July 2016 Volume 18 | Issue 03
STÄUBLI: ‘YOUR PRODUCTION PARTNER FOR EFFICIENCY’ Cover Story | Page 8
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IN THIS ISSUE Pg 6 INDUSTRY NEWS
Pg 20 TPES
Weeks on and we are all still talking about Brexit. EPPM has been gathering quotes from plastics and manufacturing influencers for their take on what this means for European plastics processing.
TPEs are everybody’s favourite tactile plastic for soft-touch pens, water bottles and consumer electronics but how are thermoplastic elastomers transforming more hard-headed applications?
Volume 18 Issue 03
head office Carlton House, Sandpiper Way, Chester Business Park, Chester, CH4 9QE. Tel. +44 (0) 1244 680222 Fax. +44 (0) 1244 671074 Web: www.eppm.com C.E.O/publisher mark blezard C.O.O duncan wood
editorial editor rose brooke rose.brooke@rapidnews.com
Pg 8 COVER STORY: STÄUBLI
Pg 23 CHINAPLAS REVIEW
The master of quick release connectors has a lot to say about how its cutting-edge technology can boost efficiency in the run up to K 2016.
We look back on the world’s second-biggest plastics and rubber show, CHINAPLAS 2016, where we talked to WINTEC and found out how this mid-range injection moulding power player is extending its reach.
Pg 11 MEDICAL PLASTICS Stringent regulations, growing demand and an aging population are putting intense pressure on medical equipment manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve we explore how the latest developments in medical plastics are helping.
Pg 14 ENGINEERING PLASTICS From automotive to aerospace, engineering plastics are pushing the boundaries of lightweighting, heat resistance and chemical tolerance. We explore how ELIX Polymers’ new automotive portfolio brings an exciting new high-heat ABS into the marketplace and we sit down with A. Schulman to talk heatresistant polyamide.
Pg 18 TESTING AND INSPECTION Testing and inspection technologies are in constant competition to reach new heights of precision. We look at two leaders in their field, SIKORA and newcomer to the European marketplace SolveTech.
Pg 29 K EXTRA Before we publish our on-site previews, we wanted to tease you with some titbits from the various K 2016 media previews we’ve attended.
Pg 34 EUREKA SERIES Local Motors is transforming how we manufacture cars using local production facilities and 3D printing - and this pioneer of automotive production has pushed the boundaries yet again with a 3D-printed, selfdriving car.
production art & production robert wood
advertising advertising manager Lisa Montgomery lisa@rapidnews.com tel: +44 (0) 1244 680222
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Address changes should be emailed to subscriptions@rapidnews.com. European Plastic Product Manufacturer is published by Rapid Plastics Media Ltd. Each issue is distributed in print and digital format to 17,845 buyers and specifiers in the European plastic processing industry. © July 2016. While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within European Plastic Product Manufacturer is accurate, the publisher accepts no liability for information published in error, or for views expressed. All rights for European Plastic Product Manufacturer are reserved, and reproduction in part or whole without written permission is strictly prohibited.
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From The Editor
Hey, what’s wrong with EU? So, Britain is leaving the EU. During the ENGEL/Borealis K preview in Austria and the EMG pre-K media event in Belgium, the ‘B’ word (Brexit) was not to be spoken of in case our mutterings might tip the scale. Indeed, while in France two weeks later, it seemed the result was on a knife edge even though a worldwide disbelief rounded off EU-related debates with the phrase: “Anyway, it isn’t going to happen.” That is, until 4.30am BST on Friday June 24th 2016. When it did. The BBC called it when enough ballots had come in: “Britain has voted to leave the EU”. I watched the results come in, at an hour I am only usually awake for if I have an airport taxi on the way, with a strong cup of tea and my mouth open wide with shock. Two days later I was in Düsseldorf for the K 2016 Preview and the humour among the Brit Pack was darker than usual (and that is pretty dark, believe me), while the rest of the international group were utterly perplexed. Needless to say, the volatility of the pound, David Cameron’s resignation, a lack of Leave campaign leaders taking real control following their victory and the nebulous conditions surrounding the activation of Article 50 has left everybody reeling. Even plastics. I have shared with you some key quotes after the results came in and while I was in Düsseldorf to make a record of how manufacturing and plastics processing are tackling the uncertainty and how they are planning to adapt. Manufacturing has to be flexible to survive, just look at how the sector has adapted to automation, growing competition in Asia, Industry 4.0 and the constant introduction of new energy efficiency regulations. Brexit is just another challenge plastics processors will have to overcome in order to survive and I am positive - even though we are currently wading in uncertainty - that it will. Rose Brooke, Editor
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INDUSTRY
Mind the gap The votes were counted and the by a narrow majority Britain has voted to leave the European Union. But what could Brexit mean for plastics? Words | Rose Brooke
“The choices we make over the coming months will affect gene rations to come. This is not a time for rush ed decisions. The CBI will be consulting its members and business is committed to working with government to shape the best possible conditions for future pro sperity.”
Carolyn Fairbairn, Direct or-General, Confederation of British Industry.
cted. completely unexpe “The situation was - for I am very positive at th e at st e m t Le ising e people are real the first time th s of rt so e EU and all the benefits of th g to in arting. This is go discussions are st say e EU and I would be positive for th e UK’s ill not follow in th other countries w sitive her hand what’s po footsteps. On the ot usly do en m recovered tre is UK plastics has e of on ill ars and it’s st in the last few ye tics as the European pl the top markets in n tio re the current situa industry ... but for su in the nificant influence is critical with sig rope. nt influence in Eu ca fi ni sig d an , UK ople ive is that young pe What is also posit you ] in ita ur of EU. [In Br clearly are in favo ged ga cause of your en can be proud be young people.” mag. Sumitomo (SHI) De Gerd Liebig, CSO,
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I
n June, the UK was rocked by the largely unexpected news that the Leave campaign in favour of the country parting ways with the European Union had won by a narrow majority in the British EU Referendum.
On June 24th 2016 at around 4.30am BST, the national media called it and announced the British people had voted to take itself out of the 28-member state, with 51.9 per cent voting leave and 48.1 per cent voting to remain. Hours after the new broke that the Remain campaign could not possibly recover its numbers to prevent a Leave victory, Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would resign within three months, leaving it to his successor to activate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which will effectively begin Britain’s two-year ‘divorce’ proceedings. The ripples from this political earthquake have extended across the planet and in plastics and manufacturing, key leaders and decision-makers have been sharing their opinions on how ‘Brexit’ could affect European manufacturing and the British plastics industry once the button for Article 50 has been pressed.
decided to come “I regret the British have at plastics and out of the EU. Looking next one-to-two rubber machines, in the ny investments years we will not see ma in how this will in the UK. I am uncerta venth for German develop but the UK is se t’s three per cent machinery exports - tha not very big.” of all exports - which is naging Director, Thorsten Kühmann, Ma stics and Rubber VDMA, the German Pla . Machinery Association
have benefited “Many manufacturers ment of labour from the free move itude and flexible across the EU. The att ers has brought nature of migrant work plentiful supply of a highly effective and al businesses. It casual labour to season that immigration is therefore essential flexible to ensure policies are sufficiently is not hampered that economic expansion by insufficient labour.” er and Head of Michael Thornton, Partn M. Manufacturing, RS
“The decision will direc tly affect how the UK prioritises recyclin g, sustainability and circular econom y development, and it was interesting to hear the frank discussion from deleg ates about the affects the EU referend um could have.”
Anne Hitch, Communica tions Manager, RECOUP, which found 65 per cent of plastics recycling professionals voted to remain in a recent poll.
‘Sure from day one’: Nimbus takes over battenfeldcincinnati Extrusion technology champion battenfeldcincinnati has announced its takeover by Industrie Holding Nimbus.
INDUSTRY
CEO Gerold Schley
T
he deal was signed on June 22nd 2016, where the investment pioneer - which operates out of Germany and the Netherlands - was transferred 100 per cent of battenfeldcincinnati shares. Through this agreement, the battenfeld-cincinnati group will receive new financial resources and equity capital will be strengthened in a sustainable manner. Both parties have agreed not to disclose details of the purchase price.
"We are delighted to have a new investor in Nimbus that will actively support and advance the new developments and growth plans of the battenfeld-cincinnati group," he added. Kaj Grichnik, a partner at Nimbus, is also optimistic about the cooperation's outlook on a global scale. "Nimbus invests in companies that have a healthy core," he explained. "At battenfeld-cincinnati, this core is the technical know-how and the quality of the team – whether we are in Europe, Asia or America. We were sure we wanted to work together with battenfeld-cincinnati from day one." battenfeld-cincinnati is due to present new developments in the field of pipe, profile and thermoforming sheet extrusion at K 2016. "In our new motto ‘driven by innovation’ we combine individual services, modern and high-quality equipment and solutions for questions like energy efficiency and industry 4.0 that are currently particularly important to the sector," said Schely at the K 2016 Preview on June 27th 2016. "We are sure that with this we will maintain our position as a technology leader in the extrusion industry at this year’s K."
LANXESS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH I BU HIGH PERFORMANCE MATERIALS | 50569 COLOGNE | GERMANY | LXS-HPM-065EN
Gerold Schley, CEO of the battenfeldcincinnati group, is enthusiastic about the deal: "After our successful organisational restructuring in the middle of last year, we can now focus on further product developments and investments that will strengthen and expand our market leadership with Nimbus’ support."
