BP&R Nov/Dec 2014

BRITISH PLASTICS

AND RUBBER

bp&r NOV/DEC 2014

Happy Birthday Plastribution Additives for Durability and Stability

Avoiding PET Storage Problems

Compliance and Efficiency in Testing

COMMENT

bp&r BRITISH PLASTICS &RUBBER

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK EDITORIAL

group Editor: Leanne Taylor T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: leanne@rapidnews.com

SALES

Group Advertising Manager: Lisa Montgomery T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: lisa@rapidnews.com

ART

Plastics end 2014 on a high

W

elcome to the last issue of threatening to burst the momentary BP&R for 2014. Yet again bubble. Given this, the industry can we have had a busy year, focus on areas where it can control with some significant its destiny, such as skills, developments, launches communication and and announcements collaboration. over the last 12 months.

From BP&R’s “We have seen The feeling from those perspective, the year has some record I have spoken to in been a great success that the industry seem to figures, increased has seen us reporting from be maintaining a stiff China, Friedrichshafen and, export levels upper lip, insisting that not forgetting, Interplas. it’s not as bad as the and significant The resurgence of such mainstream media a strong show for the UK investment would have the wider market in September this world believe when year has certainly been a in both staff, it comes to the UK’s for us, in terms of equipment and highlight manufacturing fortunes. involvement, feedback and premises” Testament to this, we developments. have seen some record Although this is our last figures, increased export print issue for this year, you levels and significant can still keep up to date investment in both staff, with all the latest content equipment and premises, however, via the website and join us on Twitter and echoing the words of Philip Law in his LinkedIn to be a part of the conversation. column on page 12, there is need for I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all cautious optimism, with unpredictable of our readers and supporters a happy and uncontrollable global events, as and prosperous Christmas and New Year. well as a general election looming

TRACEY ROBERTS T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: tracey.mol@btinternet.com

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PUBLISHER

Mark Blezard T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: mark@rapidnews.com British Plastics & Rubber is available on free subscription to readers qualifying under the publisher’s terms of control. Those outside the criteria may subscribe at the following annual rates: UK: £80 Europe and rest of the world: £115 British Plastics & Rubber is published monthly (8 times/year)

by Rapid Plastics Media Ltd, Carlton House, Sandpiper Way, Chester Business Park, CH4 9QE T: +44 (0) 1244 680222 F: +44 (01244) 671074 © 2014 Rapid Plastics Media Ltd While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within this publication is accurate the publisher accepts no liability for information published in error, or for views expressed. All rights for British Plastics & Rubber are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

ISSN 0307-6164 Incorporating Polymer Age and Rubber and Plastics Age.

ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS

Leanne Taylor, Editor

Engineering Polyamide that shapes your success.

DOMAMID® | ECONAMID® Think NYLON Think UNITED

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COVER STORY

THE BIG STORY Plastribution timeline Leading raw materials distributor, Plastribution, is celebrating its 35th birthday this year.

Here BP&R takes a peak at its potted history.

1979 The company is established by Richard Bradwell an entrepreneur with a technical sales background.

Plastic Distribution starts trading.

1988 The business is bought by Cookson Group – a nonferrous industrial materials business with an ambitious ‘buy & build’ strategy for the plastics sector.

1990 The company moves to Ashby from Stanton and Richard Bradwell leaves the business.

1990 High interest rates (15%) force the Cookson Group to sell the business.

1991 Plastribution is sold to C.Itoh (later renamed Itochu).

1992 Bryan Pegg takes over from Mick Royall as MD and the business is restructured, returning to pure distribution.

1994 Anglo Polymers acquired.

1996 Mobil secured as a new supplier of HDPE. 2000 Mike Boswell takes over as MD. 2001 In response to upstream consolidation and the need to manage costs Plastribution and Anglo Polymers merge.

2004 Supplier portfolio improves and the business moves to Ashby Park, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

2007 Continued growth and budget targets exceeded.

2010 Plastribution (Thermoplastics) becomes UK No.1 distributor.

2011 Plasfilms business regeneration.

2013 Mike Boswell elected President of the BPF. 2013 LJ Specialities (high quality dyes and chemicals) incorporated.

2014 Armstrong Bradley (flexible and rigid plastics) acquired.

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2014 Plastribution move offices to Clinitron House, Ashby Park.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.plastribution.co.uk

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bp&r BRITISH PLASTICS &RUBBER

contents NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

ON THE COVER REGULARS

Celebrating 35 years of polymer distribution Leading raw materials distributor, Plastribution, is celebrating its 35th birthday this year. Here BP&R takes a peak at its potted history

See page 4

INDUSTRY NEWS

FEATURE 22-25

Materials Handling

3 EDITOR’S LETTER Plastics end 2014 on a high

FEATURE 12

News from the Front Line

Philip Law advocates a dose of industrial hypochondria to avoid complacency at the end of 2014

Addressing PET Storage Problems in Silos

FEATURE 26-29

RECLAMATION AND RECYCLING 35 MATERIALS

38

MACHINERY

43

SOFTWARE

47

BUYERS’ GUIDE

48

Rubber

New fluoro liquid silicone rubbers expand options for automotive components

FEATURE 31-33

FEATURE 14-19

Testing and Inspection

UK exclusive: Adding stability and durability to polymers

FEATURE 44-45

Masterbatch and Additives

08

When did you last look at your tensile testing setup?

Machinery

Stäubli offers ‘hands-on’ connection with new UK demonstrator facility

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INDUSTRY NEWS

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NEWS Report highlights new £2bn potential for UK auto parts supply A new Automotive Council report has highlighted a fresh £2 billion growth opportunity for UK component suppliers as UK carmakers enjoy an unprecedented period of success.

The report, released at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) Open Forum event recently assesses the ‘reshoring’ potential for ‘upstream’ automotive suppliers – in other words, the capacity for the UK to increase local supply of components and raw materials that are currently imported.

This is something that Luke Hampton, Supply Chain Development Manager at the SMMT, discussed during his presentation at Interplas 2014 recently, where he outlined the opportunities for the plastics industry to capitalise on developments in automotive.

“Some of the biggest automotive companies see the UK industry as ‘the place’ to manufacture,” Hampton said.

“There is massive opportunity coming for suppliers up and down the supply chain.”

The £2bn figure comes on top of £3bn identified last year for supply direct to vehicle manufacturers, on which progress is being made. Industry experts point to the accelerating growth potential in the automotive sector as well as local-sourcing benefits of lower logistics costs, greater flexibility and faster response times.

Interplas FInds “permanent home” in Rapid News’ portfolio Rapid News Communications Group has announced that it has concluded the purchase of Interplas from Reed Exhibitions UK for an undisclosed amount.

Interplas, the UK’s largest plastics industry exhibition, has been under the management of Rapid News since 2011, during which time the event has undergone a remarkable turnaround with visitors, exhibitors and floorspace all increasing during both the 2011 and recent 2014 editions.

“Interplas has continued its resurgence under our management this year and we are delighted now to formally announce the conclusion of the acquisition and

There are opportunities for plastics to capitalise on the growth in UK automotive

Currently around one third of the components in a UK-built vehicle are sourced in the UK. The report identifies a realistic aim to increase this local content to around 60 percent – similar to other European countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Another key finding to emerge from the report is that UK automotive suppliers are – in the main – confident about their future prospects. Of the companies surveyed, 80 percent expect their business to grow in the near-term.

ications Group Rapid News Commun outright now owns Interplas

officially add it to our already strong plastics portfolio, strengthening our commitment to the UK and wider European plastics industry,” Duncan Wood, C.O.O and Event Director at Rapid News Communications Group, said.

Dave Allen, Purchasing Director, Jaguar Land Rover and Chair of the Automotive Council Supply Chain Group, said: “The current success of the UK automotive sector presents a renewed opportunity for automotive suppliers to invest in the UK and to increase local sourcing of the high value components that the UK’s worldclass vehicle makers require.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.smmt.co.uk

Commenting on the acquisition by Rapid News, Philip Law, Director-General of the British Plastics Federation, said: “Interplas now has a clear direction and confidence in the future. It is a further step in the process of making the UK a ‘go-to place’ globally for plastics technology and products.”

Nigel Flowers, Chairman of the Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA), said: “From both the PMMDA and UK polymer industry viewpoint it is great news that Interplas has now found a permanent ‘home’ in the Rapid News portfolio.

“The market needs a showcase event, and this is found in Interplas. It has been especially encouraging to see Interplas flourish this year and we are confident that this success will continue under Rapid’s control.”

Interplas 2017 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, UK on September 26th-28th, 2017.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.interplasuk.com

Petainer sets out plans for new UK site in 2015 Petainer, a leading PET and plastic packaging supplier to the food and drinks sector, has announced that it is preparing to enter the UK market with an investment in a new site early in 2015.

The company, which recently lost out on the purchase of the APPE Group, said it has recently been approached by “a number of major UK-based brands”, making it “an opportune time” to continue its expansion plans.

“While being disappointed that we weren’t able to acquire APPE in the administration process of La Seda de Barcelona, Petainer is well positioned and supported to continue to develop and

Petainer is a leading PET and plastic packaging supplier

grow the PET and plastics market with current products as well as new launches in the coming months,” commented Nigel Pritchard, CEO of Petainer.

“We continue to look for complementary acquisitions but are also focussed on our on-going organic growth. In particular we Almost three quarters of small and are very pleased to announce that we are medium sized manufacturing firms plan preparing to enter the UK market with an to give their employees a pay rise in the investment in an all-new site, the location next 12 months, according to a survey. of which will be announced early in the New Year.

“Bringing our vision and expertise to the UK will further enhance the performance in both small and large containers packaging Pay rises on the cards for almost three quarters of manufacturers - offering brand owners a true alternative, in 2015 not just in PET, but also in other plastics.”

Almost three quarters of small and medium sized manufacturing firms plan to give FURTHER INFORMATION: their employees a pay rise in the next 12 www.petainer.com months, according to a survey.

Of that number, over a third say that everyone will receive a rise, while 38 percent say the increases will be decided RPC Group to acquire Promens for £307 million on merit.

The figures come from the most recent Rigid plastic packaging Close Brothers Business Barometer, a supplier RPC Group, has anquarterly survey that canvasses the opinion nounced it is to buy Icelandic of SME owners and senior management rival, Promens Group, for from a range of sectors across the UK on a €386 million (£307 million). number of financial and economic issues.

Promens is a leading “It’s encouraging that so many European manufacturer manufacturers appear to be optimistic of rigid plastic packaging and in a financial position to reward their products and rigid plastic employees with an increased pay packet,” components, with a growing said Steve Gee, Managing Director of the platform in emerging Manufacturing Division at Close Brothers markets.

Asset Finance.

RPC said the acquisition “While on the surface this is good news would “significantly for workers in the industry, we should be Promens Head Office building enhance” its European aware that the Bank of England is watching platform, extend its global pay closely, as an indicator of when the reach and manufacturing footprint as well “The combination of RPC and Promens right time will be to increase interest rates. as expanding its technical capabilities provides a unique opportunity to create an “They’ve also warned that unless wage in areas including vacuum forming, enhanced platform of scale across our core increases are accompanied by a rise in reaction injection moulding and expanded European end markets, The enlarged group productivity then they will have to move polystyrene. will benefit from opportunities to extend more quickly on rates as inflationary Promens’ manufacturing footprint its product and technology offering across pressure mounts,” he added. comprises 40 facilities of which 35 are the full breadth of its combined operations The Business Barometer also revealed located in Europe. It employs approximately as well as achieve cost efficiencies,” that 74 percent of manufacturing business 3,800 people. For the year ended 31 Pim Vervaat, Chief Executive of RPC, owners surveyed are optimistic about their December 2013, Promens achieved commented. prospects for the year ahead, with 43 revenues of €582 million (£462 million) “RPC and Promens are a natural fit and percent confident that their business will and EBITDA2 of €57 million (£45 million). we look forward to developing our enlarged expand during 2015.

RPC’s polymer consumption is expected platform to deliver superior value for our to increase from approximately 325,000 customers and shareholders in the future.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: tonnes per annum to approximately www.closeassetFInance.co.uk 445,000 tonnes or 4.5 pencent of the FURTHER INFORMATION: total European output of polymers for rigid www.rpc-group.com plastic packaging.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

REPORT

T

Industry voices both welcome and concern in reaction to plastic bag legislation

he new legislation will see EU member states opt for either mandatory pricing of bags by 2019, a ban on use under European Member certain conditions, states have voted in or the introduction favour of changes of compulsory to the Packaging targets to reduce the number of and Packaging plastic bags used Waste Directive annually per (PPWD) to reduce person from the consumption of current 191 to lightweight plastic 90 by 2019 and carrier bags to further to 40 in more “responsible 2025.

The changes levels”, which has have been met prompted both with concerns welcome and from some of the concern from industry’s biggest industry. Leanne plastics trade Taylor looks at the associations and reaction from some representative of the EU’s biggest bodies, who trade bodies. although welcome the opportunity

The new changes to the PPWD have prompted both welcome and concern from industry

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to reduce plastics waste, have expressed fears over further bans that could hinder EU trade and lead to job losses.

“The possibility to ban plastics bags goes against the general principle of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.

It is concerning as it opens the door for Member States to ban not only plastic bags, but other types of packaging as well,” explained Karl-H. Foerster, Executive Director of PlasticsEurope.

“Such an inconsistent political framework that would allow Member States to introduce different regulations on packaging would hinder investments and innovation and would create barriers to trade in packaged goods in Europe.”

