exhibition stand are linked via ALS. Visitors can experience the performance of the host computer system, which is optimised for injection moulding operations, with regard to machine and operational data logging ‘live’ at the stand and also receive advice from experts.

A6 | Stand 6508

Hall | A3 Stand 3101

AGS

ARTEC

AGS is bringing its new end of arm tool configurator to Fakuma, where it will also be showcasing its innovative PreciGrip end-of-arm tool kit.

ARTEC’s process technology innovations are the focus of its Fakuma presence this year. The module series for the recycling of post-consumer plastics introduced at K 2013 - is now available for throughputs ranging from 100 up to 2500 kg/h. The advantage of the new generation of systems is the enhanced ability to process post-consumer materials with higher levels of contamination and a higher moisture content, as well as the significantly increased energy efficiency of the recycling process. A major share of the efficiency improvement is due to the procedural innovations, which have been developed jointly with the system components.

AGS’s Customerportal has enjoyed 18 months of success and Version 2.0 will be officially launched at the Friedrichshafen trade event.

The new-look Customerportal helps customers choose the right components quickly and easily.

The intuitive, navigable system lets users to place parts in their shopping basket and find matching parts from the extensive EOAT System effortlessly.

The other star of AGS’s Fakuma 2015 presence is the PreciGrip. Practice-oriented optimisation was at the heart of development efforts when creating this universally-applicable system. PreciGrip is 100 per cent compatible with all established end-of-arm tool systems on the market. Using a wide variety of standard elements, available t-slot nut components can easily be integrated into the PreciGrip system. This simplifies system changes for the user, who can then include existing components.

“We wanted to create a system that offers more comfort in operation, but is more economical,” explained AGS CEO Marc Schwope, whose father Franz Schwope invented the legendary end of arm tool kit back in the 1980s.

To increase the efficiency of the cutting compaction process, ARTEC has focused on the optimisation of all energy flows in and out of the process, not just limited to the dimensions of the driving power for the cutting rotor. Furthermore, ARTEC has made ergonomic improvements to all system components with generously dimensioned sliding panels and inspection doors facilitate access to all system components.

Hall A6 | Stand 6107

Hall B1 | Stand 1124

AKRO-PLASTIC

ClickPlastics

Lightweighting is a hot topic not only for the automotive industry at present, but in other branches of industry as well. AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH, the specialist for innovative and application-oriented plastic compounds, focuses on products that provide high mechanical durability and consistent quality across the board.

German engineering plastics distributor ClickPlastics is introducing a range of TPV compounds and a medical TPE from Shandong Dawn Polymer at Fakuma 2015.

Thilo Stier, Head of Sales and Innovation at AKRO-PLASTIC, said: “At this year’s Fakuma, we hope to spread our enthusiasm for carbon fibres and lightweight construction to our customers and create better products together.”

The TPE has been developed for medical packaging applications and has been applied in a new generation of TPE-based seals in the medical field, where it shows excellent sealing properties, including following puncturing and withdrawal of injection systems.

The company will also be demonstrating how to manufacture products that are 50 per cent lighter using the lightweight polyamide AKROMID Lite and an AF-Complex series blowing agent masterbatch from its AF-COLOR branch, without fear of compromising flexural strength. With a flexural modulus of over 12,000 MPa, this exceptional polyamide has a density of less than one, making it lighter than water.

The main applications for the material are in medical stoppers, seals and caps for pharmaceutical and IV device packaging. A production line for medical TPEs with a capacity of 10,000 t/y is expected to be completed by Shandong Dawn Polymer early in 2016. Sample deliveries and small quantities for customer testing are currently available from the pilot plant.

The TPV compounds create a microporous polymer foam when extruded and do not require pre-drying. They can and can be handled on most machines without modifications and, depending on the hardness of the starting material, the density can be reduced by up to 50 per cent, creating lighter parts. The materials have been successfully applied by Shandong Dawn Polymer as window seals and profiles for the automotive industry.

Hall B2 | Stand 2209

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Hall B5 | Stand 5403

Covestro

Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen

Bayer MaterialScience will step into the spotlight at Fakuma 2015 for the first time as Covestro, shedding its old skin and becoming an independent materials science business. Fakuma will be the first international trade event where Covestro will exhibit under its new name.

Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen is bringing its complete range of high performance melt filters to Fakuma. Ettlinger’s ECO melt filters have been specially developed for film and sheet extrusion. Rated for a maximum contaminant level of 1.5 per cent by weight, they enable cross-linked and high-molecular fractions contained in the melt to be efficiently removed when processing virgin material along with any gels or partial impurities. ECO melt filters come in two different sizes: the ECO 200 for throughputs up to 1000 kg/h and the ECO 250 can process up to 3000 kg/h. Ettlinger ERF filters are offered in three sizes; in addition to the new ERF 500, an ERF 250 with a maximum throughput of 3 t/h and an ERF 200, which can process up to 1 t/h are also available.

