RotoWorld 3, 2020 by Jennifer Gibson Hebert

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VOLUME XVI, ISSUE 3 • 2020

VOLUME XVI, ISSUE 3 • MAY-JUNE 2020

Rotomoulding’s Fight Against COVID-19

CONVERSION

Delivering proven performance so you can innovate with confidence.

From Zeros to Heroes

Learn more about how we can work together to grow your business.

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Your rotational molding capabilities begin with the quality and dependability of your polyethylene resin supply. Start your day with PE products and process innovations that help leading rotomolders bring their most complex designs to reality. Accomplish more with our reliable supply network, responsive sales support and expert technology team.

The Power of Pigment

A Study of Dry Blending

Succeeding in Uncertain Times

Consider how humans perceive the future

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CONTENTS

FEATURES COVER STORY

From Zeros to Heroes – Rotomoulding’s Fight Against COVID-19 by Martin Coles, Managing Director, Matrix Polymers Rotomoulded products critical to supporting health services around the world.

The Power of Pigment – a Study of Dry Blending by Dr. Nick Henwood, Rotomotive Limited Understanding and addressing the use of color in rotomoulded products.

Succeeding in Uncertain Times by Octavio Egea and Arjun Shukla, Frog Madrid Consider how humans perceive the future.

4 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS 8 From the Publisher by Susan Gibson, JSJ Productions, Inc. Breathe

12 Global Contributing Editors

Global Contributors, Department Contributors, and Issue Contributors

14 Upfront

Industry News, Trends, and Products

25 Design Comment

by Michael Paloian, Integrated Design Systems, Inc. Brainstorming – The Root of all Great Designs

26 Travel Updates

Travel news from around the world.

33 ARM Report

ARM is Engaging Members in New Ways

38 Industry 4.0 – Episode 1 by Rob Miller, Whitten Battenfeld/RotoLoad If Only There was a Better Way!

46 ARMA Rotoconnect Welcome to Rotomould Online

50 Technically Speaking

by Alongkorn Kanokboriboon, SCG Chemicals A Combination of Smart Materials and Good Processing

52 ARMO News

ARMSA, ARM-CE, Nordic ARM, StAR, BPF, IT-RO Philip Law Addresses Manchester Polymer Group

56 Global Calendar 58 Advertisers’ Index www.rotoworldmag.com 5

Susan D. Gibson

Publisher & Editor President - JSJ Productions, Inc. susan@jsjproductionsinc.com

Technical Editor Alvin Spence PhD MEng aspence@centroinc.com Process Editor Paul Nugent PhD MEng paul@paulnugent.com Michael Paloian

Design Editor President - Integrated Design Systems, Inc. paloian@idsys.com

Celal Beysel

Global Contributing Editors Chairman - Floteks Plastik beysel@superonline.com

Harry Covington Mark Kearns Ravi Mehra

Ferry Industries hcovington@ferryindustries.com

Moulding Research Manager m.kearns@qub.ac.uk

Managing Director - Norstar International LLC maramehra@aol.com

Sergio Zilioli

Sales Manager - Persico S.p.A. sergio.zilioli@persico.com

Advertising and Art Production Marketing/Advertising Director Jennifer Gibson Hebert Vice President, JSJ Productions, Inc. Chief Art Director Anya Wilcox

jennifer@jsjproductionsinc.com

JSJ Productions, Inc. awilcox@designintersection.com

Circulation & Distribution Administration Sheryl Bjorn JSJ Productions, Inc. sheryl@jsjproductionsinc.com -

Editing & Translations Kristina Gaddy-Kates | Oliver Wandres | Ximena Lobo Website & Online Technology Jason Cooper JSJ Productions, Inc. jason@bound.by RotoWorld® is a JSJ Productions, Inc. Trade Publication JSJ Productions, Inc. 625 West Market Street, Salinas, CA 93901 Phone: (512) 894.4106; Fax (512) 858.0486 Email: rotoworldmag@rotoworldmag.com and Website: www.rotoworldmag.com Subscriptions One-year subscription (six issues), print or digital, $60 US, $75 Canada/Mexico, $120 All Other Countries. To subscribe or to submit change of address information, call us at (512) 894.4106; fax us at (512) 858.0486; visit us online at www.rotoworldmag.com; or email us at sheryl@jsjproductionsinc.com. You may also write to RotoWorld® Subscriptions, JSJ Productions, Inc., 625 West Market Street, Salinas, CA 93901 Advertising For information on advertising, please contact Advertising Director Jennifer Gibson Hebert, JSJ Productions, Inc. Email Jennifer Gibson at jennifer@jsjproductionsinc.com Letters We welcome letters about our contents. Write Letters to the Editor, JSJ Productions, Inc., 625 West Market Street, Salinas, CA 93901 512.894.4106 phone 512.858.0486 fax, or Email susan@jsjproductionsinc.com. Editorial Queries We consider unsolicited contributions. Send manuscript submissions as email attachment to Susan Gibson at susan@jsjproductionsinc.com. JSJ Productions, Inc. bears no responsibility for claim or factual data represented in contributed articles. Postmaster Send changes of address to RotoWorld®, JSJ Productions, Inc., 625 West Market Street, Salinas, CA 93901 RotoWorld® is a JSJ Productions, Inc. independently owned, bi-monthly trade magazine for the international rotational molding and plastics design industries. JSJ Productions, Inc. owns all copyrights on articles published herein unless ownership is otherwise stated. Reproduction of this magazine, in whole or in part, without the express written p ermission of the publisher is not permitted.