PlasticsEurope said the European plastics industry does, however, support the imposition of a fee or tax on all carrier bags, irrespective of the material, as it helps to raise consumers’ awareness and effectively prevents littering.

“A mandatory charge is the best option as it has been proved to be an effective tool to reduce the over-consumption of lightweight plastic bags,” said Mr Foerster.

“We should understand that plastics are too valuable to be thrown away. Charging for bags can have a positive effect on raising consumers’ awareness of the economic value of the resources that have been used to produce the bag,” he added.

While carrier bags are considered as packaging under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, PlasticsEurope believes they should be treated differently to other types of packaging since they are independent from the packaged goods. It does, however, say that it would support a regulation on the use of oxodegradable plastics in Europe, citing “independent studies” that show the fragmentation process is “often inadequate” and that the chemicals used are “detrimental to the recycling process” as the reason. It welcomes the opportunity to regulate such products.

Green MEP, Margrete Auken, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator for the legislation, echoes

this view. Describing ‘oxo-biodegradable’ plastic bags as “hugely problematic”, Auken said “these plastic bags worsen the litter problem by fragmenting into microplastics polluting the environment and hindering composting and recycling.”

European Bioplastics, the association representing members producing, refining and distributing bioplastics, shares the view of Auken concerning what it describes as the “missed chance” of banning oxo-degradable plastics.

“This would have sent a clear signal that bags should not be placed on the market with misleading claims about biodegradability,” said François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics. “On the other hand, it will only be a matter of time,” he added, referring to the requirement of the Commission to present a report to the European Parliament and Council, examining the impact of the use of oxo-degradable bags on the environment. European Bioplastics does support the new legislation, saying it “paves the way” for compostable shopping bags that bring “ecological advantages”.

Trade association for Europe’s plastic converters, EuPC, said it welcomed the general aim of the European Commission’s proposal on plastic carrier bags, however, it believes that the compromise text reached between the European Parliament and the Council is “very problematic” from an internal market perspective and will cause “serious job losses” in many EU Member States.

Speaking on the vote, EuPC Managing Director, Alexandre Dangis, said: “We [the plastics converting industry] are disappointed that the EU institutions were not able to manage this piece of legislation in a better way.”

Dangis said that the changes would not “solve the problems” surrounding overconsumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags in certain Member States. “This is not good for industry and it is not good for the environment. The EU institutions should work with industry and not against us,” he added.

EuPC would also advocate, as an alternative, mandatory charging practices for carrier bags by all food retailers in Europe, together with voluntary industry initiatives. This, it says, would lead to “far more” environmental benefits without damaging economic growth.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.plasticseurope.org www.plasticsconverters.eu www.european-bioplastics.org

£1bn UK Shale investment could “revolutionise manufacturing” says INEOS Chairman Petrochemicals giant, INEOS, has announced plans to invest £1 billion in UK onshore Shale gas exploration and appraisal, in a move it says could “revolutionise” manufacturing.

INEOS believes that an indigenous Shale gas industry would transform UK manufacturing and that the gas can be extracted “safely and responsibly”.

In addition to this latest announcement, INEOS Chairman, Jim Ratcliffe, speaking recently at the plastic-focussed Polytalk event in Brussels, said that the UK was leading Shale in Europe and that a ‘measured approach’ was needed to develop competitive energy sources.

“We cannot sacrifice our industries while pursuing other goals. Europe has to develop competitive energy sources because the ramifications not doing so are huge,” Ratcliffe said during the event.

If INEOS wins all the Petroleum Exploration and Development licences (PEDLs) it has bid for from the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), the company would become the biggest player in the UK’s Shale gas industry.

The vast majority of the INEOS bids are in Scotland and the North of England, where the local populations have either mining or industrial heritage.

Currently, INEOS already owns two substantial Shale licences in Scotland comprising over 120,000 acres, in addition to investing a further £400 million in an ambitious project to bring US Shale gas to Grangemouth.

The company has also announced plans to give local communities six percent of the revenues from any Shale gas it produces.

In a statement released announcing the investment intentions, Ratcliffe said: “I believe Shale gas could revolutionise UK manufacturing and I know INEOS has the resources to make it happen, the skills to extract the gas safely and the vision to realise that everyone must share in the rewards.”

In March this year, Ratcliffe expressed his concerns about the future of the European Chemical industry in an open letter to José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

Within this, he encouraged the European institutions “to take urgent steps to protect” this key industry, highlighting the transformation the US has undergone since embracing Shale gas, as well as the demise of the chemicals industry in Europe as drivers to embrace exploration.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.ineos.com

The INEOS Grangemouth site in the UK. Credit: INEOS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

FROM THE FRONT LINE: A review of the year

In his last column of 2014, Philip Law, Director-General of the British Plastics Federation, takes a balanced look at highlights that have boosted the industry over the last 12 months, as well as potential threats to continued and sustained success.

A

s we approach the end of 2014, should we be happy or should we be concerned? I advocate a good old dose of industrial hypochondria to avoid complacency and to put ourselves firmly into the category of ‘the worried well’.

The industry has certainly had a good year. Business confidence is on a high.

Investors have reaped rewards. We have seen stellar performance in markets for technical products, particularly in the automotive sector. With markets flat in Europe an increased number of firms have been prowling overseas markets including packaging and construction products companies. Innovation is at a high level and material substitution continues, as illustrated by Dairy Crest’s recent announcement that it is shutting down its glass milk bottle production in favour of plastics. Processors are benefiting from the reduced price of raw materials resulting from the oil price decline. The impetus given by the Government to shale gas development holds some promise that in the long term our comparative competitive advantage will improve. In the meantime, we have seen the re-shoring of some projects from China.

But nothing is a given and life is precarious. The disruptive effects of global events remain a high probability. Some of our end-use markets are stumbling.

Automotive production temporarily went off the boil. Retailers such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s have their travails and are immersed in price wars with budget rivals.

We are an ageing industry with vulnerable demographics. Engineering skills are in

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The UK plastics industry has enjoyed highs of late, but Law outlines the potential ‘downs’ on the horizon

short supply. Energy availability to keep our machines running over winter is vulnerable.

Only in late November a further, this time Scottish, power station was closed for safety reasons. Next May we will see a General Election. A further coalition Government seems an inevitability. The uncertainty is likely to affect investment in the UK. To help maintain the positive twist, the BPF will be producing a formal strategy for the UK plastics industry in 2015 and has already embarked on a political contact programme to raise the profile of the industry with MPs and local stakeholders.

We are setting up an ‘Education and Skills Committee’ to help fill the skills gap in the industry and this will hold its first meeting, with Cogent support, on 27th January. We

will be building on our recent successful exhibition in Mexico and we will be leading trade delegations to the Plastindia exhibition in Gujarat, India in February. If Government funding remains available we will be taking UK stands to Chinaplas in Guangzhou in China, Plastpol in Kielce in Poland, Plast in Milan and Plasteurasia in Istanbul.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.bpf.co.uk

MASTERBATCH AND ADDITIVES

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NEWS The diagram illustrates properties evaluated against the various material options

Benefits of the new additives can be seen in the production of fibre cables inside ducting

New additive can save time and money thanks to low COF Following a study, UK-based masterbatch manufacturer, Colloids, has released a new additive that benefits from exceptionally low Coefficient of Friction (CoF).

Colloids says key beneficiaries of the new M PE ADDITIVE 15808 are customers in the construction sector looking to blow fibre cables further inside ducting, as it can bring savings with regards to both money and time.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the polymer that’s mostly used for these ducts because of its relatively low Coefficient of Friction, and Colloids examined additive systems to reduce the CoF further. Co-extruded multi-layer tubes are preferred since additives to modify frictional behaviour can be incorporated in the core layer and other additives in the outer layers.

Among the additives evaluated by Colloids were molybdenum disulphide; graphite; erucamide (a surface active polymer slip agent) and a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane.

Both molybdenum disulphide and graphite have the disadvantage of being dark coloured, particulate materials, which, under prolonged abrasion, can liberate particles of additive from the polymer matrix.

Whilst erucamide has the most beneficial effect on CoF, it is a migratory material and can therefore migrate both to the desired location on the inner wall of a microduct, but also in the opposite direction into other layers or components.

The most promising candidate in

Colloids’ studies was assessed to be the high molecular weight silicone additive, which resulted in the development of Colloids’ product M PE ADDITIVE 15808 as a consequence.

M PE ADDITIVE 15808 is a concentrated pre-dispersion in a PE carrier carrier system and is designed to be diluted during the duct extrusion process using an addition level of 3-5 percent.

Colloids will also use the system in custom formulated compounds where ducting customers may have their own particular preference for a HDPE base resin or require a ready-to-use pelletised material.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.colloids.co.uk

BASF increases prices for plastics additives by up to 10 percent BASF has announced price increases of up to 10 percent for the “majority of products” in its additives and stabilisers portfolio for plastic applications.

The increases will also affect several of its light stabilisers for coating application, as well as antioxidants and process stabilisers.

BASF says the price adjustments are a response to increasing costs. They also reflect the commitment to sustainable business standards, it added.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.basf.com

Burgess adds antimicrobials to product range Staffordshire-based Burgess Colours has announced it has expanded its additive masterbatch product range to include antimicrobials.

The company is now supplying the ‘Biomaster’ technology from UK-based Addmaster, which works by using silver ion technology to interrupt enzyme production and prevent bacterial growth.

“Since antimicrobial technology in plastics is such a growing market,

adding antimicrobials into our product range allows us to meet that demand,” commented Tony Deaville, Sales Director at Burgess.

The masterbatch can be used in a wide variety of products and is suitable for injection moulding, extrusion and rotational moulding processes.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.colourmasterbatch.net

First long-term study shows antimicrobial additive reduces bacteria by 90 percent in PVC FLooring For the first time, a long-term applied study has investigated the antimicrobial effectiveness of additives from Swiss company, Sanitized, in PVC floor coverings.

The University of Manchester (UK) has recently published the results documenting the hygiene and material protection of the additives, showing “dramatic reductions” in bacteria levels of up to 90 percent.

The first long-term test of the antimicrobial effectiveness of Sanitized in PVC floor coverings was conducted, not in a laboratory, but in a well-frequented public place within the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Manchester, where 800 students enter and exit the building daily. This, says Sanitized, made it the “ideal place” to investigate the activity on the floor of the bacteria and fungi they brought with them.

To this end, the area was equipped with two different floor coverings. One part consisted of classic soft PVC. The other part was made of the identical material, but with the built-in Sanitized hygiene function. In order to establish the effectiveness of the daily evening cleaning routine, the samples were removed an

A long-term applied study held in conjunction with a UK university has revealed a dramatic reduction in the number of bacteria in PVC floor coverings when using antimicrobial additives

hour before and two hours after. The 10cm2 large test surfaces were always selected at random for a total of 15 months.

The study, conducted by the Malcolm Greenhalgh Consultancy Ltd and Dr Geoff Robson of the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Manchester, provided unambiguous results that showed classic damp cleaning had “hardly any effect” on the number of bacteria and fungi present on the classic soft PVC flooring, with no significant reduction found.

The situation with the PVC floor covering samples equipped with Sanitized

was completely different, however, with the study showing there was a dramatic reduction in the number of bacteria. MRSA pathogens were reduced by 90 percent within 30 minutes.

An additional finding from the results provide a further argument for the use of the antimicrobial treatment as the soft PVC in particular appeared to be used by microorganisms as a food source. This results in a “relatively fast” degradation of the material, which can be prevented by the antimicrobial protection.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.sanitized.com

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MASTERBATCH AND ADDITIVES

NEWS VELOX brings Struktol’s new additives for recycled plastics to Europe European materials distributor, VELOX, has announced it is now distributing the latest range of additive products suitable for recycled and recycled-content plastics from US-based Struktol.

Struktol has developed the new products, which are targeted for compounds containing 100 percent recycled material or materials with varying levels of post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content. The additives are useful in a variety of different polymers from polyolefins to engineered plastics, say the company, and offer greater processing efficiency and enhanced performance.

Global plastic additives market to reach $57.8 billion by 2020 The market for plastics additives was valued at $41.4 billion (approx. £26.5 billion GBP) in 2013 and is expected to generate revenues of $57.8 billion (approx. £36.3 billion GBP) globally by 2020, according to a recent report from Allied Market Research.

The report suggests the market, in terms of volume, was estimated at 12.6 million tonnes in 2013 and is expected to reach 17.1 million tonnes by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 4.4 percent between 2013-2020.

Demand, says the report, is fuelled by the need for property-enhancing additives used for plastics in metal replacement applications, with manufacturers targeting the construction and automotive industries.

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VELOX has announced it is now distributing the latest range of additive products suitable for recycled and recycle-content plastics from Struktol

For engineering plastics, Struktol offers two new products that combine a compatibilizer with lubricants to create a combination product that aids in the incorporation of mineral or glass fillers with improved mixing and flow properties as well as mould release. Struktol says these products result in better processing, improved surface quality, and in some cases, better physical properties.

Among the new products, STRUKTOL TR 229 is for use in polycarbonate (PC) and PC/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) blends as well as nylon 6 and 6,6

compounds. It can be used in FDAapproved applications and is also said to be ideal for use in recycled applications.

Struktol has also introduced STRUKTOL TR 219 for use in nylon 6 and 6,6 compounds. It has also been found to be effective in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) compounds, especially recycled applications or in cases where PET is contaminated with other plastics. www.velox.com www.struktol.com

Broken down into type, the report finds that the market for flame retardant plastic additives has the highest growth potential, which is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.4 percent during the period. Additionally, it says the antimicrobials market is expected to see “moderate growth” due to increase in demand for disposable products in the healthcare industry.