Covestro’s Fakuma stand will feature the company’s portfolio of polycarbonate technologies, showcasing innovations demonstrating the best possible results for fluorescent effects, transparency, UV-resistance, surface finish and lightweighting.

The company will also be bringing new developments for applications in the automotive and transport field, including electric mobility. Besides polycarbonates, other focal points of the Covestro stand include polyurethane systems, thermoplastic polyurethanes and the use of polycarbonate films.

Olaf Zöllner, Technical Manager of Covestro’s composites business, said: “The new materials are particularly thin and lightweight, and the solutions produced so far offer properties superior to those of existing solutions based on aluminium, for example.”

Hall B4 | Stand 4206

One key feature of both filter series is that they are built to last. Whereas conventional piston screen changers can require many screen changes per day, both the ECO and the ERF achieve a trouble-free service life of several weeks with no disruptions to production.

Hall A6 | Stand 6209

ENGEL

Gneuss

ENGEL AUSTRIA has chosen the motto “more than a machine” for this year’s presentation of system solution competency at Fakuma.

Gneuss will be attending its 24th Fakuma this year and the plastics processing forerunner will be bringing new technologies to the show.

Automation, process engineering, process optimisation and services are all an integral part of the system philosophy at ENGEL. Based on five innovative applications for the automotive, technical moulding, teletronics, packaging and medical industries, the machine maker, headquartered in Schwertberg, Austria, will be demonstrating at its trade fair stand how machines and production cells can be leveraged to maximum extent thanks to intelligent components and networking.

Efficiency, productivity, availability, quality and flexibility are decisive for a competitive edge. But to achieve optimal results, you need to do more than just deploy the best injection moulding equipment; it is all about leveraging its potential to the max.

Gneuss always introduces its latest innovations in the fields of melt filtration and extrusion technology at Fakuma - one of the most important shows in the plastics calendar for Gneuss - and its spectrum of Rotary Filtration Systems has been extended by several new developments, all of which have now been successful in operation in a variety of applications.

At Fakuma Gneuss will show an RSFgenius 75 filtration system from its RSFgenius series. These self-cleaning filtration systems operate fully-automatically, continuous, process- and pressure constant.

inject 4.0 is ENGEL’s approach for facing these challenges. To this end, ENGEL already has numerous products in its portfolio today that support customers in these optimisations. ENGEL is showcasing these products at Fakuma 2015 at its smart factory-themed stand.

With regard to achievable product quality, economic efficiency and in terms of operator and maintenance friendliness they offer unrivalled possibilities. The new RSFgenius M, which is especially designed for highly contaminated materials such as in recycling processes, will also be on display.

Hall A5 | Stand 5204

Hall A6 | Stand 6501

EREMA

Haitian

EREMA is set to present ‘the highlight of the year’ in plastics recycling at FAKUMA 2015: RegrindPro.

At Fakuma 2015, Haitian International Germany presents, ‘Technology to the Point’ – standard machines of high quality.

This is the first official Fakuma under the new corporate name and anticipation among the company management is high.

RegrindPro is the latest and most efficient technology for the recycling of regrind material. Existing and potential customers can take the opportunity at Fakuma to find out the exact details about the unique benefits of RegrindPro at the EREMA booth in hall A6, where they can learn just how recycling regrind as an alternative to virgin material can bring enormous benefits - even in thick-walled packaging, electronics (WEEE) and automotive applications. Additionally, the global market leader in plastics recycling plant engineering will be presenting its brand new upcycling service for recycling and compounding with COREMA for the first time.

Launched three years ago COREMA is a product line which brings together for the first time all the benefits of recycling and compounding in a single processing step and EREMA has an important announcement to make about the COREMA line at Fakuma.

Hall A6 | Stand 6314

The efficient economyclass variant of the best-selling Haitian Mars Series is the most successful servohydraulic injection-moulding machine in the world with sales of more than 120,000 units. The efficiently configured equipment package is available in clamping-force categories from 600 to 5.300 kN, and for the processor it allows competitive production of simple standard parts with high energy-efficiency, repeatability and precision. At Fakuma 2015, a MAII900 machine will manufacture a salad cup made of PP, which is extracted by a Sepro Linear robot. The lid for the cup, also made of PP, will be produced by a fully-electric 1500 kN Zhafir Venus II Series in 4 seconds.

The appropriate moulds for the 2+2-cavity stack mould and also for the cup were made available to the Axmann Company.

“My goal is to meet and get to know as many customers and interested people as possible.” Xiang Linfa, General Manager of the German subsidiary, said.

