British Plastics
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and Rubber
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3D Printing and Plastics
Interplas: Show Edition
UK Plastics and the World
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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
a platform to promote uk plastics
ART SAM HAMLYN T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: sam@rapidnews.com
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he three-year wait is finally over, as This is something that Philip Law, BPF Interplas 2014 prepares to open its Director General, will emphasise during his doors this month for what is set to keynote presentation on the opening day be a truly memorable experience for both of the show, entitled ‘The UK Plastics exhibitors and visitors. With some Industry and the World.’ impressive stands, some pivotal To that end, a key highlight of this conference sessions and year’s event will be the two several new initiatives seminar theatres, which “The amount of including workshops and over the three days will exhibitors, across the interactive experiences, each cover some of the entire industry this year’s outing is set to most significant and spectrum, that are be something special. launching new products, contemporary topics in the And rightly so. The UK areas of environment, bringing new and manufacturing economy is automotive technology, exciting technology and at its strongest for years, business affairs, new showing the most highly innovation and upcoming with the CBI predicting the specialised equipment recent robust growth will industry regulation. is a clear indication continue for the With the environment of the importance placed still being an industry remainder of 2014. on Interplas by the Coupled with a flurry of buzzword, there will be plastics sector.” announcements from many aspects of Interplas major vehicle OEMs geared towards a more boosting supply chains up and down the sustainable future. Not only will the ‘Green country by choosing to manufacture their Room’ seminars include pressing topics latest new models here in Britain, as well such as energy efficiency, biomaterials as continued export sales growth and and the environment, but also much of the investment intentions, it seems like the machinery on display will be highlighting perfect time to celebrate the best of our innovations for energy saving, reduced industry. running costs and improved efficiency. The amount of exhibitors, across the The British Plastics and Rubber team entire industry spectrum, that are look forward to seeing some new and launching new products, bringing new and familiar faces at the show, so look out for exciting technology and showing the most us on stand C90. highly specialised equipment is a clear indication of the importance placed on Enjoy the issue. Interplas by the plastics sector. Leanne Taylor, Editor
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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.
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contents
september 2014
on the cover it’s showtime Leading distributor of plastics raw materials, Plastribution, gives an exclusive and unique sneak preview of what visitors can expect to find on its stand, G80, at Interplas.
See pages 6-7
32-45 FEATURE interplas: on-site at the show
34 FEATURE
3
news from the front line: Interplas special
EDITOR’S LETTER
The UK plastics industry and the World
A platform to promote UK plastics
14-19 FEATURE
46-50 FEATURE
tpes
3d printing and additive manufacturing
Trends in the top end-use applications for thermoplastic elastomers
20-25 FEATURE
REGULARS INDUSTRY NEWS
08
Materials
52
reclamation and recycling
58
machinery
60
SOFTWARE
63
BUYERS’ GUIDE
64
32
The rise of additive layer manufacturing
63 FEATURE
thermoforming New decoration process offers “unrivalled possibilities” for thermoformed containers
mo’s corner Why do we mix materials when dosing?
26-31 ]FEATURE Preston Plastics doubles production with new recycling technology
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Image: LEGO®
recycling machinery
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Industry News
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news De La Rue will be the company responsible for printing the UK’s first polymer banknotes. Image: Courtesy of BBC From left: Darren Merchant, Sue Taylor, Susie Dane and Jeremy Spikins
Four is the magic number for Meech UK Developer and manufacturer of electrostatic controls and related solutions, Meech International, has appointed four new members to its team in the UK as a result of its continuing growth. The positions cover a range of roles that the company says will provide additional support to help the Oxfordshirebased manufacturer’s growing business, by boosting its sales, production and marketing efforts. “Appointing the very best personnel to our business is a critical part of achieving our growth targets, helping us to win new customers and sustain existing contracts,” said Iain Cameron, Marketing Director. Darren Marchant steps in as Internal
Sales and Technical Customer Service Adviser, working alongside Meech’s field sales representatives to “streamline the sales process and act as the vital link between the manufacturer and the customer.” Jeremy Spikins and Sue Taylor join as Production Manager and Book Keeper respectively, while Susie Dane fills the role of Marketing Assistant. Earlier this year, Meech reported an 11 percent increase in overall sales for its FY2012-13, stating a consistently positive performance in export sales provided positive growth. As a result the company has expanded, invested in and reorganised its production areas in the UK as well as this latest investment in personnel. further informatioN: www.meech.com
SABIC says the cracker conversion will allow it to use its existing facilities to produce olefins and their derivatives more competitively. Image: SABIC
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SABIC taps shale gas as alternative feedstock at UK site SABIC is capitalising on shale gas opportunities in the US by modifying its cracker at Teesside, UK, into a gas cracker. The cracker upgrade to using shale gas-based feedstock is scheduled to be completed during 2016, says the company, and is expected to result in long-term, reliable supply of cost-competitive products. “This project reflects SABIC’s strong determination to take advantage of cutting edge technology in creating new sources of competitive feedstock and energy that will allow the company to continue to build a sustainable business and deliver on
De La Rue selected for polymer banknote printing The Bank of England has announced that it has selected De La Rue as its “preferred bidder” in the tender to print its plastic banknotes. The Basingstoke-based company is expected to sign a contract in October that will see it print the notes for the Bank at its facility in Debden, Essex, for the next 10 years from April 2015. Philip Rogerson, De La Rue Chairman commented: “We are delighted that De La Rue has been selected as the preferred bidder for this very prestigious and important contract with the Bank of England.” The contract will mean that De La Rue will print the new polymer banknotes, which should enter circulation in 2016, starting with a £5 note featuring Sir Winston Churchill followed by a £10 note, featuring Jane Austen, a year later. The Bank announced in March 2014 that Cumbria-based Innovia Security is supplying the polymer substrate used for the printing of the notes. further information: www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes www.delarue.com
its long-term vision,” commented Yousef Al-Benyan, SABIC Executive Vice President, Chemicals. “Our long-term focus is to have a business that stays profitable not only in the European region, but across our global markets.” SABIC says the cracker conversion will allow it to use its existing facilities to produce olefins and their derivatives more competitively. These products are essential building blocks for materials used in items such as packaging products to protect food, health care products, automotive and building and construction parts. further information: www.sabic.eu
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Industry News
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Plastic design competition winner hits the right chord
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tackable, flexible buttons that encourage music comprehension, creation and play have won a prestigious innovation award and praise from top plastics industry experts. Michael Tougher, a fourth year student at Glasgow School of Art, secured first prize for his project ‘Dots’, after winning the Design Innovation in Showcasing the very best of Plastics (DIP) award for 2014. the UK’s pool of talent in The competition brief plastics design, this year’s was to design an student DIP Awards didn’t fail educational product in to deliver some of the most plastics that stimulates innovative and impressive new divergent thinking and creativity. It had to be ideas from Universities original, functional and across the country. innovative, and above all, Leanne Taylor reports. provide an engaging, playful experience. Consideration also had to be given to the target market, including age, and likely reasons for using the product. “I love music and myself play guitar and the brief we got at University was kind of to focus on creation and divergent thinking, so music was the first thing I went to,” Tougher explained. “So I started looking at basic, introductory instruments and simple keyboards and how people interact with instruments if they have no musical experience. I wanted to create something simple - an instrument that would empower people to create music.”
‘Dots’ represent individual musical notes and work by each button emitting a sound when pressed. The buttons can be stacked to produce a chord and the unit can be connected to other technology such as a tablet computer. Tougher explained that during experimental tests during research for the project, he found an issue with the linear layout of keyboards currently on the market. “When I went to do my tests, the users would always play the white notes and not the black, and they’d only play one note at a time,” he said. “So, I started to think about the notes being separate modules, so that a user can explore and create different arrangements; encouraging people to play chords as well as more than one note. I wanted to create something that, through the act of exploring, you learn about music as you play it.” Following on from his research and development, ‘Dots’ was born. Made from polypropylene for the top and bottom parts of the keyboard, and TPEs for the dots themselves, Tougher said that material choice was key. “I would say sustainability is the biggest thing, it’s almost ingrained in what we do,” Tougher said. “Its something you always try to achieve.” In order to adhere to the brief, Tougher developed each of the dots with the principle of disassembly, so that they clip together with no adhesive and can be easily fixed into place. “Polypropylene recycles, but we needed to consider sustainability as part of the project. Disassembly was a very important factor to ensure the products can be passed on from generation to generation, meaning they don’t become obsolete and create waste.”
ned is desig ‘Dots’ e g a our to enc creativity al ic s u m
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Each of the buttons has a corresponding musical note
In winning first prize, Tougher receives £1,000 as well as two prestigious industry placements; one with Bayer MaterialScience, one of the world’s leading suppliers of highperformance materials such as polycarbonates and polyurethanes, at its headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany, and the other in the UK with Hasbro, the multinational toy and board game company.
Other finalists included Helen Campbell, also from Glasgow School of Art, who took second place for her construction system ‘Stackpaks’ using recycled dairy product packaging and Nikian Aghababaie, from Nottingham Trent University, who was placed third for his ‘Musical Chairs’ that encourage autistic children to relate to each other through music, light and vibration. Looking forward, the students have aspirations to take their designs to market. Thanks to the DIP mentoring scheme, newly introduced in 2013, post-award support is offered to all the finalists with the goal of helping them take their design ideas closer to commercial realisation. Tougher explained that he is looking to market the product at children as a positive introduction to music in schools. “It’s well suited to the curriculum as it’s centred on creation, understanding and performance and lots of people can play it at the same time,” Tougher added. The judging panel for the awards, made up from a number of plastics industry experts, said there had been a very high quality of entries for the awards this year. “The judges are challenged every year with the excellence of the entries. It demonstrates the quality of the teaching at our universities and the design talent there is in the UK. Again this year we have six excellent finalists who have excelled in delivering a solution to the brief,” said Richard Brown, Chairman of the judging panel. Michael Tougher (right) receiving his award
further information: www.designinnovationplastics.org
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Industry News
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news Faerch Plast set to double production capacity at UK plant Food packaging specialist, Faerch Plast, is set to double production capacity in the UK following the planned installation of an additional extrusion line and 11 associated thermoformers at its Durhambased manufacturing facility by early 2015. The company says the key strategic move will ensure it continues to meet its annual output for CPET ready meal trays and high clarity APET and PP materials for cold foods and snacks, including bakery, dairy, vegetables and cold meats. Since it was opened in summer 2012, the purpose-built, 14,000m² plant has reported significant growth and currently boasts 60 employees, one extrusion line and accompanying thermoformers. It operates to stringent hygiene, quality and environmental standards.
capacity at Production st’s Durham Faerch Pla UK is set to e site in th 50 percent increase by 15 by early 20
As part of this latest investment, Faerch Plast will install a range of additional associated production equipment such as cutting-edge robot packing systems, cooling machines and compressors. The plant will also benefit from a 2000m² extension to boost stockholding capacity and 50 percent increase in headcount with focus on production personnel. “This on-going investment in Durham emphasises our commitment to local customers and further increases supply chain security for our wide range of food containers,” commented Lars Gade Hansen, CEO at Faerch Plast Group. “This also underlines the commitment of our new owners, EQT, to continue investing in Faerch Plast’s growth. It marks a very important time in our business strategy and will help accelerate our expansion in the UK.” Joe Iannidinardo, Managing Director at Faerch Plast UK, added: “The investment also enables us to efficiently service our UK customers with an enhanced portfolio of products in a facility built to the highest standards of quality and efficiency.” further information: www.faerchplast.com
The new QC lab will enable Duo to extend its product lines and target new markets
Duo UK boosts R&D as it extends product lines to target new markets Packaging manufacturer and supplier, Duo UK, has boosted its research and development capabilities with the launch of a dedicated Quality Control lab, which it says will aid development of new, superstrength films and recycled products. The lab consolidates some of Duo’s current methods for testing its polythene products as well as introducing further testing capabilities, allowing a thorough analysis of new products’ capabilities. “Our technical team is constantly developing products to meet specific industry needs,” explained Duo UK’s Operational Director, Dale Brimelow. “What the QC lab allows us to do is thoroughly test these new blends and develop a precise technical understanding of each product’s properties and characteristics. This in turn helps us to improve a product’s performance, offer alternative products as well as identify potential cost savings for clients.” further information: www.duo-uk.co.uk
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TPEs
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news Things are looking swell for Elasto UK Elasto UK, part of the Hexpol TPE group, has reported a growing demand for its Dryflex WS range of hydrophilic or ‘water swellable’ TPEs. Dryflex WS is a range of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), which contain hydrophilic particles. They swell at a controlled rate and percentage, with swell rates from 300 to 1000 percent when immersed in water. When there is no longer water present the compound shrinks back to its original size, a process that can be repeated an almost unlimited number of times. “The Dryflex WS compounds have been a real innovation success for Elasto UK,” explained Managing Director, Dominic Philpot. “They were developed to address an industry demand and have seen year-on-year growth since they were introduced.” Dryflex WS materials are used in applications to form a positive seal and
Elasto UK has experienced a growing demand for its hydrophilic TPEs
prevent the ingress or exit of water. Elasto UK has also developed softer grades that it says offer excellent drapability. They can be used in water stop applications where the profiles may be coiled or need to be fitted around complex structures. Compounded in any colour, the water swellable TPEs are 100 percent recyclable and can be processed using conventional plastic fabricating methods, including extrusion and injection moulding. Applications include waterstops, water treatment plants, tunnels, drains, water tanks and seals.
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“The rapid upturn we have seen in the UK construction sector over recent months is also fuelling demand for these products, mirrored by a growing global trend and escalation in the sign-off of infrastructure and new construction investments. The Dryflex WS compounds are being used in a number of large scale construction projects in Europe and Asia,” Philpot added. further information: www.hexpoltpe.com
for the new TPEs go back to the classroom term for the Autumn Plastics have gone back to the classroom een Kraiburg TPE betw hip ners part ng de-lo term as the deca inues. The use of cont and stationary manufacturer, STABILO, ce for the surfa ing gripp slip Thermolast K provides a nonh. touc the to pens, which is soft further information: www.kraiburg-tpe.com
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TPES
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news RTP Company unveils biocompatible and bondable TPEs for medical devices RTP Company has expanded its line of biocompatible compounds for medical devices to include thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) bondable grades. The new RTP 6042 MD and RTP 6003 MD Series TPE compounds have been pretested for compliance with ISO 10993 (part 5 in vitro cytotoxicity, part 10 irritation, and part 11 systemic toxicity) biocompatibility standards. RTP 6042 MD Series TPE compounds have a Shore A hardness range from 40 to 70 and RTP 6003 MD Series have a Shore A hardness range from 45 to 75. These products are formulated to bond with ABS, PC, PC alloys, rigid TPU, or co-polyester substrates using either multi-shot or insert moulding processes. A statement of biocompatibility is available for these compounds to help medical device designers demonstrate to regulatory bodies a pattern of concern for safety.