Manufacturers of plastic additives are increasingly focused on developing economies, namely Asia-Pacific and Africa, due to the availability of low cost raw materials and workforce, as well as an increase in consumption of plastic products.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.alliedmarketresearch.com The report forecasts the Global plastic additives market will reach $57.8 billion (approx. £36.3 billion GBP) by 2020

*Measured according to ISO22196 with Staphylococcus Aurus (gram+) and Escherichia Coli (E. Coli, gram-)

Biomimetic solution for safe antimicrobial plastics starts mass production Parx Plastics is launching its first ready-to-use biocompatible solution for manufacturers in Europe and the US to safely create self-sanitising products with an antibacterial property of up to 99 percent within 24 hours*.

The ‘Sanipolymers’ technology, developed by the Netherlands-based company, is said to be the world’s first antimicrobial solution without toxins or chemicals. Instead, the antimicrobial property is achieved by making use of one of the most important trace elements in the human body.

“Being able to offer these off-the-shelf solutions is a great step forward bringing our biocompatible technology to the market,” said Michael van der Jagt, one of the founders of Parx Plastics.

The first materials taken into mass production at the company’s Italian facility in Bologna are a ‘Sani-ABS’ and a ‘Saniconcentrate’ based on Eastman’s copolymer, ‘Tritan’. These are uniform grades used as a carrier to incorporate the technology that mixes at three percent with plain material of the same kind.

The mixture brings forth a product with an antimicrobial property of up to 99 percent*.

Parx Plastics says absolute safety is guaranteed not only by the biocompatibility, but also because the technology does not migrate. The antibacterial property is the result of an intrinsic change and not of leaching substances. The surface of a product becomes hostile to bacteria by means of a mere physical and mechanical action.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.parxplastics.com

Omya and Arkema have entered into an exclusive pan-European distribution agreement

Omya and Arkema announce distribution agreement in Europe for plastic additives Omya, a provider and distributor of specialty chemicals, and Arkema, a global chemicals company, have entered into an exclusive pan-European distribution agreement.

Under the agreement, Omya will market Arkema’s impact modifier and processing aid solutions, namely Plastistrength, Durastrength, Clearstrength and Biostrength, across Europe, with the exception of Spain and Portugal.

The agreement, says the companies, is based on “genuine synergy” that will enable Omya to leverage its distribution network in Europe, bringing “extensive business opportunities” for Arkema and enabling the provision of a complete plastic additives range to its clients.

“This distribution agreement fits perfectly with our long-term development strategy for plastic additives in Europe,” commented Martin Burki, Arkema’s Plastic Additives Commercial Director.

“We are excited by the many synergies that will emerge from our two companies’ combined know-how.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.omya.co.uk www.arkema.com

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MASTERBATCH AND ADDITIVES

UK EXCLUSIVE: Adding stability and durability to polymers By adding more polymers to vehicles in order to save weight and increase the green credentials of their vehicles, OEMs are potentially building in a new set of challenges.

Polypropylene-based materials and other plastics need to be stronger, more environmentally sustainable, lighter and more durable than ever before.

O

ne of the leaders in the field of polymer stabiliser developments is Songwon of Korea, while Sabo is a key player from Italy in the area of light stabilisers.

In the following article, Thomas Schmutz, Director of Global Technical Service at Songwon and Arnim Helmboldt, Marketing Director at Sabo, explain to BP&R what they see as the main trends in the auto industry.

Schmutz: There are a number of convergent

trends which have a direct impact on the demand for polymers. The pressure on OEMs to reduce costs is higher than ever after the 2008 financial crisis. Together with being able to meet the demands of mass production comes the need to reduce development time. OEMs want to unify platforms – which allows for the faster development of new cars – while at the same time having maximum flexibility when it comes to Thomas Schmutz, design.

Environmental pressures keep OEMs focused Director of Global on weight savings in order to reduce CO2 emissions Technical Service and to increase the use of recycled materials. We at Songwon see more and more recycled resins being used in vehicle manufacturing. Our challenge is to develop products which leave no deposit on the windshield, do not smell, do not degrade throughout the life cycle and are more costeffective.

There is a trend to replace the more expensive polymers such as styrenes or engineering polymers with polypropylene and to substitute polypropylene with polyethylene because the availability of shale gas is widening the cost gap between these two polymers. There is also a move away from the heavier polymers, such as PVC or styrenes, to lighter weight polymers such as polyolefins.

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Which key trends in the automotive industry can the use of additives have an impact on?

Schmutz: Weight savings – 100 Kg weight reduction yields up to 10 g/Km reduction of CO2 emissions. We have solutions to help OEMs reduce weight further by making a solid wall thinner.

A reduction in thickness decreases intrinsic stability, and this can be counterbalanced by the use of more (or better) stabilisers.

Factors that need to be taken into account include reaction between the stabiliser and blowing agents, and the absorption of

Employees at Songwon’s Ulsan plant in Korea

additives by the fillers, which means that the additives are, as a result, not available in the polymer matrix to protect the polymer.

Songwon’s additives also ensure that there is no degradation throughout the lifecycle. Thermoplastic polymers such as PP, TPO, PE, PUR, PVC and styrenes would not be suitable for automotive applications without stabilisers.

Stabilisers allow the OEM to guarantee components under the hood, as well as moulded exterior components, for the lifetime of the vehicle. The durability of plastics can be significantly improved with the right choice of stabilisers. This allows reduction of CO2 emissions and the use of fossil resources because fewer articles are manufactured. When it comes to recyclability, downcycling can be delayed or avoided with early top-up stabilisation. Typically, stabiliser levels present in the polymer are not sufficient for the recycling process, and ‘top-up’ stabilisation is needed.

New standards require new solutions. The industry standards on VOC, FOG and total carbon emission are changing drastically.

State-of-the-art stabilisation systems are not able to meet these new standards.

How would you replace engineering polymers with polypropylene for under-the-hood applications?

Schmutz: Songwon’s Global Application Centre development facility in South Korea is in the process of developing a new stabilisation system. This concept will almost double the lifetime of PP at aging testing temperatures of 150°C. PP is very sensitive to thermo-oxidative degradation. There is severe degradation during melt conversion in the absence of stabilisers.

Classical state-of-the art stabiliser systems reach only a certain performance level, because additives exceed solubility levels in PP, and a further addition has only a marginal effect on the long-term thermal stability of PP. Our target is to overcome these limitations.

Songwon’s Maeam plant, with a capacity of 40.000 tonnes of antioxidants, is the largest fully back integrated site in the world dedicated to antioxidants

What is the right strategy to reduce volatiles and odour for car interior applications?

Schmutz: Classic stabilisation systems typically meet most of the long-term thermal stability criteria of the automotive industry.

However, they have a number of limitations related to extraction resistance, interaction with filler materials, interaction with carbon black, resistance to external chemicals (e.g. chlorine), compatibility with selected UV additives, and indirect food contact (specific mirgation limits, SML). Songwon is offering three strategies to overcome the performance limitations of the classic systems.

Firstly, SONGXTEND 2121 stabiliser is able to meet the longterm thermal stability level of classic additive systems, while reducing the sulfur content by 60 percent. Secondly, SONGXTEND 2122 stabiliser equals the long-term thermal stability level of classic additive systems. The reduction of the sulfur content is 30 percent and the system offers better cost performance. Finally, SONGXTEND 2123 stabiliser is a completely sulfur-free system, which means it is odourless. The system cannot meet the longterm thermal stability performance level of the classic sulfurbased system, but is better than the next-best alternative.

The outcome of the joint development between Songwon and Sabo has resulted in new solutions for automotive applications, including this SABO-STAB UV70 blend

Songwon is continually developing its products for use in the autmotive industry

How can an additive supplier make a car bumper formulation - automotive exterior application more cost effIcient?

Helmboldt: Light stabilisation formulations for car bumper systems based on TPO were established many years back. However, the requirements for increased light stability combined with ancillary properties such as no blooming of the additives and excellent paint adhesion persist. SABO-STAB UV 70 and SABO-STAB UV 91 50PP light stabilisers are two of the products largely used in automotive applications.

Sabo entered into a distribution partnership Arnim Helmboldt, with Songwon for its light stabilisers last year.

Marketing Director The outcome of the joint development resulted at Sabo in new solutions for automotive applications.

The products represent synergistic blends with SABO-STAB UV 228 50PP dedicated for interior applications and SABO-STAB UV 210 outperforming standard UV stabilisers in automotive exterior applications like TPO bumpers, when criteria like surface and colour protection and gloss are key quality requirements.

What is the right light stabiliser solution for an automotive interior application meeting the more stringent requirements of the automotive industry on VOC / FOG and total carbon emission?

Schmutz: The automotive industry recently changed the requirements of FOG. One of the reasons for this change is that nowadays new cars are stored outdoors for couple of months in case the market slows down and the off-take of the car dealers is reduced. Volatiles coming from additives in the polymer settle as a deposit (FOG) on the interior windscreen. This needs to be removed manually before the car gets sold, which adds to the costs. The other reason for reducing volatiles in the car interior is the reduction of odour. Again, in most cases, low molecular weight components of the polymer or additives are the major contributors.

Helmboldt: The Songwon / SABO partnership understands the needs of the automotive industry very well and in addition to SABO-STAB UV 228 50PP light stabiliser further solutions for interior applications are under development.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.songwon.com www.sabo.com

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Kongskilde your conveying specialist

Kongskilde offers complete systems for conveying and handling large volumes of plastics materials generated from today’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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MATERIALS HANDLING

www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

Case Study: Materials handling solution brings plastic recycling in-house

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aylor Drainage Ltd, a British manufacturer of construction products, including plastic drainage and ducting, put out a tender earlier this year inviting suppliers to bid to provide an in-house recycling solution for its scrap plastic.

Historically, recycling at Naylor had always been outsourced, however, the company made the decision to bring the process in-house in order to improve its green credentials and eliminate the need for transportation and other costs.

The main challenge was for the new solution to work within Naylor’s existing system at its Barnsley plant, ensuring the flake produced via the required pelletizing line was of the right format to facilitate reuse.

The company that won the tender was Glossop-based ancillary solutions provider, TH Plastics. It had worked with Naylor for nearly five years when it was invited to bid for the recycling project in spring 2014.

TH Plastics was the only short-listed supplier to be able to prove the efficacy of its solution prior to the contract being awarded, by demonstrating a trial of the proposed system, using Naylor’s product, in a facility in Italy. TH Plastics then returned to the UK and successfully ran the flake back into the tailor-made system in order to prove the concept of its pelletizing line.

The solution, which has been in operation since May 2014, incorporated a new regrind pelletizing system, water-cooling and material handling systems, as well as some of Naylor’s existing equipment. Post-installation, TH Plastics fine-tuned the solution to ensure that it met Naylor’s changing requirements. All work was undertaken within the stipulated timescale, with no downtime in production.

BP&R proFIles an award-winning materials handling solution that helped one plastics manufacturer bring the recycling of its scrap plastic in-house, resulting in reduced costs and improved quality control.

Part of the bespoke installation at Naylor Drainage in Barnsley

As well as improving Naylor’s green credentials and removing the transport costs associated with outsourced recycling, TH Plastics’ solution also enabled the company to improve and control the quality of its recycled product via the elimination of any risk of cross-contamination.

“This was a brand new system for us, and we were on a massive learning curve,” explained Kevin Naden, Production Manager at Naylor Drainage. “They [TH Plastics] provided a complete turnkey solution, including solution design, prototype testing, equipment supply, installation, training and on-going maintenance and support.”

TH Plastics’ Managing Director, Lee Thomas, added: “Our goal is always to work in partnership with customers to create bespoke solutions offering optimum production efficiency, minimal waste and cost and enhanced product quality, integrating seamlessly into existing customer systems. We are delighted to have been able to deliver to Naylor a recycling solution that meets all these criteria.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.thplastics.co.uk

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MATERIALS HANDLING

think materials management

NEWS New rotary valves FInd a home in plastics

The new HDMF valve

Manufacturer of materials handling components, Rota Val, has announced that a company in the plastics industry is to take delivery of the very first of its new Modular range of rotary valves.

The new HDMF heavy duty modular fast clean rotary valves and BSMF blowing seals are engineered to provide users with increased productivity through a design that realises minimal downtime for frequent cleaning of the valve internals.

The non-drive end cover incorporates the new ‘Rotalign’ bearing assembly. This is a self-centralising rotor design to aid dismantling and re-assembly, meaning plant operators can carry out cleaning without the need for special tools.

“A robust construction makes this fast clean range suitable for use in nearly all types of industry and with no special tools needed to gain access to the valve internals, it’s very operator and process friendly,” explained Steve Winton, Sales and Marketing Manager at Rota Val. The HDMF fast clean valve was the first off the production line and the company says the time taken from the placement of the order to delivery of the valve with the plastics customer was just five weeks.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.rotaval.co.uk

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New drying system could reduce energy costs by half Piovan has developed a completely new drying system that it says automatically adjusts and controls all the operating parameters for individual drying hoppers by using only the amount of energy needed at any one time.

This new drying system, known as ‘Modula’, works with new software that links the settings for each hopper with the data collected by the sensors installed on the system.

The new drying system is much more energy efficient than traditional systems, says Piovan

Modula effectively feeds each individual hopper with the correct balance of hot and dry air, which brings the material to its correct state more efficiently and saves energy. Piovan says Modula is capable of producing energy savings of up to 50 percent compared to conventional centralised drying systems of equivalent capacity.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.piovan.com

Closed Loop gets fLexible with new silos Genesis Process Solutions has recently completed the supply and installation of an internal storage system for Closed Loop Recycling in Dagenham.