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From Waste to Wonder

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FROM THE

PUBLISHER

by Susan Gibson, JSJ Productions, Inc.

Breathe For many of us home has been a sanctuary. Changing everyday habits, for better or worse, is no easy task. But now could be the time to build healthier routines that stay with you for life. It has been for me. Old habits can be tough to crack. In times like the COVID-19 pandemic, there can be window of opportunity. We can look at it as a time to set new plans in motion and reshape how we do things. Thus, one positive that can come from this shared crisis is we can become creatures of new, different habits. According to researchers at Duke University in North Carolina, habits account for 45% of our everyday behaviors. The word “Breathe” has become more than a buzz word of late, and not always positive. However, the habit of breathing can pick up your mood, and that is a big positive. Taking deep conscious breaths when things aren’t going your way can help. It sounds simplistic, but in my experience focusing on inhaling joy and exhaling tension and repeating this until your feeling more upbeat works. Similarly, there is nothing like a good dose of laughter to release tension and put everything into a better perspective. It is amazing what a good old-fashioned belly laugh will do for the spirit. I mention all of this because we’ve all become victims of the change of “things as normal”. We share this change on many levels of personal connection, albeit with our families, friends, colleagues and work communities. While online connection has filled the gap quite nicely with applications like Zoom, we are nonetheless missing that person-to-person connection we love as social beings. I know I am. There is the saying that “While we may be apart, we’ve never been closer together”. I hope you’ll keep this in mind as you read our cover story inside this issue. Martin Coles, Matrix Polymers, has authored a totally uplifting look at how many of our rotomolders are producing products that are working for good. Read From Zeros to Heroes as Martin cites such prime examples of positive outcomes through this challenging times. The big question in the room remains “What can we expect when the pandemic is largely over”? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the US issued the requirements that applied to the workplace previously, but now says we should expect additional employee concerns to continue for some time. This of course may vary depending on the location and the level of community transmission as well as it will vary in different locations throughout the world where similar organizations set guidelines. Many employees and family members are likely to be anxious about returning to the public, including the workplace. This 8 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

includes social distancing, frequent handwashing, cleaning and disinfecting work areas, adjusting the workplace to separate employees (including split-shifts, staggered breaks, and altering workstations), and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). You may still need to monitor employee health, including asking about symptoms and taking temperatures, in the near future. Some of the newer safety practices put into place at the outset of the pandemic – prior to the shelter-in-place orders or the ongoing practices by essential businesses – may need to continue until the virus has been more completely controlled through robust testing and contact tracing capabilities, vaccines, and other treatments. For the manufacturing industry in particular, OSHA offers these tips for health and safety which again may vary from country to country, which provides good advice for consideration for everyone in the workplace; • Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick. • Establish flexible work hours (e.g. staggered shifts), if feasible. • Practice sensible social distancing and maintain six feet between co-workers where possible. • Where social distancing is a challenge consider limiting the duration of these activities and/or implementing innovative approaches such as temporarily moving or repositioning workstations to create more distance or installing barriers (e.g. plexiglass shields) between workstations. • Monitor public health communications about COVID-19 recommendations for the workplace and ensure that workers have access to and understand that information. • Train workers on how to properly put on, use/wear, take-off, and maintain protective clothing and equipment. • Allow workers to wear masks over their nose and mouth to prevent the spread of the virus. • Encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes. • Discourage workers from using other worker’s tools and equipment. • Use Environmental Protection agency-approved cleaning chemicals. From the List N or that have label claims against the coronavirus. Be well and safe,

Susan Gibson Publisher & Editor

When Performance Counts... Our priorities are the health and safety of our team and global community with the goal of serving our customers.

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CONTRIBUTING

EDITORS ROTOWORLD ®

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VOLUME XIV, ISSUE 6 • 2018

VOLUME XV, ISSUE 3 • 2019

How to Calculate Wall Thickness for Water & Chemical Tanks

Delivering proven performance

Learn more about how we can work together to grow your business.

ARM 2019 ANNUAL so you can innovate with confidence. MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Supavent Turns 15 2018 ARM Annual Meeting held in Montreal! Quality Control of Rotationally

Moulded Polyethylene Using Reflected Light Microscopy 2019 ARM Executive Spring Forum

Polyurethanes for Rotomolded Products

can be Environmentally Friendly and still Provide the Performance you Need

Napa, CA WWW.ROTOWORLDMAG .COM

MARKETS

Cutting production costs and lessening global warning effects

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Icons of Contemporary Design

using rotational molding

so you can innovate with confidence.

Smart Cats

Kerala – The Tropical Paradise

PRODUCTS

Delivering performance designing proven underground products soinfrastructure you can innovate with confidence. Delivering proven performance

Brings Forth New Experiences

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PAINT IT BLACK

VOLUME XV, ISSUE 2 • 2019

FIFTEENTH STAR CONFERENCE

Delivering proven performance so you can innovate with confidence.

DESIGN

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Hosted by ARMSA in South Africa

Delivering proven performance so you can innovate with confidence.

aldo monetti

An industry colleague ARMO2019 and friend remembered CONFERENCE

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MANUFACTURING

Action-packed conference in Brisbane

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DESIGN

rotomould 2019

Asia’s ROTOMOLDED Ceremonial Coffin

LABOR CRISIS – GET MORE EFFICIENT!