Skin sensitive TPEs suitable for wearable electronics PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers, the TPE division of PolyOne, has announced that its Versaflex CE 3620 material meets all ISO 10993-10:2010 testing requirements with no signs of skin irritation, results it says will support the material in design choices for the wearable consumer electronics segment. “Our proactive work in achieving compliance for our material helps leading consumer brands gain a competitive edge by indicating that their products are made with materials tested and approved for skin sensitivity,” said Charles Page, Director, Global Marketing, PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers. “Additionally, brand owners can accelerate time to market with this innovative material, which meets the pace of the consumer electronics market.”
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The new compounds are said to be ideal for applications such as surgical tools, injection pens and cathether systems
“To meet the growing demand for bondable TPEs in medical devices, RTP Company is helping product designers and OEMs by streamlining the material selection process with products that have been pre-tested for biocompatibility,” said Josh Blackmore, RTP Company’s Global Healthcare Manager. “RTP Company’s MD Series TPE compounds offer a broad performance range that includes gamma and EtO sterilisability, combined with
highly sought-after elastomeric properties.” Key applications for the compounds include surgical tools, fixation devices, and positioners that require tactile feel and slip resistance; drug delivery systems such as transdermal patches, injection pens, and inhaler pumps; and intravenous and catheter systems. “Using TPEs is a great way to enhance the design and functionality of medical devices by providing better grip or nonskid surfaces, improving tactile feel and ergonomics, or delivering aesthetics for corporate branding and increased consumer appeal,” said Paul Killian, RTP Company’s Business Manager — TPE Products. “The ability to bond TPEs to engineering grade thermoplastic substrates using multi-shot overmoulding processing also reduces assembly time and can reduce manufacturing costs.” further information: www.rtpcompany.com
PolyOne’s Versaflex CE 3620 material meets requirements for skin sensitive products
The company says developments have come as recent industry recalls and consumer concerns in the wearable electronics market have heightened the need for materials that do not cause irritation when in contact with the skin. PolyOne says several Versaflex CE materials have been used in wearable
electronics applications without irritation for a number of years, so the recent ISO testing results serve to confirm their suitability for such uses. further information: www.polyone.com
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New TPE for drinking water launched The SO.F.TER. Group has launched a new TPE for extrusion that it says is suitable for contact with drinking water according to the WRAS (BS 6920) norms. The new ‘Laprene 830.556’ is a plasticiser-free compound characterised by high transparency and excellent flexibility, according to the company. It has a smooth, slippery surface that favours the flow of dirt and impurities that may be present in pipes and tubes. Thanks to a special formulation, it is said to provide excellent antibacterial protection, which
pound is The new com pes and pi r suitable fo be used ay m at th s tube tation or sp for the tran er at w ng ki in of dr
inhibits the growth of biofilms and bacteria. Laprene 830.556, which is also available in an injection-moulding version, has passed the stringent tests of the WRAS (BS 6920) norm and can be used for the production of flexible tubes for
dishwasher or water dispensers, or in the faucet and plumbing sector. The compound is suitable for adhesion on polypropylene (PP). further information; www.softergroup.com
TPE tyre goes against the grain A new TPE tyre has been designed and created as a sustainable alternative to those manufactured in vulcanised rubber. The GreenLifeTire has been developed collaboratively between injection moulder, Mecaplast, API SpA, a specialist in elastomeric thermoplastic compounds and mould maker, Tecnostamp, for use in the agricultural sector. The tyre, which is made from APILON 52 polyurethane resin from API, is said to offer technical and functional advantages, such as superior wear and tear resistance and improved elasticity for agricultural use, where prolonged abrasion caused by the ground causes tyres that are normally made in vulcanised rubber to wear down quickly. The APILON 52 tyre weighs between 20 and 50 percent less than conventional vulcanised rubber tires, resulting in lower fuel consumption. It is also fully recyclable.
The new tyre has been developed as a sustainable alternative to traditional versions
further information: www.mecaplast.re.it
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tpes
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Trends in the top end-use applications for thermoplastic elastomers Automotive Automotive applications are the most important consumption for thermoplastic elastomer compounds, both in 2012 and continuing up to 2018, with a healthy The diversity of thermoplastic rate of growth. This is due elastomers (TPEs) means they are mainly to the growth in the continuously finding new global automotive industry markets and opening up and continued substitution profitable opportunities for of rubbers and PVC. New innovation and business applications will also add to development. Here, Smithers this growth. Most of the Rapra investigates the five most growth will be in Asia, important applications in the TPE especially in China, India, market, based on the findings Thailand, as well as strong from its latest report, ‘The participations from Japan Future of Global Thermoplastic and South Korea. The Asian Elastomers to 2018’. vehicle constructors are far more likely to go straight to the more innovative products, since they do not share the same development history as their Western counterparts. Building and construction Building and construction is the second most important application sector, but in contrast to automotive, it will experience the lowest growth rates of all TPE compounds. This is due to the continued economic recession and the reluctance of most countries to invest in this sector. It takes extensive capital investment to start a building venture and the return on capital is usually a long time coming. Nevertheless, the consumption of TPEs
in this sector will continue to grow, principally for roofs, geotextiles and domestic and industrial window gaskets. Footwear Footwear is the third largest sector and is almost entirely concentrated in Asia. The majority of European and North American TPE compounders involved in the past with this business have taken steps to move out of the footwear market, with the exception of certain speciality applications, such as ski boots. Appliances and housewares The rapid introduction of soft-touch TPE compounds has revolutionised the global appliances and housewares industry, with the development of this sector almost entirely based on these softtouch applications. This is particularly true in the case of hand-held appliances and tools. Almost none of the appliances incorporating TPEs need these materials for the operation of the particular appliance. Thermoplastic elastomers do, however, contribute to the efficiency of the appliance or tool by making hand contact much more effective, and in some cases adding major safety aspects, in such applications as electric kettles and irons. Medical and hygiene Medical and hygiene is the fastest growing TPE application sector. While today it is of modest size, it is set to grow continuously, at over seven percent over the next few years. TPE-S dominates this market, due in part to its high level of transparency, for such applications as facemasks, medical tubing, and teats for babies’ bottles. There are also several applications for soft-touch, coinjected surgical instruments. Toothbrushes and razors are an obvious and visible application that has taken off extremely fast in the past few years. further informtion: www.smithersrapra.com
Footware is a growing market for TPE use in Asia
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Es are touch TP The softp el h designed to ce lead du re s customer cts new produ times for
Versatile TPE range designed to reduce lead times for new products Teknor Apex Company has introduced a range of thermoplastic elastomer grades that it says help customers shorten lead-times for bringing new products to market. The Monprene RG series of standard grades, which includes Monprene RG-10100 injection moulding and RG-20100 extrusion compounds, comply with multiple US and European food-contact regulations while enabling manufacturers of rubbery or flexible components to achieve vivid colours, smooth surfaces, and end-use durability. The compounds are said to offer a wide range of choices for manufacturers of food containers, utensils, kitchen appliances, and children’s products. “Teknor Apex has ensured that Monprene RG Series compounds are pre-compliant with food-contact regulations in order to help customers shorten lead-time for bringing new products to market,” said Stef Hordijk, Senior Marketing Manager for the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex. “In addition to our standard grades, we can work with customers to develop custom formulations to meet special needs and to provide engineering support for application development.” The company says standard grades are available with Shore A hardness levels ranging from a soft 40 to a semi-rigid 80. The compounds are said to exhibit good tensile and tear strength, are readily coloured, and can be supplied as pre-coloured products or in custom colour-match grades. For moulded-in seals, ‘soft-touch’ grips and other over-moulded applications, they provide adhesion to polyolefins such as those used for kitchen containers and utensils, while custom formulations are available for over-moulding onto engineering polymers. Prospective applications for Monprene RG Series TPEs include kitchen appliance components, such as grips, gaskets, knobs, and antiskid parts; food containers and utensils such as food saver storage products, secure-grip implements and ice cube trays. Children’s and infant products such as soft toys, teething rings and non-spill lids are also said to be ideal target applications.
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further information: www.teknorapex.com
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thermoforming
Static control solutions for thermoforming
news Thermoforming machine allows production of thinner plastic foils AMUT has recently supplied a bespoke, inline thermoforming machine to a large manufacturer in Russia that is capable of producing disposable plates in HIPS + GPPS material weighing only three grams. Poly Er, one of Russia’s biggest thermoformers, is using the new machine to produce two types of plate, one weighing three grams, 165 mm in diameter and with 135 μ thickness, the other with a five gram weight, 203 mm diameter and 146 μ thickness. Both productions have very low tolerances for the weight of the material and for the plate, ranging from +/- 0.1 g to +/- 0.2 g. Despite being very thin, AMUT says the thermoplastic foil can keep “absolutely stable” conditions in production, meaning a lack of flaws on the finished product. The line includes a raw materials loading and dosing system for the main
ing machine allows The AMUT thermoform nner foils the production of thi
extruder (four components) and for the coextruder (two components). The machine features an integrated grinding system for skeletons and scraps, which has been specifically designed to handle thin material. In addition, says AMUT, the grinder is equipped with a very fine tension gauge system. The extrusion unit is composed of a single screw main extruder with a plasticising capacity of 600 kg/h and an under vacuum venting system complete with closed-loop water control, as well as a single screw co-extruder for external layers. High-level precision die parameters allow the thinness required and low weight of the foil whilst avoiding fragile edges.
The calender has a thickness gauge system, which ensures a gradual and uniform cooling, and consequently the internal structure of the foil is optimised. In addition, there is a haul-off with tension control and a pressurised water diathermic unit with three circuits. The stack control at the entry of the thermoforming machine is carried out by both a measurement optical system and a highly precise dandy roll. Based on AMUT’s PA 1000 model, the thermoforming unit has been especially optimised to treat HIPS material and to avoid the breakage of the very fragile structure through special transport system, heating oven, machine movement, thermoregulation and thermodynamic loop performances. Finally, AMUT also supplied a special unit and stacker system for the packaging of the plates, requiring minimal operator intervention. further information: www.amut.it
s ‘Guard Thermoformed cockpit canopy help the Galaxy’ ion for Spitfire Originally used as a strong, lightweight solut made the has ic acryl canopies back in 1938, Perspex er’s summ this in eship spac leap from aircraft to xy’. Gala the of s rdian ‘Gua r, buste block Hollywood oform therm to ned issio Inplas Fabrications Ltd was comm al centr a , eship spac ’s’ -Lord ‘Star the cockpit canopy of m thick 10m using line, story and ery imag film’s part of the canopy had to clear Perspex acrylic. The huge 25ft x 9ft ed panels, oform therm rate be formed from eleven sepa ion. posit into fixed rtly which were expe www.perspex.com
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and injection moulding applications ics ainer mim The cont ally rm no that the finial e p of th sits on to s in Parker’ ts s o lampp n o m Piece com
‘Illuminating’ thermoformed storage solution helps city get online A Hertfordshire-based thermoforming company has created a bespoke product to help Wi-Fi users in Cambridge city centre get online, with the help of an ‘illuminating’ storage solution. AV-Engineering, based in Melbourn, was asked to design an aesthetically pleasing plastic housing for new Wi-Fi equipment that would blend into the The Wi-Fi equipment surroundings of Parker’s Piece, a public has been designed to common, in the city centre. blend into the The company’s solution was to hide them surroundings by being in thermoformed polycarbonate housings housed in a specially placed at the top of the common’s elegant designed thermoformed twin-armed lampposts. container AV-Engineering set about replicating the design of the finial on top of the posts to make them big enough to take the equipment and still keep the look of the original. The simple, yet effective design also incorporates a basket-like holder, which contains the equipment necessary to create the Wi-Fi network. “We needed to be sure that the material used would be able to stand up to all temperatures and weather conditions,” said AV’s Founder and Engineer, Norman Shires. “The other major consideration was to use a material that doesn’t interfere with the signals to and from the access points.” The new system will provide secure Wi-Fi access to staff, academics and students at the nearby University of Cambridge, as well as being a public access point for anyone to use in the same way as those in Internet cafes and hot spots. AV Engineering says it hopes that the anticipated success of the scheme will result in other access points to be set up around the city. further information: www.avthermoforming.co.uk
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thermoforming
Static control solutions for thermoforming and injection moulding applications
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news High-speed thermoforming sheet extrusion line selected for growing Chinese packaging market A Chinese packaging company has installed a thermoforming sheet extrusion line with a high-speed extruder and a Multi-Touch roll stack from battenfeldcincinnati in order to keep up with demand from the country’s burgeoning packaging market. Guangdong Huasheng Plastics, based in Shantou, operates across two manufacturing plants producing some 90 tonnes of cups and of containers daily, as well as 120 tonnes of PP, PS, PET, EVOH and PLA sheet. “The Chinese packaging market is one of the markets with the highest growth rates worldwide,” explained Guangdong Huasheng’s Owner, Wei Yunan. “We have also noticed a rise in the demand for higher standards of quality and efficiency, to which we are responding with this investment. Since its production start-up in March, the Multi-Touch roll stack from battenfeld-cincinnati has already contributed substantially to improving our product quality.” Due to its output of up to 1,400 kg/h of PP sheet, the new line is replacing a between four and six previously used Chinese extrusion lines, which the
company says constitutes a significant reduction in space requirements and operation expenditure. battenfeld-cincinnati’s BC-75-40 DV T4 high-speed extruder is responsible for the high output. The line is able to produce sheet ranging from 350 to 2,500 µm in thickness; however, the company says its unique selling point is the Multi-Touch roll stack, which is still a relatively new addition to the market. The Multi-Touch delivers high quality due to a unique roll configuration, says battenfeld-cincinnati. First, a two-roll stack pre-calibrates the sheet quality of the material coming out of the flat sheet die, before the sheet passes through the
recalibration unit, which is equipped with up to seven smaller rolls. Therefore, says the company, the consistent roll contact and consequently uniform cooling on both sides of the sheet are ensured, even at maximum line speeds. The outcome is a significant improvement in sheet tolerances and production of stress-free sheet with optimal transparency, excellent flatness and a uniform thickness profile. This is the first time that the new of Multi-Touch technology has been delivered to a Chinese business.