Hall A1 | Stand 1101-1103

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INTERSEROH Dienstleistungs

LPKF

INTERSEROH Dienstleistungs GmbH, a subsidiary of recycling specialists ALBA Group, will be introducing its high-quality plastic recyclates Recythen and Procyclen at Fakuma 2015, together with its broad range of recycling services.

LPKF, the specialist for laser plastic welding, is showcasing a broad-based product portfolio at Fakuma. LPKF InlineWeld systems are space saving and flexible.

Laser sources and controls are housed in a separate module. The compact welding head can be integrated to save space in client’s own production lines.

Under the motto “advanced performance of recycled plastic” INTERSEROH demonstrates the diverse possibilities recycled plastics present. Both Recythen and Procyclen offer the plastics processing industry quality and are continuously available with professional product support. The range of innovative customer applications and products where Recythen and Procyclen be used has grown significantly.

The stand-alone units of the LPKF PowerWeld line are all-rounders, suitable for all production configurations. Depending upon handling and laser source, they can be configured for small, medium or large series production runs. The LPKF PowerWeld 2600 has a rotary table: the quality and speed of the process can be experienced in live welding demonstrations on the stand.

Dirk Mellen, Head of Operations Recycle at Interseroh, said: “We combine our expertise in mechanical recycling plastic business Recycled Resource and build the capacities of consistently developing. In addition, we are creating a stand-alone development laboratory in Maribor, Slovenia, a base in order to meet individual requirements of customers even faster and more individualised basis.”

The LPKF TwinWeld3D robot-assisted hybrid welding system designed for welding large 3D free form components in thermal fields will also be on show, as will the new LPKF ClearJoining laser process, which can weld transparent plastics without requiring absorbent additives. Furthermore, visitors to the fair can review the transmission properties of plastics at the LPKF booth with the new TMG 3 unit.

The new system is protected against interfering light and only requires a single USB port.

Hall B1 | Stand 1125

Hall A4 | Stand 4219

KRAIBURG TPE

MAS

KRAIBURG TPE will be launching its new compound series for automotive and consumer applications at Fakuma 2015.

Upper Austrian plastics machine manufacturers MAS Maschinen und Anlagenbau Schulz GmbH will be bringing the world’s largest melt filter to Fakuma this autumn.

Visitors to the trade fair can examine the company’s market-oriented product development for example on the basis of a new material for hoses: the new drinking water-compliant DW/H series from KRAIBURG TPE can be used as hoses in showers, dishwashers or similar applications as an effective substitute material for PVC. For consumer applications KRAIBURG TPE developed a new compound series with an especially convincing cost-effectiveness ratio: these TPEs feature improved adhesion to engineering thermoplasts such as PC and ABS at an attractive price.

Innovations in the materials for “slit valves” – valves made of food-compliant TPE – will also be presented at the trade fair.

Also in time for Fakuma will be the THERMOLAST V compound series for seals in demanding applications such as under the hood. The new series features high temperature resistance, an improved compression set and good adhesion to polyamides. KRAIBURG TPE will hold a presentation on the subject of adhesion technologies on October 15th, 2015 from 13:20 to 14:00 in the East Foyer.

Both companies strive to bring innovation to improve efficiency in extrusion and recycling technology.

These include the gentle plasticising co-rotating conical twin screw extruder offering high throughput rates, the waterless working DRD-cleaning and drying systems for film flakes, as well as the CDF-rotating-disk-melt-filter.

At Fakuma MAS will bring the latest and largest of its filter series for continuous melt filtration, with a filter area of 6.560 cm sq representing a new size and throughput record.

The MAS approach to melt filtration is the latest technical solution on the market. It differs considerably in significant details, thereby offering advantages in long-term use, as well as at periodic cleaning and maintenance. Its central element is a shaft-driven, rotating sieve carrier and supports an interchangeable round mesh plate. The perforated plate is made of surface-hardened steel and available, depending on the application, with a filter-hole pattern in the range of 100 to 750 microns.

Hall B5 | Stand 5303

Hall A6 | Stand 6409

KraussMaffei

Milacron

Better injection moulding productivity can often only be achieved with lots of small steps adding up to create a great effect.

Milacron Inc. will have a major on-site presence at Fakuma 2015, where it will focus on the innovative potential of its integrated plastics solutions. Milacron’s showcase will feature various new processing technologies and address evolving customer needs. The industry’s only integrated plastics processing provider, Milacron has combined the individual strengths of industry-leading brands Ferromatik, Mold-Masters, Uniloy, DME, Tirad and CIMCOOL. Technologies such as injection, co-injection, extrusion, hot runner systems, control systems, blow moulding and mould technologies have been combined under a unified brand that reflects Milacron’s new direction as the industry’s most comprehensive integrated plastics solutions provider. At Fakuma, Milacron will illustrate how its new integrated approach, as well as its rich portfolio of products, provides customers with engineered solutions across three businesses: Advanced Plastics Processing Technologies, Melt Delivery and Control Systems, and Fluid Technologies.