COMPETENCE ENERGIZED BY It takes a strong partner to achieve great things. After all, the development of high-end applications requires specialized expertise and special efforts from all involved. As a development expert in the automotive and electrical/electronics industries with many years of experience, we provide you with targeted support. Our HiAnt® package of services for novel material composite systems, including simulations and innovative technologies, gives you a decisive edge for your application. You can count on our engineering expertise and high-performance plastics. www.hiant.lanxess.com
www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com
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COVER STORY
Stäubli:
‘Your production partner for efficiency’
QQ&A Q& &A A
S
täubli has been providing the plastics industry with innovative quick release connectors for over 60 years, helping moulders and transformers improve productivity, safety and efficiency. Stäubli Connectors Group Divisional Manager Andre Lucchetti gets the Q&A treatment on how Stäubli identifies the changing needs of the sector and responds with new products and solutions.
When did Stäubli’s business with the plastic sector start? This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our Connector Division and the plastics market has been at the core of our business right from the beginning. During this period we have been central to and often the pioneer of technologies such as the 'straight-through' restriction-free couplings, valved connectors for increased safety, through to multi connection systems either for single or multi media. Furthermore, the plastics industry is an ideal environment for Quick Release Couplings, the demand for faster and safer mould changes is relentless. This type of environment is ideal for Stäubli; we are innovators who constantly look forward. This ethos and our closeness to our customer base has meant that we have developed our product portfolio from purely quick release mono and multi-couplings to now include mould clamping and loading technologies. We are now, in conjunction with our Robots Division, a true solution provider. Stäubli’s 4-axis and 6-axis robots provide excellent demoulding and second operation solutions such as deburring, assembly and packaging. They are fast, extremely reliable and small enough to be accommodated easily into most production cells. The latest co-operative robot technology ensures safe interaction in the production cell between man and machine. Control software, specifically written for use in plastics moulding, is easy to use and compatible with other systems.
How did the market respond to these developments? Injection moulders could readily see the benefit of being able to disconnect moulds quickly and safely from their thermal regulation and fluid circuits. The use of quick release connectors in place of fixed connections often brings the single most significant reduction in mould change times.
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In fact we quickly saw the additional advantage of putting all the connections together on one plate, connecting all circuits simultaneously with no danger of crossed or miss-connection. Our response was to introduce a range of modular standard multicoupling plates. As mould technology developed and more media was required at the tool, the option of designing bespoke plates to meet precisely the requirements of these applications became important. Moreover, Stäubli extended our expertise in electrical connectors with the acquisition of Multi-Contact in 2002. So we are able to provide a full offering of fluid, electrical power and signal connectors in any combination required by the application.
What’s your view on how manufacturers should approach the task of speeding up mould changes? It’s important to start from the basics; significant benefits can be gained at minimal expense, the use of quick release couplings on the mould can often reduce tool change over from hours to minutes. Where applicable, the next step should be to consider the benefits of putting all connectors together on a bespoke plate, even electrical and signal circuits can be included. Consideration of mould clamping, mould transfer and loading should then follow. These are all tasks that need to be addressed if you wish to optimise production efficiency by reducing machine downtime.
Do you favour any specific technique of quick mould clamping? Stäubli are unique in manufacturing mechanical, hydraulic and magnetic mould clamping systems. This is our deliberate policy so that we can suggest the most appropriate technique for any specific application. Mechanical systems are very often easy to install since they require no hydraulic or electrical connections. They can be readily fitted to
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most injection moulding machines below a maximum closing force of 300 tonnes. However the selection of the mechanical system cannot be made on the size of the machine alone; the quantity of moulds deployed in the machine is also a very important economic factor. As a general rule the higher the quantity of moulds the more consideration should be given to magnetic clamping. In the case of larger machines either hydraulic or magnetic systems will be necessary, the choice depending on the quantity and variation of moulds. Magnetic systems normally require no modifications to the mould which can represent a significant cost saving, while on hydraulic systems a back plate is almost always needed which, dependant on the quantity of moulds, can substantially increase the investment. Not to be forgotten when choosing between magnetic and hydraulic technologies is the increased safety and data storage capabilities of the magnetic systems. We have devised software that provides a step-by-step guide to help evaluate the options and select the most suitable system. The choice of the most suitable system for any given application is far from straightforward and the user must give really close consideration to both their current and future needs.
Is the use of quick mould clamping systems increasing? End users are increasingly insisting that injection moulding machine manufacturers incorporate clamping systems in their machines. This demonstrates that across the sector knowledge of the benefits of these types of systems is increasing. This in turn creates demand to retrofit systems to existing machines. Although it must be stressed that clamping is only a part of the quick mould change process. In the vast majority of cases the most significant savings can come from reducing the time taken to disconnect and connect the thermal regulation lines. It is absolutely true that in many cases the maximum gain comes from the lowest investment.
What else should be considered to achieve quicker mould changes? Mould transfer and loading is often a neglected area, many regard it as a luxury. This is not always the case. Simple mould transfer and loading carts can be very economical, serving a range of machines and giving a payback on investment of just a few months. Handling moulds securely and preventing costly damage while improving operator safety are added benefits.
What is the role of customer service in supporting your activities? We like to work closely with all our customers which is why we have facilities around the world. The selection of the correct technology and the correct processes are imperative if you are to maximise your investment. At Stäubli this is our business, every day we are assisting a vast number of companies to maximise the efficiency of their moulding operations. Stäubli is about far more than our products it is about our knowhow. A Stäubli engineer is close by and on hand to explain the technology, advise on selecting the appropriate solution and able to work alongside the production team to ensure efficient installation and operation. This service is available to all sizes of companies, large, medium and small. Frequently the most successful solutions are low cost, but capable of yielding a significant production advantage; typically using quick release connections is the most important and rewarding change that manufacturers of any size can make. At Stäubli our aim is to ensure all customers choose the most suitable system, one capable of operating safely and securely over many years, meeting the financial and productivity goals established at the outset. That is the essence of our partnership for efficiency.
What shall we see from Stäubli at the K Show? We continue to innovate by extending our range of products and services, anticipating the future demands of the plastics market. Recent new products are robust quick release connectors capable of working safely at the higher temperatures being used in injection moulding and a secure reliable electrical multi connectors capable of handling all the electrical circuits on a moulding tool. Both of these will be displayed on our stand. The demands of the Smart Factory and the opportunities raised by Industry 4.0 are also being addressed; on the stand there will be an interactive and operational injection moulding cell, complete with mould connections, mould clamping, handling and loading as well as robotics. The robots will demonstrate their ability to work safely alongside operators within the production cell. Visit our stand (Hall 11 Booth H21) to view the latest developments in QMC technology and discuss your specific requirements with our engineers. www.staubli.com
For heavier moulds, systems right up to fully automated rail mounted carts are the solution. Individually designed to suit specific application and user needs. Pre-heating stations can be included to ensure that the mould is at operating temperature ready for immediate use, again helping to minimise downtime.
Stäubli is an international family owned group founded over 100 years ago in Switzerland employing 4500 world-wide. The manufacturing facilities are located in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, US and China with offices across Europe, North and South America and the Far East; the UK base is in Telford.
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Brilliant performance | ENGEL medical
ENGEL medical Fully-electric machines impress with great performance. The ENGEL e-motion medical series combines best-of-class performance with maximum cleanliness. Optimised for clean room applications, the machine has an encapsulated barrel to minimize particle and heat load, along with encapsulated injection unit drives and an oil return unit on the toggle lever as standard features. The ENGEL e-motion medical is available as a continuous series with up to 500 tonnes clamping force.
Clean and precise. With ENGEL medical. Because it is about life.
www.engelglobal.com
Medical moulding on miniscule scale S
MEDICAL PLASTICS
umitomo (SHI) Demag's IntElect 100-180 was the machine with the ability to injection mould on a minuscule enough scale for Zweibrückenbased thinXXS Microtechnology AG. The company's in-house mould department manufactures disposable quick tests for diagnosing medical conditions from bacterial infections to cancer cells. The parts produced with Sumitomo (SHI) Demag technology are so miniscule the device is close in size to a credit card “We are dealing with dimensions less than a hair’s breadth in combination with highly complex geometries,” explained Tobias Lacroix, Head of Micro Injection Moulding at thinXXS. "Sumitomo’s well thought-out concept was the most convincing and the project timeline adhered to our tight schedule." In addition to the injection moulding machine, Sumitomo also supplied the downstream handling and automation system. To prevent contaminants entering the production process, the machine operates in a class 8 cleanroom environment. A six-axis Stäubli articulated arm
robot removes the finished test components from the 4-cavity mould and places them onto a small load carrier. When the carrier is full, these are transported on a conveyor to the assembly and packing hall where the components are assembled into the finished test devices under strict cleanroom conditions.
and the controllable activeLock non-return function ensures that no melt flows back into the screw channels after the injection phase has started.