VOLUME XV, ISSUE 1 • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2019

Mobil logo, the interlocking “X” device and all product names herein are trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

VOLUME XV, ISSUE 2 • MARCH-APRIL 2019

Present and Future of Rotomolding was Discussed in Russia

Moulded Polyethylene Parts

u safe by noras

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VOLUME XV, ISSUE 5 • SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019

Discovering Opportunities:

for Winter Time

VOLUME XV, ISSUE 1 • 2019

What to do during the

Rotomoulded Life Saving Product

TECHNOLOGY

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so you can innovate with confidence. Spray Cooling of Rotationally

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VOLUME XV, ISSUE 6 • NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2019

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SLIDE® ROTOMOLDED NOVELTIES

VOLUME XIV, ISSUE 6 • DECEMBER 2018

About Product Standards

The Industrial Application of Delivering proven performance Internal Mould Water

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The Ugly Truth

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CONVERSION

begin with the quality and esin supply. Start your day with ns that help leading rotomolders o reality. Accomplish more with sive sales support and expert

VOLUME XV, ISSUE 3 • MAY-JUNEL 2019

625 West Market Street Salinas, CA 93901 USA

ven performance ovate with confidence.

o grow your

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2019 Here’sInternational How to Make a Powerful Call to Action in a Business Presentation Rotomolding Congress (IRC) The World’s Most Comprehensive Hotel XCaret Cancun in 2019 Tank Standard to be Released

Russian Rotomoulders Group will Meet Again in St. Petersburg

Large attendance and high marks

Learn more about how we can work together to grow your business. © 2016 Exxon Mobil Corporation. All rights reserved. ExxonMobil, the ExxonMobil logo, the interlocking “X” device and all product names herein are trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

Honorees Conchita Miranda, Operadora Miraplastek, and Jon Ratzlaff, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Inducted into the Rotational Molding Hall of Fame Learn more about how we can work together to grow your

business.

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technology team.

Learn more about how we can work together to grow your business.

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Your rotational molding capabilities begin with the quality and

Your rotational molding capabilities begin with the quality and dependability of your polyethylene resin supply. Start your day with dependability of your polyethylene resin supply. Start your day with PE products and process innovations that help leading rotomolders PE products and process innovations that help leading rotomolders bring their most complex designs to reality. Accomplish more withbring their most complex designs to reality. Accomplish more with our reliable supply network, responsive sales support and expert our reliable supply network, responsive sales support and expert technology team.

DESIGN EDITOR

TECHNICAL EDITOR

Michael Paloian

Alvin Spence

Michael is President of Integrated Design Systems, Inc., Great Neck, New York. Over the past 25 years, Mike has developed a broad range of plastic products utilizing various processing methods including rotational molding. Mike’s B.S. degree in Plastics Engineering and Masters in Industrial Design, combined with his extensive experience, has formed the basis for his branded and unique insights into the field of plastics part design. paloian@idsys.com PROCESS EDITOR

Alvin Spence is Vice President Engineering at Centro, Inc., North Liberty, Iowa. He provides leadership for Centro’s product development team and quality resources. Alvin received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and PhD from Queen’s University Belfast. aspence@centroinc.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Paul Nugent Paul is a consultant who travels extensively across six continents assisting clients in many roles from training to expert witnessing. He received his Eng. degree in Aeronautical Engineering and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The Queen’s University of Belfast. Paul developed the Rotolog system, the first complete computer simulation (RotoSim), and authored a book entitled Rotational Molding: A Practical Guide. paul@paulnugent.com

10 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

Celal Beysel Celal is Chairman of Floteks Plastik, the pioneer and innovative leader of the rotational molding industry in Turkey and a Global Contributing Editor for RotoWorld® magazine. Being an ARM member for more than 20 years, he has made many presentations at ARM meetings in various countries. He is also active in business and political organizations in his country. Celal has authored numerous articles published in various newspapers and magazines about politics, plastics, rotomolding, and innovation. beysel@superonline.com

CONTRIBUTING

EDITORS

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Ravi Mehra

Sergio Zilioli

Ravi Mehra has been associated with the rotational molding industry since the early 1970’s. He is a Past President of ARM – Association of Rotational Molders, and has been inducted into the ARM Hall of Fame. He is the Founding Chairman of StAR – the rotational moulding Trade Association of India. He was the Chairman of ARMO – Affiliation of Rotational Moulding Organizations from 2012 to 2014. He consults internationally with companies in the rotational moulding arena to help their global strategy, facilitate technology tie-ups, and business alliances. maramehra@aol.com

Sergio Zilioli is the Key Account Manager at Persico USA. He has a mechanical design background, and in 1998 joined Persico Automotive in the compression moulds assembly department. In 2001, Sergio became Rotomoulding Division Sales Manager for Moulds and Leonardo Machines for the Northern and Eastern European Market. Since 2008, he has been working on sales and marketing development in North America and South America. Sergio is an active participant in ARM and SPE conferences and has presented several papers on the latest technologies developed by Persico. sergio.zilioli@persico.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Mark Kearns

M.Kearns@qub.ac.uk

Mark is the Rotational Moulding Research Manager of the Polymer Processing Research Centre at Queen’s University of Belfast. He is a Chartered Chemical Engineer with a M. Phil Degree in Rotational Moulding. Mark manages rotational moulding research and development projects for companies across Europe, Australasia, and North America.