Under the motto “Productivity PLUS”, KraussMaffei is bringing small and medium-sized injection moulding machines to Fakuma, illustrating how intelligent plasticising, control and automation solutions can improve productivity. The focus of the exhibition is applications using the new hydraulic CX series and the all-electric AX SilcoSet for processing liquid silicone rubber. The drive concept of the new CX has been energy-optimised, giving the machine an intelligent memory management system needing 10 per cent less power, while it is equipped with the new, intuitively-operated MC6 multitouch control system, which enables all injection moulding machines and automation components to be centrally controlled.

At Fakuma, KraussMaffei is also demonstrating the production of a nasal ventilator made of liquid silicone rubber. The product runs on an all-electric AX with 500 kN clamping force in a four-piece mould.

Hall A7 | Stand 7303

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Hall B3 | Stand 3203

Nordson

Teknor Apex

A plasticising system that combines special component designs and flow surfaces to help injection moulders of optical-grade polycarbonate (PC), acrylic and similar polymers to produce high-clarity, enhanced-quality parts will be introduced by Nordson Corporation at Fakuma.

Teknor Apex has unveiled a new range of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) for consumer products providing vivid colour, tactile appeal and soft-grip ergonomics while spanning a broad range of physical properties and exhibiting excellent mouldability.

The Nordson Xaloy PC Molding System addresses common challenges encountered in moulding optical-grade polymer by delivering a homogeneous melt with a minimum level of the shear that can cause yellowness or discoloration in PC; and by avoiding polymer sticking points or “dead” spots where blemishes such as black specks can form.

Nordson recommends the system for processing lens-grade or coloured PC for automotive lighting, eyeglasses, optical disks, and electrical and telecommunications components.

Mark Colella, Nordson Xaloy Global Product Manager, said: “The Nordson Xaloy PC Molding System provides superior quality in critical parts such as lenses by developing a fully homogeneous melt with optimal clarity. As a result, processors can reduce scrap and maximise productivity.”

Teknor Apex is introducing these new compounds to the market at Fakuma 2015.

The Monprene CP Series compounds are standard products available in identical formulations to customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Two series are available: Monprene CP-10100 low-density compounds, with specific gravity of 0.89; and Monprene CP-11100 high-density compounds, with specific gravity of 1.15. Initially each series is comprised of six grades with Shore A hardness ranging from 40 to 90. Teknor Apex recommends Monprene CP Series compounds for grip, handle, cushion, anti-skid, anti-vibration, knob and button applications in such products as writing instruments, sporting goods, appliances, tools, personal care items such as toothbrushes and razors, and flexible or soft items like toys.

Hall A6 | Stand 6404

Hall B5 | Stand 5315

PolyOne

TRANSVALOR

New developments in natural fibre-reinforced materials, conductive thermoplastics and specialty engineered materials for metal replacement will be highlights for PolyOne at Fakuma.

TRANSVALOR will present its innovative injection moulding simulation system at Fakuma this October, where the company is also participating in the Exhibitor Forum.

PolyOne is inviting visitors to bring their toughest challenges and learn how PolyOne can provide answers that positively affect their manufacturing operations, while updating visitors on the status of developments, such as its reSound NF natural fibre-reinforced solutions. At Fakuma, PolyOne will announce the availability of the material in brilliant colours to support customers’ projects and present an update to the unique 3D-MID manufacturing technology it highlighted in 2014. The technology is successful largely due to the thermally conductive properties of PolyOne’s Therma-Tech engineered polymers.

PolyOne experts will also conduct 15-minute Tech Talk presentations daily at the PolyOne stand to help plastics processors learn more about these advanced technologies.

TRANSVALOR is encouraging visitors to engage in discussions with the company’s experts about the simulation of injection moulding and learn how Rem3D can maximise manufacturing lead times, budget and expected results.

Rem3D is the organisation’s newest software, which provides numerical simulation for injection moulding processes. It enables the full injection cycle of polymers to be simulated through 3D resolution of finite elements. Thanks to this simulation, manufacturers can create, analyse and optimise their process parameters and thereby increase your productivity.

Rem3D can be used to determine the optimum dwell time for minimum strain analyse filling defects, simulate the filling of a complex mould in 3D with major variations of thickness, reduce mould design time by determining the best position for injectors and coolers and heating cartridges and optimise the injection process.

TRANSVALOR will present Rem3D at the Fakuma Exhibitor Forum (Foyer East, booth FO - 01) on Tuesday October 13th from 13:20-14:00 local time.