Each phase of the moulding process is designed to maintain the highest precision in order to With an L/D ratio of 20 and a clamping force of 1,000 accommodate the quick test’s fluidic functional kN, the IntElect produces the device’s components design, explained Lacroix. within 16 seconds. The injection moulding process involves dispensing dried pellets into the IntElect’s “We expected our injection moulding machine plasticisation unit via the feeder and metering unit. to achieve an extremely accurate reproduction The mould is then heated using water to 90 °C. of surface detail, a high repeatability and part A temperature control device is connected to the tolerances in the micrometre range.” injection moulding machine via a CAN Bus interface www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu
TPE sensor pad 'promotes wound healing' K RAIBURG TPE's THERMOLAST M series of TPE is being used in an innovative medical sensor pad that has been designed to promote wound healing through deep stimulation. The PlasmaDerm therapy developed by KRAIBURG TPE customer CINOGY, based in South Lower Saxony, allows medical practitioners to treat skin diseases and chronic wounds using a procedure that aids wound healing and fights multi-resistant pathogens. The sterile sensor pad, through which the spacer comes into contact with the human skin, is manufactured using KRAIBURG TPE's THERMOLAST M series, which is medically approved and comes with a guarantee for reliability and safety. CINOGY developed the first portable device to generate non-thermal, or 'cold' plasma directly on the skin at atmospheric pressure. In the
patented PlasmaDerm process the spacer is placed on the skin. By activating high-voltage impulses, electrical fields transform the air between the spacer and skin into non-thermal plasma. The patient may feel a slight tingling of the skin, but no pain. As opposed to existing spot treatments, the electrode in the CINOGY process is mechanically flexible and has a large area to ensure an even distance from the skin. The THERMOLAST M material surrounds the sensor pad of the PlasmaDerm device as a sterile, exchangeable spacer for one-time use. "Our process is used for treating open wounds, which is why it is of essential importance to us that the contact material of the sensor pad comply with all relevant medical certifications
and can be used in direct contact with the human bloodstream," explained Dr Dirk Wandke, Managing Director of CINOGY. "We are therefore pleased to have found KRAIBURG TPE as a development partner who shares our high quality standards and on whom we can rely in every respect." CINOGY, like numerous other manufacturers in the medical and
pharmaceutical industry, can rely on comprehensive testing and certification of the TPEs. For all materials from the THERMOLAST M portfolio KRAIBURG TPE guarantees product reliability and safety within the scope of its medical service package and the compounds from the medical portfolio are manufactured in a separate system. www.kraiburg-tpe.com
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MEDICAL PLASTICS
KIEFEL fills 6k infusion bags per hour Kiefel’s Series KFFS machines are bringing greater efficiency to infusion bag production. In the KFFS line, a single machine takes care of producing, filling, and sealing as many as 6,000 singlemade from a continuous tube of infusion bags per hour. The bag is ing. weld act cont sealed using thermalor multi-layer synthetic, and is of ss rdle rega – s tion gura the seam’s confi Virtually no limits are imposed on on ucti prod s une ne-t fi el Kief ral. seve or whether the bag has one chamber sion y with each client. In this way, infu parameters and customised assembl hed was are ulae cann sfer ports, and tran bags with infusion ports, injection s citie capa Bag ws. follo ting prin and or evacuated with nitrogen. Labeling in ning Clea , rely feasible and naturally between 40- and 6,000 ml are enti lable for the entire system. avai are e Plac in Place and Sterilisation
120 tonne press keeps Pentagon in line with medical demand UK-based Pentagon Pla stics has taken delivery of two new Haitian machines from Premier Moulding Machinery, a MARS MA 900/300 Universal an II d a ZERES ZE1200/430 , the latter of which is needed to help the ma sorely nufacturer keep up wit h growing medical mo demand. “When we are ulding experiencing a particu larly heavy demand for medical flanges, the new Z120 will be able to run some of the tooling tha would previously only fi t t one of our presses. Its electric injection unit ma it ideal for these parts kes which have a very narro w processing window,” Graham Fooks, Mould Sh said op Manager at Pentago n. www.pentagonplastics .co.uk
www.kiefel.com
3D printing shrinks pro sthetic mould turnaround
Stratasys 3D printing technology has slashed prosthesis mo uld turnaround times by as much as 93 per cent for RTM Ortopedia Perso nalizzata in Italy. RTM Ortopedia Personal izzata used to make its moulds using chalk, but their fragility led to breakages in transit. Via reseller Energy Group, ZAHORANSKY adopted Stratasys 3D pri nting technology allowing them to print moulds from CAD files in a matter of hours in robust ABS. “For us, Stratasys’ tec hnology gives us greater manufacturing freedom than chalk moulding and far surpasses those of other artisan prosth etics,” said Elio Antenucci, CAD System s Manager at RTM Ortopedia Personal izzata.
www.stratasys.com
Mold-Masters Summit-Series hot runner sees high-end d medical deman mmit-
Masters Su Milacron’s Moldhot runner is Series premium ical r high-end med in demand fo very is s Summit-Serie applications. The e stainless steel th g in ilis goods, teletronic stomers ut versatile with cu ing, personal care ag ck pa mitm iu em ld pr room-ready Sum hot runner to mou parts. The clean ive the ot in m e to lin au er all nn sm ium hot ru em pr parts and even w ne e th is ru at NPE 2015 nner system ns Series launched inless steel hot ru sta e the Th io. ol rtf d po nt, compared to Mold-Masters bran tion from setpoi s ria va les al ith m W er . th nd s ba les a heater with four times in a nozzle with for al en se ide n is tio s rie ria se va zzle typical thermal variation, this no d PBT. nt temperature s like PC, POM an sin re ve than five per ce iti ns se re tu lding ra ou pe m m t te ke and ical mar moulding shear effective for med lly wide a cia at pe t es ep is ad le w proving quite The nozzle profi no is d an nt ou is tantam where precision applications. emium moulding pr r he ot of old-masters variety .com/our-brands/m www.milacron
ZAHORANSKY boosts blister pack production A fully automated unit based on a Z.PA CK 4 and a Z.PACK 5 blister pack aging machine by ZAHORANSKY is prov ing an efficient choice for blister pack aging. On the Z.PACK 4 the upper parts of the double blisters are produced. At the end of the intermittent process, one cycl e of the blister machine is cut and turned by 180° with a standardised unit. Following, the controlled and linear orientated blister is transferred with a shuttle and a pick-and-place unit Z.PACK 5 machine. Then, the close-fi to the tting half-shells are put on the filled bottom shells that have been prod on the Z.PACK 5. Compared to conv uced entional sealing technologies, this innovative application of the ultra technology reduces energy consump sonic tion significantly. ww.zahoransky.com
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International Exhibition for Polyurethane Solutions
The platform for new business and targeted market development in the PU industry • • •
Focus on innovative PU applications Live presentations of machines and solutions Feature areas for networking and knowledge exchange
27 – 29 June 2017
Organisers: Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd
MOC Munich, Germany • Raw materials
• Materials/semi-finished
products • PU products/systems
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT! Book your stand now!
• Processing machinery,
systems & equipment • Services
www.pse-europe.com
New High Heat ABS from ELIX Polymers delivers weight reduction for roof hatch application. (Photo Copyright Daimler AG, All rights reserved, PR007)
MEDICAL PLASTICS
ELIX Polymers turns up the heat The use of high-heat ABS can lead to major weight reduction through lower density, cost savings, processing benefits, very low emissions and odour when compared to PC/ABS. ELIX Polymers’ experts share the advantages of its own ABS technology with EPPM. Words | Fabian Herter, Industry Manager Automotive, ELIX Polymers, and Antonio Prunera, Head of Quality & Business Development, ELIX Polymers
ELIX Polymers has introduced a range of high heat ABS grades for various automotive applications. These new-generation materials combine very low emissions, well-balanced mechanical properties, excellent processability and paintability. They deliver heat resistance ranging from Vicat B120 105°C to 114°C and higher impact values than similar products currently in the market. All the new grades have lower density than rival PC/ABS grades, enabling weight reductions. The strategy of ELIX Polymers is to have a more sustainable product portfolio with reduced health impact, manufacturing with less energy consumption, and a reduction in carbon footprint with a more local supply strategy. ELIX ABS AMS-free compounds help achieve those values. This latest product development, based on breakthrough AMSfree chemistry, is suitable for interior and exterior applications.
Colour development is one of ELIX’s strengths, as it has compounding capacities for colour development and a broad database of already existing colour formulations.
'Excellent aesthetics' One of the new grades, ELIX ABS HH3114 offers a number of processing advantages. These include excellent processability and high flow (melt volume-flow rate is 9 cm3/10min), resulting in competitive cycle times. Low mould deposits mean moulds need to be cleaned less often than with competing materials, bringing significant cost savings and higher productivity.
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Recently, ELIX ABS HH3114 was selected by BOS Group, a leading supplier of innovative systems and components for the automotive industry, for the production of roof hatches for heavy duty trucks produced by a German premium automobile manufacturer. The material provides performance, saves weight and offers excellent aesthetics. The successful development of this part was made possible thanks to the close cooperation between all four partners involved in the project. The technical departments of BOS, Schulman, the OEM and ELIX Polymers itself worked together intensively to design both the part and the injection mould.
The part is produced in special grey and beige colours to match the truck’s interior. Colour development is one of ELIX’s strengths, as it has compounding capacities for colour development and a broad database of already existing colour formulations. Indeed, its understanding of the colour requirements is complemented by a wide portfolio of thermal and light stabilisers necessary to fulfil even the most extreme conditions. Packages of stabilisers and pigments are tailor-made to achieve automotive market demands. The final part is eight per cent lighter than one in PC/ABS previously used for this application, thanks to the lower density of the high heat ABS (1.04 g/cm3) compared with PC/ABS (1.13 g/ cm3) . Moreover, high heat ABS is more economical than PC/ABS.
In addition to processing and performance benefits, the range is characterised by its very low emissions and odour – for example, ELIX ABS HH3114: VDA 277 = 9,9 µg C/g, VDA 278 VOC = 16 / FOG = 3 µg/g (ppm), VDA 270 = 3,0.