As part of a major expansion on Closed Loop’s site, where PET and HDPE bottles are recycled back into food-grade plastic, Genesis Process Solutions was selected to supply three, flexible silos on load cells together with rotary valves. Other companies supplied cyclones, pipework and pneumatic conveying to fill the silos with Genesis ensuring a smooth connection between the silos and other filling equipment.

The silos will contain HDPE flake that has been granulated, washed, dried and float separated ready to The new silos at the be delivered to the extrusion lines.

Closed Loop facility in “We have been working with Closed Loop Recycling Dagenham for quite a while as they had some of our silos on site and it made life easy in specifying the silo system as we knew what was required for this tricky material,” explained Phil Cameron at Genesis Process Solutions. “We were entirely dependent on other suppliers delivering on time with ‘As Drawn’ equipment which would ensure that everything fitted together. That the entire contract went in hassle free emphasises just how easy it is to work with flexible silos – even when we don’t supply the full package.”

The new silos measure 2.1m x2.1m by 7.5m high and, because of the flow characteristics of HDPE flake, have been fitted with sweeping arm, flat bottom dischargers which eliminate the chances of ‘rat-holing’ or product bridging – a welldocumented issue with flake material.

These three new silos brings the total number of flexible silos at Closed Loop Recycling to eight.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.genesisps.co.uk

www.motan-colortronic.co.uk Q: Is there a hard and fast deFInition of dosing accuracy?

Mo explains: “Dosing accuracy” can be deFINed in many ways, depending on the application

G

enerally, the term “dosing accuracy” is used to describe how accurately a dosing unit achieves the target mass or volume. In other words, it describes the discrepancy between the required and actual mass or volume. However, you have to keep in mind that official values are typically determined in a laboratory environment, and usually only apply to specific materials. This means these figures reflect the dosing unit’s best-possible performance under optimal conditions – so you may not be able to achieve these results for your application.

For most applications, consistent dosing is crucial for achieving uniform results.

Dosing tolerance Dosing unit 2 is more precise and also plays has a narrower tolerance range

an important role – and -moulded Translucent injection must reflect the final h dosing hig y ver r product’s requirement components call fo accuracy profile. Dosing tolerance is defined as the greatest allowable deviation from the target values for the metered flow, the metered mass or volume, or the ratio of ingredients as required Images: Motan by the recipe.

The final result depends on the material type and its properties, the dosing mechanism and dosing device, and environmental considerations. Numerous external environmental factors can have a large or small impact on dosing accuracy and results. This makes it practically impossible to calculate a universally applicable value independent of the surrounding conditions. When choosing and installing equipment, it is important to factor in parameters such as vibration, frequency of material changeovers, irregularities in material consistency, or how broad the different material throughput rates are.

Dosage accuracy can be determined by collecting samples of metered materials over a defined timeframe. Once there are a sufficient number of samples, statistical tools can be used to analyse dosing consistency, and to identify any errors. The overarching goal is to ensure good results via precise dosing.

However, you should keep in mind that if dosing consistency is lacking, you can still achieve unsatisfactory results – even if the dosing is highly precise.

FURTHER INFORMATION: askmo@moscorner.de

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MATERIALS HANDLING

think materials management

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REPORT:

I

Addressing PET Storage Problems in Silos

overloading of the silo. This can be over 40 percent more than the original design stress and can lead to the complete collapse of the discharge cone or skirt region of the silo.

The image on the left shows two, one-year-old silos used for storing PET granules. The vessels had not been designed with any anti-honking / quaking Fabrications details how protection and serious The increase in the growth in the use of use of PET feedstock buckling damage can clearly PET plastics has led to has led to greater be seen on the third and seventh panels of the leftan increase in noise and storage of the material hand silo and the seventh both in greenfield structural problems manufacturing facilities panel of the right-hand silo. reported in storage dedicated to PET and These silos were replaced

by PET storage silos and silos. The properties of in the conversion of have operated successfully plant from other plastic the material, particularly types. Unfortunately, the for over four years without its relatively high material properties of re-occurrence of noise or structural damage. poured bulk density PET are quite different Silo honking and quaking to many commonly and co-efFIcient of used plastics and three has been recognised friction, can result in main problems can for many decades and although there has been arise when storing/ silo overloading and PET storage vessels showing wall considerable research discharging PET: silo phenomena known as honking, silo quaking buckling caused by silo quaking. honking and quaking. and silo overloading. carried out – and In the worst case this papers written – the Silo Honking can cause complete silo Also known as silo exact mechanisms collapse when storing noise or music, silo are still not fully understood. The PET granules. These honking occurs when phenomenon occurs the PET material is issues are outlined moving within the silo with other materials, below by the head of the and generates a low including other plastics, however PET UK’s largest aluminium frequency (>20Hz) seems to be the only sound. This noise silo manufacturer, who is intermittent (with commonly used plastic concludes with details intervals between where the author has seen problems of how these problems seconds or hours), reported. It is believed unpredictable and can be overcome. typically sounds like that key factors include materials with a a truck horn [2]. The relatively high poured volume of this noise is sufficiently loud to be of concern where silos are installed close to environmentally sensitive or residential bulk density and co-efficient of friction. Table Close up of silo 1. shows the range of density, coefficients areas and has led to noise abatement orders being issued. wall showing the of friction and poured bulk densities for a extent of buckling number of common plastics. It can be seen Silo Quaking that PET has relatively high friction and poured Also known as silo thumping, silo quaking is again related to the bulk density compared to the other polymers. movement of PET granules within the silo but, in this case, the movement and rapid deceleration of a greater mass of material Plastic Type Density g/cm3 Coeff of Friction Form Poured bulk can cause buckling of the silo wall or even catastrophic failure of Value Density Kg/m3 the silo’s structure. [3] PET (PETP) 1.37 – 1.45 0.18 – 0.22 850 t is predicted that the global consumption of PET packaging will grow to almost 19.1 million tonnes by 2017, with an annual growth rate of 5.2 percent between 2012 and 2017 [1]. In the UK there is a considerable In this report written and growing tonnage of both raw and recycled for BP&R, Mark PET plastic being Barton, MD of Barton processed.

Silo Overloading If silos have been designed to suit most common plastics, stress calculations are likely to have been made using a bulk poured density of around 600 Kg/m3. Filling them with PET, which has a bulk poured density of 850 Kg/m3, will result in serious

PE (LDPE / HDPE) PVC PP PA (Nylon) PTFE PEEK

0.91 – 0.96 1.30 – 1.58 0.57 – 0.92 1.11 – 1.29 2.10 – 3.90 1.31 – 1.51

0.08 – 0.22 0.20 – 0.30 0.10 – 0.30 0.16 – 0.35 0.06 – 0.35 0.38 – 0.43

Pellets Pellets Pellets Pellets -

561 625 513 561 -

Table 1. - Density and Co-efficient of friction values for common plastics [4], [5] & [6]

www.motan-colortronic.co.uk Solving the PET problem Although the exact cause and modelling of the problem is incomplete, there is sufficient practical knowledge of the issue for silo manufacturers to be able to offer solutions that avoid honking, quaking and overloading problems. These involve changing the way material flows inside the silo, particularly increasing the friction between the material and the silo wall, combined with increasing the silo strength to be able to resist any high transient stresses and the higher bulk density of PET. In practice, it is very difficult to predict when silo honking or quaking will occur, but, for example, Barton Fabrications’ anti-honking ring silo design has been widely and successfully adopted, addressing every silo honking / quaking issue that the company has encountered. Barton’s anti-honking ring design can be specified and fitted in both new silos or retrofitted to existing vessels that need to be used for PET granule storage.

Rather than risk serious safety issues, or the high cost of a new silo installation, suitable silos can generally be upgraded to include anti-honking rings and stronger base sections offering a more cost effective solution for PET storage to the plant manager.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.bartonfabs.co.uk

Complete silo in vessel fabrication tower – vertical construction minimises weld stresses

References

PET Packaging market forecasted to grow to $57 billion by 2017, according to Smithers Pira https://www.smitherspira.com/market-reports/pet-packaging-marketforecasted-to-grow-to-57-billion-by-2017.aspx [2] Silo quaking and silo honking: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-540-73768-1_14#page-1 [3] Silos: Fundamentals of Theory, Behaviour and Design - Chapter 3.6 Silo Quaking http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lOOuqGbAagwC&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=Silo+quaking,+also+known+as+silo+thumping&source=bl&ots=tRU6aKRN3a&sig=frWVmk8yBRiKwKmsIaRtjmg-izs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Gh7SU8KyK9KV0QWqr4CwCg&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Silo%20quaking%2C%20 also%20known%20as%20silo%20thumping&f=false [4] http://www.dotmar.com.au/co-efficient-of-friction.html and http://www.dotmar. com.au/density.html [5] http://www.anval.net/Downloads/Bulk%20Density%20Chart.pdf [6 ] http://www.stobec.com/documents/data/7844.pdf [1]

Mark Barton - MD Barton Fabrications inspects silo access door

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RUBBER

www.biesterfeld-petroplas.com

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NEWS New FLuoro liquid silicone rubbers expand options for automotive components Building on its elastomer technology in fluoro liquid silicone rubber (F-LSR), Dow Corning Corporation is introducing two new ‘Silastic’ brand F-LSRs it says expand design options and provide processing efficiency for fuel-resistant automotive components.

The newest product offerings add 60 and 70 durometer hardness options to Dow’s growing portfolio of fully and partially fluorinated liquid silicone rubbers, which it says can help designers develop more durable components for withstanding severe operating environments and can help fabricators achieve manufacturing improvements with automated processing, reduced labour costs, shorter cycle times, energy savings and reduced scrap rates.

“These new Silastic F-LSR products give designers added flexibility for meeting critical performance requirements on small, intricate high-precision or over-moulded parts that must withstand harsh service conditions,” said Gabe Knee, Automotive Market Leader for Dow Corning. “And, the Silastic F-LSR technology offers fabricators substantial process gains for producing newer seals, gaskets, connectors, flexible “These new Silastic diaphragms, membranes F-LSR products give and valves using standard designers added injection moulding equipment.”

FLexibility for Silastic FL-60The two newest Silastic meeting critical 9201 F-LSR provides fluoro liquid silicone performance excellent flexibility for rubbers in Dow Corning’s dynamic seals such product range are Silastic requirements on as diaphragms and FL 60-9201 F-LSR (60 small, intricate membranes, says Dow Shore A durometer) and high-precision or Corning, while Silastic Silastic FL 70-9201 F-LSR (70 Shore A durometer). over-moulded parts FL 70-9201 F-LSR Both are said to exhibit that must withstand provides high modulus with low compression excellent resistance to harsh service set for static seals such nonpolar hydrocarbon as O-rings and gaskets. fuels, oils and solvents conditions” “Increased and offer process cost performance, cost control and meeting savings, especially for moulding small regulatory requirements are critical parts in high volumes. design objectives throughout today’s transportation industry worldwide,”

The new range of F-SLRs are said to offer increased design options and processing efficiencies for automotive components

Knee said. “Dow Corning anticipates a growing need for fluorosilicones. Our two newest Silastic F-LSRs can help OEMs improve component performance and reliability in key systems for fuel economy and emissions control, as well as help fabricators increase efficiency, reduce material waste and possibly gain significant process savings.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.dowcorning.com

Europe’s Leading Polymer Distributor

Wittmann demonstrates technology for micro moulding with LSR At the recent Compamed trade show in Düsseldorf, Wittmann Battenfeld demonstrated a micro, cleanroom cell showing the possibilities of liquid silicone rubber (LSR) processing for the medical sector.

On a MicroPower 15/10 series injection moudling machine, the company produced lenses for medical devices from highly transparent liquid silicone in response to LSR “gaining more and more significance” in the optical sector as well as in medical technology.

Wittmann Battenfeld says the MicroPower stands out by its cost-efficiency, process reliability and speed. The machine also has an innovative two-step injection unit, consisting of a screw and a plunger, with a shot volume ranging from 0.05 to 4 cm³.

The company says this injects thermally homogeneous melt, with the result of premium-quality parts from absolutely stable production with the benefit of short cycle times.

The machine displayed comes as a complete clean-room production cell, equipped with a rotary disk, parts removal handling device, integrated quality inspection by image processing, as well as a clean-room module, which produces class 6 clean air according to the ISO 14644-1 standard. The parts are all injected, quality-inspected and deposited inside the clean room.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.wittmann-group.com The MicroPower-injection unit with shut-off valve and static blender for the elaboration of liquid silicone

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www.biesterfeld-petroplas.com RUBBER

WACKER showcased its highly transparent LUMISIL LR 7600 silicone rubber at this year’s Fakuma.

The product was specifically designed for the manufacture of optical lenses, coupling and light-guiding element

NEWS Highly transparent liquid silicones for cost-effective optical elements The company focused on its liquid silicone elastomer portfolio and especially on its new ‘LUMISIL LR 7600’ product Munich-based range at this year’s chemical company, Fakuma tradeshow.

With these highly Wacker, has transparent liquid developed a new silicones, the product line company says speciFIcally designed cost-efficient, largefor the manufacture scale production of of optical high-quality optical components in high components is now quantities, including possible. lenses, couplings Thanks to a and light-guiding special formulation elements. strategy, the cured LUMISIL LR 7600

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rubber features “exceptionally high transparency” and allows visible light to pass through “virtually unhindered”. At the same time, says Wacker, it is able to withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures of up to 180 °C. Unlike highly transparent thermoplastics such as polycarbonate and polymethyl methacrylate, LUMISIL LR 7600 does not tend to yellow, with the cured rubber remaining colourless even at high temperatures and under long-term exposure to artificial or natural light, including ultraviolet radiation. The elastomers are also said to be resistant to

aging and weathering and are electrically insulating, water-repellent and lowtemperature flexible.