DEPARTMENT EDITOR

Harry Covington Harry Covington is Director and Owner of Ferry Industries, Inc., Akron, Ohio. Harry has served on the ARM International Board of Directors and is a recipient of the ARM International Hall of Fame award. He has been a frequent presenter at rotational molding conferences throughout the world. Harry holds a BSME from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. hcovington@ferryindustries.com

DEPARTMENT EDITOR

Alongkorn Kanokboriboon Alongkorn Kanokboriboon is currently Development Leader at the Rotational Molding Center at SCG Chemicals. He has been involved in the rotomolding industry for almost twenty years from resins development, compounding, and grinding to technical service. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from University of California and a Master’s degree in Polymer Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast. alongkok@scg.com

Rob Miller Owner President – Wittmann Battenfeld Canada Inc. Rotoload Rob started in the plastics pneumatic conveying industry in 1986. He has spent his entire career developing, engineering, and designing all types of catalog, standard, and custom pneumatic conveying systems for the plastics industry. He started in the Rotational Molding Industry in 2013, and has enjoyed learning the idiosyncrasies of the industry and market, and most of all meeting the people and building relationships for the future. Rob.Miller@wittmann-group.ca www.rotoworldmag.com 11

GUEST CONTRIBUTING

EDITORS

Dr. Nick Henwood Dr. Nick Henwood is well known to rotomoulding audiences, through his numerous contributions to international conferences and technical seminars. He has 30 years-plus experience in rotomoulding, specialising in the fields of materials development and process control. Nick operates as a consultant, researcher and educator through his own company, Rotomotive Limited, based in UK. He is also the Technical Director of ARM – The Association of Rotational Molders.

Octavio Egea Octavio Egea is Executive Strategy Director at frog Madrid. For 20+ years, Octavio has been helping organizations decipher, navigate, and thrive in complex industry contexts; deploy new growth platforms and embrace innovation to drive superior alpha.

Martin Coles Martin Coles co-founded Matrix Polymers 28 years ago and is the company’s largest shareholder and Managing Director. Shortly after graduating from London University he began his career in the plastics industry working for a major Italian petrochemical producer and soon became hooked by the unique world of rotomoulding. Matrix Polymers has evolved to be a global supplier specialising on rotomoulding materials and has compounding and grinding plants in the UK, Poland, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. The company sells more than $100 million of rotomoulding materials each year and has 180 employees.

Arjun Shukla As a Strategist, Arjun designs pathways to growth and profitability amidst constant change. He is passionate about helping people, teams, and companies create long-term, scalable businesses by helping them evolve their capabilities.

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UPFRONT MAAG Group announces DKSH as new agent in Indonesia

OBERGLATT, SWITZERLAND — MAAG Group,

a broadly diversified global solutions provider of Pump & Filtration Systems, Pelletizing Systems, Pulverizing Systems, and Recycling Systems for use in the plastics, chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries, is pleased to announce a distribution agreement with DKSH covering MAAG’s top-grade equipment into Indonesia. DKSH Business Unit Technology, the leading Market Expansion Services provider for technology companies seeking to grow their business in Asia, has partnered with MAAG Group, part of the Dover Corporation. Prior to this recent partnership’s extension, MAAG Group has had a partnership’s footprint with DKSH in Japan, North Asia, back in 1990. DKSH Indonesia will provide full services from marketing and sales, regulatory competence, distribution and logistics to after-sales services to bring the MAAG Group integrated system 14 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

solutions for pump and filtration to across segment industries of polymer chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Ueli Thuerig, President of the MAAG Group stated: “This is a proud milestone for us to be able to extend partnership in different markets with our long-term trusted partner. Through this partnership, we hope to be able to increase market penetration and market share in Indonesia’s industrial segments following the successful 29 years of fruitful partnership with DKSH.” Hanno Elbraechter, Head Business Unit Technology, DKSH commented: “The Indonesia business is a growing prospect for us in South East Asia and we are very excited in starting the year by opening a new opportunity to bring success to our long-time partner. Together we will bring MAAG’s top-grade equipment to Indonesian industries.”

UPFRONT NOVA Chemicals Reports Progress on its Sustainability Strategy CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA — (NOVA Chemicals

Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”), a leading producer of chemicals and plastic resins, published its 2019 Sustainability Report today with details on how the company is working to shape a world that is better tomorrow than it is today. “We believe businesses like ours can be a positive catalyst for change and are pleased to share our progress as we deliver on our commitment to the betterment of society, the environment, and the economy,” said Todd Karran, president and CEO, NOVA Chemicals. “As global citizens, we are working to be part of the solution to specific challenges: plastics circular economy, plastics in the ocean and climate change. We continue to advocate for science-based dialogue and policy decisions that encourage responsible use, collection, recycling and recovery of plastic to make the elimination of plastic waste a reality,” Karran said. NOVA Chemicals’ 2019 Sustainability Report highlights four areas of the company’s long-term strategy: Circular Economy, Citizenship, Climate Care and Sustainability in Operations. The report has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI®) Standards: Core option. Creating a Plastics Circular Economy NOVA Chemicals is leveraging its expertise to design plastic resins and products to expand a market for recycled plastics, advance recyclable packaging designs, and help customers choose more sustainable options. In 2019, the company announced the development of seven new polyethylene ready-torecycle resins that will help customers meet sustainability targets and drive demand for recycled content. These new resins enable reuse in applications such as stretch films, stand-up pouches, multipack collation shrink and heavy-duty sacks. Along with industry associations and others, NOVA Chemicals is committed to making 100 percent of plastics packaging recyclable or recoverable by 2030; and 100 percent of plastics packaging re-used, recycled or recovered by 2040. Read the recent announcement to collaborate with Enerkem to capture the value of post-use plastic through advanced recycling innovations. Global Citizenship “Plastic is and will continue to be a valuable material that makes our lives healthier, easier and safer,” said Karran. “Plastic does not belong in the environment. We have a responsibility to address this challenge and, with others, we are taking action.” NOVA Chemicals is a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste™ and a strategic partner for Project STOP. “We are pleased to see exciting new developments as both organizations mature and collaborate to solve global challenges,” said Karran. In addition, NOVA Chemicals became the first Canadian based company to pledge to support Operation Clean Sweep® Blue and strengthened its commitment to zero pellet loss.