Multivac expands range with new entry-level thermoforming packaging machine Packaging machinery manufacturer, Multivac, has launched a new entry-level model for thermoformed packaging. The R 085 machine can be used for running both flexible and rigid films, which the company says makes it suitable for packing both food and non-food products. The new R 085 entry-level model is aimed at companies in a wide range of sectors that want to embark on automatic thermoforming packaging. The machine can be ordered with four standard format layouts and is suitable for packing both sliced products and individual items. The R 085 can be used to produce packs with inert gas as well as vacuum packs, so that users can also meet the requirement for extended shelf
life for their packaged products, says Multivac. The new product is Multivac’s response to current trends in the packaging market, as demand rises in almost all sectors for high-quality packaging in small batch sizes. Entry-level solutions, which are easy to operate, are currently just as much in demand as highly flexible solutions, which can be converted quickly and simply, says the company. The R 085 is equipped with the IPC 06 machine control as well as the HMI 2.0 user interface with 12.1” touchscreen. The HMI is integrated in the control cabinet, and it ensures simple and ergonomic operation of the machine. The R 085 also has a quick-change system for forming and sealing dies with slide-in technology. The R 085 is currently the
lowest-cost model in the Multivac range, which the company says will score it particularly highly with small and mediumsized companies.
In addition to PP, PS, PET, EVOH and PLA sheet, Huasheng also produces cups, trays and other types of containers.
further information: www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com www.huasheng-pack.com
further information: www.multivac.co.uk R 085 Multivac launched its new ming for rmo the for del entry-level mo 2014 ack erp packaging at Int
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thermoforming
Static control solutions for thermoforming
news New decoration process offers “unrivalled possibilities” for thermoformed containers RPC Bebo Plastik has introduced an enhanced decoration process that it says offers “unrivalled possibilities” for barrier and non-barrier thermoformed containers, including pots, tubs and trays. ‘In-Mould Label Thermoforming’ (IML-T) applies pre-printed labels to the container during the thermoforming process. This, says the company, enables high quality, intricate designs in up to eight colours to be incorporated to achieve a better level of finish and greater coverage of the container than direct printing. The process is said to be fully flexible both in terms of the type of container to be decorated and the application of the labels. Labels can be applied to even the most complex designs — from round or rectangular containers to multicompartment versions, says RPC Bebo.
The new decoration process for thermoformed containers is said to offer “unrivalled possibilities”
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The same system can handle different containers at different weights, as well as barrier, non-barrier and bi-colour packs. A special lacquer can be applied to the labels for barrier containers to enable them to withstand the autoclave process. Label options include five-sided, three sided, banderole with or without bottom label, two half banderoles with separate bottom label and bottom only, allowing manufacturers to tailor the pack design to their precise product and branding requirements. RPC Bebo says the new process offers extensive decoration options for both fresh and long shelf-life foods to create and enhance brand image and identity. “In competitive markets, the intricacies of design and the quality of finish that can be achieved through the IML-T process will enable brands to establish on-shelf appeal and differentiation, something which until now has not been available for high barrier applications,” commented RPC’s Sales Manager, Robert Steinmeijer. “The flexibility of the system also makes it possible to respond easily to market changes and new pack formats.” The company is already working on a number of IML-T projects with customers. further information www.rpc-bebo.com
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and injection moulding applications The new material is being used to produced thermoformed packaging
Companies collaborate on 100 percent bio-based PEF for thermoforming Manufacturer of thermoforming and printing equipment, Wifag-Polytype, and technology company, Avantium, are working together on thermoformed products from 100 percent bio-based PEF (polyethylene furanoate). Both Wifag-Polytype and Avantium say they are “excited” about the market opportunity of PEF in thermoforming applications such as cups, containers and trays. PEF is a novel bio-based polymer produced by Avantium’s proprietary YXY technology. The YXY technology, which is running in Avantium’s pilot plant in Geleen in the Netherlands, converts plant-based feedstock into chemical building blocks. PEF, described by Avantium as a “next generation” plastic, can reportedly be produced cost competitively and is 100 percent bio-based, resulting in a more than 50 percent reduction in carbon footprint and non-renewable energy usage. “Thermoforming is an excellent application for PEF plastics,” commented
Gert-Jan Gruter, Avantium CTO. “Since PEF has superior barrier, thermal and mechanical properties over PET, it offers exciting new growth opportunities. Due to its ten times higher oxygen barrier, PEF could extend the shelf life of perishable goods like meats or cheeses. The higher thermal stability of PEF compared to PET could enable packaging opportunities for microwaveable products.” Wifag-Polytype, which offers an entire range of products and services from sheet extrusion and thermoforming to coating and printing, said the collaboration with Avantium offered its customers in the thin-wall packaging market the opportunity to manufacture using a polymer with “very attractive technical properties.” Tom van Aken, CEO at Avantium, added: “Thermoforming can be a potential outlet for recycled PEF, providing an additional end-of-life solution for our PEF bottles.” further information: www.avantium.com
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recycling machinery
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news High performance recycling solution adapted for film manufacturers Manufacturer of equipment for recycling of thermoplastics, NGR, has adapted its E:GRAN series of extrusion technology to produce higher output rates for manufacturers of packaging film. The new E:GRAN 75 is capable of processing edge trims of 120kg/h into high quality pellets, which NGR says is a response to the trend of bigger film processing lines with higher output rates for optimising cost structures. NGR says in spite of the high output rate of this new recycling solution, the E:GRAN 75 has a small layout and can therefore support existing material streams. It is also said to adapt well into existing production environments. The machine concept – especially the adaptable control unit – allows for automated use, even inline. This automation option creates additional capacity for production staff, says NGR.
Along with with the expansion of the E:GRAN series, NGR has also updated its air pelletising unit to reach output rates up to 120kg/h. The air pelletising is applied where cooling water is not available or the pellets are not to be in contact with water due to stringent specifications. NGR explained the optimised developments on the new E: and the new air pelletising unit for film manufacturers will “ease the material handling and material logistics and actively support tendencies towards cost reduction.” further information: www.ngr.at
The E:GRAN 75
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The Preston Plastics Team — Edgar Wallace with Chris Johnston, Wayne Clark and Dale Tyrer in front of their new Intarema recycling plant
Preston Plastics doubles production with new recycling machinery Plastics recycler, Preston Plastics, has invested in new machinery that it says will allow it to more than double production at its reprocessing facility near Garstang in Lancashire. The firm has installed a new Intarema plastic recycling and extrusion machine, becoming the first company in the UK to have the state-of-the-art technology, built by Austrian firm Erema. “This new machine gives us nearly three times the capacity we had previously,” commented Edgar Wallace, Managing Director of Preston Plastics. “It means we can continue to meet the increased demand we are seeing from the plastics industry, both in terms of volume and the types of plastic being recycled, diverting thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill and incineration. Constantly investing in new technology ensures we remain at the cutting edge of the plastics recycling industry. These are exciting times for the business as we plan for the future.” Preston Plastics spent £1.3m on the machine as part of a £2m investment in machinery at its premises at Out Rawcliffe, near Preston. It will allow the company to recycle previously hard-toprocess materials, such as heavily printed packaging waste, as well as improving quality, efficiency and overall consistency. The new Intarema recycling plant operates 24-hours a day, collecting and processing a wide variety of waste plastics from across the UK from sectors including packaging, medical, building and construction, and automotive. The business handles all forms of plastic waste including head waste, redundant material, spues and purgings, collecting it from across the UK. Using the latest technology, the waste is converted into quality reprocessed plastic compound which is sold back to the plastics industry to be used in the manufacture of products such as plastic storage boxes, paint trays, car bumpers and pallets. Erema says that since its launch of the Interema at K 2013, the company has received huge interest in the technology, resulting in “sensational” sales of the machinery. It will debut the latest generation of its recycling systems to the wider UK plastics market at Interplas 2014. The Interema is based on newly developed and patented ‘Counter Current’ technology, which results in increased productivity, flexibility, easy operation and “considerably lower” energy consumption. The innovation in the Counter Current system is in the cutter/compactor and tangentially connected extruder, where it circulates material against the normal direction of the extruder, resulting in more material being processed in a shorter time. To date, the worldwide technical standard has been a system in which the material in the cutter/compactor moved in the direction of the extruder. The centrifugal forces arising in the process were used for the feeding of the extruder and the treated, warm material was “packed” into the extruder screw. The inverse tangential configuration of the Counter Current system now ensures that the extruder screw is filled virtually pressure-free with the preheated material. Michael Heitzinger, CTO at Erema, described the impact which the new system has on productivity and the quality of the recyclate, saying: “The screw basically ‘takes what it needs’; the extruder always has the ideal filling level and is never overfilled, which makes it much better to regulate.” The technology will be on display at Interplas, from 30th September – 2nd October at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, on Erema’s stand, F20. further information: www.erema.at www.prestonplastics.co.uk
The Intarema sets the new standard in production efficiency in plastics recycling, says Erema
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recycling machinery
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news Plastics face the chop with new guillotine for size reduction Neue Herbold has launched the latest version of its system for size reduction and recycling of plastics, the Guillotine GS. The GS is manufactured in a large number of lifting heights and working widths, which offer a requirementorientated, pre-size reduction for a variety of feeding materials. The potential application areas range from the portioning of fibre and filament bales through to films, start-up lumps and rubber blocks. The GS is an energy-saving component of an overall management concept for plastic size reduction. According to Neue Herbold, the system is working successfully in a project with Norwegian company, Gangstø Transport AS, where it is being used for pre-size reduction of PAand PP fibres including ropes, cords and fishing nets. Technical features of the GS guillotine include a warp-resistant welded frame
construction, which allows stability during operation and is said to provide excellent cutting results along with usability. It has a solid, double-sided knife support that allows a smooth cut, as a result of the evenly partitioned cutting force. The guillotine knife is mounted in a doublesided channel and operates with two oversized cylinders. The adjustable stroke of the vertical knife is said to guarantee complete detachment of the material portions. Neue Herbold says there is high demand for the GS in plastics recycling operations due to its user-friendly machinery qualities. further information: www.neue-herbold.com
r tine GS fo The Guillo n o ti c du size-re
ARTEC and KraussMaffei Berstorff demonstrate recycling-compounding technology KraussMaffei Berstorff and Austrian recycling unit specialist, ARTEC machinery GmbH, have demonstrated their portfolio of recycling-compounding lines for the first time since they announced joint collaboration on the new technology in September last year. Around 60 representatives of plastics recycling companies from around the globe attended the ‘Edelweiss Days’ at KraussMaffei’s headquarters in Hannover recently, where they witnessed a live demonstration of HDPE and LDPE film scraps with different degrees of contamination being converted into highquality compounds. The new ‘Edelweiss’ extrusion and recycling process was presented in production mode for the first time at the event. The main benefit of this trendsetting solution, says the companies, is the conversion of reclaimed material into high-quality compounds in a single heat. Thanks to the integrated process, repeated heating of the starting materials is not required. This saves energy, minimises the shear stress affecting the polymer structure and therefore substantially enhances material quality. “This is exactly what our customers are looking for in order to increase their added value by diversifying their material range and enhancing material quality,” commented Ralf J. Dahl, Head of the TwinScrew Extruder Division at KraussMaffei Berstorff. “We are really happy about the great interest our customers manifested in this unique option to produce high-quality secondary plastics through recycling and to save our natural resources at the same time,” he added. During the demonstration, the line was used to process HDPE and LDPE postindustrial film scrap with different degrees of contamination to a PE compound with a 70 percent chalk loading. The new Edelweiss extrusion solution is composed of a module 500 ARTEC recycling line, Ettlinger ERF 250 melt filter, KraussMaffei Berstorff ZE 60 UTXi twin-screw extruder and Gala EAC 6 underwater pelletizer. With the given application, the line reportedly achieves an output rate of 1,000 kg/h. During the event, delegates had the opportunity to discuss the new technology and meet with experts from Artec, Ettlinger, Nordson Kreyenborg and KraussMaffei Berstorff. “The numerous personal talks with our customers have provided us with indepth knowledge about their individual requirements and expectations. This enables us to tailor the optimum solution for any specific application,” concluded Dahl. further information: www.kraussmaffeiberstorff.com www.artec.at
different degrees of Post-industrial film with sed during the live ces pro e wer contamination eiss’ process deomstration of the ‘Edelw
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recycling machinery
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news Conair rolls out three new shredder product lines for plastic recycling Conair has launched three new families of heavy-duty, single-shaft shredders for size reduction in plastic scrap, reclaim and recycling. Available models include general purpose and high-performance shredders for rigid plastics, purgings and similar materials, as well as standard-throughput and high-throughput shredders optimised for processing film and fibres (including carpet). An optional two-piece modular configuration – which allows feeding and cutting sections to be easily separated to allow wide-open access for cleaning and maintenance – is available on most models. Dori Raybuck, Conair Director of Global Marketing, explained the new family of shredders offers an alternative for plastics processors looking for tough, high-performance shredders. “We can supply them as stand-alone units or in combination with granulators and material-handling equipment to create a complete, integrated scrap-reclaim solution,” he said. The first of the new series is the ‘Model SHE Shredders’, which Conair says are “cost-effective, general-purpose units” designed to process hard, rigid plastic scrap. They are built around a 254 mm forged rotor that is available in widths of 635, 813 and 1067 mm. Standard rotor drive motors are 15 kW on the two smaller models and 30 kW on the SHE-42. Larger motors are available optionally. The rotor is fitted with four-way indexable dagger-cut blades that work against matching bed knives. Oversized rotor end bearings and self-cleaning, non-contaminating rotor seals are said to ensure rugged dependability even when processing dusty scrap. Screens are available with different hole sizes, from 10 to 76 mm to control particle size and minimise the need for secondary granulation.
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STAND C4
Three new families of heavy-duty singleshaft shredders now round out the size-reduction products that Conair manufactures for plastic scrap reclaim and recycling.