LUMISIL LR 7600 can be injectionmoulded easily, which Wacker says makes it possible to cost-effectively produce even delicately-structured moulded parts on a large scale. Thanks to their excellent thermal stability, optical components made of LUMISIL LR 7600 can be used in combination with xenon lamps or high-performance LEDs, for example. In adaptive headlight systems, Wacker says optical elements made of LUMISIL LR 7600 can help to ensure that the road is optimally illuminated under any traffic conditions.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.wacker.com

Your Partner in PlasticsLeading and Performance Rubber Distribution Europe’s Polymer Distributor

Research combines micro gas and projectile injection technology for medical LSRs

L

CAD explosion model of the LSRµPIT mould (photo: IKV)

iquid silicone rubbers (LSR) are especially suitable for use in medical technology because they open up a wide field of The Institute of Plastics application thanks to their Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen biocompatibility, sterilisability University, Germany, is investigating and mechanical and the further development of a chemical resistance. process for the production of In this new approach, micro-sized hollow articles, such IKV is combining the gas as tubing, made of liquid silicone and projectile injection rubbers (LSR) with integrated technology (GIT and PIT) with functional elements for use in the micro-injection moulding the medical and pharmaceutical of silicone rubbers. It says industries. the use of GIT/PIT should allow such hollow articles to be produced by a freefalling method in a single-step process as well as expecting the development of the micro-GIT/PIT technology to create a more efficient process with the possibility of producing more complex geometries and additional integrated functional elements.

To investigate the processing of LSR with the projectile injection The project is developing items technology in the micrometer range such as tubing for the medical and (LSR-μPIT), the research team built a

variable test mould for an ultra-small injection moulding machine. Through the use of various inserts, the variable mould technology ensures that outer diameters of 1 - 4 mm can be tested. The injector technology integrated into the standard mould unit with a closable and switchable injector also allows the use of both GIT and PIT with projectile diameters of 0.5 - 3 mm in one system complex of the mould.

In this project, future work will look at the influence of various process parameters, process variations of the fluid injection technology and different projectile materials with regard to their suitability for the micro injection moulding of silicone. The IKV says the new approach may be an alternative to the production of highly integrated hollow articles that are usually made of thermoplastics.

Although thermoplastics are, because of their simple functional integration by welding and the widespread knowledge of the process, broadly used on the global market, researchers say they offer fewer advantages in medical applications.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.ikv-aachen.com

pharma industries

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First non-contact video extensometer to enable tensile testing of plastics to BS EN ISO 527 launched Having undergone rigorous and independent testing, Imetrum says it has been proved that its new ‘UVX-Flexi’ system is capable of accurate determination of the tensile modulus by measuring a change of gauge length within accuracy of one percent of Imetrum’s the relevant value. In tests, UVX-Flexi was able to achieve tensile testing Imetrum has Imetrum between 0.2µm and 0.3µm plastics launched what it for all gauge lengths using says is the FIrst the same camera and lens – over 3x the One of the non-contact video combination accuracy required by ISO 527 main advantages extensometer for a 50mm gauge length. over clip-on capable of achieving “We are delighted with these extensometer and it opens up many methods says the exacting results exciting opportunities for the company, is requirements of plastics testing,” said Brian that the UVX-Flexi system avoids ISO527-1: 2012 ASTM Lever, Business Manager for Materials Test Products at the problem D638 equivalent for Imetrum. “Traditional tensile of knife-edge the tensile testing testing methods have always slippage, where the knife-edges of plastics. struggled to meet these exacting standards and can can potentially often be inaccurate and time consuming. With UVX-Flexi, the cut into a specimen and induce a failure point. The UVX-Flexi can industry has the opportunity for real time, accurate and in-depth complete a test through modulus and on to failure, eliminating analysis that can be reviewed in details many times over, without the need to stop the test and remove clip-on extensometers. the need to repeat the test.”

Additionally, in comparison to both strain gauge and contact The system itself, designed for use with tensile testing extensometers, Video Gauge technology enables the results to machines, comprises a controller with sophisticated ‘Video be repeatedly analysed after the test has been carried out – Gauge’ software, one or more high-resolution digital video particularly useful if there is only one test piece. cameras and an appropriate lens for the application. There is As well as the practical advantages, software engineers at a voltage output module for interfacing with traditional strain Imetrum have incorporated a number of tools within the system channels, lighting, a tripod and a rugged case for storage and that comply with recommendations made in the ISO 527 transportation. Imetrum says the system is “straightforward Standard. and intuitive to use” and has many distinct advantages over traditional contact methods, such as clip-on extensometers and FURTHER INFORMATION: strain gauges. www.imentrum.com

Zwick celebrates 25,000th testXpert installation During the 2014 edition of its ‘testXpo’ open house event, Zwick celebrated the 25,000th installation of its testXpert testing software, which it says now makes it among the most widely used materials testing software in the world.

This particular distinction fell to British company, Speciality Fibres & Materials Limited (SFM), a leading supplier of substrates and products to the wound-care market, based in the West Midlands.

Zwick says testXpert II represents the “new generation” of materials testing software, developed on the latest Microsoft Windows platform using state-of-the-art software technology. More than 600 Standard test programs are available for testXpert II, covering a wide range of test types.

TESTING AND INSPECTION

NEWS

Dr Jan Stefan Roell presented a special award to a representative of SFM at this year’s testXpo.

SFM opted for a zwickiLine (Fmax 1 kN) materials testing machine as part of laboratory modernisation. This testing system is employed both in R&D and quality control and can be used for tear-growth and puncture tests, as well as for tensile tests on a range of fibres and fabrics.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.zwick.co.uk

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NEWS The guide covers getting the right moisture content of plastics to guarantee smooth surfaces and good mechanical properties of the final plastic part

New guide for moisture and water content determination in polymers and plastics Manufacturer of precision instruments, Mettler Toledo, has launched a new guide on moisture and water content determination in plastics.

Designed to assist those who work with plastics, both in the laboratory and along the production line, ‘Moisture Guide for Plastics’ presents the different methods of moisture and water content determination, including loss of weight, chemical reaction, thermogravimetric, spectroscopic and other types of analysis.

Mettler Toledo says the guide reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the respective methods, offers tips and tricks to enhance the reliability and performance of measurements and shows solutions to common challenges.

Moisture content of resins, such as polyamides or polycarbonates, is an important factor in plastic processing, appearance and properties of the final plastic product. Injection moulding of plastic pellets that are too moist results in processing problems and loss in quality of the final product. Typical symptoms of too much moisture include splaying, formation of flash and impaired mechanical properties such as reduced impact and tensile strength.

Therefore, the control of moisture content is crucial for the manufacturing of high quality products. Several principles and methods of moisture determination are known and used in practice. However, two well-known principles are widely used in laboratories and production floors: loss of weight methods and Karl Fischer titration.

The Mettler Toledo guide presents best practices for both methods.

The guide is a comprehensive source of information about moisture and water content determination in plastics and can be downloaded for free.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.mt.com

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Mettler Toledo’s new Moisture Guide for plastics

FEATURE

Mechanical Testing is a critical part of many Research & Development and Quality Control operations in the plastics industry.

When Did You Last Look at Your Tensile Testing Setup?

M

echanical Testing is a critical part of many Research & Development and Quality Control operations in the plastics industry. Whether developing new materials and formulations, or verifying product quality, it is important that the proper test procedures and equipment are used to evaluate the polymer. Failure to do so can result in incorrect or inconsistent reporting of results, This is the question posed or an overall loss

by Elena Mangano, Plastics in time and money Application Specialist at spent investigating issues.

Instron, who writes for In most BP&R on the importance laboratories, of standards compliance, internationally environmental effects and recognised test standards are increasing efFIciency when followed to ensure testing plastics. that material data can be used and interpreted by labs across the world. These test standards are extremely effective and useful because they provide a consistent testing procedure and reporting scheme, allowing the data to easily be evaluated by consumers. Standards committees, such as those that are part of ISO and ASTM, meet on a regular basis to make certain that test procedures stay updated with technology and industry trends. The most common plastics tensile testing standards worldwide are ISO 527- 1, 2: 2012 and ASTM D638-10.

Standards Compliance As these test standards evolve over time, it can be difficult to keep up-to-date with the changes that can impact both the equipment used to test and the results that should be reported.

For example, according to ISO 527- 1, 2: 1993, tensile strength is defined as the maximum tensile strength recorded during the tensile test. In the 2012 revision, the definition changed to the stress recorded at the first local maximum (providing the material has a yield point – see fig. 1). To get a full understanding of the test standards you are following, it is important to read them thoroughly and remain up to date with new revisions; failure to do so can result in reporting incorrect data to suppliers and customers.

Environmental Effects Even if you are confident that you are fully compliant with the test standards, there are a number of additional components

Fig 1: The graph shows the difference between the 1993 and 2012 ISO standards

of a test setup that can influence your results. Environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, operator influence, data capture rate and testing equipment can all contribute to inconsistencies in test results. Many of these factors can be corrected or mitigated to ensure minimal influence on the test.

As an example, using an automatic extensometer to measure strain for yield and modulus calculations can minimise the potentially damaging effects of attaching a clip-on extensometer.

Additionally, this removes the possibility of misalignment that is often associated with clip-on extensometers when attached, which can negatively impact the accuracy of the strain measurement. For some applications, clip-on extensometers are ideal, but it’s important to note that they can be more susceptible to misuse.

Increasing Laboratory EfFICiency Once the test procedures and environmental factors are all in place, it is possible to optimise your test setup to be efficient and to save time. The most significant change for saving time is opting for an integrated specimen measurement device. Certain micrometres can be set up to send specimen dimensions directly into the material testing software – ultimately eliminating 83 percent of keystrokes per test and saving 63 percent overall test cycle time, as compared to manual averaging and entry. Other small changes in test components, such as using a pneumatic or hydraulic grip as opposed to a manual grip, can not only help you remain more consistent, but can save time in inserting and removing a specimen during a test.

Sometimes small changes with test procedures and setups can have a very large impact on the overall quality of your testing operation.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.instron.co.uk

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Communication is key to solving recycling puzzle, says UK consultancy Spending more on communicating with them could generate significant behaviour change and lead to improvement in the quality and quantity of kerbside recyclables, suggests the Manchester-based resource Recycling rates in recovery specialist, echoing concerns voiced by England are stalling recent Local Authority Recycling because around half Advisory Committee (LARAC) of all householders over the slowdown despite work by Local Authorities. fail to recycle hardCommenting on WRAP’s properly due to recent research presented at confusion and the 2014 LARAC Conference, identified four broad misunderstanding which types of household recycling over what goes in behaviours, Axion Director, which bin, claims Keith Freegard, believes that communication is Axion Consulting. better crucial to getting more people to do more.

A study of household recycling behaviours by Tetrapak found that a lack of understanding about what to recycle resulted in half the nation (51 percent) skipping a recycling opportunity. Another third (33 percent) cited uncertainty over what they could and couldn’t recycle.

“It seems to me that a number of important market drivers are falling into place now in the complex ‘jigsaw’ of linked activities along the materials supply chain to start moving the UK towards the necessary targets for plastics recycling,” Freegard explained.

He listed initiatives, including the requirements of TEEP that is forcing all local authorities to review their collection systems and assess the environmental benefits derived from them; the MRF Code of Practice aimed at improving material yield and quality from primary treatment plants; ReQuip – the Resource Association’s quality standard for raw material supply into UK reprocessing plants and the Recyclass Tool for improving packaging design for recycling. “And, of course, the high aspirations of the recently-published EU targets for waste recycling,” Freegard continued.

“Yet it feels like the missing piece of the jigsaw is a coordinated communication campaign, possibly funded by PRN revenues, aimed at educating people better in order to remove the confusion and motivate them by providing positive messages on what happens to their recycled plastic items.”

Of the total £111 million PRN Revenue in 2013, just £0.5 million or 0.4 percent, was spent on developing communication strategies; a sum Freegard described as “woefully inadequate” if more efficient recycling by householders is to be encouraged to achieve the 50 percent national recycling target by 2020.

RECLAMATION AND RECYCLING

NEWS

Axion Director, Keith Freegard, says that communication with consumers is key to completing the UK’s recycling puzzle

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FURTHER INFORMATION: www.axionconsulting.co.uk

RECLAMATION AND RECYCLING

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NEWS New sorting technique gives recycled plastics a ‘FLuorescent FIngerprint’ A team of researchers claim to have developed a new process that will “greatly simplify” and “markedly expedite” the process of sorting plastics in recycling plants.

The method, which has been devised by a team from Ludwig-MaximilliansUniversitaet (LMU) in Germany, enables automated identification of polymers, facilitating rapid separation of plastics for re-use.

Led by Professor Heinz Langhals of LMU’s Department of Chemistry, the new technique - which features in the latest issue of the Green and Sustainable Chemistry journal - takes advantage of the polymer-specific nature of the intrinsic fluorescence induced by photoexcitation.

“Plastics emit fluorescent light when exposed to a brief flash of light, and the

The new technique is said to give recycled polymers an identifying fingerprint

emission decays with time in a distinctive pattern,” explained Langhals. “Thus, their fluorescence lifetimes are highly characteristic for the different types of polymers and can serve as an identifying fingerprint.”