Hall B4 | Stand 4116

Hall B5 | Stand 5316

Promixon

ZAHORANSKY

Promixon will be presenting its machinery and equipment for mixing plastics and powder coatings at Fakuma 2015, with the main purpose of demonstrating to visitors how they can improve the quality of their mixing, raise quality standards and achieve reliability. Promixon can fulfill a broad range of customers’ mixing needs and is particularly well equipped with its high speed Turbomixers, the TMX single or combined with the high efficiency coolers, and the CMX: the perfect solution for the production of PVC Dry-Blend both rigid and plasticised. Promixon also boasts Turbomixers for the fast mixing of powders additives, colours, masterbatch, polymers and engineering plastics. Furthermore, the company can provide totally integrated solutions for the mixing requirements of a modern powder coatings factory.

Normally, take-out units are firmly fixed at clamping plates of the machine. The Z.SIROC extension unit built by ZAHORANSKY allows a much more flexible and universal use.

Pre-mixing, metallic blending and metallic bonding are well-known to Promixon and the team is ready at Fakuma to demonstrate the best technical solutions on the market.

Foyer Ost | Stand 15

This is a standardised unit for the automatic feed-in, assembly and removal directly at the injection moulding machine, used exactly where it is necessary for part removal. This module including its safety housing can be easily moved by hand lift truck and be adapted to any appropriately equipped injection moulding machine. The mobile Z.SIROC extension unit is on display at Fakuma on the Ferromatik Milacron stand in combination with an injection moulding machine of the F-Series, model 120 with 1,200 kN clamping force.

Using a three-station mould at its own booth nº 2309 in Hall A2, ZAHORANSKY shows options for integrated automation solutions inside the mould. Another exhibit on display at the ZAHORANSKY stand is an SCPS-Light mould. The outstanding features of this modular two-plate mould are the two assembly platens mounted outside the mould which allow complex assembly processes to be realized without longer cycle times.

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Hall A2 | Stand 2309

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EVENTS NEWS

K 2016: A “panorama of unmatched breadth and depth” A year can go by in a blink, therefore the worldwide plastics industry has the luxury of a blink-and-a-bit until K 2016 lands in 13 months.

The imminence of the world’s largest international plastics and rubber trade event is evidence of its importance and the preparations for this behemoth exhibition are gaining momentum now the registration period for K participation has closed.

100 countries and establish contacts with potential customers that they might not have been able to reach in other ways.”

Solving tomorrow’s challenges Aside from the industrial world of plastics processing, K will shine a spotlight on the cerebral in 2016, giving research institutions a platform next autumn.

President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf Werner Matthias Dornscheidt has made no secret of his excitement, with demand for exhibition space resulting in all 19 halls of the exhibition centre being booked up, with 3,000 exhibitors from all four corners of the planet taking their place in the vast Messe Düsseldorf.

“The spectrum of participating companies ranges from globally operating industrial groups to start-ups and covers all segments of the world market for polymers. K 2016 will be presenting a panorama of unmatched breadth and depth,” Dornscheidt added.

Unmovable mountain K Show organisers have been keeping a weather eye on the changing plastics calendar, with NPE in Orlando, US, and PLAST in Milan, Italy, both making waves in the industry with major date changes, but Dornscheidt is confident K remains a mountain that cannot be moved - whether it was compelled to be or not. “[K] is seen as the heart of the industry,” explained Dornscheidt. “One of the key reasons why K is so successful is its concept, which we designed from the very beginning in consultation with manufacturers and processers and their industry associations and have continued to develop jointly with them ever since. This interaction has proved to be a winning

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“This will be done not only at the exhibitors’ stands but also in the extensive supporting programme which offers the trade visitors another range of interesting topics,” Dornscheidt said. combination and ensured that the trade fair has remained the undisputed leader for decades.

“Right now we are hearing people in the industry are rescheduling their events calendar worldwide to ensure that nothing clashes with K.” As Dornscheidt said himself, K is the premier platform for the plastics and rubber industry in every respect and even now, plastics machinery manufacturers, materials companies and everybody in between are working on their K 2016 campaign.

“Innovative products are the most important asset in a competitive environment,” Dornscheidt said.

“Only those who can offer new technologies that bring real benefits to their customers will be able to hold their own against strong competition.”

He added: “Another unique feature of K is its high degree of internationalism, both on the exhibitor and on the visitor side. This guarantees that trade visitors will find world-class products and services in every area covered. And it gives the exhibitors the opportunity to meet industry experts from over

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He continued that a special show in Hall 6 organised by PlasticsEurope Deutschland and Messe Düsseldorf will offer delegates an insight into how plastics can solve the challenges of tomorrow in functional, aesthetic and sustainable ways. This miniature event will cover efficiency, lightweight construction, new materials and Industry 4.0, while touching on the controversial matter of marine litter.