The next series, the ‘Model SHH and SHX Shredders’ are “extra-duty, maximumthroughput, workhorse units” for shredding rigid plastic scrap, says Conair. Like the SHE units, SHH shredders feature the dagger-cut knife system but are bigger overall, with drive motors from 45 to 149 kW as standard and optionally available up to 224 kW on the largest SHX shredder. SHH rotors are 381 mm in diameter in 1067 mm, 1321 mm and 1575 mm widths, while the higher-performance SHX models have 508 mm rotors in widths of 1321, 1575 and 1829 mm. Oversized outboard pillow-block bearings with split housings provide long life and easy shaft removal, says Conair. Screens are provided with hole sizes from coarse (102mm) to fine (10 mm). Finally, Model SFH and SFX Series Shredders are similar to the SHH units in their basic design, but they feature unique trapezoid-shaped, trap-cut blades that are configured to meet the special requirements of high-volume reclaim of plastic film and fibre scrap. Clearance between the rotor blades and bed knife is extremely tight to ensure clean cutting of
the lightweight, flexible material. The rotor design also prevents wrapping and minimises the regurgitation that could cause wear and heat-generation. Rotors are 432 mm in diameter on the SFH and 508 mm in diameter on the SFX Series. Available widths are 1067, 1321 and 1575 mm on the SFH and up to 1829 mm on the higher-throughput SFX. Screen-hole sizes can range from 19 to 102 mm. Conair says that all the new shredders are easy to clean and maintain and have been optimised to ensure operator safety by eliminating top-entry into the shredding zone by splitting the hopper and exposing all cutting and ramming components to walk-in access. Finally, the company says in operation the new shredders are rugged and robust and feature high-performance features such as fully automatic control programmes and energy-saving options including variable frequency drive and an electronic soft-start function. further information: www.conairgroup.com
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Integrated compounding process opens up new markets for recyclers Starlinger Recycling Technology has launched a machinery module that allows recycling and compounding in one process step, eliminating the need for two separate processes. The C-VAC module from Starlinger makes it possible for plastics recyclers to break into new markets, as waste from film, injection moulding and fibre production as well as post-consumer waste can be upgraded to reinforced or filled plastics in the course of the recycling process, therefore achieving a greater added value. C-VAC can be integrated in existing plastics recycling lines and allows easy and exact dosing of additives, filling and reinforcing materials during the recycling process. After the ground and optionally preheated material has been melted in the main extruder, compounding takes place in the degassing extruder after melt filtration. Since this extruder functions independently of the main extruder, screw design and speed can be selected as needed in order to achieve perfect compounding results. Depending on the properties of the material being added – powders, for example, require a certain screw length for optimum dispersion – dosing can be done before intake into the extruder. Unlike conventional compounding extruders, the C-VAC extruder uses a single screw. This is especially relevant in fiberglass compounds, says Starlinger, because it reduces fibre breakage during compounding to a minimum, resulting in greater strength in the items subsequently being produced from the compound. Output quantities range, depending on the size of the line, from 150 kg/h to 2,700 kg/h. The separate C-VAC module can be integrated into any existing Starlinger recycling line, opening up to recyclers the vast potential for secondary materials in the field of compounds. Starlinger will exhibit the recycling technology at Fakuma 2014: Hall B2, Booth 2115. further information: www.starlinger.com
The CVAC module allows recycling and compounding in one process step
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interplas: show special
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The wait is over – Interplas is back
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fter months of planning, preparation and anticipation, Interplas 2014 will finally open its doors on September 30th for what is expected to be the biggest and best iteration of the show to date. With an expanded, sold-out floor plan and visitor numbers anticipated to be in excess of 12,000 plastics industry professionals, students, media and investors from every corner of the world, the anticipation for what has been billed the ‘must attend’ plastics industry trade show is palpable. "Interplas 2014 is shaping up to be the industry event of the year thanks to the calibre of exhibitors from all over the world and of course our stellar line up of industry experts set to take to the stage," Duncan Wood, COO and Event Director, commented. "The event is bigger and better than Interplas 2011 by far and I am sure it will exceed the expectations of all our visitors." In addition to featuring a show floor that is not only onethird larger than 2011’s outing, the exhibition will see the launch of brand new products to the UK market, including a “European first” from Sumitomo Demag, a new moulding machine series launch from Zhafir as well as the first public showing of Negri Bossi’s evolved ‘Canbio’ machine series. Materials exhibitors do not disappoint, with new product ranges being launched by 4Plas, as well as recently developed
colour masterbatch from Silvergate and antibacterial polymers from Albis UK. The conference side of Interplas will be given an auspicious start, with Philip Law, Director General of the British Plastics Federation (BPF), commencing proceedings in the opening keynote. On day two, Shadow Minister for Industry, Iain Wright MP, will deliver the key address, covering the state of British industry and how the Commons are supporting business. In addition to the firebrands of academia and industry taking to the stage in theatre one, visitors can look forward to specialised talks in theatre two, with a medical focus in association with Medical Plastics News on October 1st, and the NetComposites polymer industry session on October 2nd. On the show floor, visitors can turn detective in Interplas 2014’s special MoDiP exhibition of iconic pieces charting the history of design in plastics and be thrilled and entertained by artist Glen West’s ‘Melting Plastic Art’. More about both these exhibits can be found on the following pages. In addition to being opened by the BPF, the Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA) has thrown its support behind Interplas 2014, along with the GTMA and Materials KTN. further information: www.interplasuk.com
Stand J9
The New Compact Weldplast S1
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Central Grip, Compact & Ergonomic Output power 0.2 - 0.8kg/hr (HDPE/PP) Welds Plastic 4mm - 12mm thick Integrated LED Lighting
0800 856 0057 www.welwyntoolgroup.co.uk
LEGO character. Image Courtesy of LEGO®
Have you seen our LEGO? Interplas 2014 is inviting visitors to tap into their inner child this year, with a unique piece of custom-built LEGO® on display at the show. Brand new for this year is a large mosaic built especially for the show by UK firm, Bright Bricks, an inventive design company that creates models, displays and events from LEGO bricks. “Working with LEGO bricks gives us a unique opportunity to stretch our creativity to the maximum, providing fun models for corporate clients and individuals alike,” explained Bright Bricks’ Managing Director, Duncan Titmarsh. “A large LEGO model can create a real ‘wow’ factor on a stand, in an office or through social media channels and a custom LEGO giveaway can make a customer feel valued and will tap into their inner child.” Titmarsh is the UK’s only
Almos pho
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Interplas – The UK’s biggest plastics show 12,000 expected visitors
16,700m of floorspace
Over 400 exhibitors
5 Co-located Events
156 w
eeks
of pr
epar
ation
s
Almost 100,000 phone calls
30 trips to the venue
Over 40 Seminar Presentation
LEGO bricks. Image Courtesy of LEGO®
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The LEGO mosaic will be on display at Interplas 2014
LEGO Certified Professional, a title that only 12 people in the world hold. The company’s custom creations have appeared in major newspapers and magazines, on BBC and ITV television as well as blogs and social media around the world and have covered everthing from giant Christmas trees to Rolls-Royce replicas. further information: www.bright-bricks.com
See the LEGO mosaic at Interplas 2014 The custom-built LEGO will be on display at the registration desks for Interplas, in Hall 4 of the NEC for the duration of the show, from th Tuesday 30 September – nd October. Thursday 2
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interplas: show special
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News from the Front Line – Interplas Special The UK Plastics Industry and the World
I
was delighted to recently attend a Breakfast Network meeting of the Northern Ireland Polymers Association (NIPA) in Belfast. NIPA is a BPF-affiliated organisation and provides impressive leadership to the industry in the province. I was proud to present a crystal salver on behalf of This month, Philip Law, NIPA to John Rainey, the Director General of the Chairman of the Denroy Group British Plastics in recognition of his recently Federation, talks Irish awarded MBE and the great charm, the Mexican support he has given to NIPA marketplace and global since its inception. John is a great name in the industry in opportunities as he writes Northern Ireland and beyond exclusively for BP&R in a and NIPA owes much to him. special edition of his I was struck by the outward regular column, which looking perspective of all the outlines the themes he will firms I met in Northern Ireland. develop during his keynote Without exception, they all saw presentation at Interplas. the world as their market place – from manufacturers of building products to technical parts – and this is a theme I want to develop in my presentation at Interplas. In my view this approach should be mirrored across the UK. We are in, or at the top of, the first division in so many fields – whether it’s packaging or car parts, sustainable thinking or energy-efficiency know-how. UK manufacturers are well received wherever they go. When you catalogue the UK’s ‘firsts’ in plastics it’s a very long list indeed, and it’s still continuing. BPF is providing several platforms overseas on which companies can address global opportunities. You can exhibit with us at ‘Plastimagen’ Mexico City, 18th – 21st November, ‘Plasteurasia’ in Istanbul on 4th – 7th December and ‘Plastindia’ in New Delhi on 5th – 10th February 2015. It will be the first time that the BPF has been to Mexico. Ranked as the twelfth largest plastics consumer in the world at 5.3 million tonnes, it’s in roughly the same ballpark as the UK, with a not too dissimilar market split. Whilst packaging accounts for around 50 percent consumption, there is a general increase in investment in the automotive sector. Some 19 global uge holds h Mexico UK r o f l ia potent turers, manufac w s say La
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esentation Watch Philip’s pr at Interplas 2014 n, entitled,
keynote presentatio Philip will deliver his the try and the World’, on ‘The UK Plastics Indus th September at las, Tuesday 30 opening day of Interp n A90) r Theatre One (locatio na mi Se in 10.30am automotive OEMs are established there, as are 84 of the top 100 auto parts companies in the world. Aerospace is another key sector and the number of companies engaged here has quadrupled since 2005. Amongst its other credentials, Mexico is the largest flat screen TV exporter in the world. A particular opportunity is in the recycling field. Mexico generates over 800,00 tonnes of PET waste every year but most is recycled in China and the USA. There is considerable interest in increasing domestic recycling capabilities. A change is taking place in approaches to manufacturing and quality. Under pressure from competition from low-cost Asian car producers, the auto industry in Mexico is increasingly competing on value, R&D and time to market. Additionally, productivity in Mexico’s plastics industry has increased 56 percent in the last five years. Potential exporters should be sensitive to the regional concentration of the plastics industry in Mexico. Around 70 percent of production is focussed in seven states, with Estado de Mexico accounting for 26 percent, Guanajuato at 8.4 percent and Jalisco at 8.2 percent. Mexico City itself accounts for 7.7 percent. A key interest is that Mexico imports over 30 percent of its needs in plastic raw materials and 90 percent of the equipment used. Certainly this presents an opportunity to examine closely and another reason why UK manufacturers should look to global opportunities. further information: www.bpf.co.uk
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interplas: show special
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BP&R’s Plastics in Automotives Conference Session at Interplas
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nterplas 2014 will feature some of the industry’s leading names presenting on a range of subjects to give a comprehensive overview of the technology, innovation and developments in the UK’s plastics industry. This year, the focus for the BP&R session at the show is the UK’s resurgent automotive industry. The seminar will include presentations on the opportunities for plastics companies within the UK’s automotive supply chain, lightweighting, materials innovation and recycling as well as design and selection. These free-to-attend seminars are an opportunity to listen to and learn from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable and expert speakers. Below we provide a run-down of who’s to see. 10:30 - 11:00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS Iain Wright MP - Shadow Minister for Industry, Shadow BIS team Iain Wright MP, Shadow Minister for Industry within the Shadow Business, Innovation and Skills team, will deliver a keynote address at Interplas 2014. Iain’s areas of responsibility cover business sectors, including the low carbon economy, manufacturing, construction and the motor industry; competitiveness and economic growth; as well as Trade Policy (in the Commons). Iain Wright MP Graeme Herlihy
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11:00 - 11:30 Making the Automotive Circular Economy Actually Happen with Plastics from End-of-Life Motor Vehicles Keith Freegard, Director and Founder, Axion Recycling Ltd The ‘Circular Economy’ is much talked about, but not often actually seen in practice. Axion Polymers, part of Axion Recycling Ltd, has developed the technology and implemented the correct business model to enable it to deliver the 2015 EU recycling target of 95 percent for motor vehicles in its ‘SWAPP’ facility in Manchester, UK. See our exclusive article on page 38. 11:30 - 12:00 Fibre reinforced composite structures: Alternative solutions for injection moulded automotive parts Graeme Herlihy, Managing Director, Engel UK The emphasis being placed on lightweighting by car manufacturers means that the high volume manufacture of fibre reinforced composite parts will no doubt become a huge topic for the automotive plastics industry in the coming years.
This of course represents an enormous opportunity for those who choose to become involved, and an enormous threat for those who do not, says Graeme Herlihy, Managing Director of Engel UK, who will discuss some of the developments made in lightweight composite structures, along with the machine solutions necessary for each. 12:00 - 12:30 Using Innovation to Forge Deep-Rooted Supply Chain Relationships Jason Lessard, European Patent, Trade Mark and Design Attorney and Patent Director, HGF Ltd The Government has been working hard to encourage UK companies to become more innovative, not least in the field of automotive manufacturing, with some of these efforts having a subtle, but important, effect on the plastics industry in particular. Jason Lessard, a European Patent, Trade Mark and Design Attorney and Patent Director, who was formerly responsible for PET preform and closure equipment sales in the UK for Husky Injection Moulding Systems, will discuss a new initiative that enables multiple players, throughout the supply chain, to use patents and other intellectual property rights to give more than just a monopoly. 13:30 - 14:00 KEYNOTE address: The UK Automotive Industry: Growth and opportunities Luke Hampton, Supply Chain Development Manager, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT) The The UK automotive industry has undergone something of a resurgence in recent years. Car manufacture has risen over 50 percent in the last four years. We’re seeing records levels of both volume and value of vehicles exported from the UK. In addition, domestic demand is strong, with the UK now the second largest European new car market. The UK automotive industry’s future looks to be in good stead. This is due in part to
The seminar will look in detail at plastics’ relationship with the UK’s automotive industry
industry’s investment in the long term future of the UK automotive industry. Over £8bn of investment has been committed to the UK in recent years by both OEMs and the underlying supply chain. But why has this happened? In this presentation, Luke Hampton will discuss some of the key reasons why the UK automotive industry is excelling at the moment, and how through engagement with organisations like the SMMT, plastics manufacturers can break into, develop and capitalise on the opportunities seen within the UK automotive industry. 14:00 - 14:30 How do I select the correct adhesive? Dr. Antonio Pagliuca, Advanced Technical Specialist, 3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes With end-use performance a fundamental part of design process, particularly in the automotive industry, choosing the correct adhesive for bonding applications is crucial. Dr Antonio Pagliuca, an experienced technical materials specialist at 3M’s Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division, will provide potential end-users of adhesives both technical and practical information about adhesive bonding, highlighting the key factors and variables to consider when choosing an adhesive, including practical advice on adhesive selection for different types of applications such as including how to bond difficult plastics such as polyethylene without the need for surface pre-treatment.