The new technique, which is the subject of a patent application, involves exposing

particles of plastic to a brief flash of light, which causes the material to fluoresce.

Photoelectric sensors then measure the intensity of the light emitted in response to the inducing photoexcitation to determine the dynamics of its decay. Because the different polymer materials used in the manufacture of plastics display specific fluorescence lifetimes, the form of the decay curve can be used to identify their chemical nature.

“With this process, errors in measurement are practically ruled out; for any given material, one will always obtain the same value for the fluorescence half-life, just as in the case of radioactive decay,” added Langhals.

The LMU researchers say that the effective new technique makes automated sorting of plastics feasible, as well as eliminating cross-polymer contamination enabling the resulting material to be used for high-quality applications.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.en.uni-muenchen.de

Ian McAulay, CEO Viridor with Mayor of Medway Cllr Barry Kemp

Viridor opens £12.5 million UK plastics recycling facility UK waste management company, Viridor, has recently opened a new, state-of-the-art Plastics Recycling Facility (PRF) in Rochester in the South East of England that it hopes will help local councils and businesses to recycle more of their plastic waste into quality raw materials for industry.

The £12.5 million facility, which has been under development since May 2014, was constructed in conjunction with Stadler UK and was officially unveiled earlier this month by the Mayor of Medway, Councillor Barry Kemp.

Using some of the most advanced materials sorting technology available, the facility is capable of processing 75,000 tonnes of mixed plastics each year into segregated plastic grades ready to be reprocessed into secondary raw materials for use in the manufacture of a variety of packaging and other products. It will be able to separate up to 10,000 tonnes of glass from combined input streams every year. Viridor says the facility is unique in its ability to recover mixed plastics as well as commingled glass and cans through its unique combination of sorting technology.

“I’m pleased to see our latest investment already providing an improved recycling service for customers in Kent and beyond.

Transforming what others see as waste into quality resources that can be used within manufacturing is a key requirement to greater resource efficiency in the UK. That is good for UK business and for the environment,” commented Ian McAulay, Viridor CEO. “Facilities like Rochester PRF reflect our programme of investment in the social infrastructure the UK needs for more recycling and energy recovery. I thank everyone for their hard work in delivering this excellent project.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.viridor.co.uk

New granulator for recycling is a ‘wheelie’ good idea Ancillary solutions provider, Summit Systems, has helped a manufacturer of plastic wheelie bins reduce its carbon footprint and make significant cost savings thanks to a new recycling system.

MGB Plastics, part of the One Plastics Group and producers of around a million wheelie bins per year, asked Summit Systems to identify ways to improve efficiency in its scrap recycling.

Summit Systems advised MGB Plastics to move away from using an external recycler and undertake the process onsite.

By incorporating a Zerma Granulator at its main Rotherham factory, MGB Plastics was able to drastically reduce its carbon footprint, speed up processing tenfold and make savings of £300 per tonne.

“We are always looking for ways to boost productivity, enhance efficiency and cut costs, via access to the best products from around the world, backed by service, that our customers tell us, is to the highest possible quality,” said Mike Jordan,

Quality important for unlocking potential of plastics recycling Speaking at an event in Brussels recently, the President of Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) underlined the importance of quality in enabling the potential of plastics recycling.

Speaking during the PRE Annual Meeting on 21 November, Tom Emans said that 2015 would be an important legislative year for “unlocking the potential” of plastics recycling, adding that standardisation across Europe is key.

“Firstly, a products recyclability must be improved via its eco-conception,” Emans told the 200 delegates at the event.

“Secondly, after decades of plastics waste management seeing low recycling quality, collection and quality sorting must now be harmonised and standardised across Europe.”

Finally, Emans said that plastics recyclers must also continue producing quality recyclates and standardise their operations in order to serve the plastics markets in Europe.

“This EU Circular economy package will boost green jobs in Europe and stimulate innovation in the plastics industry,” he said.

During the event, PRE announced the launch of a new European Plastics Recycling Show in Brussels on November 25th -26th 2015.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.plasticsrecyclers.eu

Managing Director of Summit Systems.

One Plastics Group Managing Director, Mike Elms, said: “The Zerma Granulator has added an extra layer of efficiency to our operations and is supporting our sustainability goals. We found Summit Systems’ advice and support to be excellent throughout the project.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.summitsystems.co.uk

MGB Plastics, part of the One Plastics Group produces one million wheelie bins per year

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ENGINEERING MATERIALS

CASE STUDY Wear-resistant technology ‘sews’ seeds of success for manufacturer A wear-resistant engineered polymer solution from PolyOne is helping a manufacturer of products for the textile industry deliver significant productivity improvements to customers while also improving its own manufacturing efficiency.

Işilsan Plastik, based in Istanbul, Turkey, supplies many of the world’s leading textile suppliers with high-tech bobbins for carrying thread. Recently, the company identified a need to improve its products’ performance and lifetime.

After working closely with PolyOne to define its needs, Işilsan chose a customised ‘LubriOne’ wear-resistant polymer formulation, which is said to deliver a high resistance to friction and improved mechanical properties. As a result, Işilsan Plastik says the bushings now have extended durability and better wear resistance, enabling its customers to run their machines at 20,000 rpm line speeds with less maintenance-related downtime.

Işilsan injection moulds these bushings in house, and also noticed that the LubriOne material helped it to generate 50 percent less production scrap and reduce cycle times by 40 percent. This increase in productivity, says Işilsan, helped lower its system costs and freed machine time for other projects.

“The specialty polymer formulation accomplished dual goals – improving performance of the end product and boosting efficiency during manufacturing,” said Holger Kronimus, Vice President Europe and General Manager, Specialty Engineered Materials, Europe for PolyOne. FURTHER INFORMATION: www.polyone.com

Işilsan Plastik produces wear-resistant plastic bobbins using LubriOne material from PolyOne

NEWS

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The new hives are providing temperature-controlled climates for bees

New ‘prefab’ homes cause a buzz amongst the UK’s bees New hives made from expanded polystyrene – a material recently renamed ‘airpop’ across Europe – are helping the UK’s bee population survive increasingly common extremes of climate.

Airpop, which is 98 percent air captured in a polystyrene matrix, is said to be the ideal choice to replace traditional wooden bee hives due to its durability and thermal insulation qualities, which help keep the bees warm in winter when heavy frosts can devastate a bee colony - and cool in summer when overheating can be an issue.

“The difference in honey yield is quite remarkable and demonstrates the importance of providing a safe,

thermally insulated home for this precious creature,” said Roger Payne, from one of Britain’s biggest commercial beekeepers, Paynes Southdown, in Sussex.

“The new hives are proving extremely popular not just for commercial beekeepers but also for amateurs as they require virtually no maintenance compared with traditional materials. It’s question of moving forward with the times and if that means bees benefit then we all do.”

The temperature-controlled homes allow the bees make increased quantities of higher quality honey, as they spend less time trying to regulate the temperature inside the hives themselves.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.airpop.com

In association with Hardie Polymers – www.hardiepolymers.com

// Materials Technical//

Blog

This month, polymer expert and technical blog author, Dr Charlie Geddes, looks at making the right selection when it comes to Polyacetal grades and the differences and subtleties between them.

Polyacetal (POM): When to Select Homopolymer or Copolymer?

The production of stable thermoplastics from formaldehyde was discovered around 60 years ago, using two independent approaches. To prevent unzipping of the polymer chains at high temperature, DuPont used an end cap mechanism while Celanese opted for incorporation of a comonomer which also stopped the unzipping. Today you still have a choice between the homopolymer grades and the copolymer grades of polyacetal (POM) but are they totally interchangeable?

For most of the attributes of POM, they are similar —: hard, tough, low coefficient of friction, good wear resistance, excellent fatigue endurance.

They are both opaque, with poor uv resistance, prone to thermal degradation, easily attacked by acids and alkali and have poor fire performance.

However there are subtle differences.

Homopolymers tend to have higher crystallinity levels and hence have better short term mechanical properties — stiffness, tensile strength, impact resistance and initial creep resistance. Copolymer grades have better oxidation resistance and exhibit better resistance to creep and creep rupture at longer time scales. Surprisingly, glass fibre filled copolymer grades have better mechanical properties than the corresponding homopolymer, because the slightly different chemical structure gives better coupling to the glass fibre.

Having lower crystallinity, copolymers tend to have better dimensional stability and win out on lower friction and less wear. Although homopolymer grades have a lower moisture uptake, the copolymer is less susceptible to hydrolysis in hot water. Likewise copolymers have better resistance to alkali materials. Because of the higher crystallinity, homopolymer has a higher heat distortion temperature but copolymer grades have higher continuous use temperatures because of better long term stability.

For processors, the copolymer grades are attractive because of the lower process temperature associated with lower crystallinity and also a wider process window.

Got a view on the above?

Blog posts will also be published on the BP&R website at www.britishplastics.co.uk - feel free to leave your comments.

Plastribution and Radici Plastics extend UK distribution agreement Polymer distributor, Plastribution and Italian-based polyamide producer, Mike Bo swell, left, and John Rae, finalised Radici Plastics, the agreement in Lo ndon recently have signed an official distribution agreement that will see Plastribution maintain exclusive focus in distribution sales of Radici products in the UK market.

The strategic move is said to complement the “impressive and ambitioius” growth plans of both companies.

“It was the appointment of John Rae as Radici Plastics UK managing director, which led to a decision to make an already strong partnership even better,” said Mike Boswell, Managing Director of Plastribution.

Commenting, Rae said: “Plastribution has a long and successful history in providing expertise and know-how in advancing our engineering polymers portfolio throughout the UK. In formalising an extended agreement, both parties can look forward to the next exciting phase of our relationship, working with the many new innovative polyamide materials developed by Radici Plastics.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.plastribution.co.uk

UK PLASTICS MACHINERY LIMITED Tel: 01564 822172, Fax: 0870 0941988 Email: sales@ukplasticsmachinery.co.uk INTERPLAS STAND E60

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ENGINEERING MATERIALS

NEWS

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.brettmartin.com Image: Jeff Moore

Electric concept vehicle provides a ‘window on plastic’ A new, ultra-lightweight electric car concept vehicle has been unveiled that benefits from weight savings of 30 percent thanks to the use of all-plastic windows instead of glass.

The windows of the vehicle, which is a culmination of a two-and-a-half-year project led by BMW, are made of LEXAN resin, a polycarbonate (PC) material, and coating technologies from SABIC. Use of the resin compared to conventional glass for the car’s windows reduces weight by over 13 kilograms, says SABIC, and extends the vehicle’s driving range by up to two kilometres for a single battery charge. In addition, PC’s superior insulating properties reduce demands on the car’s heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, making it possible to achieve up to an additional 15 kilometres in extended range.

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Up, up and away…

This building in London’s Covent Garden is magically levitating – with the help of some structurally strong Polycarbonate sheet. The architectural illusion is made possible by lightweight Marlon ST polycarbonate sheet and polystyrene from Northern Ireland-based manufacturer, Brett Martin.

“A significant share of an EV’s energy consumption depends on its weight,” said Stefan Riederer from BMW Research & Technology. “A low vehicle weight allows for smaller and lighter battery designs, in addition to lighter designs of the electric motor, the chassis and other components. The weight savings that we were able to achieve across our EV concept, including the significant drop in weight from the windows with SABIC’s SABIC’s LEXAN resin delivers weight materials and development support, savings and thermal efficiency for new allowed us to significantly reduce the ultra-lightweight electric car concept amount of energy required to move the developed by BMW-led Visio.M Consortium car and meet the design intent of the vehicle.”

The lighter weight of the PC windows project. This joint effort, funded by the contributes to a lower centre of gravity, German Federal Ministry of Education which tends to have a favourable effect on and Research (BMBF), has focused on the vehicle’s handling and stability, says producing an exceptionally light electric SABIC. The reduced weight also means car that is efficient, safe and massthat the vehicle requires less energy to marketable. accelerate at a quicker rate. In terms of “The Visio.M concept is a good example vehicle security, LEXAN resin has up to of the important contributions that a light100 times the impact resistance of glass. weight enabler like PC glazing can make The electric concept vehicle, unveiled for global automakers and consumers,” in October this year, is the end product said Scott Fallon, General Manager, of the Visio.M (Visionary Mobility) Automotive, SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business. “PC glazing continues to prove – in various demonstrations like the Visio.M The ultra-lightweight urban and in applications that are in production electric concept vehicle from vehicles today – that it can contribute very the Visio.M project meaningfully to improved vehicle efficiency and performance.”

The Visio.M windows were designed to use PC or glass for testing and comparison purposes. SABIC says that if the windows had been designed for PC alone, additional energy efficiency gains could have been achieved.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.sabic-ip.com/automotive

Industry leaders achieve milestone in making superabsorbent polymer from bio-based acrylic acid BASF, Cargill and Novozymes have announced the achievement of another milestone in their joint development of technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials. The team has demonstrated the successful conversion of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), to glacial acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers.

Moreover, they have selected the process for further scale-up.

In August 2012, BASF, Cargill and Novozymes announced their joint agreement to develop a process for the conversion of renewable raw materials into bio-based acrylic acid. In July 2013, the partners successfully demonstrated the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), one possible precursor to acrylic acid, at pilot scale.

BASF initially plans to use the bio-based acrylic acid to manufacture superabsorbent polymers. Currently, acrylic acid is produced by the oxidation of propylene derived mainly from the refining of crude oil. “After just 18 months we have selected the preferred process to convert 3-HP into glacial acrylic acid. Now we are working full force on the set-up of a small integrated pilot plant until the end of this year,” said Teressa Szelest, Senior Vice President, Global Hygiene Business at BASF. Together with the pilot plant for 3-HP, operated by Cargill and supported by Novozymes, this will further support BASF’s plans for fast market entry of superabsorbent polymers derived from bio-based acrylic acid.