2016 will also see the return of the Science Campus, which will provide a meeting place for the scientific community. This is where institutions, universities and other establishments will be able to present their latest research results in the complex field of plastics and rubber and dialogue with industrial users.

Structure = success “K 2016 offers huge variety, but at the same time it is very clearly structured,” stated Dornscheidt.

“This structure ensures that each visitor can easily locate the exhibitors most likely to match his or her professional interests.

Statasys, Formlabs & Hewlett-Packard among big names at TCT 3D printing conference

T

CT Show + Personalize is galvanising its reputation for bringing big names to enlighten, engage and inspire at its annual 3D printing, additive manufacturing and product design conference.

The 2015 line-up features Andy Middleton, President, EMEA, at Stratasys; CEO of Formplabs Max Lobovsky and Scott Schller, Worldwide Director of 3D Printing at Hewlett-Packard.

CEOs from EnvisionTEC, Mcor Technologies and TA Grimm Associates will also take to the stage on September 30th and October 1st 2015, giving visitors a full picture of the additive manufacturing landscape, from product development and concept design, right through to automotive, aerospace and engineering.

Head of Content at TCT Jim Woodcock said: "We strive to bring fresh perspectives to the TCT conference stages year-on-year — something that’s made easier by the wealth of talented speakers available to us and the speed that this fascinating industry is developing. Our executive keynotes have decades of experience with 3D technologies between them (and sometimes decades each) but are all poised to have their biggest impacts in the years to come."

TCT Show + Personalize 2015 will give the additive manufacturing industry a taste of what to expect at Formnext Powered by TCT, which takes place from November 17th20th at Messe Frankfurt.

EPPM will be on-site at this new-look tooling and additive manufacturing event and if you have news to share with EPPM, get in touch with the Editor at rose.brooke@rapidnews.com.

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24th Fakuma International trade fair for plastics processing

Injection moulding machines Thermal shaping technology Extrusion plants Tool systems Materials and components

13. – 17.

OCT. 2015 FRIEDRICHSHAFEN www.fakuma-messe.de

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EPPM Classifieds 45 Years in New & Used Machinery to the Plastics Industry Worldwide.

Shini SG2336 Granulator. Throat: 400x400mm, Drive: 7.5kw, 9 Rotor Blades, 2 Stator Blades, Solid shaft, 6mm screen

Our newest granulators & shredders: Used for all types of plastic, material, carpets, window frames & wood, bottles, PVC frames, foam, top & tails from moulding & CD/DVD cases.

• Remcaw DGH 700/1000 Granulator Diameter: 700mm Width: 1000mm • Wittmann MC 34-60 Granulator - Throat size 350x600mm 16kw Drive • Zerma GSC 300/600 Granulator - Throat: 300-600 Drive: 11kw • Blackfriars 40-30 Granulator - Throat: 40-30 Drive: 17.5 Kw • Tria 45-35 Granulator - 11 kw motor • Weima NZ4S 310-600 Granulator Throat: 310x600mm Drive: 22Kw • Cumberland 2-84 Granulator - 7.5kw new motor • Tria 42-20 Granulator - Throat: 420x200mm Drive: 3kw • Zerma GSC 30-30 Granulator - Throat size 300 x 300mm 7.5Kw Drive • Rapid 45-35 Granulator - 18.5kw Drive • Rapid GK1000 55Kw Granulator Throat: 1000 x 600 mm Motor 55Kw • USI Cumberland 12-16 300 400

sales@rawmec.com 01992 www.rawmec.com 471796

Remcaw DGS1500 Single Shaft Shredder. Rotorknives: 102, Stator-knives: 3, Drive: 75 Kw, Width: 1570mm, Length: 1400mm

Granulator - Throat: 12-16 300-400 11Kw Drive • Getecha 440 400 Granulator - Throat: 400x440 18.5Kw Drive • Blackfriars 40-40 Granulators - Throat: 400x400mm 22Kw Drive • SG-3660 Sound-Proof Central Granulator - 950 Motor Power (Kw) (60Hz): 30 Rotor speed (rpm) • Cumberland 30-23 Granulator - Throat: 300x230mm 4 Kw Drive • UPM 10-10 Granulator - Throat size 100 x 100mm 7.5kw Drive • USI Cumberland 38-60 - Throat: 380x600mm 75Kw Drive • Remcaw 35-65 Beast Shredder - 55kw motor, Throat 350x650mm • Rapid 158-K Sprue Granulator - Throat: 150 x 80mm Drive: 1.5Kw Motor • Rapid GK-158-K Sprue Granulator Throat: 150 x 80mm Drive: 1.5Kw Motor • UPM 12-16B Granulator - 12.5Kw Drive, Throat 300 x 400 mm • CMB ML220 Granulator - 4.6Kw Drive Throat 220 x 200mm