New Automotive Portfolio The new high heat ABS grades belong to ELIX Polymers' new Automotive Portfolio. The other product categories are medium heat resistance grades, polycarbonate-modified ABS grades, PC/ ABS blends and electroplatable grades. The medium heat resistance grades are P2M-V, H604 and H605 with a Vicat B50 from 97°C to 102°C. PC-modified ABS grades include H801, Ultra 4105 and the newly developed Ultra HH4115HI. This has very high impact strength—58 kJ/m2 at 23°C and 41 kJ/ m2 at -30°C according to ISO 180-1A—a Vicat B50 of 113°C, low emissions and low density, all of which make it a very interesting proposition for interior pillars, instrument panel parts, centre console parts, door panel parts and seating parts. PC/ABS blends 5120 and 5130 offer a Vicat B50 up to128°C and extreme high impact values for parts like upper instrument panels, pillars and sun visors. All ELIX grades show excellent performance in decoration processes like painting, flocking or metallising, providing high adhesion without the need for any pretreatment. Thirdparty paintability tests have been carried out using 11 different automotive paint systems. Cross-cut tests were done according to ISO 2409All ELIX Automotive grades tested had a score of 0, the best possible in the standard, which means that the edges of the cut are completely smooth with optimal adhesion. ELIX Polymers’ P2MC, a benchmark for ABS plating grades in the market, was recently joined by two new electroplating grades: a high heat ABS, HH P2MC; and an ABS/PC, Ultra HH4115PG. All three give high quality Class A surfaces. Target applications include radiator grilles, logos, profiles, tailgate handles, and decorative interior parts. OEMs and global Tiers have already tested the new grades and feedback has been very positive. www.elix-polymers.com
Star diagram showing typical properties of new ELIX high heat ABS grades
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ENGINEERING PLASTICS
Aviation grades to play ‘increasingly important role’
Solvay launches Technyl for sensitive applications
Aviation-grade plastics are expected to play a bigger role in aerospace manufacturing, according to the European Plastics Distributers Association, which cited metal replacement as a big trend for the sector as more polymers are engineered to meet FAA flammability regulations, which includes testing vertical burn, heat release and smoke density. Companies such as Sekisui Polymer Innovations have stayed ahead of the curve by launching aviation grades such as Sekisui’s thermoplastic sheet for aircraft interiors. “There is a trend towards plastics for the more complex shapes for fittings and fixtures inside aircraft,” said Sekisui Aviation Market Business Manager Michael Miler. “Designers are having more influence and are using more complex three-dimensional geometries... These complex shapes are much easier to replicate in plastic than with metal or composite structures.”
Sensitive electrical and automotive applications require materials with optimum properties and Solvay Engineering Plastics has provided a solution by extending its Technyl range of engineering plastics. Technyl demonstrates high chemical and hydrolysis resistance even after long-term exposure to elevated temperatures. “Due to specific additive systems, our new Technyl formulations can help reduce this risk with significant benefits over competing engineering thermoplastics and more expensive specialties,” said Dr James Mitchell, Global Automotive Market Director for Solvay Engineering Plastics.
www.epda.com
RocTool has selected Luxus’ Hylocene 16818 as the preferred high performance PP resin for rapid inductive heating technology. RocTool is a pioneer in the very latest in high gloss effects and 3D textures producing a finish that is both premium and unique to satisfy the latest ‘A’ Class surface trends. It therefore required a PP resin that could offer high scratch performance. “We’re really pleased to be a RocTool materials partner,” said Technical Manager at Luxus, Terry Burton. “The great appeal of Hycolene is that it allows manufacturers to satisfy environmental goals thanks to its recycled content (up to 60 per cent) without sacrificing performance – delivering a lighter, stronger and critically a high scratchresistant finish.”
Shanghai Disneyland built with Scott Bader resin The futuristic Tomorrowland segment of the new Shanghai Disneyland has been constructed using Scott Bader’s fire retardant gelcoated FRP composite moulded parts. Manufactured by E-Grow using a fire approved laminate system comprising Scott Bader’s Crestapol 1212 high performance ATH filled urethane acrylate resin, with the fire retardant pre-accelerated Iso-NPG polyester gelcoat Crystic 967 FR is supplied in a variety of specified custom colours. The resin forms the Buzz Lightyear ride, the Lilo & Stitch Theatre and other exciting features. www.scottbader.com
www.solvay.com
Luxus and RocTool collaborate on high-spec PP resin
www.luxus.co.uk
DSM EcoPaXX taps into drinking water
US manufacturer of products for the energy sector Southern States has selected PolyOne’s GlasArmor glass-fibre composite panels to create its new custom-built Ballisti-Wall and Ballisti-Cover ballistic-resistance solutions. Southern States ballistic-resistant solutions incorporate three layers of GlasArmor panels to achieve Underwriters Laboratories Level 8 protection which specifies protection against a 7.62 mm rifle using a lead core, full metal jacket 0.308 calibre copper military ball.
DSM’s EcoPaXX is being taken in a lead-free drinking water contact direction. EcoPaXX offers superior toughness, better hydrolysis resistance and better dimensional stability than other polyamide-based materials and yields improved torque and bending strength, even after extended exposure to boiling water. EcoPaXX Q-DWX10, a 50 per cent glass fibre-reinforced polyamide 410, has been used to make mixing valves as it absorbs 30 per cent less water and offers superior chemical resistance and has passed more than 1 million lifetime cycles testing in varying water temperatures. DSM is extending its portfolio of specialty materials suitable for addressing the full spectrum of drinking water contact uses. The company already offers EcoPaXX and ForTii - inherently hydrolysis-resistant grades that are based on polyamides 410 and 4T. It also recently added Xytron PPS compounds, which are ideal when very high dimensional stability is needed.
www.polyone.com
www.dsm.com
PolyOne’s tough enough for power grid
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Optimised heat resistance and high heat distortion sets Schulamid XT180 apart A “gap closer” that’s different from conventional PA grades, the new Schulamid XT180 for under-hood applications from A. Schulman offers a new solution for automotive.
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eading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds A. Schulman revealed in February 2016 that it had developed a new longterm heat resistant polyamide grade, Schulamid XT180 for under-the-hood applications. EPPM went in search of more information about this exciting new product, which latches onto the burgeoning trend for materials that can withstand higher temperatures in the engine compartment requiring plastics with a focus on optimised head resistance and stiffness in extreme temperatures. Our search took us to CHINAPLAS 2016, where we sat down with Vice-President for Engineered Plastics APAV Florian Barthelmess who explained why Schulamid XT180 is different from conventional PA grades and offers automotive another high-temperature solution. "The Schulamid XT180 has been optimised for the under-the-hood applications," he said when he sat down with EPPM amid the bustling crowds of the SNIEC in Shanghai. "This is an exciting new development for A. Schulman as a long-term heatresistant polyamide."
This is an exciting new development for A. Schulman as a long-term heat-resistant polyamide
The trend for temperature-resistant plastics in the engine compartment triggered A. Schulman's development of the material, which has been fine-tuned to maintain its stiffness under high temperatures. This is achieved thanks to its 35 and 50 per cent glass fibre content, making it a good choice for automotive applications such as charge-air manifolds, charge-air pipe and resonators to name a few.
For years, you’ve been turning to Sepro when you need
Barthemess described the product as a "gap closer" for heat-resistant polymers for automotive applications and revealed that it has been lab tested to 180 degrees for over 3,000 hours placing it very competitively in the automotive materials market for heat-resistance.
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TESTING AND INSPECTION
SIKORA presents game-changing inspection SIKORA has been bringing ultra-precise plastics inspection technology to the European marketplace for 40 years. EPPM looks at the company’s leading systems and just what they are capable of.
The CENTERWAVE 6000, which can be installed for hot and cold measurement.
Words | Rose Brooke
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nspection plays a crucial role in the plastics processing value chain but the science behind inspection technology is shrouded in mystery.
SIKORA's Harry Prunk, who is on the executive board of the Bremen-based technology pioneer, spoke at the K 2016 Preview on June 27th 2016 to enlighten some of us and to reveal just how its PURITY CONCEPT systems and CENTERWAVE 6000 achieve such accurate results.
What goes around... The CENTERWAVE 6000 measures the diameter, ovality, wall thickness and sagging of large tubes of 120mm to 2,500mm using millimetre wave technology. During the manufacturing process, tubes and pipes with large diameters can lose their shape and fail increasingly stringent regulations, resulting in added cost and wastage. Outside of SIKORA's millimetre wave technology, plastics processors have four options available to them: laser, X-ray, ultrasound and terahertz. "Laser can only measure outer diameter," explained Prunk, "X-ray technology cannot measure large
diameters when you are concerned about price and X-ray only measures two axis. Ultrasound has the disadvantage of requiring a coupling medium. Terahertz is interesting - new but very costly. It's typically a pulse laser that generates the terahertz and is extremely expensive. Those are the technologies available today." So what does millimetre wave technology bring to the party? Millimetre wave technology is only now being explored for industrial applications. The measurement is based on the Frequency Modulated Continuous Waves runtime method. Several static or rotating transceivers arranged around the circumference of the tube send and receive frequency modulated millimetre waves. A static system measures selectively both the wall thickness and the outer and inner diameters of the tube when static. When rotating, SIKORA's millimetre wave technology records complete wall thickness and gives a sagging measurement. The technology measures the wall thicknesses of multilayer tubes independently from the material type or temperature of the measuring object. The technology was developed by SIKORA in partnership with the Fraunhofer Research Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Tech and the South German Institute for Plastics. "Our innovative millimetre wave technology is unique," said Prunk. "This technology is only available commercially now. We, together with Fraunhofer influenced the development of this technology."
X-ray scanner with transport system for online inspection and laboratory analysis of pellets and flakes.