Dr. Antonio Pagliuca
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15:00 - 15:30 Optimising automotive profile dies via flow simulation Dr Jiri Vlcek, Founder, Compuplast Dr. Jiri (George) Vlcek is a nuclear physicist who became an expert in polymer processing and simulation. Jiri is a pioneer in the field of extrusion simulation and has spearheaded the development the most comprehensive set of engineering simulation tools for extrusion in the world. His presentation will demonstrate how polymer flow within complex automotive profile dies can be simulated and ultimately optimised, addressing and detailing how to use the technology to overcome common problems. further information: www.britishplastics.co.uk Dan Jarvis
14:30 - 15:00 - some recent developments in plastics for use in automotive components Dan Jarvis, Technical Manager, Plastribution As the automotive industry develops and becomes more advanced, so too do the polymer materials that are used within it. As Technical Manager for Plastribution, a leading UK distributor of plastics raw materials, Dan Jarvis has a vast knowledge of material selection and product design and development, ensuring ongoing compliance with industry regulation. Dan will detail how plastics are playing an important role in the development, design and progress of modern vehicles.
in Automotives See the Plastics ion at conference sess Interplas 2014 ce throughout the e pla The conference will tak er 1st from 10.30 – tob Oc y, da es dn day on We e atr one, stand A90. 15.30, in seminar the
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Interplas Exclusive: How to drive the circular economy in the auto sector Automotive Shredder Residue (ASR or shredder ‘fluff’) from new set of legislative drivers which use ‘more carrots, less sticks’ is needed if the automotive sector is to deliver greater scrap cars is processed at Axion’s Shredder Waste Advanced Processing Plant (SWAPP) to recover useful materials including sustainability within the circular economy for recycled plastic plastics, which are supplied to its advanced processing site at content in new vehicles, suggests Keith Freegard, Director of Axion Salford. Here they are further refined to produce 100 percent Polymers. Ahead of interplas, BP&R recycled high-quality polymers suitable for injection moulding back According to the plastics spoke to Keith Freegard of recycler, fresh strategies are into a wide range of applications, Axion Polymers for a preview required, including new automotive components. of what he will discuss during such as With an annual 200,000 tonnes his presentation at the show. rewarding processing capacity, Axion can separate the non-metallic fractions ‘desirable’ behaviours and encouraging individual from the equivalent of about 600k producer responsibility linked to fiscal benefits, to ion tat sen pre Watch Keith’s vehicles a year. encourage motor vehicle manufacturers to reuse 4 201 as rpl at Inte Further investment in recent months more plastics from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in new Keith will be presenting his paper, ‘Making ally Actu at the Salford polymer refinery has omy Econ components. lar Circu ve moti Auto the e provided state-of-the-art separation Freegard will be speaking at the ‘Plastics in Happen with Plastics from End-of-Lif technology to produce very pure, highAutomotives’ session on October 1st at Interplas Motor Vehicles’, at 11:00am on st Plastics Wednesday, October 1 within the quality polymers and expanded extrusion 2014, where he will outline current legislation in Automotives Seminar Session at capacity. This allows new ABS and PS influencing the sector and how key drivers for . A90) Interplas in Auditorium One (Stand plastic grades to be manufactured in change can potentially deliver market benefits addition to Axpoly r-PP51, a highthroughout the supply chain. performance grade of black polypropylene (PP) used in the BMW Having developed and implemented the technology to deliver Mini air vent. the 2015 EU recycling target of 95 percent for vehicles at the “The rapidly-growing automotive sector offers tremendous company’s Manchester SWAPP facility, Freegard suggests it’s now scope for re-using recycled polymers sourced from old vehicles down to the designers, manufacturers and marketers at the big entering the UK’s end-of-life vehicle ‘graveyard’ back into new car branded VMs to pull together and make sustainable vehicles a components. We call this circular flow of valuable materials the positive choice for consumers. ‘Grave-to-Cradle’ model,â€? Freegard told BP&R. “We believe we have delivered the material recovery to half of the full ‘Cradle-to-Cradle’ economic circle. Now it is the responsibility of the automotive designers and materials specialists to specify ‘recycled-content’ sourced from ELVs in order to fully close the loop.â€? Axion’s research shows many sizeable hidden components in motor vehicles could incorporate recycled polymers, such as heating, ventilation and ducting units. Similarly, components under seats, in the boot and under bonnet are also ideal candidates. “Future legislation will have an impact on changing behaviour, but ultimately there has to be a fundamental shift in attitudes towards the use of recycled content, as well as how it is marketed,â€? Freegard explained. Sustainable sourcing as part of a larger corporate plan can offer vehicle manufacturers a number of market benefits, such as a reduction in materials supply risk, enhanced consumer product appeal and cost savings of up to 20 percent. Continuity of supply is another benefit, given that the recycled polymers are sourced from a large, highly visible and dependable waste stream. Kongskilde offers complete systems for conveying Latest official figures show 1,163,123 vehicles were scrapped in the UK in 2012, but this omits the high proportion of undeclared and handling large volumes of plastics materials cars which are scrapped without correct paperwork to issue a generated from today’s production lines. Certificate of Destruction, thus remaining as ‘ghost vehicles’ on the official UK car-pool held by DVLC. More realistic is circa two million 7KHVH V\VWHPV HQVXUH D KLJK HIĂ€FLHQF\ VLJQLĂ€FDQW vehicles per year reaching end-of–life, with an average weight of savings and an improved working environment. just over one tonne per vehicle. “Given that a higher proportion of the materials are nonmetallic in more modern cars, this reliable source of plastic-rich waste vehicles is all good news. In successfully replacing virgin 8 resin, ELV-derived polymers offer sustainable recycling Kongskilde UK F2 D AN ST Tel. 01263 713291 opportunities to kick-start the circular economy for cars,â€? Freegard mail@kuk.kongskilde.com concluded.
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Kongskilde your conveying specialist
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www.kongskilde.com
further information: www.axionpolymers.com
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EXCLUSIVE: New technology for uk packaging market launching at Interplas
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he demand, especially in the UK, for faster cycling electric machines, in particular for the production of caps, closures and thinwalled containers, has led Sumitomo (SHI) Demag to introduce its latest technology for the packaging market. Exclusively at Interplas 2014, the company will unveil Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is ‘Smart Fast marking its 40th Clamp’, a new anniversary at Interplas option that is 2014 alongside the being introduced to European debut of its the IntElect latest technology for (all-electric) the production of fast, Smart precise and reliable Machine packaging. range that is in a uk exclusive, leanne tailored to taylor reports give customers the benefit of energy, performance and precision. “Smart Fast Clamp provides a set of options that allow operation at much higher production rates. A typical cycle time is five seconds and with this technology, Sumitomo has got it down to 4.5
Nigel Flowers spoke exclusively to BP&R ahead of the launch of the new technology
seconds, whilst also dealing with the heat problem,” Flowers told BP&R. “The main enemy of fast cycling electric machines is heat. Either this causes the grease to liquefy and, as a result, destroys the ball screws, or energy that cannot be recovered by the drives must be dissipated via heat. Both these issues must be addressed by ball screw design and additional cooling on the drive systems. The electrical drives storage (capacitors) must be increased to store the recovered energy.” The technology behind Smart Fast Clamp is complex and, as such, has taken Sumitomo over three years to develop, despite its experience in building all-electric injection moulding machinery. “The [Sumitomo] team in Germany has been testing this for over a year on field test machines and it’s mechanically reliable. New features that address performance reliability include a special ball screw incorporating design changes to the geometry, a bigger motor/inverter and reduced tolerances. “In terms of heat management, larger
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rks th on and Popping Co Packaging, Precisi corks on 30 of ing pared for the popp pre ing be are 40 rs ito rks Vis also ma ening day of Interplas September, as the op g launched. Nigel ma De I) (SH o Sumitom years to the day when their success in iting everyone to share and the team are inv any’s future on mp co the ir stand to toast and join them on the stand D30, Hall 4.
capacitors and spindle cooling, as well as a differently designed platens, are its key features,” Flowers explained. By implementing Smart Fast Clamp, Sumitomo says dry cycle times, according to Euromap 6a, have been reduced from 1.2 to 1.0 seconds, performance increased by 20 percent, or 1.2 million extra cycles per annum, based on a five-second cycle. In addition, platen speed is increased from 1400 mm/s to 1700 mm/s. With energy consumption the word on the lips of all processors and manufacturers considering the purchase of new machinery, Flowers explained that despite the marginal increase in energy required during acceleration and braking using Smart Fast Clamp, the benefits of implementing the system far outweigh the increased energy usage. “The higher energy usage is for just a very short period in the overall cycle – so yes, there is a marginal energy increase, but the higher output and reliability more than compensates for that,” he said. The machine technology will make its debut at Interplas 2014, where it will be running throughout the three days of the show, producing bottle caps on the company’s stand - D30. Technical personnel from Sumitomo will be on hand throughout the event to answer any questions from visitors and demonstrate the technology. “The single most important benefit of the new system is without doubt its reliability,” commented Flowers. “Just going fast is easy. It’s doing it reliably when running high speed, dynamic cycles that is the key point,” he concluded. further information: www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu p cycle time duce bottle ca re n ca e ar w The new soft
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Exclusive feature: MoDiP @ Interplas Putting a piece of plastics history into place ch Come to the laun tics as Pl in n me Wo of at Interplas 2014 l launch on Women in Plastics wil th September with an Tuesday 30 event taking informal networking rds in seminar wa place from 5pm on 0. A9 nd sta e, theatre on
interplas Exclusive: New industry networking group for women in plastics launched A new networking group for women in the plastics industry will be officially launched at Interplas 2014. ‘Women in Plastics’ is a networking, support and mentoring group for females working at all levels across the industry, for learning and development as well as a united voice to encourage others to take up a career within the sector. “The group aims to highlight the females in the industry that are doing great work, in every type of capacity,” explained Leanne Taylor, Women in Plastics Group Founder and Manager. “By highlighting the good work that is being done we are doing one of two things. Firstly, we’re making the plastics industry realise that there are lots of intelligent, successful and powerful women within its ranks that deserve to be admired for their work, but who can also act as inspiration for a new generation of women that could plug the ever-worrying skills gap. “Secondly, it’s about awareness. Being aware that the industry is changing, that it includes women and that those women deserve to be recognised and acknowledged, both on an individual level and at a level at which they can make a positive contribution to business, be it at board level, shop-floor level or any other level in-between.” The Group will launch with an informal networking event on the opening day of Interplas 2014. All women working in the plastics or rubber industries are welcome to attend and register for details of upcoming events, which include a glitzy awards ceremony in late 2015. further information: www.womeninplastics.co.uk
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Can you turn detective in the name of plastics? New and exclusive to Interplas 2014 is a unique collaboration with the Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP), which is asking visitors for their help in unearthing some of the unknown information surrounding some of the ‘10 most wanted’ objects in its collection. The objects, which will remain a mystery until the opening day of the show on September 30th, have all been selected in the hope that visitors may be able to help unearth some previously unknown facts about their history and origins, which are much sought-after by the Museum. “We are thrilled to be having products from MoDiP’s collection at Interplas this year,” commented Duncan Wood, COO of Rapid News Communications Group. “We are convinced that visitors to the show, especially those whose careers have spanned several years in the plastics industry, will not only recognise some of the products, but be able to give some previously unknown information about their background.” Were you the designer? Did you work on the production process? You can see your name in lights if you can help unearth some of the valuably needed information about the artifacts on display. CONTINUED OVERLEAF
Can you turn detective in the name of plastics?
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Interplas: Horners Award winner to be announced at show The winner of this year’s Horners Award for Plastics Innovation and Design will be revealed live on the first day of Interplas 2014. This industry-recognised accolade, promoted in conjunction with the BPF, is handed out annually to recognise imaginative and innovative contributions to the development of plastics and its applications. “The Horners’ Award is a prestigious accolade with a number of valuable commercial benefits attached,” explained Jack
g Interplas 2014 Visit MoDiP durin ited museum in the UK red acc y onl v MoDiP is the is the UK’s leading It s. with a focus on plastic of tion eta rpr and inte resource for the study design in plastics. s ch resource at the Art It is a specialist resear to is n sio mis h whose University Bournemout the g and appreciation of increase understandin ing dur ign des in s ce of plastic use and significan th and 21st centur y. the 20 a will be present th The MoDiP feature are Interplas, from 30 of s day ee thr the t throughou 4 ll Ha in nd er on Stand H90 September – 2 Octob
See the Horners Award winner announced at Interplas The winning entry will be announced on Tuesday September 30th at 12.30pm in seminar theatre one, stand A90, in Hall 4. It will be preceeded by a short overview by the British Plastics Federation, also held in the theatre.
Bunyer, the Master of The Horners Company. “Last year we again saw a record number of entrants all demonstrating high levels of innovation and exemplary creativity in design. The calibre of entrants year-after-year demonstrates its uniqueness and how vital it is to promote all that design in plastics stands for.” During Interplas visitors will be able to see previous Horners Award entries and winning designs on display, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to see the scale of design innovation and creativity that has been rewarded with the coveted prize. Previous winners include the Cycloc Secure Bicycle Storage System by Andrew Lang (pictured) and the Vent-Axia Air Minder. further information: www.hornersaward.co.uk
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The feature at Interplas is a ‘live’ version of MoDiP’s ongoing research project, based around the ‘10 most wanted’ theme, which has been running since October 2012 and has so far unearthed some invaluable information from participants. “Plastics are somewhat neglected in most museum collections,” explained Susan Lambert, Curator at MoDiP. “Whereas it is common practice to specify of which wood or metal an object is made, plastic objects are frequently documented simply as being of plastic. And being less precious than many museum objects, they are often more anonymous, with both the designer and manufacturer unknown. “MoDiP wants to put that right and has one advantage over more traditional museums: because most of its objects were made in living memory it is likely that someone, somewhere has the answer. ‘Ten Most Wanted’ has been designed to gather this information,” she continued.