“We are pleased to see the project progressing with high pace and commitment towards commercialisation,” said Kristian Bjørneboe, Vice President Business Creation and Acquisition at Novozymes. “We are refining and pursuing options on how to move quickly towards commercial scale production of 3-HP to

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acrylic acid to meet market demands for consumer goods based on renewable raw materials. Meanwhile, strain and fermentation optimisation towards commercial scale requirements is progressing steadily.”

Superabsorbent polymers and other products derived from biobased acrylic acid will be an innovative offer to the market and will meet consumer and industry demand for consumer goods based on renewable raw materials and sustainable supply chains.

BASF is the world’s largest producer of acrylic acid, a high-volume chemical that feeds into a broad range of products, including superabsorbent polymers that can soak up large amounts of liquid, used primarily for nappies and other hygiene products.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.basf.com www.Cargill.com www.novozymes.com

The project is developing technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials for superabsorbent polymers

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Engineering Passion

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NEWS

An example of the types of trays produced on the Romi EN 280 Credit: Gratnells

School tray manufacturer gets top marks with additional machine A manufacturer of plastic stackable trays, traditionally used in school classrooms, has installed an additional injection moulding machine in order to run ‘lights out’ production.

An EN 380 machine from Romi Machines UK has been delivered to Harlow-based educational and medical trays specialist, Gratnells, in order to both bolster capacity and provide backup should breakdowns occur.

“The quality of the machines is good, it is much quieter and uses less energy,” said Steve Cadman, Moulding Shop Manager at Gratnells. “For us, though, the back up was the key.”

The EN 380 must run ‘lights out’, unmanned overnight with the help of robotic systems, necessitating that it be both pre-settable and entirely reliable.

Gratnells can produce up to 20,000 trays overnight following the end of its second shift.

The Romi EN 380 installed at Gratnells

The trays have a 45 or 50 second cycle.

Using previous technology, the motor has been in continual use, but now after the mould is filled the motor cuts out for the cooling process. This, says Romi, has significant energy saving potential for Gratnells.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.sandretto.co.uk

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MACHINERY

Engineering Passion

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FEATURE: Stäubli offers ‘hands-on’ connection with new UK demonstrator facility

www.kraussmaffei.com Stäubli’s new premises in Telford, UK

T

he last time I saw a selection of Stäubli products on display in the UK was in the back of a van. No, really. All above board, however, as it was part of the company’s ‘demonstrator road van’, which Manufacturers of last toured the country in 2012 connectors, robotics visiting injection moulders and automation looking to improve productivity systems for a number and profitability by showcasing a of industries, Stäubli, ‘hands on’ opportunity to evaluate recently opened the Stäubli’s latest mould connection, doors to its new transfer and clamping technology. facility in Telford, UK, Fast-forward to 2014 and this where it demonstrated technology is now permanently a number of techniques housed in the company’s new for eFFIcient, safe facility in Telford. and innovative The demonstration manufacturing in area in the new, larger, plastics. Here, Leanne purpose-built premises Taylor reports from features an array of highinside the doors. tech, fast-moving parts combined with products on stand-alone plinths in a specifically designed exhibition display and demonstration area for its quick release connectors and multi-axis robots.

“For the first time in the UK, Stäubli Connectors is now able to present its full range of products, providing customers with a ‘hands on’ evaluation opportunity,” explained Craig Forrester, Manager of the Connectors Division at Stäubli UK. “For example, plastic moulding companies can view the most recent quick mould change and clamping systems as well as the mould connectors that can dramatically boost their competitiveness.”

Being demonstrated was the latest introduction to the Connectors range, the HTI, high temperature coupling, specifically designed to withstand circuit temperatures up to 300°C. The design features double shut off technology without any internal seal and metal-to-metal tightness. Maintenance is reduced since the couplings do not have a seal in the fluid stream, a single ‘O’ ring on the outside of each coupling can be changed onsite in a few seconds causing minimal interruption to the production cycle.

This high temperature connector is also available in a multicoupling version, capable of accommodating six circuits (12 couplings) all of which can be connected simultaneously in one single action and can only be connected in one position, eliminating any risk of wrong or misconnection. The major operational benefit of assembling an array of quick release connectors onto a single multi-coupling plate is interesting. Multi-couplings provide quick and simultaneous connection of all services e.g. air, water, hydraulics, electrics and data and often result in the most significant single improvement in changeover times.

“The plastics industry is probably where we are best know for our range of connectors, this is driven by the industry’s desire for production flexibility and more product types being manufactured on a single machine,” said Forrester. “Going back some years a moulder would buy a machine and a tool and switch it on and off in between production of a part. Now you buy with the intention of making multiple components to maximise investment and reduce downtime.”

Stäubli technical staff get ‘hands on’ in the new demonstrator facility

Any selection of connectors can be located on the same multicoupling plate as required by each specific application, taking into account the type of fluid, pressure and temperature as well as parameters such as the method of connection (automatic or manual?), the locking mechanism and the frequency of connection/ disconnection. The use of multi-couplings dramatically improves safety; connection can only be made in the correct position, eliminating any risk of circuit inversion, wrong or mis-connection.

“We have a vast array of products for the plastics industry, it is absolutely crucial that a customer is using the right one for an application. The consequences of not doing so, in term of costs and safety, can be extreme. There is no ‘one size fits all’ and our team are trained in knowing what’s needed for a specific machine type.”

Forrester added.

On the robotics side, customers visiting the new Telford facility benefit from dedicated demonstration cells, providing the opportunity to evaluate and adapt realistic simulations of any planned automation. Specific robot installations can be mirrored in the cells, demonstrating to customers how these multi-axis, highly flexible robots can be used in a wide spread of applications.

“In the plastics industry there is an appetite amongst second tier automotive manufacturers for robotic technology, for example the

Stäubli now has a permanent UK base to showcase its products

Fakuma 2014 was “most successful of all time” says BOY

Injection moulding machinery manufacturer, BOY, has described its recent attendance at Fakuma as “its most successful of all time” with “more visitors than ever” to its stand.

6-axis robots for demoulding from injection moulding machines and ancillary tasks such as pick and place, as well as vision inspection for quality control. The demonstrator in the new workshop illustrates these techniques,” Paul Stone, General Manager at Stäubli UK told BP&R. Stäubli says its industrial robots deliver technical advantages including compact size, broad work envelopes, high speed and precision, resistance to all types of environments and the flexibility to adapt to a number of tasks.

“There is work to be done in the UK to encourage take-up of robots,” continued Stone, “However, the situation is certainly growing here – 2013 was our second strongest sales year to date – but there is still work to be done.”

There is certainly a huge focus for Stäubli on the UK market, with the company saying this new facility, with its dedicated demonstration and display capability, reinforces the aim of presenting “effective, innovative and reliable connection and robotic solutions” to the UK market.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.staubli.com

Stäubli technical experts demonstrate the products at the facility

“Over 60 percent increase in visitors to our booth – we did not expect this,” said Klaus Geimer, BOY Deputy Managing Director, after Fakuma 2014. “The six interesting applications in the BOY booth and the seven additional machines in the booths of partner companies impressed a number of exhibition visitors.”

The company said a BOY XS machine with a compact, integrated handling unit removing sprues from an eight-cavity cap drew interest from visitors looking for compact and simple integration of automation systems, as well as a pneumaticallydriven swivel arm on a BOY 35 E, designed for the removal of business cards.

BOY said the machine technology, as well as the applications, scored points with visitors at the Friedrichshafen-based trade show. Extremely thin-walled parts were produced on a BOY 35 E and a BOY 100 E, produced with the use of the company’s new differential injection unit. .

A “visitor favourite” was reportedly a fast-cycling application on a BOY 60 E, which saw the production of pipettes in a 32-cavitiy mould with a 4.8-second cycle time.

BOY said its focus on developing a platform for more efficient part production was the foundation for the development and market launch of its servo-motor pump drive (2008) and EconPlast technology (2013), developments it says have “paid off” with significant reductions in energy usage.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.dr-boy.de

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MACHINERY

Engineering Passion

www.kraussmaffei.com

NEWS Milacron to incorporate MuCell technology into injection moulding equipment Milacron LLC has announced a partnership agreement with Trexel Inc, the provider of MuCell microcellular foam injection moulding technology, that will see Milcron incorporate the technique into its injection moulding equipment offering.

The patented Trexel MuCell foaming technology involves the introduction of precisely metered quantities of atmospheric gases (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) to create a foamed part, resulting in high quality precision and engineered plastic components, while greatly reducing production costs associated with lower material consumption, shorter moulding cycle times and reduced machine clamping tonnage requirements.

“We believe that Milacron is uniquely capable to provide the complete melt distribution and control solution for MuCell systems,” explained Bruce Catoen, Milacron’s Chief Technology Officer. “Our extensive portfolio of primary processing equipment, combined with industry leading hot runner and control systems will allow MuCell technology to expand into new and untapped markets.”

Catoen went on to elaborate: “Together with our partner Trexel, Milacron has proven the viability of MuCell in blow moulding, co-injection, higher surface finish parts and high cavitation packaging applications. The light-weighting, low tonnage, reduced warp and sink benefits of MuCell can now be exploited in markets that were previously not possible. This is a very exciting opportunity for both companies and we are extremely happy to be partnering with Trexel.”

Under the agreement, Milacron will receive the rights to resell the Trexel MuCell SCF gas dosing equipment directly to its customers under the Milacron, Ferromatik, Uniloy and Mold-Masters

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The Ladymeade Business Park has in excess of 25,000 sq. feet of purpose built floor space over four buildings

Premier Industries opens new premises to accommodate expansion and growth Premier Industries Group, a UK business encompassing seven Premier Moulding Ma chinery is the UK and companies including Premier Moulding Ireland Sales and Se rvice partner for Ha itian Machinery (PMM) and Premier Plastic and Zhafir injection moulding machinery Parts (PPP), has opened a new, purposebuilt facility to accommodate growth and expansion.

The group is made up of seven The Ladymeade Business Park has manufacturing businesses covering plastic in excess of 25,000 sq. feet of purpose injection moulding, moulding machinery built floor space over four buildings to sales, architectural joinery, metal accommodate the Premier Industries fabrications and retail security products.

Manufacturing Group.

Premier Moulding Machinery (PMM), “We are delighted with the new founded in 2005, is the UK and Ireland Business Park,” commented Patrick Sales and Service partner for Haitian Green, Premier Industries’ Director. “It and Zhafir injection moulding machinery. has been a long 15 months through the Commenting on PMM, Green said: “The build and move but what we have now is business has gone from strength to simply stunning and a great base for us to strength and has seen a massive increase expand the business.” in sales in the last 12 months, particularly in the automotive sector, where manufacturing is returning to the UK from the Far East to capitalise on the technical brands while transferring the operating and quality capabilities of the British and rights under Trexel’s patents to its end Irish workforce.” users without any added fees or costs.

Haitian and Zhafir moulding machines “We are very excited for Milacron to offer are used in the Premier Plastic Parts (PPP) their customers turnkey MuCell technology workshop, the division of the company solutions,” said Steve Braig, President and specialising in plastic injection moulding CEO of Trexel Inc. “Milacron, Ferromatik of precision parts and optically clear and Mold-Masters provide injection plastics. moulding systems across all major end user markets globally.”

FURTHER INFORMATION: FURTHER INFORMATION: www.pmmuk.net www.trexel.com www.milacron.com

This month, Steve Shaw, Executive Director at RAPRA, looks at how the progression of plastics has also led to a rise in the number of counterfeit applications and the ways at which companies can protect their profits and intellectual property.

Comment: Identifying counterfeiting to protect R&D intellectual property

S

ince 1919, the Rubber And Plastics Research Association (RAPRA) has dealt with the evolution of polymer innovations.

Although the progression of materials originated from exploring natural resources, it quickly evolved by introducing synthetics to the material umbrella, which followed the beginning of mass productions and the rapid growth of polymers in countless applications.

There was a time when the silk was silk, the wool was wool and the rubber was rubber. There were times when researching a new material and introducing it to the market was shaping industry and ensuring healthy technological progress. RAPRA recognises that those times have changed dramatically and they now consist of stolen ideas and counterfeit goods that are damaging the quality and safety of products and devaluing the initial R&D process.

The International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition classes counterfeiting as a federal and state crime, involving manufacturing and distribution of goods under someone else’s name, and without their permission. The magnitude of counterfeiting products in the plastics and rubber industries can have major impacts on profitability in key markets like aerospace, motor-parts, consumer goods and pharmaceutical necessitating the spending of funds in order to identify and prevent the use of miscellaneous materials.

It has become a trend to sell cheap imitations. This is a phenomenon that has reached the market through various routes, sometimes the selling process is legitimate in the supply chain. Identifying fake goods is crucial as they can be very dangerous to human health. The risk of having counterfeit products on the market will increase the failure in such components, affect productivity and have a negative impact on the environment. Even though multilayered counterfeiting technology has recently become cleverer in terms of advertising, there are still ways to recognise the counterfeits.

RAPRA is determined to help any business that would like to identify whether its products are subject to counterfeiting and has developed a network of independent and impartial technical support to ensure product protection, traceability and authentication in a company’s supply chain.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.rapra.org

SOFTWARE DIRECTORY manufacturing management directory enterprise resource planning Epicor ERP Manufacturing Software (For Plastics’/Rubber Processors) Epicor Software (UK) Ltd T: +44 (0)1344 468 468 E: ukmarketing@epicor.com Epicor’s ERP (on-site, hosted & SAAS) manufacturing software for the polymer converting industry covers the full range of back office operations from on-line and off-line sales and quotations to production planning, inventory management and finance through to logistics, ware-housing and distribution.