As a responsible neighbor, NOVA Chemicals engages with its local communities and invests in organizations dedicated to making a difference and improving quality of life. In 2019, employees volunteered nearly 6,000 hours and made a combined contribution with the company to United Way® totaling nearly $1.5 million (USD). Other significant corporate investments included $2 million (CAD) as Platinum Sustainability Sponsor for the 2019 Canada Winter Games and Red Deer College as well as a $2 million (CAD) investment in the NOVA Chemicals Health & Research Centre at Lambton College. Caring for the Climate NOVA Chemicals reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity by four percent in last year five years. The company completed two capital projects that reduced its GHG emissions: a furnace revamp project that improves efficiency and an equipment improvement project that reduces steam demand. The combined impact of those projects is a total reduction of 110,000 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to removing more than 20,000 cars from the road each year. Over the last decade, the company has reduced its GHG intensity by 12 percent, primarily resulting from the conversion of its ethylene manufacturing facility in Corunna, Ontario, to enable use of up to 100 percent natural gas liquids as feedstock as well as investments in other capital projects. Continuous Improvement in Operations NOVA Chemicals is reducing the amount of waste that it produces, minimizing what is sent to landfill for disposal, and finding new value streams for the waste generated from its operations. In 2019, more than 27,000 tonnes of waste was diverted from landfill, which represents 58 percent of companywide waste. Programs included recycling of concrete and waste polymer, energy recovery for waste streams with a high energy value, and reusing lime sludge as a soil amendment by local farmers. In addition, more than 4,000 tonnes of polyethylene scrap was recycled and used to make new plastic products. NOVA Chemicals is a founding member of Responsible Care®, the chemical industry’s commitment to improve health, safety, security, and environmental performance and continues its commitment today. In 2019, NOVA Chemicals achieved its lowest recordable injury rate in 10 years. This milestone was made possible by the individual commitment of each employee and reflects the belief that a workplace with zero injuries is possible. For more information, please visit NOVA Chemicals’ Media Center.

www.rotoworldmag.com 15

UPFRONT Clariant says PolyOne Unit Sale Still On, Mulls Payout Changes ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Swiss speciality chemicals

maker Clariant (CLN.S) aims to finalise the $1.6 billion sale of its masterbatches unit to PolyOne Corp (POL.N) by September, Chairman Hariolf Kottmann said on Thursday, dismissing concerns the coronavirus outbreak could derail the deal. A 1 billion Swiss franc ($1.03 billion) shareholder payout hinges on disposal of the unit that makes colours, additives and concentrates for plastics. U.S.-based PolyOne indicated last week it remains committed to the transaction. While Kottmann is sticking by the planned extraordinary dividend of 3 francs per share and said Clariant does not need the cash for liquidity as the coronavirus’s impact intensifies in the second quarter, he did not rule out potential payout changes. “It could be – we speak now theoretically – that we decide to pay out 2 Swiss francs, and decide about 1 Swiss franc in the AGM in 2021,” Kottmann, who last year assumed an executive chairman role after the former CEO quit, told reporters on a call. “But there is no doubt, in principle, that we share this gain with our shareholders.” Kottmann, whose company on Thursday reported falling firstquarter profitability and sales, said Clariant’s board meets in May to discuss the June 29 shareholder meeting that includes the dividend proposal vote.

No Time to Fire Clariant is slimming down after failed efforts to combine with U.S.based Huntsman Corp and Saudi Basic Industries (2010.SE), its biggest shareholder with a 31.5% stake.So far, Kottmann said PolyOne has not pressed Clariant to cut the deal’s price. PolyOne reiterated a week ago its commitment, when Chairman Robert Patterson told investors “I don’t believe the current market conditions change our perspective”. Backing out would cost PolyOne $75 million. Kottmann did say the sale of its pigments unit, which sources have said may fetch 900 million Swiss francs ($927.7 million), has been delayed as the pandemic hinders talks with strategic and private equity investors. “We are not in a rush,” he said, conceding closure could be pushed into 2021. First-quarter sales for Clariant’s continuing operations fell 12% to 1.019 billion Swiss francs ($1.05 billion), the company said. Operating profit as a share of sales fell to 15.4% from 15.7%. Even before the coronavirus gripped the world, Clariant was bracing for headwinds, with some 600 job cuts planned to reduce costs amid portfolio changes. Kottmann said the job cuts were on hold, for now, amid the pandemic that he acknowledged took him off guard when it went from “an Asian problem” to a global calamity.

Add Some Sparkle & Shine with Jerico Stone Effect Color Compounds! Jerico’s complete line of aesthetic compounding materials brings a natural granite or stone look to rotational molded products. Stone Effect specialty color compounds are designed for outdoor applications like hot tubs, lawn and garden accessories, and patio furniture.