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Display of contamination at the ECOCONTROL 6000
For richer, for purer The PURITY CONCEPT X draws on X-ray technology to deliver processors extremely precise inspection data to ensure high material quality in pellets, flakes, films and tapes. "We started this five years ago and initially focused on wire and cable," Prunk explained. "Contaminated plastics need to be sorted from a batch of pellets. Processors want clean materials because contamination can cause products to break down, leading to cost and intensive damages for machinery, leading to expense and downtime." This is where the PURITY CONCEPT systems come in, which inspect materials with a hawkish eye using X-ray technology, infrared technology or optical systems that can be used during production for sample testing, detecting contamination from 50 microns. The PURITY CONCEPT X (X-ray) is based on X-ray technology and detects and analysies contamination or defects in transparent, opaque and black materials, as well as thick, coloured films and tapes thanks to its modular design. The ECOCONTROL 6000 presents plastics processors with contamination data and works with the PURITY CONCEPT X, V (optical technology) and IR (infrared technology) for both on- and offline material inspection and analysis. According to Prunk, 3,500 pellets pass through the system per second, detecting tiny contaminations that are otherwise impossible to detect, as well as rogue pellets of differing colours. "The PURITY scanner can be used at each step in the value chain," Prunk concluded, "and on show at K, there will be an offline system demonstrating the inspection of samples of incoming material." SIKORA's technology is exclusively manufactured in Germany at its Bremen headquarters, where it has been bringing innovations to inspection for more than 40 years. https://sikora.net
SolveTech and Quantum Opus bring proprietary gauging tech to Europe
TESTING AND INSPECTION
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aster of thickness gauging SolveTech has teamed up with Quantum Opus Business Solutions in the UK to bring its proprietary technology to the European marketplace. The proprietary capacitance-based measurement technology, which has been used in the plastic film industry in North America for over 35 years, is being introduced to Europe for the first time. Europe's tight regulations around nuclear gauging and the increasing drive for sustainability in plastics processing makes SolveTech’s nonhazardous technology an attractive option for the market. "We are excited about introducing our unique technology to the European market which embraces high precision and green technology," said Doug Lawrence, President, SolveTech. "It will provide a lot of value to producers and purchasers of the materials that want to inspect the thickness and uniformity of plastic film on and off line."
Malcolm Littlewood, Director, Quantum Opus
COMPLETE TEMPERATURE CONTROL SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR PLASTIC PROCESS
Quantum Opus is assisting SolveTech by supporting the first end-users with the technology after careful testing and evaluation. Director Malcolm Littlewood explained: “We received our first order for a high-tech application for films as thin as 7 microns. The customer could not use a nuclear solution and required a measurement precision, accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility of a high order and unavailable from NIR providers... For applications on webs as narrow as 1500mm down to 25mm the SolveTech range of instrumentation provides an unsurpassed measurement visualisation solution either online or in the Quality Laboratory. "We are delighted to be representing SolveTech in Europe." SolveTech offers several products on- and offline. Offline, the PR2000 Precision Profiler leads the US market in non-contact plastic film profiler sales due to its accuracy and repeatability. It is precise down to 0.025 micron while handling a wide range of material thicknesses from 2.5 micron to 1 mm. Online, SolveTech has several unique offerings including high-speed machine direction analysis for cast film webs and a cast film gauge that measures the entire web continuously without scanning.
ICS Cool Energy has the largest range of energy efficient process chillers, cooling solutions and mould heaters to improve your plastic process. With our consultative approach, you can trust us to help you make significant process savings.
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SolveTech also offers a proprietary after-the-lay-flat on line blown film gauge, which has led the North American market in rejuvenating older blown film lines. http://gauging.com/
info@icscoolenergy.com THE TEM P ER AT U R E CO N T R O L S PEC I A LI S T S. SAL ES. HIR E. S E RVI C E.
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TPEs
Polyone metallic TPEs attract premium interest
IMI Precision Engineering ‘extends TPE diaphragm tech’
Metallic-effect TPEs by PolyOne’s GLS segment are attracting the interest of premium brands including those in the cosmetics industry. Metallic-effect TPEs are being utilised in cosmetic closures and applicators via an over-moulding process eliminating the time and cost associated with secondary operations and assembly. “Packaging can play a pivotal, influential role in a consumer’s perceived value of a product when designers use tailored materials and colourants that appeal to the senses,” said Darcy Meyers, Marketing Director for Packaging at PolyOne. “We’re helping brand owners deliver on the distinctive requirements of luxury packaging while also improving manufacturing efficiencies.”
UK-based IMI Precision Engineering has developed its TPE diaphragm technology for dust collector valves, which now offer high levels of resistance to aggressive media. The development uses an integrated air purse feature in the centre of the diaphragm, allowing less compressed air to escape, creating an air vortex barrier, protecting the component from destructive gases and acids, reducing wear and tear. Hans-Joachim Beckmann, Business Development Manager Air Pollution Control, said: “The patented modifications to our TPE-diaphragm ... means the diaphragm ably withstands these extreme surroundings and conversion from standard filter valves can be achieved quickly and easily.”
www.polyone.com
www.imi-precision.com
ELASTO’s green TPE finds ‘diverse applications’
Global TPE market ‘worth $20bn by 2023’
HEXPOL TPE’s subsidiary ELASTO has found a broader range of applications for its Dryflex Green range of bio-based TPE compounds than originally anticipated. Klas Dannäs, Global R&D Coordinator at HEXPOL TPE said: “Since we launched the Dryflex Green TPEs to the market at the end of 2015, we have seen just how diverse the requirements are for bio-based products. While some of our customers have already adopted a ‘green’ strategy and are well on the road to developing sustainable products and practices, others are keen to ‘go green’ but are uncertain what this means... Our role is to guide our customers to a greater understanding of the possibilities and limitations of biobased TPEs.” The Dryflex Green range includes several series with amounts of renewable content to over 70 per cent (ASTM D 6866) with hardnesses from 50 to 80 Shore A. They display mechanical and physical properties comparable to TPE from fossil-based raw materials and offer flexibility and tensile properties with a soft-touch feel.
In its report Global Thermoplastic Elastomers Market, Global Market Insights predicts the worldwide market for TPEs will be worth some $20 billion (€18 billion, £15.3 billion) by 2023. The global market was 4.19 million tonnes in 2015 and this is set to balloon to 6 million in the coming seven years, with estimated gains at 4.6 per cent CAGR. Within the global TPE market, TPVs are expected to experience a boost of 5.8 per cent CAGR as automotive and medical drive demand, while in TPUs, the Chinese market alone is expected to record growth of 6.3 per cent CAGR. www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/thermoplastic-elastomers-tpe-market
www.hexpoltpe.com/en/elasto-uk
Teknor Apex to debut thermoplastic pipe seals K 2016 will be the platform on which Teknor Apex launches its new lubricated compound, which expands the advantages of thermoplastic vulcanisate (TPV) elastomers for pipe seals and gaskets over thermoset rubber, providing enhanced lubricity, faster seal insertion and less error-prone assembly. For use in seals for nonpressure water and drain pipe, Sarlink 9156-02 provides physical properties nearly identical to those of Sarlink 9156B, a workhorse compound for pipe seals, but as a lubricated compound it exhibits a coefficient of friction that is only 16 per cent as high. “The substantially greater lubricity of new Sarlink 9156-02 is a big advantage for inserting the seals into the fittings—a mechanical process in which lubrication increases speed and helps to prevent rejects,” said Stef Hordijk, General Sales Manager for the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex. www.teknorapex.com
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DSM temperatureresistant TPE enables 1-step, 1-material hot air ducts
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SM Engineering Plastics has brought another innovation to automotive, seeing off traditional materials with a high-spec, ultra-efficient alternative. The Arnitel grade of thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPC) is optimised for flexible hot charge air ducts for turbocharged engines and offers manufacturers the novel option of producing ducts in just one material in just one step. This innovation, therefore, does away with the traditional plastics-rubber and metal-rubber combinations currently favoured by OEMs and could result in cost-savings of as much as 50 per cent and weight savings of up to 40 per cent. A hot air duct transfers hot compressed air from the turbocharger of an advanced petrol or diesel engine into
TPEs
the intercooler, meaning they need to withstand high temperatures for long periods of time. Moreover, they need to handle movements in the engine relative to the cooler attached to the car chassis, which means they need flexible end sections - traditionallymade of heavy thermoset rubbers which are expensive to tool and hard to recycle. Arnitel's ability to function in temperatures of up to 180° C, fluctuating to 190° C, maintaining its elasticity and mechanical strength, tackles the disadvantages of traditional materials. "Ducts produced in Arnitel HT can withstand the internal operating pressures which are demanded by car producers, not only for models in production today but also for upcoming generations," said Kirt Maschke DSM
Global Segment Manager Air/Fuel. "By using a single solution based on a material with excellent mechanical performance and a relatively low density in an optimised design, it is possible to obtain weight savings of as much as 40 per cent." Spanish manufacturer CIKAUTXO worked alongside DSM in developing the first part made with Arnitel HT and making it one of the pioneering air
duct producers to take advantage of the new material. CIKAUTXO's Dr Gurmendi stated: "We believe that Arnitel HT will enable us to make important cost reductions and increase consistency and reliability in our production of high performance ducts. Our new ability to make better optimised parts in a single step provides us with a tangible advantage in the market." www.dsm.com
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SORTEX E PolyVision™ flake sorter. Changing the dynamics of polymer sorting. Introducing a new force in PET recycling. Exclusively designed for PET recyclers, the all-new SORTEX E PolyVision™ flake sorter from Bühler features ground-breaking SORTEX PolyVision™ detection technology, patent pending unique lighting system and high precision ejectors for the ultimate clear-from-clear polymer sort. Detecting same colour polymer contaminants such as PVC, PP and PE and reducing other polymers including PS, PA, POM and silicon for your cleanest and purest PET flakes yet. Experience the SORTEX E PolyVision™ and maximise your capacities, recovery and purity today.