Download our full stock lists online

Remcaw RWT 4080 Shredder. 2014, 15 hours of work, Motor Power: 37 kW, Number of cutters: 42 + 4

Remcaw DGH 700/1000 Granulator. Rotor Diameter: 700mm, Rotor Width: 1000mm, Screen Mesh: 10mm, Rotor-knives: 7X2, Stator-knives: 2+1

• Polymer Systems 9-12 UPM Granulator - 7.5Kw Drive Throat 230 x 300mm • CMB MS20 Granulator - 4Kw Drive, Throat 200 x 210 mm • Cumberland 4-84 Granulator - 30Kw Drive Throat 410 x 380mm • Cumberland 40-30 Granulator - 11kW Drive Throat 400 x 300mm • UPM 10-10 Granulator - Throat size 100 x 100mm 8.5kw Drive • Tria 45-35 Granulator - Throat Size: 470 x 350mm 15Kw Drive • Remcaw RWT 4080 Shredder - 15 hours of work Motor Power: 37 kW • The Muncher Shredder - Twin shaft 11 kw • Gross Gaz 62 Single Shaft Shredder Feed opening (mm): 600 x 800 • Bano Mac 630 Shredder - Throat: 600x750mm 15Kw Drive • Carpet, Clothing, Cardboard, Foam, Paper Shredder Bailer - Carpet, Cardboard, Fibre Boards and more.

• Remcaw 35-65 Beast Shredder - 55kw motor, Throat 350x650mm

Recently Sold • Rapid GK700 Granulator - 18.5hp motor New • Rapid GK1000 75Kw Granulator Throat: 1000 x 600 mm Motor 75Kw • USI Cumberland 500-300 Granulator Throat: 500x300mm 11Kw Drive • Getecha GE 1000 Granulator - Throat 600x440mm 15kw Drive • Tria 60-35 Granulator - Throat: 600 x 350mm 25Kw Drive • Cumberland 40-70 Granulator - 30Kw Drive, Throat 400 x 700mm • Moditec Goliath G95 ACP Shredder - 2 x 2.2Kw Drive, 0.75Kw Feeder Drive • Remcaw 35-65 Beast Shredder - Brand new, 55kw motor, Throat 350x650mm BLUE ONE • Cumberland 50-40 Granulator - 15Kw Drive Throat 540 x 515mm • Moditec Golaith G45 ACP Shredder/ Granulator - As New 2004 Screw Feed Motor: 0.75Kw Cutter Drive: 2.2 • Vecoplan VAZ 800/40 Shredder - Throat: 800 x 1000mm, 11Kw Drive

Rawmec EEC Ltd, Rawmec Industrial Estate, Plumpton Rd, Hoddesdon, Herts. EN11 0EE See our machines in action More info, machines & photos visit: www.rawmec.com or email: info@rawmec.com on our YouTube account EPPM_210x143_08-15.indd 1

10/08/2015 20:12

Over 40 Years of Service

2950mm wide Welex Davis Standard sheet extrusion line with 150mm DS extruder, 33D, Flex lip die, 2950mm x 500mm 3 roll stack, pump group, haul off, guillotine.

1700mm Wide Kuhne Sheet Line. 1997.

70mm Extruder. Vented . 1600mm Die. 1700mm Kuhne 3 Roll Stack. Haul Off And Winder.

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

115mm Davis Standard Thermatic extruder model 45IN45T . 30:1 L/D with barrier PP/ HDPE screw, 305kw motor, Fan cooled electrically heated 6 zone barrel 2008!!

1350mm Welex 3 Roll Stack. 300mm Dia Rolls. Silent Chain. Dc drive. 3 zone pump group. 2 roll haul off 1986.

2950mm Sheet line for HDPE 2290mm Sheet line for ABS 1800mm Reifenhauser sheet extrusion line 1700mm Kuhne Sheet extrusion line 1500mm Bandera stack 1350mm Welex/union sheet line 1300mm Kuhne Sheet line 1100mm SML Coextrusion

1120mm wide EDI close approach PET sheet die model H100 with Flex lip and decals. Lip heater. Lip gap up to 2.5mm 1996.

CHANNEL

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EXTRUDERS

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1650mm Wide Casplast Horizontal 3 Roll Stack . 500mm Dia Rolls Independently Driven Via 5.5kw Ac Motors. 2 roll haul off 2005

760mm (30”) wide Lyle 130FM48 SPD form trim thermoforming machine. Unwind, servo platens, servo plug, 30” x 48” tool. 132PV vertical trim press. 2006.