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Interplas Exclusive: Why polyethylene is the new paint One of West’s earlier pieces, entitled ‘Cut Grass’, shows the intricacy of the designs
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ince I first interviewed Glenn West over a year ago, much has changed for the contemporary artist, not least in the scale, breadth and success of his plastic ‘meltings’. West, who creates his modern plastic pictures using melted Bringing contemporary art polyethylene bin to Interplas 2014 is Glenn liners, has West, an artist who works expanded his with plastic sheets to palette of colours, create innovative ‘meltings’. refined his Leanne Taylor spoke to West technique and is set to exhibit not ahead of the show. only at Interplas, but also at a large German art gallery later this year. “I have just finished a large, three by three metre melting that is going to be exhibited at the Welt Echo gallery in Chemnitz, Germany,” West explained. “The gallery is huge, so I made a large melting to show the colour range that polyethylene is produced in.” Speaking of colour, West said he has found See Glenn melting live at Interplas 2014 sourcing polyethylene in colours outside of black s the most interesting part of his venture, with the Glenn will be exhibiting atndInterpla ber th Octo 2 – ber coloured plastic used in his artwork sourced from from 30 Septem . his travels across Europe. on stand J86 in hall 4 of the NEC “My earliest foray in using plastic was at
West’s latest plastic melting is to be displayed at Welt Echo gallery in Chemnitz, Germany
Liverpool art school, where, much to the despair of the cleaning staff, I used to go early and nick the bin liners. Unfortunately these were just black,” he said. “I have since found a great range of colours. It’s exciting as my palette is always expanding and I am ready to start ‘painting’ figuratively with polyethylene now.” West said that visitors to his studio are surprised by the amount of colours he has, as well as being somewhat baffled by his technique. “Most visitors think that the meltings are large oil paintings on canvas. A closer inspection of the surface, however, reveals textures that cannot be made by a brush or palette knife. Then they ask me how I “glued” the plastic to the canvas. I tell them there isn’t any canvas there. That really baffles them. The next question is always how I did it. Magic I say. I don’t want to give away my secrets!” But why plastics? West told me that he originally started using plastic as a painting material because he was dissatisfied with the more traditional mediums. “It seems to me that artists have exhausted the possibilities of oil paint. My time is better spent experimenting with a modern material in a modern way. Art is about creativity after all.” he explained. West will be demonstrating his intriguing technique at Interplas, with completed works on display alongside live demonstrations of new work in progress. “I will be bringing three large meltings to the NEC in a range of techniques to show visitors the development of work and to point out where it’s going next,” he explained. “I will also be bringing lots of one metre square frames to make small meltings.” West exaplained that as well as entertaining the visitors, he is using the UK’s biggest plastics show to find out more about his material of choice and make some key industry contacts. further information: @Grrwest
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Comment: Complexity of Grand (3D)designs
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D printing and additive manufacturing have become major digital influences over the last 10-15 years and what is truly remarkable when exploring and capitalising in this technology is the multitude of products, This month, Steve applications and human labour-saving Shaw, Executive which can benefit today’s industry. These systems are starting to Director at RAPRA, make mass production faster, and also looks at how 3D prevent material waste. Instead of printing and buying an item made by the traditional associated injection moulding from a store, one can technologies has so instead print the product at home from far affected the a downloaded 3D model. Instead of plastics and rubber melting raw plastic to create these industry and products, we can use recycled plastic to highlights areas for build a more cost-effective and socially future development. conscious ways of dealing with the increasing demand for virgin raw materials in the future. The success of additive manufacturing begins with complex designs, details in parts that make using conventional manufacturing processes challenging. Moving from unreinforced thermoplastics or metals to a wider range of stronger materials with better properties is a must nowadays. At RAPRA we see the demand for developing reinforcements of materials, especially using carbon fibre as an additive in a thermoplastic matrix. Cost could be considered a negative factor, but labour, moulding and milling expenses are excluded in the first place, therefore investing in R&D to this extent can easily be worthwhile in the longer term. One of the most beneficial uses for 3D printing is in tissue engineering, where the principles of additive manufacturing are applied to life sciences to develop biological substitutes or improvements in the function of The benefits of 3D printing organs. Innovation in have taken the medical biomaterials and stem cells industry by storm, but they create the amazing opportunity are not without ethical to make tissues from scaffolds – debates. Image credit: WSJ.com cells that are implanted or seeded into 3D artificial structures and influence tissue construction. A good material candidate for this type of research is PLA – polylactic acid – which is commonly used in biotechnology applications. Further additive manufacturing techniques are used extensively in the food, military, electronics, automotive and aerospace industries and they have somewhat disrupted the balance of traditional manufacturing. Although we now have a flavour for these wonderful futuristic opportunities, many debates centre on the moral, ethical and political concern that are expected to have greater complexity than our 3D designs in the future. Until then, RAPRA encourages researchers and manufacturers to address requests about technological advances involving polymers to us and we will do our best to find the perfect solution for you. further information: www.rapra.org
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news 3D Printing to generate $1.4 billion in plastics sales in 2019, report finds According to ‘Plastics In 3D Printing Markets: A Ten-Year Opportunity Forecast,’ a new report from the industry analysts SmarTech Markets Publishing, the market for polymers used in 3D printing has already reached $310 million and will grow to $1.4 billion by 2019. With a rapidly growing user base in the consumer and professional market, SmarTech believes that high value-added plastic materials used by 3D printers represent a high-margin opportunity for materials companies, equipment manufacturers and others in the 3D printing supply chain. The report analyses key opportunities for plastic materials used in 3D printing and how they are likely to change. Among the materials covered in the report are ABS, PLA, PC, PP resins, PS, nylon, acrylate resins, nylon and thermoplastics. In personal 3D printing, SmarTech sees the biggest opportunities in developing more robust ABS and PLA print materials for the
The market for plastic materials for the 3D Printing is expected to reach $1.4 billion by 2019, suggests the new report
serious hobbyist and off-time engineer class. More durable polymers like TPU, polycarbonate and nylon will also win market share over the next ten years, it predicts. Meanwhile, polymer powders for laser sintering may represent the overall largest opportunity in plastic materials. Meanwhile, the report suggests new materials that help professionals achieve distinct performance benefits with 3Dprinted parts can be used to justify higher materials prices. Specifically, materials that offer lighter and better performing aerospace components, reduce subassemblies, or enable customised medical implants and dental solutions will provide a lot of value to the relevant market segments. However, in weight terms, three types of plastics – ABS, PLA and nylon – will continue to account for the biggest share of the 3Dprinted materials market throughout the forecasting period covered by the report. Together, it says these plastics will account for more than 13,000 metric tonnes in 2019. For now, equipment manufacturers control the supply chain for 3D printed materials and this has reduced the opportunities for large materials companies. Nonetheless, SmarTech says some material companies are partnering
with smaller equipment manufacturers or even developing their own 3D printing equipment. Despite the growth in 3D printing, material demand will not increase to the degree needed to drive major economies of scale through larger batch sizes, finds the report. This dynamic will champion materials that can be produced economically in smaller batches, such as resins. One solution to this problem has been taken by Evonik, with its nylon 12 powders; to produce the powder in large batches and store the powder in inventory until it is used up. However the inefficiencies in this method are clear; large inventories eat up working capital. further information: www.smartechpublishing.com
Want to know more about 3D printing and AM? If you’re wondering how 3D printing and additive manufacturing could be beneficial to your business, make sure you visit the TCT show from 30th September – 2nd October this year. Co-located with Interplas, TCT has for twenty years served as a launch pad for innovation and is known globally as the business forum for the latest in 3D design and manufacturing technology. The 2014 outing will be no different, with an expected 200 exhibitors ready to showcase the entire spectrum of 3D printing and additive manufacturing machines in action, as well as supporting technologies and software for scanning, digitising and inspection and for design and manufacturing.
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Further information: www.tctshow.com
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The rise of additive layer manufacturing
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ith an estimated worth of £1.5bn in 2013 - predicted to double by 2018i – the meteoric rise of the additive layer manufacturing (ALM) industry has been the subject of much media hype. As interest within a range of sectors has increased, there has been a similar growth in enthusiasm among hobbyists, with sales A recent explosion of of personal 3D printers for the mainstream media coverage has home having firmly put additive layer increased by 575 manufacturing (ALM) in the percent between spotlight. But what is the 2010 and 2013ii. significance for the plastics It is no industry? Here, James Bradbury coincidence that all from the Centre for Additive the 3D printing kits Layer Manufacturing (CALM) at for the home are the University of Exeter, writes polymeric. Although ALM utilises a wide exclusively for BP&R more about range of materials, the technology and materials including metals, and how the plastics industry ceramics, can benefit from adopting the composites and technology. waxes, polymers are by far the easiest and cheapest materials compatible with the technology. This is reflected in the statistics – last year, 85 percent of all ALM systems were polymeric.iii In the same year, thermoplastic powders for laser sintering were estimated to be worth £67 million,iv and approximately 1.25 million kilograms of powder was sold for laser sintering.v
Chainmail p the intrica is produce
A snowflake produced at CALM using Nylon 12. Image: CALM
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There are a growing number of high temperature, high performance polymers available to use for ALM, including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK). Meanwhile, applications are seemingly endless - including brackets for electrical systems for aerospace and defence vehicles, optimised fuel systems for the high-end automotive sector and complex airfoil and impellers for the oil and gas industries. Certain polymers are ideal for creating medical implants for joint and bone replacements, as they are biocompatible and lightweight compared to metals. However, with about 50 polymers currently developed for use with the technology, versus thousands of polymers for injection moulding, ALM has some catching up to do. For a number of reasons, injection moulding remains the most popular process for manufacturing polymer parts. Nonetheless, interest is growing in the use of ALM for plastics processing, because of its much-lauded advantages over other manufacturing techniques. ALM is particularly viable for manufacturers looking to build complex parts cost effectively. The flexibility of the technology enables users to build multiple components at the same time – as opposed to injection and other moulding processes, where production is restricted to one type or similar types of components, according to the tooling used. Furthermore, because ALM involves adding, rather than taking away, there is very little scrap material, meaning a reduction in waste. The process also eliminates the need for tooling, saving on both cost and manufacturing time and – importantly for businesses – this means a shorter lead-time for customers. But, for manufacturers creating large volumes of products that are of simple to medium complexity, injection and other standard moulding techniques remain the processes of choice. As with ALM,
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there is very little waste, as scrap can be reground and reused. Nonetheless, the future of ALM as a viable technique for plastics processing is being taken seriously, within both industry and academia. A number of research and development projects are being conducted into optimising the process, and ows sh AM ing helping it to become faster, us d ce Chainmail produ . The part ign des e more cost effective and more th of y ac the intric 12. Image: CALM reliable. The Centre for is produced in Nylon Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM) at the University of Exeter is researching new high temperature, high performance polymers for ALM, looking at material structures and properties and how these can be developed, so they can be used appropriately with the technology. One of the aims of this research is to help ALM on its path to becoming a mainstream manufacturing technique, by resolving challenges including surface finish, cost and performance. Another challenge that CALM is working to resolve is the lack of knowledge and understanding about the technology and its potential among sectors that could benefit from adopting ALM. CALM runs knowledge exchange
workshops tailored to a range of sectors, which cover the advantages, challenges and limitations of the technology, as well as advising on how ALM can be integrated into businesses to create new services. As more materials become available and greater uptake of the technology drives costs down, the ALM industry will no doubt continue to grow, and expand into new sectors, for new applications. But, for now, there needs to be a balance between the push for new materials and more reliable systems, and the uptake and growth in interest. Further information: calm@exeter.ac.uk www.exeter.ac.uk Footnote: i Wohlers Report 2014, Wohlers Associates, http://wohlersassociates.com/2014report.htm ii Wohlers, iii Wohlers, iv Wohlers, v Wohlers
The Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM) Leading the way in the development of high temperature polymers, CALM is a centre for expertise in additive layer manufacturing. Internationally renowned for high quality research into high temperature polymeric laser sintering, the centre boasts one of only five EOSINT P800 commercial platforms in the world, which can build parts at temperatures up to 385°C. CALM is also the only team offering independent research into high temperature polymers. Established in 2010, following significant investment from the EU, University of Exeter and Airbus Group Innovations, CALM has supported more than 200 companies and has created regional growth of £20million through its additive layer manufacturing business support. The team is experienced in working in partnerships with companies, other universities and government agencies and offer consultancy on all aspects of ALM.
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news 3T RPD launches flame retardant nylon for end use parts Berkshire-based Additive Manufacturing (AM) company, 3T RPD, has launched a flame retardant nylon for the production of end-use parts. The company says the introduction of PA 2241 FR reflects the developing requirement of customers in a range of industries, including public transport, electrical and electronics and the construction sector for end use, production volume parts made via plastic additive manufacturing. “Increasingly, customers are capitalising on additive manufacturing’s opportunities and seeing it as a technology for producing end use parts,” commented Ian Halliday, CEO of 3T RPD Ltd. The company says introduction of an FR option has attracted a range of new users to AM who are capitalising on the benefits of additive manufacturing such as the facility to reverse engineer legacy parts, the ability to manufacture components without tooling costs or delays whilst tools are created and the capacity to produce different design iterations rapidly. PA 2241 FR is a flame retardant polyamide 12 used in laser sintering systems. It contains a halogen-based flame retardant. In the event of a fire, the inert gas - halogen - is released, which starves the flames of oxygen and so extinguishes them. Parts made with PA 2241 are particularly suited to applications that need to meet stringent
safety standards as the flame retardant material has been tested to JAR/FAR 25 (aviation) for flammability and smoke generation and meets the required specification for toxic gas generation1. In addition to its FR characteristics, PA 2241 FR has excellent mechanical properties and a good tensile strength. 3T RPD explained that customers from a range of sectors turn to additive manufacturing for a variety of reasons. “In public transport uses, the ability to produce strong yet lightweight parts can lead to significant saving in fuel costs during the lifetime of the vehicle. Companies working on projects to refurbish public transport stock are making the most of the winning combination of rapidly producing fire safe plastic components for legacy parts where tooling has been lost or broken or where low volumes are required,” Halliday continued. The new FR powder is recyclable, which means that during AM production, the loose, unsintered powder which surrounds the finished parts can be
extracted and mixed with virgin powder for future builds. This means 3T is able to offer flame retardant parts at costeffective prices. “Introducing fire safe materials to our portfolio will enable a whole new range of engineers to reconsider the way they design and produce components. Our FR parts are already being used by the transport industry for both aerospace and rail applications. In addition, we anticipate strong demand for end use FR parts from other industries including the electrical and electronics sector, marine and motor vehicle manufacturers and building and construction,” Halliday concluded. further information: www.3trpd.co.uk Notes: 1 = Flame retardant tests: Flammability according to JAR/FAR 25 App.F Part 1 Smoke generation according to FAR 25 App.F Part V Toxic gas gereration according to AITM 3.0005
of an A sample t c u aero d d in the produce material new FR PD by 3T R
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news UK masterbatch manufacturer launches new lines UK-based manufacturer of masterbatch and colour concentrates, Colloids Ltd, has launched a number of advances in its product lines as it continues to enter new markets and industries. The firm says its sales are growing in all sectors including packaging, automotive, construction, agriculture, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, appliances, household, and electrical/electronic and it is using an upcoming appearance at Interplas, to demonstrate the new products to the UK market. For the burgeoning UK packaging sector, the company is introducing new developments in colour and special effects, including “revolutionary” new marbling effects that it says are particularly striking in packaging applications. Best known for its functional black
masterbatch, the company has recently fine-tuned its ‘maxim’ universal masterbatch range, which comprises over 200 colours that Colloids says it has carefully selected to mirror current trends. “We ran through all our data and checked figures over time: which colours were selling, and which were not. Then we removed the worst performers and introduced new colours aligned with the latest tastes,” explained Josephine Bagnall, Sales and Marketing Manager for Colloids. “We know all about that already from our extensive work with designers on bespoke projects spanning consumer to domestic and beyond.” Colloids has also recently made developments in its biopolymer masterbatches, launching its new ‘Sustain’ line, which is said to be ideal for film/sheet extrusion, injection and blow moulding as well as fibre-based applications. The new masterbatch has a reduced carbon footprint and is fully recyclable, something the company says ties in with its ISO14001 Environmental Management System accreditation, which sees it committed to continually developing novel technologies in areas such as bioplastics, polymer recycling, energy recovery and responsible disposal.