Interested? Contact us today. sortexenquiries@buhlergroup.com www.buhlergroup.com/polyvision
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Cleanest and purest PET flakes � Ground-breaking SORTEX PolyVision™ inspection system Consistent, stable performance � Consistent lighting and background � Climate control system
Innovations for a better world.
� Unique patent pending lighting system � High precision ejectors
MATERIALS I’m a plastics guy and this is the kind of solution I want to bring to plastic.
Dow Corning launches slip performance silicone masterbatch Slippery business is good business for Dow Corning, which launched a new silicone masterbatch at CHINAPLAS 2016. EPPM sat down with Global Segment Leader for the Plastics and Composites Business Christophe Paolo to learn more. Words | Rose Brooke
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HINAPLAS 2016 is the ideal platform for launching fresh technologies optimised for the packaging sector, which is why Dow Corning brought its new silicone masterbatch with slip performance to Shanghai and the world's secondlargest plastics and rubber event. EPPM was lucky enough to sit down with Global Segment Leader for the Plastics and Composites Business at Dow Corning Christophe Paolo who introduced us to MB25-035, which has been designed to reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) in highspeed form-fill-seal (FFS) operations. The advanced silicone-based formulation was developed as an alternative to organic additives, whose slip performance is known to degrade over time and at elevated temperatures. Used as a slip additive for LDPE blown film, Dow Corning MB25-035 Masterbatch only needs to be incorporated in the outside layer of the film, unlike organics that are used in all layers. This saves money and prevents migration into package contents.
Sticky situation Paolo explained why CHINAPLAS is the perfect launchpad for this new product. Asia's demand for convenience food is on the rise, while Europe already has an established market for microwave meals. In addition, Asia has a large dry food market that exports into Europe. "There's a lot of packaging requirements for Asian dry food that's shipped to Europe," he said. "Other solutions react to temperature so the film gets sticky and is difficult to print on. With our solution you have all the properties that you're looking for but you can print it, you can laminate it, you can achieve very complex processing with it and it's not sensitive to temperature. Other films that contain waxes are not as good, and you're still going to have issues when you reach FFS." Dow Corning MB25-035 Masterbatch prevents die build-up and gel deposition, and disperses easily and completely for optimal slip performance.
"Dow Corning has taken the lead in developing a next-generation slip technology to help manufacturers around the world address the demands and stresses of highspeed, high-volume FFS processing,” said Paulo. "Our new MB25-035 Masterbatch offers superior performance – from smooth dosing to extended slip performance to the elimination of troublesome build-up – enabling our customers to optimise their productivity and avoid the interruptions commonly caused by competitive products, particularly organics."
Organic advantage Because organic slip additives, including erucamide and oleamide, rapidly migrate to the film surface and dissipate in a short period of time, delays between film extrusion and FFS operations can result in a loss of slip performance. Organics also lose effectiveness at elevated temperatures, such as exposure to hot foods. They can migrate between film surfaces during rolling and storage, a
common issue in film applications that can influence the downstream process that packaging materials usually undergo, such as printing, sealing and handling. Unlike organics, Dow Corning’s technology prevents the migration of the slip additive between film surfaces during rolling and storage. Dow Corning MB25-035 Masterbatch retains excellent COF reduction values at low loadings – for example, 0.2 COF in film against steel contact at three per cent loading. Additionally, the new product does not exhibit stickiness and enables smooth feeding into the extruder. "I'm a plastics guy and this is the kind of solution I want to bring to plastic," said Paolo. "When I joined Dow Corning, I was excited. The challenge is to keep focused and get the right products that are the most 'happening' for the market and get the whole market excited. This puts me under a lot of pressure but this is how we grow."
www.dowcorning.com
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MATERIALS
Eurotec PEI and PEEK ‘overcome material limits’ Eurotec is taking PEI and PEEK under the hood. The long-term heat resistance, chemical and corrosion resistance and stiffness of the plastics makes them a good fit for automotive ignition components and sensors, as well as sockets and bobbins in electronics applications.
M
etal replacement technology is a trend in automotive that is here to stay and PEI and PEEK are contenders in this field for applications where lightweighting and energy efficiency are key, while they also meet the strict flame retardancy regulations set by OSU, NBS and FAR thanks to their low heat release, low smoke and low toxicity. But how to choose between them? PEEK exhibits greater stiffness and long-term heat stability compared to PEI. But if there is no need for either of these requirements then PEI is preferable for its competitive price and excellent thermal properties. But if higher service temperatures are necessary then PEEK's 260°C resilience and 100 Mpa tensile strength makes it a formidable rival to metal
and other metal replacement plastics. "Eurotec keeps expanding its high performance product portfolio to bring new solutions to material limits. Demand the impossible," said a company spokesman. Eurotec has overcome material limits with high performance products and offers intelligent solution to customers. Tecotek EI20 GR30 NL grade offers long term heat resistance in automotive, electronics, military and aviation, while Tecotek EI20 AR15 NL GP 0B - which is reinforced by aramide fibre - is good choice to solve problems with resistance and friction. Tecotek EI20 CR30 BK111 is a good for metal replacement material for furnace vent pipes with 200 MPa tensile stress at break and 25 GPa tensile modulus.
Tecopeek grades are optimised for metal replacement thanks to their light weight, high thermal resistance and mechanical properties, while glass fibre-reinforced Tecopeek has a wide appeal in structural applications. PK40 CR30 BK111 is designed to overcome corrosion with high stiffness and tensile stress for metal replacement application such as gears, bearing
rings, pump parts. Tecopeek PK40 CR30 BK111 RT 0D has 23,500 MPa and 215 MPa tensile strength and was designed to solve problems for equipment working under high temperatures and wear exposure such as chain bushings for textile machines.
www.eurotec-ep.com
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Tradition in Dynamic Innovation
• Ultimate safety in handling heavy plant & injection moulding tools • Helps reduce costs to potentially damaged tools • Increases safety to the operator • Offers a handling weight range from 10 – 32 tonnes • Improve efficiency & safety when handling
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148,575 visitors
14%
3,335
exhibitors
25% overseas visitors
35%
debut exhibitors
overseas exhibitors
Landmark 30th CHINAPLAS breaks records Record visitor numbers, huge overseas interest and optimism abound: CHINAPLAS 2016 in Shanghai not only contradicted slowdown rumours, it obliterated them.
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HINAPLAS 2016 proved to the world that China has the gravitational pull to make it the centre of the plastics universe.
In addition to its ballooning visitor numbers, CHINAPLAS 2016 experienced a growth spurt on the show floor.
The largest plastics and rubber event in Asia and one of the world's biggest, second only to K Show in Düsseldorf, took place from April 25th-28th 2016 in Shanghai, China, and welcomed an astonishing 148,575 visitors over the course of the four-day event. This is a new record for the show, whose records date back to 1983, and left numbers for the last two editions in the shade, jumping by 14 per cent from 2014's Shanghai-hosted event and 15.8 per cent on CHINAPLAS 2015, which took place in Guangzhou.
The event covered an exhibition area of more than 240,000 m sq with 3,335 exhibitors from 39 countries and regions participating, indeed 35 per cent of exhibitors were from overseas and 14 per cent were making their CHINAPLAS debut.
Of the 148,575 visitors attending this year's show, 39,454 were from overseas, representing 25.55 per cent of delegates. Representatives from over 160 countries attended with the largest proportion of foreign visitors coming from Korea, India, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand and Malaysia.
'Historical breakthroughs' This jump in numbers contradicted predictions that the 'slowdown' atmosphere concerning the Chinese economy would present a challenge for CHINAPLAS 2016, but the event remained as active and dynamic a business environment as organiser Adsale had hoped it would be. Stanley CHU, Chairman of Adsale, commented: “We were very happy to witness the 30th CHINAPLAS making historical breakthroughs in terms of exhibition area and quantity of exhibitors and visitors."
Innovation, innovation, innovation Ada Leung, General Manager of Adsale, is the mastermind behind the new features brought to CHINAPLAS year-on-year to ensure return visitors and exhibitors are satisfied that the show can move with the times. CHINAPLAS 2016 was no exception, with features such as Design x Innovation and the Recycling Zone drawing considerable interest and providing an innovative platform for new technologies. Feedback from both exhibitors and visitors in terms of the new features has been positive. Exhibitors reported that they were satisfied with visitor quality and their participation results and agreed that CHINAPLAS 2016 exceeded expectations thanks to the increased internationality of the show and the numerous new product launches. Leung noted: "At CHINAPLAS 2016, there were more than 40 kinds of ground-breaking technologies which were newly launched either in the world or Asia. It implied that exhibitors recognised CHINAPLAS as an important platform for the
release of new technology. The development trend of CHINAPLAS is well-matched with the technology upgrade and specific needs from downstream highend buyers."
Maturing market As a marketplace, China is beginning to mature, with re-industrialisation and the Made in China 2025 initiative serving to transform a manufacturing industry calling out for modernisation. Alongside this overhaul, Adsale promoted a greener industry, while looking at design and new technologies to improve both efficiency and aesthetics. "To cope with the demand of enterprises and challenges they will face, CHINAPLAS 2016 set ‘Greenovation for a Smart Future' as the show's theme, and focused on the topics of innovation, automation and green technology," said Leung. "In order to cater for the market trends and buyers' needs, and bring forward-looking and innovative inspiration to the industry, many concurrent events such as ‘Design x Innovation', ‘Industry 4.0 Conference' and ‘The 2nd Medical Plastics Conference' [were] held during the show. "CHINAPLAS 2016 [was] favourably appraised by visitors from China and overseas, and it reflects our buyer-oriented strategy is on the right track."