1000mm Omv sheet line 1000mm Esde 3 rollstack

50mm Welex extruder 90mm Egan extruder 90mm Kaufman extruder 100mm Union Extruder 100mm Omv P.P extruder 115mm Davis standard extruder 120mm Omv Extruder 150mm Egan extruder

4 Component Piovan gravimetric blender model MDW1000/41 with hopper loaders 1999.

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Piovan gravimetric blender 1000kg/hr Colourtronic Gravimetric Blender 1800mm wide Reifenhauser sheet extrusion line. 120mm Reifenhauser extruder, melt pump, 1800mm die, 3 roll stack, pump group, haul off, cross cut saw.

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Plasmec 1000 litre batch gravimetric blender 2 off Process Controls Gravimetric Feeder blenders

150ltr Motan Luxor 50 Dryer With Twin Desiccant Beds dehumidifing dryer. Hopper loader and material blower.

1000mm wide Omv coextrusion sheet line.

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Unwind. Top And Bottom Heaters. Forming Station. Punch. Waste Wind Up. 1994.

100mm Union single screw extruder. 35D vented with fan cooled barrel. Vacuum vent.

110kw dc motor and drive. Temperature panel 1987.

250mm Speedex vacuum unit 125mm Speedex vacuum unit 125mm Speedex Saw unit

1800mm Reifenhauser travelling cross cut saw. 1995. Model no TSQ-T-1800-01-B1 max width 1800mm, Max wall Thickness PE circa: 10-12 mm.

125mm diameter Speedex pipe downstream comprising 1 x 6m vacuum tank and 2 x 6m spray tank with 3 belt haul off and upstroking travelling saw. 1995.

1100mm wide SML coextrusion sheet line for 150micron to 800micron PP. model SMLSC90,45/1100/. 90mm extruder 45mm coex, calender, haul off winder. 2003.

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Whitelands Mill, Whitelands Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6UG, UK

To advertise here please contact Graham Voss: E: graham@rapidnews.com

Tel: (44) 0161 308 2550 T: +44 680222 (44) (0)1244 0161 343 2026 Fax: Email: aml@abbeymb.com Web: www.abbeymb.com

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Purchase and sale: Injection moulding machines accessories and spare parts

The Middle East has an emerging plastics industry and Middle Eastern Plastics is there for when the news breaks. With a growing following, count yourself among those in the know about this exciting region and track the goings-on at some of the most influential plastics events in the Middle East.

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

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Email: info@granulators.org

www.granulators.org 21/01/2015 16:43

49

EUREKA SERIES

From sea to street Adidas and Parley for Oceans have presented a world first to the UN, a training shoe made from plastic ocean waste that demonstrates how big brands can use the vast resource of sea litter to make great products.

Words | Rose Brooke

Adidas has taken its mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic waste to the next level by launching a world first, a shoe made using plastic waste fished from the sea.

The international sportswear brand and its partner Parley for the Oceans were hosted by the United Nations on June 29th 2015, where they presented ‘Oceans. Climate. Life.’ at the General Assembly Hall in New York City. The event included a press gathering where the Adidas Group Executive Board member for Global Brands Eric Liedtke and Parley founder Cyrill Gutsch discussed their collaboration, showcasing the prototype shoe.

Adidas has long been a leader in sustainability, but this partnership allows us to tap into new areas and create innovative materials

The trainer’s upper part is made entirely of strands and filaments reclaimed and recycled from ocean waste and illegal deep-sea gillnets. Parley affiliate Sea Shepherd retrieved the nets after an 11-day expedition tracking an illegal poaching vessel off the coast of West Africa.

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The prototype demonstrates how Adidas and Parley are working together and gives a glimpse of what consumers can expect the pair to bring to the market in terms of ready-to-wear ocean plastic products.

“We are incredibly excited to join Parley for the Oceans as they bring the cause of the oceans to the attention of the United Nations,” said Leictke. “Adidas has long been a leader in sustainability, but this partnership allows us to tap into new areas and create innovative materials and products for our athletes.”

Gutsch added: “Our objective is to boost public awareness and to inspire new collaborations that can contribute to protect and preserve the oceans. We are extremely proud that Adidas is joining us in this mission and is putting its creative force behind this partnership to show that it is possible to turn ocean plastic into something cool.”

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International exhibition and conference on additive technologies and tool making

Frankfurt am Main, 17 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20 November 2015 formnext.com

Innovations.

Impulses.

Inspiration.

The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading companies in additive manufacturing technologies and highly specialized tool-making will show you their expertise at formnext powered by tct.

Discover how additive technologies can be intelligently combined with conventional procedures in product development and production, and how you can use innovative processes to reduce your time to market even further. New potential across the entire manufacturing process is waiting to be discovered by you. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Where ideas take shape.

Get your free ticket here: formnext.com/tickets

Information: +49 711 61946-825 formnext@mesago.com

Follow us on Social Media

@ formnext_expo # formnext15