It seamlessly integrates with Epicor Mattec’s Real-time MES to provide a single system that offers a complete quote-to-cash solution for the plastics’/rubber industries.

real time production monitoring, scheduling and process monitoring Epicor Mattec Real-time MES (Microsoft Windows™ PC Servers & “Web Based”) Epicor Software (UK) Ltd T: +44 (0)1344 468 468 E: ukmarketing@epicor.com Modules: Production Monitoring, Process Monitoring, “Drag and Drop” Scheduling/Planning, “Family Moulding”, Preventative Maintenance, Bar Coding/Parts’ Trace-ability, Operator Visual Aids, Process Parameter Profiling, E-mail/ Public Address System Alerts, Stand-alone “Drag and Drop” Scheduler, Stand-alone SPC “Machine Analyzer”, Machine Energy Monitoring, KPI Dashboards, Visual Manufacturing (Large LED Displays), Automatic Data Import/Export Functions (For Integration with Epicor ERP & Other Manufacturing Systems/Software Packages).

real time production monitoring, scheduling and process monitoring intouch T: 01604 646144 E: enquiries@ intouchmonitoring.com Website: www.intouchmonitoring.com Real-time production monitoring systems. Designed to be easy to use and providing affordable solutions to all sizes of businesses.

Production monitoring, scheduling, reporting, data import/export, databases for parts, tools and operators, integration with other software packages.

ProHelp EPM (for Microsoft Windows™ PC Servers) Mattec Ltd T: 01909 561544 F: 01909 560675 E: a.jewell@mattec.com Real-time Modules: Production Monitoring, ‘Drag and Drop’ Scheduling/Planning, Preventative Maintenance, Bar Coding/Parts Traceability, Operator Visual Aids, Process Parameter Profiling, Pager/ Tannoy Alerts, Stand-alone ‘Drag and Drop’ Scheduler, Stand-alone SPC Machine Analyzer, Automatic Data Import/Export Functions (for integration to Manufacturing Systems and other software packages).

PlantMaster BMS Vision Ltd T: 01254 662244, E: sales.bla@visionbms.com Website: www.visionbms.com/ plastics.

Affordable and flexible MES system for the plastics/rubber industry.

Real-time production monitoring features wireless data units and OPC Ethernet machine connections.

“Drag & drop” job scheduling supports frame/insert level family tooling plus KAN BAN. ERP system integration, SPC/ SQC, Touch Screen Data Units, Machine Maintenance, Operator Tracking, Traceability, DNC, Energy Monitoring, Bar Coding, Pager Alerts.

Easy to use systems from a €600m company with over 30 years experience.

SYSCON-PlantStar MTec Services Ltd T: 0114 2476267 F: 0114 2476267 E: mt@mtec-services.co.uk W: www.mtec-services.co.uk W: www.syscon-intl.com PlantStar systems provide customised, scalable applications that deliver real-time plant floor data from any machine, shift, and plant anywhere in your business.

Affordable systems available for all size of processor.

Browser-based software and hardware, and wireless ethernet technology make for highly versatile and configurable systems providing information wherever needed.

Standard systems include realtime alarms, downtime & reject analysis, capacity scheduling, ERP integration and more. With options including SPC/SQC, Labour tracking and Scheduling, Family Tooling, Material traceability, bar-coding.

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A listing in the Software Directory costs £140 per bp&r programme per year. Call Lisa on 01244 680222 for details.

BUYER’S GUIDE

MATERIALS

colour masterbatch

pulse staking H.T.E Engineering Ltd

MOULD RELEASE

TO ADVERTISE IN THis SPACE

Unit 9, St Ives Enterprise Centre, St Ives, Huntingdon Cambridgeshire, UK, PE27 3NP T: +44 (0) 1480 467321 M: +44 (0) 7435 967632 E: john@hte.ie W: www.pulsestaker.com

Elmatic (Cardiff) Ltd

Wentloog Road, Rumney, Cardiff CF3 1XH T: 029 20 778727 F: 029 20 792297 thermocouples E: sales@elmatic.co.uk W: www.elmatic.co.uk

ultrasonic welding

CONTACT LISA MONTGOMERY Eclipse Buyers Guide_Layout 1 0701244 680222

EQUIPMENT Units 3E + 3F, Hillam Road Industrial Estate, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD2 1QN T: 01274 731552 F: 01274 738118 E: sales@eclipsecolours.com W: www.eclipsecolours.com Polymer Specific and Universal Colour and Additive Masterbatches. Fastmatch colour matching service.

1 mm Easysperse MicroPellets to 4 mm MaxiPellets.

Standards second to none.

MASTERBATCH

CONTROL SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT

DOSING EQUIPMENT

quality monitoring control Kistler Instruments Ltd

T: 01256 741550 F: 01256 741551 E: sales.uk@kistler.com W: www.kistler.com Pressure transducers and associated monitoring/control equipment for new and existing injection moulding applications.

ANCILLARY

InControl Ultrasonics Ltd (FFR Ultrasonics Ltd)

The Swan Centre, 8A Swan Street, Sileby, Leicestershire LE12 7NW T: 01509 621992 E: enquiries@ffr-ultrasonics. co.uk W: www.ffr-ultrasonics.co.uk

Telsonic UK Ltd

12a - 15 Birch Copse, Technology Road, Poole, Dorset BH17 7FH T: 01202 697340 F: 01202 693674 E: info@uk.telsonic.com W: www.telsonic.co.uk Blog:www.telsonicuk.wordpress.com

vibration welding Branson Ultrasonics

158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.bransoneurope.eu

MOULD RELEASE

CHILLERS/TEMPERATURE CONTROLLERS Motan Colortronic Ltd

EXTRUSION SYSTEMS new and used Cooper Plastics Machinery

Unit 12, Harmill Industrial Estate, Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 4FF T: 01525 850610 F: 01525 218008 E: cooperplastics@googlemail.com W: www.cooperplastics.co.uk Extruders, water baths, haul-offs, fly knife cutters, conveyors/tip tables, in-line punches, coilers etc.

New and used. Repairs, servicing or rebuilds.

UK agent for Lyons Electronics.

DRYERS

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

FOR SALE Reheat Stretch Blow Moulding Machine (PET)

TO ADVERTISE IN THis SPACE

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CONTACT LISA MONTGOMERY 01244 680222

Make: Sidel, France Type: SBO 24/24 Year: 1994 - Preform Tipper, Hopper / Elevator, Infeed Rail - Oven & Heating Wheel - Electrical Cabinet (Siemens S5) - Operating manuals

For further details: 01925 596170 – 07838138342 Email: douglastrading@gmail.com

ASSEMBLY hot plate welding Branson Ultrasonics

158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.bransoneurope.eu

Motan Colortronic Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

ANCILLARIES

DRYERS/DEHUMIDIFIERS Motan Colortronic Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

INJECTION MOULDING

mixing, feeding, drying

SCREEN CHANGERS

Motan Colortronic Ltd

Industrial Plastics Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

Unit 13 Canterbury Industrial Park, 297 Ilderton Road, London, SE15 1NP T: 020 7252 9600 F: 020 7252 9601 E: sales@ipl-london.co.uk W: www.ipl-london.co.uk

METAL DETECTION & SEPARATION EQUIPMENT

3D PRINTING

3D Printing

Motan Colortronic Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

HEATING EQUIPMENT

in Plastic & Rubber

NOZZLES & NOZZLE TIPS

Tel: 01420 88645

www.projet3d.co.uk

MATERIALS HANDLING AND STORAGE

STATIC CONTROL

gravimetric/volumetric blending

Arrowquint Ltd

SECONDHAND AND RECONDITIONED

Motan Colortronic Ltd

induction heating for platens and tools MF Induction Heating

Unit 5, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffs, WS11 7XN Replacement Coils New platens T: 01543 570642 F: 01543 574460 E: sales@mfinduction.com W: www.mfinduction.com BS EN ISO9001: 2000 registered.

BS EN ISO9001:2008

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

ANGLO PLASTICS LTD

TO ADVERTISE IN THis SPACE

hopper dryers

CONTACT LISA MONTGOMERY 01244 680222

LABORATORY MACHINES

PRINTING MACHINES pad

Buy/Sell Used Plastics Machinery Rutland Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 1HX T: +44 (0) 1276 470910 T: +44 (0) 7740 632907 E: information@ angloplastics.com W: www.angloplastics.com

DM Machinery Ltd

Unit 5 Sanders Close, Finedon Road Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 4HQ T: 08450 655455 F: 08450 655456 E: sales@arrowquint.co.uk W: www.arrowquint.co.uk Static control solutions, equipment sales and rental, repairs and on-site servicing. UK/Eire agent for Eltex – market leaders in static control systems.

TESTING EQUIPMENT

Used Injection Moulding Machine Stockists 40 Thorne Lane, Wakefield West Yorkshire, WF1 5RR T: 01924 290206 E: sales@dmmachinery.co.uk W: www.dmmachinery.co.uk

DTL Machinery UK

We Buy / Sell all Makes, Age and Sizes of Injection Moulding Machines & Ancillaries Tool room machines and also complete factories / plants Factory Clearance Services Dismantling / Removal of obsolete plant and machinery T: 01925 596170 M: 07838138342 E: douglastrading@gmail.com

hopper loaders

Ray Ran Test Equipment Ltd

HOT RUNNER SYSTEMS

SCREWS & BARRELS

hot runner controllers

Rawmec (EEC) Ltd

Rawmec Industrial Park, Plumpton Road, Hoddesdon, Herts EN11 0EE T: 01992 471796 F: 01992 471797 E: rawmec@btconnect.com W: www.rawmec.com

Motan Colortronic Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

TransXL International Ltd

Thornhill, South Marston, Wiltshire SN3 4TA T: 01793 827666 F: 01793 823826 E: sales@transxl.co.uk W: www.transxl.co.uk

Kelsey Close, Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 6RS T: 024 763 42002 F: 024 766 41670 E: Polytest@ray-ran.com W: www.ray-ran.com

hardness - IRHD and shore MAPRA Technik Co — BAREISS For Bareiss of Germany IRHD & SHORE hardness testers, Abrasion & Rebound testers.

T: 020 8508 4207 F: 020 8502 5107 E: info@mapra.co.uk W: www.mapra.co.uk

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BUYER’S GUIDE

EQUIPMENT TESTING EQUIPMENT

World leader in Materials Testing Instrumentation Tensile|Fatigue| Impact Compression|Melt Flow Coronation Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HP12 3SY, UK Tel: +44 1494 464646

www.instron.com

inspection & measurement

TAMPO.SCREEN.FOIL

Contour Marking Co Ltd Albert house, Gledrid Industrial Park, Chirk ,Wrexham, LL14 5DG T: 01691 770093 F: 01691 770023 Sub Contract Tampo, Screen & Foil Printing to the plastic moulding industry E: sales@contourmarking.com W: www.contourmarking.com

For DOSS visual solution of Italy – Inspection & sorting machines for O’rings, Seals, Gaskets.

T: 020 8508 4207 F: 020 8502 5107 E: info@mapra.co.uk W: www.mapra.co.uk

SERVICES

Clayton Thermal_Layout 1 19/04/2

CONTRACT CLEANING Injection Moulding Extrusion • • • • • •

RECYCLING SYSTEMS

MOULDFLOW ANALYSIS

MAPRA Technik Co – DOSS – MARCEL AUBERT – KAFER

CONTACT LISA MONTGOMERY 01244 680222

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Unterfeldstraße 3 4052 Ansfelden / Austria Phone: +43 (0)732/31 90-0 Fax: +43 (0)732/31 90-71 sales@erema.at www.erema.at

PARTS & SERVICE CHOOSE THE NUMBER ONE.

TESTINg/CONSULTANCY

Hot Runners Nozzles Moulds Dies Filters Screws

FLEMING

Polymer Testing and Consultancy An independent ISO9001 accredited laboratory specialising in: Capillary rheometry FTIR DSC/TGA MFR/MVR Extrusion Pilot-scale blown film Line Instrumented impact Flow simulation Tel: +44 (0)1299 253300 www.flemingptc.co.uk

Cleaning service for processors Remove all polymers Tel:- +44 121 511 1203 Fax:- +44 121 511 1192 Email:- LesH@claytonholdings.com Web:- www.claytonholdings.com

TO ADVERTISE IN THis SPACE

EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen Ges.m.b.H.

INJECTION MOULDING EXTRUSION FLOW ANALYSIS PRINTERS printers of plastic mouldings Total Print Ltd

Specialist Pad Printers Station Road, Gedney Hill, Lincolnshire PE12 0NP T: 01406 330122 F: 01406 330123 E: info@totalprintltd.com W: www.totalprintltd.com Sub-Contract Pad Printers to the Plastics Industry

FLEMING

Polymer Testing and Consultancy An independent ISO9001 accredited laboratory specialising in the flow simulation of: Extruder screws & spiral mandrel,flat spiral,profile, coathanger & coex dies Compuplast distributor Stop guessing start simulating Tel: +44 (0)1299 253300 www.flemingptc.co.uk

Gammadot Rheology Testing & Consultancy Services

Unit 5C, Leaton Industrial Estate, Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 3AP T: 01939 291677 E: enquiries@gammadot.com W: www.gammadot.com Providing independant testing solutions to all your quality control, failure analysis & flow simulation data needs