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Fearless after two years At CHINAPLAS 2016, EPPM took the opportunity to sit down with WINTEC’s Peter Auinger to discuss the two-year-old ‘little brother’ and its growth strategy, while reflecting on what an incredible journey the company has been on already. Words | Rose Brooke
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HINAPLAS 2016 was as much a platform for buying and selling plastics processing technology as it was for discussing the global factors impacting the sector. With the four-day Shanghai-hosted event pointing the worldwide industry's gaze in an easterly direction and on top of its early success in China, ENGEL's additional brand WINTEC has plans for arguably the Middle East's most exciting marketplace at this moment in time - Iran. EPPM sat down with Peter Auinger, President - Sales and Service for WINTEC, and his colleague Franz Füreder, Vice-President of ENGEL AUSTRIA's Automotive business unit to discuss the potential for WINTEC in Iran and other emerging markets on the back of the mid-level injection moulding machinery brand's triumph in the Chinese market.
"All the administration, all the finance and the face of the organisation is already there and that makes the decision [for WINTEC] to start doing business in Iran easier. It's like we made a decision today and we can start as soon as tomorrow - we have everything already," Auinger stated. "Iran has a huge plastics industry," explained Füreder. "Even during the [time of the] sanctions, Iran was working with China and Chinese machines were being delivered [to Iranian customers]." "It was important the sanctions were released," stated Auinger. "It gives a stronger motivation to Iran to go out and to see the technology available outside of Iran."
A kind of déjà vu Auinger and his ENGEL colleagues are more familiar with the Iranian marketplace than one might think, partially because for ENGEL, there was never any hiatus in business dealings between the mother company and Iran's plastics processors. Auinger first travelled to Iran in the early 1980s and described WINTEC's growing presence in the country more recently as a kind of déjà vu. "Iran is most definitely a good market for the mid-level injection moulding machine and there is a global market for mid-range machines - but Iran has been a long-term market for ENGEL which helps [WINTEC] and it is one of the next countries on our list to roll out the export activities of WINTEC machines," Auinger explained.
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This proposed rollout benefits from WINTEC being part of the ENGEL Group, which offers WINTEC structure, administration and service already in the exciting Middle Eastern marketplace.
Iran's newly-unsanctioned status makes it an exciting market for investors and like other key Middle Eastern marketplaces such as Turkey and the UAE, ENGEL has witnessed the evolutionary journey these key economies have undergone over recent decades. "There's constant evolution in these markets,” Auinger said. "Turkey for example, is definitely undergoing an amazing development overcoming industrial hurdles."
WINTEC broadens horizons The WINTEC brand - which boasts the cost-effective e-win allelectric injection moulding machines and hydraulic injection moulding t-win machine series - was launched in 2014 as a company in its own right, targeting Asia as an industrial region ripe for quality-assured plastics processing technology for the mid-market sector. As a member of the ENGEL Group, WINTEC has been quickly mobilised, targeting first the Chinese mid-range injection moulding machine market, separating it completely from ENGEL's high-end technology, while demand for lower-end technology is met by local machine manufacturers.
"ENGEL can never be the cheapest," said Auinger, "this is not the ENGEL philosophy – but we aim for the highest efficiency. "WINTEC machines offer high quality and repeatability - the constant quality on a WINTEC machine is the same as an ENGEL but it has a limited product range. WINTEC is not submitting lowerpriced ENGEL machines - that would result in internal competition - so when we had this concept of separation, we would not compromise the machines or the moulded part but clearly identify WINTEC machines with a smaller range of application possibilities, so when a WINTEC setup is offered to a customer, they are in no doubt as to the quality." WINTEC's ambitions are rippling outside of the confines of China across the global economic pond. Auinger said: "All BRICS markets are a target, and Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, but while we have a good position in the prime segment, we have to secure our position in the middle segments." With worldwide potential and a mother company based in Austria, Auinger stated that the decision to base WINTEC in China "is absolutely the correct one" due to China's strength as a domestic market quickly absorbing big quantities of injection moulding machines that WINTEC wants to supply. ENGEL's long-term strategy has worked to WINTEC's advantage, as the notion of starting a spin-off machine manufacturing company to appeal to a new slice of the marketplace might be considered high-risk to many plastics machinery players who may still be exercising caution post-economic crisis.
"ENGEL is the mother, ENGEL Prime is the big brother, WINTEC is the little brother and we feel confidence in doing what we do and overcoming any difficulties as we go," said Auinger. "Financially, ENGEL is a very stable company and in establishing WINTEC the ENGEL Group will have an additional growth potential. To be member of the ENGEL Group brings unique potential to WINTEC. It helped us to convince our first customer to sign for the first WINTEC machine. And it is still an added value now after more than 50 customers have bought WINTEC machines." www.wintec-machines.com
Plastindia presents Indian opportunity at CHINAPLAS 2016
C
HINAPLAS 2016 was a thoroughly international affair, with a noticeably large contingent from India present at the trade fair.
Potential Indian-Chinese business partnerships were springing up all over the 30th anniversary event, according to Modern Plastics India Editor-in-Chief and Director Ginu Joseph when he spoke to EPPM, bringing us up to date on the latest from this growing event. The next Plastindia will take place in 2018 and marks the 10th outing for this key industry gathering for the subcontinent. Taking place on February 7th-12th, Plastindia 2018 will be hosted by the emerging financial hub and capital of Gujarat, Gandhinagar. Plastindia has enjoyed significant growth over its first quartercentury, starting with 486 exhibitors from 15 countries in 1990. Today the show hosts over 1,600 exhibitors from 32 countries. In 2018 the show aims to cover 150,000 m sq in space, hosting 2,000 exhibitors from 45 countries with some 600 overseas visitors.
The event’s organisers are actively supporting India’s plastics industry outside of the event. Plastindia Foundations was established in 1987 and promotes India’s growing plastics and manufacturing sector, working to make India a preferred partner for plastics products across the word, boosting global businesses and revenues according to Rajeev Chitalia, Chairman, Nation Executive Council, PlastIndia 2018. Indeed, Chitalia added that Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Government’s Make in India campaign, which is aimed at bringing manufacturing back to India and investing in a skilled workforce, will help Chinese companies to expand to the Indian market.
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3/19/2015 4:58:08 PM
I t ’ s
K
T i m e
After 3 years, we’re ready to go again. K 2016 presents you the best that engineers, chemists and researchers currently have on offer: machinery, technology, materials, tools, applications, and forward-looking products, processes and solutions. The best basis for global business, the perfect decision-making platform for investment. With some 3,200 exhibitors in 19 exhibition halls on more than 171,000 sqm of exhibition space, the world’s premier trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry will once again be presenting the entire range of products and services that the industry has to offer. Everything that will move the world in the future. Plan your visit now.
T i m e
f o r
D e c i s i o n s
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH P.O. Box 10 10 06 40001 Düsseldorf _ Germany Tel. + 49 (0)2 11/45 60-01 Fax + 49 (0)2 11/45 60-6 68
k-online.com
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www.messe-duesseldorf.de
03.05.16 10:26
K 2016: The media previews in a nutshell EPPM has been to three different K 2016 preview events in three different countries to hear 23 companies whisper, tease and shout from the rooftops what they are bringing to Düsseldorf this October.
2016 EXTRA MATERIALS
To give you the key information in an easy-todigest format, we present The Preview Profiles, which will hopefully help you get your head around what some of the biggest names in plastics have up their sleeves for the biggest plastics show on the planet.
ENGEL’s Inject 4.0 iQ technology for injection moulding.
NAME:
NAME:
Engel
Songwon
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Austrian injection moulding machine giant.
The world’s second-largest manufacturer of polymer stabilisers.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016: Among other things, an all-electric, tie-bar-less ENGEL e-motion 80 TL injection moulding machine will be demonstrating Inject 4.0.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: "Inject 4.0 is the focus of the smart factory. We don’t know where it’s going but it is a journey," Dr Gerhard Dimmler, Head of Product Research and Development.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016: A fresh identity as a worldwide specialty chemical company and a 50th birthday celebration.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “We consider [turning 50] as a turning point and we like to believe in the next 50 years we will be a different company,” Maurizio Butti, CEO.
Bernd Reifenhäuser, CEO, Reifenhäuser.
NAME:
NAME:
NAME:
Reifenhäuser
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag
EREMA
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Extrusion technology heavyweight.
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Injection moulding machinery technology experts.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
Masters of plastics recycling machinery
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
Industry 4.0 in practice as part of the Setting New Standards In Industry campaign and a new thermoforming sheet in-line concept at its open house event, which will run concurrent with K.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “Industry 4.0 empowers our customers to make their business even more profitable. For this reason, we are continuously reinventing ourselves,” Bernd Reifenhäuser, CEO.
As part of its Industry 4.0 drive, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will be launching a new generation of El-exis machine.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016: CAREFORMANCE: Industry 4.0 for recycling machinery - or Recycling 4.0.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
“At K, we are going to extend our portfolio and extend our innovations in packaging, allelectric and automotive and a new generation of El-Exis machine... and something else new,” Gerd Liebig, CSO.
“With Industry 4.0, we can increase performance in recycling. CAREFORMANCE will allow EREMA to connect the plastics chain,” CEO Manfred Hackle.
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2016 EXTRA MATERIALS
Gerold Schley, CEO, battenfeld-cincinnati.
Borealis, Borouge and Nova Chemical’s message to ‘Join Our Journey’.
NAME:
NAME:
NAME:
battenfeld-cincinnati
Borealis
Borouge
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Forerunners in pipe extrusion technology.
Leading provider of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertiliser solutions.