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UPFRONT Jerico Announces New Director of Materials and Sourcing WADSWORTH, OH, USA —

Jerico Plastic Industries, Inc. is pleased to announce that Rea M. Clifton has recently been named to the position of Director of Materials and Sourcing. She will be responsible company-wide for driving operational excellence in supply chain capabilities by managing and implementing all strategic and tactical purchasing activities, materials requirements, and inventory control, as well as the warehousing and receiving of all materials. In her capacity, Clifton will work with Jerico operations and customer solutions departments to ensure on-time delivery based on available raw materials, follow environmental and safety regulations and acts in compliance with the U.S. laws, and engage in strategic negotiations to achieve favorable conditions and strong supplier relationships. Clifton’s career in purchasing includes experience

in every aspect of supply chain and scheduling within the manufacturing sector. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and is Certified as Lead Auditor in ISO 9001:2000 and EMS 14001 and has completed Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing training. With manufacturing facilities in Minerva, Ohio and Greensboro, Georgia, Jerico Plastic Industries, Inc. is committed to excellence in compounding for rotational molding. As a custom manufacturer of color compounds, specialty resins, and recycled products, the company currently offers rotational molding PP, cross-linkable PE, flame retardant PE, and special effects PE compounds. For more information, contact Brandi Frey, Corporate Operations Officer — 330-334-5244, info@jericoplastic.com or Stephen Copeland, President — steve@jericoplastic.com.

www.rotoworldmag.com 17

UPFRONT Essential gear pump: extrex6 enabling efficient nonwoven production at Nanhai Nanxin Wufangbu OBERGLATT, SWITZERLAND — One

of the longest established UK rotational mouldings companies has rebranded completely with a modern and progressive website and new company logo. The Rotational Mouldings brand will encompass both Rotational Mouldings Limited (RML) at Furness Vale, High Peak and what was Haywood Roto Moulding (HRM) in Rochdale, which will also be known under the Rotational Mouldings brand. The new logo design marries the subtle evolution of the ‘Rotational Mouldings’ Limited logo from 1973, encompassing the three rotating arrows in gold combined with the dark blue phased through to purple in a much more modern rendering. This new design underlines the heritage and power of recognition of the Rotational Mouldings logo that has been built up over four decades. The Company has embarked upon a transformational change, reaching out to engage more actively to serve the wider global demand for rotational mouldings.

The new Rotational Mouldings website informs those who are looking to use the rotational moulding process for products and services and want to find out a little more about the organisation behind the name.

Lysis Technologies, Ltd. LYMINGTON, UK — Lysis Technologies

and Tesoplas are keen to help our customers in improving their operations and adding value to their products using our range of permanent label-free graphic technologies. The Identification and Marking of Polyolefins becomes important for example for traceability within the external supply chain as well as within the factory. Therefore, our latest revolutionary Innovation allows the permanent marking of rotomolded PE/ PP plastics with just using an office stamp in combination with Lysis ink system. The aim was to offer a cost-effective way of marking or branding without the tedious application of labels. 18 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

The design can be customised and include all kinds of information from serial numbers, dates, initials, product info, or a combination of all! Even small logos or other designs can easily be realised, without the need of multiple labels as rotating band stamps can be customised. This technology represents a cost-effective method, that even allows the marking onto curved or rough surfaces applied in mold or post mold after the product is rotomolded. Contact us NOW for more specific information. We are here to help finding a solution for your requirements.

UPFRONT Tank Holding Acquires Rotoplas U.S. Manufacturing Plants Tank Holding, North America’s largest polyethylene tank and container manufacturer has agreed to acquire all the U.S. manufacturing assets of Molding Acquisition Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mexico based Rotoplas, which includes three rotational molding tank plants located in California, Texas, and Georgia. Rotoplas, also known as Grupo Rotoplas is listed on the Mexico Stock Exchange (BMV) under the ticker “AGUA”, is a leading supplier of water solution products in Latin America with 22 plants located throughout the region. They are divesting their US manufacturing assets and product line, so they can focus on and strengthen their leading e-commerce platform in the United States. “The acquisition of the Rotoplas manufacturing plants and product line represents another strategic step in expanding our water tank product offering and increasing our manufacturing capacity, so we can better serve our customers throughout North America,” said Greg Wade, CEO of Tank Holding. This recent acquisition announcement represents Tank Holding’s 4th acquisition in the last 9 months. “In addition to the facilities and product line, we are just as excited to welcome the dedicated employees and loyal customer base of Rotoplas, this is often understated but of significant value to us, as we continue to grow our organization,” Wade added. Besides being a world leader in the design and manufacturing of polyethylene tank and container products, Tank Holding also maintains major market positions with many other proprietary products, including steel intermediate bulk containers, insulated material handling bins, medical waste containers, and specialty pallet systems. Tank Holding, which includes the brands of Norwesco, Snyder Industries, Bonar Plastics, and Stratis Pallets, is owned by Olympus Partners and the management team, currently operating 22 manufacturing plants and employing approximately 650 people throughout North America. Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for growing companies. Olympus manages in excess of $8.5 billion mainly on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds, and state-sponsored retirement programs. Founded in 1988, Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, food services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services, and manufacturing. For more information, contact Tank Holdings at www.tankholding.com

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www.rotoworldmag.com 19

UPFRONT Queen’s University of Belfast Seeks PhD Student Innovative Energy Saving Process for Advanced Manufacturing