Colloids has recently launched new product lines and says sales are growing across all business areas
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Alongside its newest lines the company will exhibit masterbatches specifically designed for laser marking, to ensure the right effects for both thermal and photochemical applications, as well as additives for process performance and specified properties in the end product. The company will be exhibiting on stand H37 from 30 September – 2nd October at the NEC, Birmingham. further informatioN: www.colloids.co.uk
Borealis signs agreement to acquire DuPont share in Speciality Polymers Antwerp Borealis has acquired full ownership of Antwerp N.V. Speciality Polymers Speciality Polymers t, Belgium. site in Zwijndrech Antwerp, after it 2012 nt Po Du t: Credi bought DuPont’s share in the joint venture for an undisclosed sum. Speciality Polymers Antwerp N.V., located in Zwijndrecht, Antwerp, is a joint venture between DuPont Holding Netherlands B.V. (67 percent), Borealis Polymers N.V. and Borealis Kallo N.V. (together 33 percent). “The acquisition of the full ownership of Speciality Polymers Antwerp is in line with our strategy to grow our polyolefin business in specific market areas,” commented Mark Garrett, Borealis Chief Executive. “Acrylate copolymers, which are part of a broader portfolio of specialty polymers produced at Speciality Polymers Antwerp, are an important building block for our value-added products sold into our core Energy and Infrastructure market.” Under the proposed arrangement, DuPont will continue to serve the market with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and acrylate copolymers produced at the Speciality Polymers Antwerp facility. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities and will be presented to the employee representatives concerned. further informatioN: www.borealisgroup.com
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High definition plastic displays could provide a window on the world as you fly The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is developing ultra-flexible, high-definition display technologies that could line the interior walls of aircraft cabins and display live footage from external cameras, providing passengers with a panoramic view of the skies. The UK-based centre says that the OLED plastic display screens, which are ultra thin, very light and highly flexible, would be integrated with the fuselage or the seat backs of future aircraft with no unsightly, clumsy or heavy housings, resulting in major weight savings. As well as replacing the traditional small cabin window, the interactive ‘digital wallpaper’ will reportedly allow travellers to personalise their environment, providing options to adjust lighting or change the view. It could also be used as a multimedia device for in-flight entertainment. “Our role is to turn innovative technology concepts such as OLED displays into manufactured products. Work has so far focused on the back layer and the flexibility and performance of Organic Thin Film Transistor arrays
An image of what future aircraft interiors may look like thanks to the development of the OLED plastic display technology. Image courtesy of CPI
(OTFTs), which operate a screen’s individual pixels to form the picture,” said Dr Simon Ogier, Research and Development Manager at CPI. “Now we know we can tightly bend these parts and maintain function, the challenge is to combine this with an equally flexible front layer for a fully flexible, high performance display.” Fully integrated OLED technology is still in development across the globe, but progress within the UK is promising. CPI is able to create flexible OLED lighting
devices of varying thickness and colours, and has recently demonstrated at pilot production scale that such devices can be flexed to a radius of 1mm without a decrease in performance. A technology roadmap has been devised to take the technology to commercialisation for the aviation sector. further information: www.uk-cpi.com
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news New ‘sponge-like’ plastic could ease transition to cleaner energy A sponge-like plastic, developed at the University of Liverpool, which soaks up the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), might ease the transition from polluting fossil fuels toward new energy sources, it has been claimed. The material is designed to be integrated into power plant smokestacks in the future as part of an emerging technology called ‘integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC)’, which can convert fossil fuels into hydrogen gas. Hydrogen holds great promise for use in fuel-cell cars and electricity generation because it produces almost no pollution. Chemist, Professor Andy Cooper, led the development of the material, which works through a process of ‘adsorption’. “The key point is that this new plastic polymer is stable, cheap and it adsorbs CO2 extremely well. It’s geared toward function in a real-world environment,” Cooper commented. “In a future landscape where fuel-cell technology is used, this adsorbent could work towards zero-emission technology.” IGCC is a bridging technology that is intended to jump-start the hydrogen economy, or the transition to hydrogen fuel, while still using the existing fossil-fuel infrastructure. But the IGCC process yields
geThe new spon ial er at m like e could ease th to n tio transi hydrogen fuel tesy (graphic cour an of the Americ ety) ci So al Chemic
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a mixture of hydrogen and CO2 gas, which must be separated. Professor Cooper says that the sponge works best under the high pressures intrinsic to the IGCC process: “Just like a kitchen sponge swells when it takes on water, the adsorbent swells slightly when it soaks up CO2 in the tiny spaces between its molecules. “When the pressure drops, the adsorbent deflates and releases the CO2, which can be collected for storage or, possibly, converted into useful carbon compounds.” The material is a brown, sand-like powder made by linking together many carbon-based molecules into a network. It
“The key point is that this new plastic polymer is stable, cheap, and it adsorbs CO2 extremely well. It’s geared toward function in a real-world environment. In a future landscape where fuel-cell technology is used, this adsorbent could work towards zero-emission technology”
was inspired by polystyrene, which can adsorb small amounts of CO2 by the same swelling action. One advantage of using such polymers is that they tend to be stable. The material can even withstand being boiled in acid, proving it should tolerate the harsh conditions in power plants where CO2 adsorbents are needed. Another advantage of the new adsorbent is its ability to adsorb CO2 without also taking on water vapour, which can clog up other materials and make them less effective. Its low cost also makes the sponge polymer attractive. “Compared to many other adsorbents, they’re relatively cheap,” Professor Cooper said. “Mostly because the carbon molecules used to make them are inexpensive. In principle, they’re also highly reusable and have long lifetimes because they’re robust.” The research was presented at the 248th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society and was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and E.ON Energy. The project also involved collaborators at the University of Nottingham and Imperial College London. further information: www.liv.ac.uk www.acs.org
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news Dream polymer project using even less petroleum for plastics production Bayer MaterialScience says its research into carbon dioxide as a new raw material for making plastics is delivering further successes, by both further reducing the amount of petroleum required for production and expanding the range of plastics that can be produced. As part of its ‘Dream Polymer’ research project, the company has succeeded in significantly further reducing the need for petroleum at precursor level through the incorporation of CO2 in laboratory tests, as well as extending the range of plastics that CO2 can be used to produce. The current technology, which uses the greenhouse gas to produce a key component for high-quality foam (polyurethane) is already moving toward commercial use. The proportion of petroleum in this chemical is 80 percent.
“We have now succeeded in reducing the petroleum content for making other plastics to just 60 percent,” commented Project Manager, Dr. Christoph Gürtler. In the new process, carbon dioxide is used twice. First, the greenhouse gas is incorporated directly into a new kind of precursor (polyoxymethylene polycarbonate polyol), replacing 20 percent of the petroleum. Second, it is also used indirectly, producing a chemical that is also incorporated into the precursor for a further 20 percent saving in petroleum. “As a result, the proportion of alternative raw materials is already 40 percent,” explained Gürtler. In addition to this, the number of plastics that can be produced using carbon dioxide is increasing. “It is now also possible to manufacture thermoplastic polyurethanes, films and casting elastomers in this way,” said Gürtler. Such plastics are used in all kinds of applications, including automotive interiors, cable sheathing and sporting goods such as ski boots. The researchers say they have already proved in laboratory tests that the manufacturing process works in principle. “Initial application tests have been positive,” confirmed Gürtler, but he added that there is some way to go before the
Dr. Christoph Gürtler, a Chemist at Bayer and Manager of the Dream Production project, assesses foam produced with the innovative raw material
process is commercially viable. Dream Polymers is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. External institutions in Germany such as the CAT Catalytic Center, the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis and the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology are also involved. further information: www.materialscience.bayer.com
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In association with Hardie Polymers – www.hardiepolymers.com
// Materials Technical //
Blog This month, polymer expert and technical blog author, Dr Charlie Geddes, looks at fibre reinforcement in terms of properties, products and price The long and the short of fibre reinforcement of thermoplastics The advantages of adding glass fibre to thermoplastics to increase stiffness (modulus), strength, heat distortion resistance and dimensional stability are well known. Because of the method of compounding, conventional glass fibre filled grades have fibre lengths of the order of 1 – 3 mm, a bit too short to spread applied loads effectively between fibres to maximise strength potentials. Increasingly, moulders are now being offered Long Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics (LFRT) based on a range of thermoplastics (polypropylene, polyamides, polyesters, polyphenylene sulphide and even PEEK). The glass fibres are the same length as the pellets, typically 12 – 25 mm. Despite some attrition in fibre length during the moulding process, the mouldings show a significant increase in tensile and flexural strength and a dramatic improvement (x 5) in impact resistance, compared to short fibre grades at the same glass content. Stiffness, purely a function of volume loading, will not be much different but the long fibre grades exhibit reduced shrinkage, minimal warping and better dimensional stability. Adding all these benefits together can compensate for the price premium associated with long fibre grades. The price-to-properties advantages permit reduced wall thickness, weight reduction and low ‘per piece costs’, a combination ideal for metal replacement applications. Typical LFRT applications include propellers, robotic gearboxes, wind turbine blades and automotive consoles but LFRT is also suitable for more humble and less technical items such as a broom handle. Designers should note that, although stiffness increases over the range of glass content (20 – 60 percent by weight), strength and impact benefits can be marginal above 40 percent loadings because there is more attrition of fibre length during the moulding process at higher glass loadings. Moulders need to be aware of processing problems such as the longer pellets bridging in the feed hopper and the importance of minimising shear by using low compression screws, well designed check rings, generous runners and gates and no sharp corners. Interestingly, long fibre grades cause less wear on the screws and cylinders because there are fewer fibre ends.
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.
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news Sainsbury’s stocks shelves with 100 percent recycled plastic crates Sainsbury’s is the first UK retailer to recycle its old food crates into more efficient ones made from 100 percent recycled plastic. The retailer says the new-type crate will “significantly reduce” empty crate transport, with the standardised crate stacking together more efficiently resulting in fewer necessary journeys to suppliers. The crates, recycled for Sainsbury’s by Schoeller Allibert, are the first in the UK to be made from 100 percent recycled material and meet European Food Safety Authority Standards. Historically, 100 percent recycled food crates have not been used for the transportation of food products. The process will see two million old, inefficient crates ground down into plastic flakes, which are washed and dried before
Sainsbury’s is the first UK retailer to use 100 percent recycled plastic food crates. Photo credit: IGD
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Schoeller Allibert reforms them into new crates. The process produces minimal waste, creating a sustainable packaging cycle. “Schoeller Allibert’s EFSA-approved recycling and remoulding process has been developed to help retailers meet increasing stringent sustainability targets as well as strict food safety and hygiene standards,” commented Simon Moulson, Head of Retail Sales for Schoeller Allibert. Simon Stokoe, Senior Strategy Manager for Sainsbury’s Supply Chain,
said: “This piece of work was not only about making the right decision for Sainsbury’s from an efficiency perspective - it was also about making sure we did it sustainably. A win-win.” further information: www.schoellerallibert.com www.j-sainsbury.co.uk
MP praises UK recycler on service expansion and job creation Kent-based VEKA Recycling n (left) recently hosted a visit from its Gareth Johnso holes Sc on m local MP, Gareth Johnson, who with Si praised the PVC recycler’s progress in expanding its services and products, while providing growing employment opportunities for local people. He toured the Swanscombe processing site, which has grown from employing 10 to 40 people since it was established seven years ago. Impressed with VEKA Recycling’s commitment to its sector and local area, Johnson, who is the Conservative MP for Dartford, commented: “We can be proud in Dartford that we have companies like VEKA Recycling leading the way with these techniques. “The environmental benefits from recycling are well known, but the procedures used by VEKA Recycling are also providing great employment opportunities locally too,” he added. Last year’s significant investment in extrusion equipment to produce high-quality 100 percent recycled PVC-U pellet and micronised PVC-U (pulver) from end-of-life PVC-U windows for use in new goods also created extra jobs at VEKA Recycling. Simon Scholes, Business Administration Manager for VEKA Recycling, said: “In welcoming Gareth to our facility, his visit also provided the perfect opportunity to highlight the issues facing our industry, such as changes to REACH legislation and their impact on plastics recycling in particular.”