Joint venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Borealis specialising in plastics solutions.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016: Under the motto Driven By Innovation, battenfeld-cincinnati will present its solutions for Industry 4.0 and new technologies for pipe, profile and thermoforming sheet, including the new single screw extruder solEX NG 75.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016: Three new grades for its Queo elastomer portfolio and a show of unity with Borouge and Nova Chemical called ‘Join Our Journey’.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “In our new motto ‘driven by innovation’ we combine individual services, modern and high-quality equipment and solutions for questions like energy efficiency and Industry 4.0. We are sure that with this we will maintain our position as a technology leader in the extrusion industry at this year’s K,” Gerold Schley, CEO.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016: Alongside Borealis and Nova Chemical’s ‘Join Our Journey’ campaign, Borouge will present its redesigned marketing structure to boost sustainability.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “By working together, we will be able to reach new heights in safety, affordability, adaptability, weight-savings and more,” Alfred Stern, Executive Vice-President Polyolefins, Innovation and Technology.
DSM’s Arnitel material for automotive components.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “When we invite our customers to ‘Join Our Journey’ we are also urging them to collaborate with us and become partners in innovation,” Wim Roels, CEO.
PA 66 from Ascend in use in automotive components.v
NAME:
NAME:
NAME:
Nova Chemical
DSM
Ascend Performance Materials
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Canadian company that manufactures chemicals and plastic resins.
Materials science and polymer innovation frontrunner.
One of the world’s largest producers of PA66 resin.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
News of its new PE reactor in North America and its own contribution to ‘Join Our Journey’ with Borouge and Borealis.
New additions to the ForTii high performance polypthalamides portfolio and a new hightemperature resistant Arnitel TPE for hot air ducts - and generally pushing the performance plastics envelope across the board.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “The ‘Join our Journey’ theme really speaks to how this passion translates into the work we do with our customers to develop the next generation of polyethylene resins, structures and applications. We look forward to continuing this journey at K-2016,” Chris Bezaire, Senior Vice-President, Polyethylene Business.
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WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016: A comprehensive display of how Ascend’s PA66 resin can be put to optimum use in automotive applications for lightweighting, in powertrains and in profiling.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “[The K rhythm] makes it clear what has happened in the last three years. Three years ago, we were not present in the size and scope that we are today,” Joost d’Hooghe, Commercial Director DSM Engineering Plastics.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “We want to inspire engineers about the possibilities of using PA66 resin,” Vikram Gopal, Vice-President, Technology.
2016 EXTRA MATERIALS
Sikora’s Purity Scanner.
NAME:
NAME:
NAME:
SABIC
Polyscope
Sikora
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Global leader in diversified chemicals headquartered in Saudi Arabia.
They develop and produce SMA copolymers, compounds and aqueous solutions and styrene maleic anhydride N-phenylmaleimide terpolymers.
Specialists in inspection technology for pipes and pellets.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
New automotive solutions and a 10th birthday celebration.
Exciting new breakthroughs in pipe inspection, namely the Centerwave 6000, Sikora’s millimeter wave technology, and the Purity Scanner for ultra-accurate pellet inspection.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
“Striving for a sustainable future means looking at business practices differently and being able to turn challenges into opportunities that add lasting business value,” Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, Executive Vice-President Polymers.
“We are talking to the OEMs and we are trying to understand what is happening ... what needs are out there that are not being solved by their current suppliers?” Ferdi Faas, BU Director Engineering Plastics.
“Together with Fraunhofer we have influenced the development of this technology. Our innovative millimetre wave technology is unique. This technology is only available commercially now,” Harry Prunk, Executive Board.
NAME:
NAME:
NAME:
WACKER Chemie
Huntsman
LANXESS
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Chemicals geniuses with a specialty in silicones.
Global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals.
Leading specialty chemicals company.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
The world’s first industrial silicone 3D printing technology.
Along with Tecnoelastomeri, Huntsman will be extending its TPU applications beyond sporting and leisure applications, to 3D printing, mining and even supersized wheels for heavy-duty vehicles.
In-line with its new Quality Works motto, LANXESS is unveiling a new one-step in-mould thermoplastic composites decorating process in collaboration with ENGEL, it is expanding its range of easy-flowing polyamide 6, 6.6 and PBT compounds, as well as giving ARLANXEO its own space on the show floor for the first time.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
“Taking TPU materials, developed for the sports, leisure and apparel sector – where innovation is frequent and rapid – and adapting them for other applications, can be hugely beneficial,” Craig Roberts, TPU Marketing Manager.
“We are seeing a strong upturn in the level of market interest in the benefits that these materials open up compared to standard materials in terms of processing, production costs and design freedom,” Tim Arping, Marketing, High Performance Materials.
Among others in its Chemistry That Matters showcase, SABIC will be showcasing several new products and technologies that help to address sustainability in packaging, from food wastage to recyclability.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “The printer is based on the ACEO technology – a drop-on-demand method developed by WACKER. It can be used to make parts and assemblies with complex geometries, as well as ‘impossible products,’ which could not previously be produced,” Bernd Pachaly, Head of Silicones Research.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
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2016 EXTRA MATERIALS
Pallet Loaded with Innovation, by BASF.
Caroline Chamard, Sepro.
HEKUflex in action.
NAME:
NAME:
NAME:
BASF
Sepro
HEKUMA
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Worldwide chemicals company.
Leading manufacturer of robotics tech for plastics processing.
High performance automation for injection moulding.
A smorgasbord of plastics technology developments, including pallet-tracing technology Elastocoat C, super soft and transparent Ultramid films, compostable foam bioplastic technology ecovio EA, an expanded automotive PPA portfolio called Ultramid Advanced N and much more.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
Their biggest showcase yet with five new robots, including the gigantic 7X 100XL, which has a wrist ‘the size of a man’.
Along with partners ENGEL and HACK, HEKUMA is presenting its HEKUflex technology in a demo with dental brushes, picking them out of the mould, inspecting them and packaging them in one system.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
“We will be showing the biggest display we’ve ever shown at K - 7X -100XL could be largest robot at the show,” Caroline Chamard, Marketing and Communication Project Manager.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
“Our new product, a long chain PPA, will be a superhero for engineers,” Head of PPA Performance Materials Europe Abdullah Sheikh.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
Lars Ederleh, LPKF.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “HEKUflex is an idea to set up high performance automation systems. We expect this different strategy will have some advantage for our customers,” CEO Bernhard Rupke.
Giraffe coloured with Clariant’s Powerful PV Fast Yellow.
NAME:
NAME:
NAME:
LPKF
HAITIAN
Clariant
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
WHAT DO THEY DO:
Leader in laser and electronics technology.
Global injection moulding machine manufacturer.
Giant specialty chemicals company.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016:
A new ‘wobbling’ technology that allows the LPKF PowerWeld 3D 8000 to join large automotive components with very fine welds.
Under the motto With Technology To The Point, Haitian will demonstrate its efficient solutions for standard applications with the upgraded Jupiter II. The company is also celebrating its 50th birthday.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:
“In automotive, more and more components are being manufactured with lightweight plastics. The PowerWeld3D 8000 is a system with integrated melt travel monitoring and very short process times,” Lars Ederleh, LPKF.
“Many of our customers’ products and requirements vary greatly so that time and again they have to modify or readjust their manufacturing processes. The rapid mould change on the Jupiter II assists them greatly ... making the Jupiter a real shooting star performer in Europe,” Philippe Porret, Management.
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WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT K 2016: New additions to Clariant’s ranges of masterbatches, pigments and additives, including those focused on flame retardancy and security, and a special attitude to service.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT: “At Clariant, our approach should be that technology is not sold by the kilo, but by the whole service and that starts by sitting down together,” Jan Sültemeyer, Head of Global Innovation and Product Management.
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Livin’ la vida Local Local Motors has done it again, using 3D printing not only to bring automotive production to your doorstep but to produce a vehicle that is perfectly designed for self-driving. Words| Rose Brooke
B
ringing automotive production to local hubs using additive manufacturing technology is being championed by Local Motors, and now the innovation leader is challenging not just automotive manufacture but the whole concept of travelling by car. The Arizona-headquartered company recently teamed up with world-leader in secure connectivity for embedded applications NXP Semiconductors to showcase how collaboration really can produce exciting results for even as notoriously conservative an industry as automotive. Local Motors’ blog revealed at NXP’s FTF Tech Forum in Texas in May 2016, Vice-President and General Manager of Microprocessors at NXP Matt Johnson unveiled the results of the collaboration to bring Local Motors’ world-first
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3D-printed car the Strati into the digital age with NXP BlueBox technology, which enables the Strati to be programmed with advanced driver assistance and self-drive features. By utilising sensors and in-built cameras on the vehicle, the car can see around corners and detect other vehicles, roadblocks and other hazards faster than the human eye. “Local Motors’ 3D printing process provides flexibility in car manufacturing that enabled the build and delivery of the vehicle used at FTF in Austin in less than three days,” explained Johnson. The lighter-weight 3D-printed Strati has been optimised at design level to generate weight and material savings which in turn puts less pressure on an engine unit that needn’t be made of metal as its environment will not be heated to as high temperatures as a normal vehicle’s.
Moreover, if a car does not need a driver in the front seat, the 3D-printed polymer vehicle needn’t keep the shape favoured by its predecessors, presenting a world of opportunity. Local Motors is certain its co-creation philosophy enabled by 3D printing is the key to unlocking the future shape of automotive design, with the NXP collaboration serving to accelerate the integration of autonomous and Internet of Things technologies into vehicles. Local Motors Labs Director Gina O’Connell said: “Both in person and online, the Local Motors Labs co-creation community will push the boundaries of BlueBox technology. Through the power of collaboration, there is no stopping how NXP’s technology will advance autonomous vehicles.” www.localmotors.com
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