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND — Rotational

moulding is an extremely important industrial process used in the manufacture of large and small, hollow plastic products. QUB has been at the forefront of major technological advances in the process for more than 30 years. Innovations in process monitoring (Rotolog™), process simulation (Rotosim™) systems, and process optimisation (Rotocooler™) have had significant impacts on the process globally. One of the latest innovations currently on trial at QUB is the use of internal mould water spray cooling device (Rotocooler™). The Rotocooler device has the potential to significantly reduce manufacturing times and energy waste by accelerating the cooling phase of the process through the innovative use of water mist. This represents a fundamental step change in the capabilities of the rotational moulding process significantly reducing manufacturing cycletimes and energy usage and it is the catalyst for this project. The vision is to create an entirely autonomous rotational moulding process cooling system where the cooling phase (50-70%) is directed and controlled through an intelligent system that uses a combination of signals from in-process sensors and predictions from simulation. The core research work will be the integration of the data 20 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

derived from real-time process measurement and simulation, and it is fully interdisciplinary as it demands the expertise of mechanical engineers in rotational moulding, simulation and process monitoring, and electrical engineers in signals processing, data analytics, and process control. The project will require a dynamic individual, with strong leadership potential and organisational skills to fully exploit this opportunity by drawing together the work of an existing team of interdisciplinary researchers with the international industrial consortium that is developing the advanced moulding system. The German Company Maus GmbH, who are a worldwide service provider in moulds and manufacturing systems for rotational moulding, will lead this. Maus GmbH will offer placements at its German research centre in Karlsruhe totaling 8 weeks that will provide specialist technical and skills training along with opportunities for engagement with global customer. This is an inter-disciplinary, international, and intersectorial research and development project combining advanced manufacturing process optimisation and the significant reduction of industrial energy use. This proposal fits with the specific CITI-GENS theme and the broader University expertise in

UPFRONT Advanced Manufacturing and exploring the interface between technological advances and social concerns. Indeed, ‘Society’ and the ‘Manufacturing Industry’ is seeing a significant new wave of revolutionary technology (Industry 4.0 / Internet of Things) that provides the platform for significant change in the way we work. The use and control of Information Technology (as provided by this Advanced Manufacturing Process Development) provides an opportunity to be innovative in when we work, where we work and the way we work. Supervising the project will be: First Supervisor: Dr. Peter Martin, Reader School: Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering; Second Supervisor: Dr. Emi Garcia-Palacios, Lecturer School: Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; and Third Supervisor: Oliver Wandres, Maus GmbH. A detailed placement plan of 8 weeks has been developed and agreed in collaboration with Maus GmbH, which will be based at Maus’s research and production facility in Karlsruhe, Germany: Year 1 (4 weeks) Week 1: Initial training at Maus GmbH; Introduction to staff,

familiarisation with Maus Mould design, development, and manufacture. Week 2: Familiarisation with Rotocooler design, development, manufacture, use, and optimisation. Week 3: Shadowing the work of a Maus Engineer at various German rotomoulding factories. Week 4: Training course on various automation and production techniques at Maus. Year 2 (2 weeks) Week 1: Training on further automation / moulding making techniques and technologies. Week 2: Testing Phase – specific Rotocooler automation trials and optimisation. Year 3 (2 weeks) Week 1: Dissemination Phase – Various dissemination activities associated with the project, e.g. presentations at Maus for various internal and external customers. Week 2: Participation in major presentation and dissemination event hosted by Maus for German Association of Rotational Moulders (ARMCE).

www.rotoworldmag.com 21

UPFRONT Australian Polyethylene Market Growth Insights, 2014 2024: Blow Moulding, Pipe Extrusion, Film Extrusion, Rotational Moulding, Injection Moulding – ResearchAndMarkets.com DUBLIN, IRELAND — Australia is the world’s driest

inhabited country. In order to meet the water scarcity problems rainwater harvesting is quite prevalent in the country. This rainwater is stored in large tanks and containers, which are made from polyethylene. This serves as a major driving factor for the polyethylene market in Australia. Additionally, increase in manufacturing of pipes and fittings to prevent water loss in agricultural areas would further steer market growth in the coming years. The Australian Polyethylene Market is segmented based on type, application, region, and company. Based on type, the market can be segmented into High Density Polyethylene (HDPE); Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE); Linear low-density Polyethylene (LLDPE). The HDPE segment is expected to dominate the market during forecast period owing to their

widespread use in packaging, consumer goods, fibers and textiles packaging, pipes and fittings, among others. Based on region, the market can be fragmented into New South Wales; Victoria; Tasmania; Western Australia; Queensland; and Southern Australia. Victoria dominates the market followed by New South Wales. This can be accredited to the presence of a large number of plastic manufacturers in these regions. Major players operating in the Australian Polyethylene Market are Qenos Pty Ltd, Chevron Phillips Chemical Pty Ltd., Thai Polyethylene Co., Ltd, PTT Global Chemical Plc, ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Australia Pty Ltd, Eni Australia Ltd, and PRPC Polymers (Petronas Chemical Group). For more information, contact ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager.