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further information: www.veka-recycling.com
(left) holes
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New recycling manifesto focuses on PRN/PERN reform The BPF Recycling Group (BPFRG) has launched a new manifesto for 2014 with a strong message of PRN/PERN system reform for plastics. The manifesto sets out powerful arguments to enable the plastics recycling sector to meet the Government’s low carbon manufacturing ambitions, which the Group says are central to meeting aspirations of a circular economy and resource efficiency. In the document, the BPFRG proposes a series of policies that focus on driving the use of increased volumes of recycled plastics in UK manufacturing to create wealth and employment. “The proposals contained in this manifesto are designed not only to provide a route map to deliver the best environmental outcomes from plastic waste but also to create new low carbon manufacturing jobs in the vanguard of the circular economy,” explained Roger Baynham, Chairman of the BPF’s Recycling Group. “The BPFRG believes the future-proofing of markets for waste can only be achieved by ensuring that traction exists to encourage investment in recycling infrastructure and innovation to develop new markets and applications for recycled plastics.” The Group’s flagship policy reform is a split on the plastics packaging recycling targets to distinguish recycling in the local market (UK and EU) from that which is exported outside Europe. The Group says it proposes for this to be achieved through the existing PRN/PERN mechanism, such that there is a progressive weighting towards increased local recycling year-on-year. The manifesto comes at a time when the EU is calling for a fundamental review of its waste strategy through to 2030 and proposing landfill bans and substantially higher recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging materials. further information: www.bpf.co.uk
Over 65 billion PET bottles recycled in Europe in 2013 Figures released by non-profit trade association, Petcore Europe, have revealed that over 65 billion PET bottles were recycled in Europe in 2013, a seven percent increase on 2012. The increase in the overall collection of PET bottles in Europe to approximately 1.64 million tonnes is down to PET still being the material of choice for packaging, with new uses being found in innovative applications and new markets, says the body. From a sustainability perspective, our industry is thrilled that last year the equivalent of around 56 percent of PET containers in circulation were collected for reclamation and recycling,” commented Roberto Bertaggia, Chairman of Petcore Europe. “There is, however, still a huge disparity in collection rates amongst the Member States, and all stakeholders need to work together to align the collection processes to deliver the increased recycling objectives recently announced by the European Commission,” he added. The findings mean PET is the most recycled plastic material in Europe. Casper van den Dungen, PET Chairman at PRE (Plastics Recyclers Europe) and a Board member of Petcore Europe, added there is still “considerable spare recycling capacity” to enable Europe to recycle more. “However, one of the factors that will reduce our ability to utilise our available spare capacity is the increasing complexity of some collected baled bottles. Improved and standardised collection and sorting processes would help address this situation,” he commented. The findings will be presented during the PET Network Day 2014 conference in Brussels on 9 October. further information: www.petcore.org
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machinery
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www.kraussmaffei.com
Smaller machines benefit from latest mould clamping system
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ast and reliable mould changing is vital to the efficient operation of many injection moulding shops. After changeover times have been reduced by, for example, using quick release fluid connectors, the next step to be evaluated in the drive to speed up mould changes even further, is often a quick mould clamping system. There are three main technologies used for mould clamping, manual (mechanical), hydraulic Quick mould clamping and magnetic; each one having systems are often only a number of design features suitable for medium and that makes them more suited large IMMs. Here, the to a specific range of applications. technical team from Mechanical systems, where Stäubli UK write for BP&R the mould is held in position by on how the latest version a manual bayonet locking of the company’s manual mechanism provide a low cost clamping system has been system that is easy to install, designed specifically for requires no electric or hydraulic the smaller machine and connections and is simple to can securely clamp small operate. The latest manual moulds while also system from Stäubli, designated QMC 105, is ideal minimising the effect on for smaller machines since the machine daylight. platen thickness is reduced, minimising the effect on the machines daylight opening. Platens from 25mm down to just 15mm thick can be specified and moulds down to 100mm sq can be safely clamped. Replacement of the standard centring ring with a Stäubli centring/locking ring is all the modification required. The bayonet system, lever operated by a removable handle, ensures secure mould clamping by simple and positive safety locking onto the centering ring. The complete working surface of the platens remains available for use making possible the clamping of complex shaped moulds that require the entire platen area; the drilling pattern is to Euromap standard but other
The quick mould clamping system can bring significant benefits for IMMs
patterns such as SPI or JIS can be supplied on request. An additional advantage is that mould changing requires access to only one side of the machine. Installation of the system is also quick and easy and requires no special training for the fitter. On the machine side the set of bayonet plates is a one-off investment; five standard sizes, as well as bespoke designed solutions, are available to cover the machine platens. On the mould side only the register rings are required. It is still possible to fix non-adapted moulds in the conventional manner with bolts using the through holes provided, if necessary. Significant reductions in mould changeover times have been achieved and the perfect alignment and elimination of incorrect mould positioning are important additional benefits. further information: www.staubli.com
The Bunting Magnets are extracting metal contaminants before they cause damage at bpi in Leominster
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Magnets save downtime and cost during plastic film production bpi Films in Leominster has recently installed a series of magnetic separators in order to capture any ferrous metal contamination in its production process, preventing equipment damage and production downtime. The three LP Model Drawer Magnets, from Bunting Magnetics, are approximately 183mm high and 210mm square, the low profile making them the perfect size for the limited available space in the location for the magnetic separation at BPI. Each Drawer Magnet has three highpowered rare earth tube magnets, which
can be removed from the front for cleaning. The unit is also fitted with a top slide plate that can be pushed into position prior to cleaning to stop the flow of material and thus prevent spillage. Previously, bpi was processing small, 3mm plastic beads used to produce the plastic film and occasionally metal would
be found in amongst the beads. The Drawer Magnets are cleaned every four days and, during recent maintenance, part of a screwdriver was found attached to the magnets. This would have caused significant damage and downtime if the magnets had not been installed, according to Chris Anthony, bpi’s Extrusion Manager, who added that the cost of the equipment damage alone would total several thousand pounds. Since the first three magnets were supplied, bpi has purchased another six and is in the process of installing them. further information: www.buntingeurope.com
With t all-ele
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Flexible finance makes buying used machines a steal Supplier of pre-owned injection moulding machinery, STVconnect, says that the company’s continued growth is an indication that more business owners are realising the benefits of purchasing refurbished machinery. The Wellingborough-based company says high quality refurbished machinery can meet the productivity needs of a company with greatly reduced costs and minimal risk, as well as increasingly being affordable to finance. STVconnect, in co-operation with Close Brothers Asset Finance, says it is now offering flexible finance options on quality refurbished machines for customers, many of whom, it says, have been unaware of the benefits of financing a used machine over a new one. “The perception in the marketplace is that finance on used machines may be expensive, but actually, the reverse is true,” Richard Perry of STVconnect explained. “Refurbished machines older than 12 years have already experienced most of their depreciation, so for the finance company the risk of loss due to default in the first couple of years is much
lower than for a new machine which can depreciate by as much as 30 percent in the first couple of years - and lower risk to the finance company equates to lower cost for customers.” As an example, STV says a used machine valued at £15,000 can be obtained for as little as £1,500 deposit plus VAT, followed by 60 monthly payments of £308. The total cost would be £19,980, which equates to a flat annual rate of 7.38 percent. “What could you get for £15,000? A fully refurbished and guaranteed Battenfeld BA1000/315 CDK or a Boy 80M with Procan control are just a couple of examples,” continued Perry. “STVconnect has an excellent reputation for providing quality refurbished machines and therefore if the buyer decided to settle the finance early, say, after two years, and sell the refurbished machine on, the resale value will remain relatively high and consequently there is a much better chance of clearing any outstanding finance from the sale proceeds compared to the same circumstances when financing new equipment,” he added. At roughly 25-30 percent of the capital cost of new machines, STV says buying refurbished machines opens opportunities
KraussMaffei expands injection moulding portfolio KraussMaffei has revealed it is expanding its range of injection moulding machinery with additions it says makes its portfolio “more powerful, more energy-efficient and more versatile.” The company is launching two new sizes in its all-electric AX series, with clamping forces of 4,500 and 5,500 kN. In addition, it is adding three new machine models for its GX series of hydromechanical twin-platen injection moulding machines. Both will be unveiled at the upcoming Fakuma trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. “Our customers are increasingly asking for high-performance, energy-efficient and simultaneously space-saving solutions,” explained Dr. Hans Ulrich Golz, President of the Injection Moulding Machinery segment of the KraussMaffei Group. “With this in mind, we are working continuously on the expansion and continued development of our broad portfolio of all-electric, hydraulic and hybrid injection molding machines.” The two new AX series product group additions, the AX 450 and the AX 550, have been developed as a result of increased demand for all-electric injection moulding machines with large locking forces, said Jochen Mitzler, Head of Strategic Product Management for KraussMaffei. Within the GX series the new GXH, GXL and GXV variants are said to offer the perfect platform for multi-component injection moulding. They feature a new, integrated turntable and a servoelectric drive unit to ensure especially fast rotations, parallel movement and precise positioning. further information: www.kraussmaffeigroup.com
Finance on quality used machines like this BOY 80M has advantages over finance on new machinery.
for increased productivity at relatively low cost. Finance subject to normal credit checks is not an obstacle and, if a trusted specialist has carried out the refurbishment, then the machine should be trouble free for many years to come. “Professionally refurbished pre-owned machinery makes excellent business sense in this day and age — and low-cost finance is making it more available to the marketplace. It’s a win-win situation.” further information: www.stvconnect.co.uk
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A15
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With the new AX 450 and AX 550 KraussMaffei has expanded its all-electric machinery range specifically to increase clamping force
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machinery
Engineering Passion
www.kraussmaffei.com
news New moulding machine is a snip for Trimfix Kent-based trade moulder, Trimfix, has recently commissioned and installed a new injection moulding machine for repeatability and reliability when producing demanding technical parts. The company, which moulds a range of glass-filled engineering plastics parts for demanding and aggressive exterior environments in the transport and automotive sector, as well as products for marine, construction and chemical engineering environments, purchased the Wittmann Battenfeld HM B6-P 90/350H injection moulding machine to simplify and improve its production processes. “Everything I do in relation to shop floor production is about making production easier – continuous improvement if you like,� commented Trimfix’s Technical Director, Garry Vickers. “Approximately 50 percent of our output here I would term industrial. That is
to say the products have functional, but little aesthetic importance. The other 50 percent are moulded to an extremely high aesthetic standard and therefore need full inspection and quality assurance treatment from our team here. The repeatability and reliability of the Battenfeld technology gives us a great help.� Daniel Williams, Wittmann Battenfeld UK Area Sales Manager, explained that the Battenfeld HM 90/350H, equipped with ServoPower drive technology, ensures energy consumption and noise level are at a minimum and the B6-P control system is key to guaranteeing the necessary repeatability and reliability that Trimfix demands for its technical parts. “The B6-P control system has a very user-friendly designed layout, with all of the necessary information available on the specific shortcut screens, as well as being very easy to understand for new users,� said Williams. “In addition, access to all of the machine documentation is available at the touch of a button, including full spare parts listings, hydraulic and electrical drawings.� Trimfix currently has export sales totaling some 45 percent of total turnover, spread primarily through USA and other parts of Europe. Overmoulding skills are a
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large part of the expertise offered at the company, including plastics on rubber, with a key current job involving the overmoulding of a polysulphone circular surround onto a titantium coated mesh. The resulting high-value filter product is for export use in chemical separation processes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The B6-P control system shows us world-class repeatability and reliability in action. The build of our new machine also gives us energy efficiency, reduced noise and quality production,â&#x20AC;? concluded Vickers. further information: www.wittmann-group.co.uk
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BP&R Setember 14 FINAL_Layout 1 15/09/2014 16:46 Page 63
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
Q: Why do we mix materials when dosing? And what should we keep in mind? Mo explains: Separately dosed materials need to be correctly mixed to ensure that plasticisation results in a homogenous output material.
T
he purpose of dosing and mixing is to combine multiple materials in the right ratio. To ensure consistently high-quality results, the input components must be thoroughly mixed to produce a homogenous y Gravit output material. However, true mixing homogeneity is only technically possible upon plasticisation – so strictly speaking, the output material is a heterogeneous mixture. To make the difference clear let’s look at two everyday examples: muesli is a non-uniform, heterogeneous mixture of solids such as oatmeal flakes and raisins. Mayonnaise, on the other hand, is a homogeneous (uniform) emulsion. Uniform blending is essential to ensuring consistently highquality plasticisation. Otherwise, the end product being produced may have inconsistent colours or properties. Mixing is particularly important when asynchronous dosing is used, as the individual components have been dosed one after another and so have not yet been mixed in the collecting bin. There are two types of mixers: static (also called passive) and active. When passive gravity mixing is used, the components are either blended by means of baffles, or in free fall. With a variation of this process, the auxiliary components are metered and flow into the main material as it is fed into the injection moulding unit. Active mixers feature mechanical paddles or agitators that blend the individual components. It is important to take the various material component properties into account. For example, materials with very different bulk densities can segregate. This can be partially resolved by turning the mixer off and on at defined intervals, or by operating the mixer for a defined period after mixing has already taken place. Mixers can be vertical or horizontal, depending on the orientation of the mixing device. If the components are dosed into a container at about the same time, for example a collecting bin, horizontal mixers are a good choice. Vertical mixers are typically deployed when the components are added to the mixer one after another, at different times. further information: askmo@moscorner.de
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 F: 05601 506253 E: enquiries@ 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, Standalone 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 real-time 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.
A listing in the Software Directory costs £140 per programme per year. Call Lisa on 01244 680222 for details. Gravity mixing with addition of an auxiliary component
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buyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guide
materials
equipment
mould release 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.
ultrasonic welding
control systems and equipment quality monitoring control
Elmatic (Cardiff) Ltd Wentloog Road, Rumney, Cardiff CF3 1XH T: 029 20 778727 F: 029 20 792297 E: sales@elmatic.co.uk W: www.elmatic.co.uk
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.
material handlinG 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
Dosing equipment
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
polymer distributors
vibration welding
ancillary masterbatch
Branson Ultrasonics 158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.bransoneurope.eu
extrusion systems chillers/temperature extruders and downstream controllers equipment 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
FOR SALE for sale/WANTED
Reheat Stretch Blow Moulding Machine (PET)
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.
granulators
Make: Sidel, France Type: SBO 24/24 Year: 1994 - Preform Tipper, Hopper / Elevator, Infeed Rail - Oven & Heating Wheel - Electrical Cabinet (Siemens S5) - Operating manuals
colour masterbatch
For further details: 01925 596170 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 07838138342 Email: douglastrading@gmail.com
assembly
thermocouples
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
pulse staking H.T.E Engineering Ltd
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Unit 9, St Ives Enterprise Centre, St Ives, Huntingdon Cambridgeshire, UK, PE27 3NP
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T: +44 (0) 1480 467321 M: +44 (0) 7435 967632 E: john@hte.ie W: www.pulsestaker.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
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ancillaries
dryers/dehumidifiers
secondhand and reconditioned
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
infra red systems
screen changers Industrial Plastics Ltd 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
mixing, feeding, drying Motan Colortronic Ltd
3d printing
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
metal detection & separation equipment
Injection Moulding
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
nozzles & nozzle tips
secondhand and reconditioned ANGLO PLASTICS LTD 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
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
materials handling and storage Buy and Sell Cable and Plastics Machinery
gravimetric/volumetric blending
LABORATORY machines
printing machines pad
Floatair tumble mixer 250kg capacity
Rapid Granulator type 4535/KV Please Contact:
T: +44 (0)1204 534414 E: sales@goodwinmachinery.co.uk W: www.goodwinmachinery.co.uk
DM Machinery Ltd 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
hot runner systems DTL Machinery UK
screws and barrels
hopper loaders
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
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
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; market leaders in static control systems.
testing equipment
50mm x 24:1 Boston Matthews extruder 90mm x 24:1 Francis Shaw extruder
hopper dryers
hot runner controllers
Arrowquint Ltd
Presently Available:
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
static control
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
Ray Ran Test Equipment Ltd 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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
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
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buyers’ guide mouldflow analysis
equipment
Contract cleaning Injection Moulding Extrusion
testing equipment inspection & measurement MAPRA Technik Co – DOSS – MARCEL AUBERT – KAFER 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
• • • • • •
Hot Runners Nozzles Moulds Dies Filters Screws 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
services mouldflow analysis
parts & services
injection moulding
EXTRUSION FLOW ANAYLYSIS 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
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
printers of plastic mouldings 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
To advertise in this space contact lisa montgomery 01244 680222
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EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen Ges.m.b.H.
printers
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
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RECYCLING systems
CHOOSE THE NUMBER ONE.
testing/consultancy 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
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
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BP&R Setember 14 FINAL_Layout 1 15/09/2014 16:47 Page 68