Queen’s Academics Part of Development Team for Global COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELEAND — Focusing on

three important behaviours – hand hygiene, keeping sufficient distance in public, and staying home - users can use the tool to get an estimate of their risk. Based on their answers, the tool will then offer users tailored advice on how to change behaviour to minimise risk to themselves and loved ones. Existing initiatives have not provided detailed insight into why people sometimes fail to adhere to the guidelines for preventive behaviours like social distancing, and hand washing. However, understanding the determinants of these behaviours is required to achieve behaviour change. Dr. Jenny Groarke, Dr. Lisa Graham-Wisener and Dr. Emma Berry from the Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, in the School of Psychology at Queen’s were involved in developing the tool. The project was led by the Academy of Behaviour Change in the Netherlands with more than 100 volunteers worldwide. The team managing the ‘Your COVID-19 Risk’ tool will compare data internationally, providing advice to governments and health agencies on the best measures to take in their region. Talking about the tool, Dr. Jenny Groarke said: “As we start to relax restrictions in the coming months these key behaviours will continue to be important for reducing transmission of COVID-19 22 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

in the community. The more people that use the tool, the better the advice. This will enable governments and health agencies to keep improving their messages to the general public.” The tool has been translated into 29 languages and has a broad global reach. The UK experts call on the public to participate at: https:// your-covid-19-risk.com/. .

UPFRONT Restrictions, HDPE Players are Optimistic and Have Started Scaling Up their Operating Efficiencies from 45% in March to 80% in May DUBLIN, IRELAND — The demand

for High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) in India is projected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 7.25% during the forecast period. The demand for HDPE is anticipated to increase due to continuous surge in the demand for high density polyethylene pipes in agriculture for supplying water and other agricultural activities like drainage and irrigation, owing to their remarkable corrosion resistance. Launch of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) by the Government of India aimed at the development of irrigation sources in agricultural fields to escalate the demand for HDPE derived pipes in the forecast period. Moreover, increase in the demand for HDPE derived buckets, containers, wires and cables insulation is also expected will drive the Indian HDPE market during the forecast period. The use of HDPE in blow molding for plastic production is also gaining popularity and preference in automotive, packaging, sports, and other industries. The blow molding segment holds the largest market share in 2020 and is projected to dominate the market of all the grades in the successive years. This is strongly attributed to increasing popularity for blow molded HDPE bottles in dairy, medical applications, water, and other packaging sectors. Blow molded HDPE offers desirable properties such as tensile strength and temperature resistance for these applications. The blow molding segment held around 20% share market in 2020. Other major applications of blow molding HDPE include chemical tanks, pharmaceutical bottles, and lubricant packaging, etc. Meanwhile, the demand for HDPE film grade in India in has been negatively affected due to the ban on the use of plastic bags. The demand for HDPE in India and production remained strongly affected in Q4FY20 due to sudden outbreak of COVID19. Indefinite halt in production activities and the demand downturn due to nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus has hard hit the overall demand for HDPE. However, with ease in lockdown restrictions and gradual recovery in the demand patterns, domestic HDPE players are optimistic and have started scaling up their operating efficiencies from 45 per cent in March to 80 per cent in May. Moreover, a significant rise in the demand for HDPE bags could be observed as the central government turned to HDPE bags to combat the shortage of gunny bags to procure and distribute

wheat stocks for addressing food security issues amid lockdown. With stronger expansion of the country’s agriculture sector and Indian government’s strenuous efforts to enhance the water transportation facilities in the agricultural sector by encouraging farmers to make use of water conservation technologies, a strong boost in the demand for HDPE pipes is expected. Moreover, domestic refiners actively planning to expand their petrochemicals and chemicals footprint will drive the growth of HDPE market in the years to come. Some of the major players operating in the Indian High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) market are Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd., ONGC Petroadditions Ltd., Reliance Industries Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, GAIL India Limited, HPCLMittal Energy Limited, Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymers Limited, etc. Dow, INEOS, SABIC and LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. are some of the international players operating in the Indian market. Import of HDPE declined by almost 5 per cent in FY 2020. Global economic slowdown and halt in industrial activities impacted HDPE price in 2020 causing it to dip sharply. Highdensity polyethylene prices in India hovered between $830-860 per tonne in Q4FY20 depicting gradual fall in profit margins. Prices in the Indian market are likely to trend upwards by the 3rd Quarter of the For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2qff96 www.rotoworldmag.com 23

UPFRONT SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Advance Program Reopened to All Eligible Small Businesses and Non-Profits Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — To further

meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and nonprofits, the U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19 today. “The SBA is strongly committed to working around the clock, providing dedicated emergency assistance to the small businesses and non-profits that are facing economic disruption due to the COVID-19 impact. With the reopening of the EIDL assistance and EIDL Advance application portal to all new applicants, additional small businesses and non-profits will be able to receive these long-term, low interest loans and emergency grants – reducing the economic impacts for their businesses, employees and communities they support,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza. “Since EIDL assistance due to the pandemic first became available to small businesses located in every state and territory, SBA has worked to provide the greatest amount of emergency economic relief possible. To meet the unprecedented need, the SBA has made numerous improvements to the application and loan closing process, including deploying new technology and automated tools.” SBA’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or non-profit. These loans can provide vital economic support to help alleviate temporary loss of revenue. EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses. Additionally, the EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties, and these emergency grants do not have to be repaid. SBA’s COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance • The SBA is offering low interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses and non-profit organizations 24 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

•

that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19 in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories. These loans may be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%. To keep payments affordable for small businesses, SBA offers loans with long repayment terms, up to a maximum of 30 years. Plus, the first payment is deferred for one year. In addition, small businesses and non-profits may request, as part of their loan application, an EIDL Advance of up to $10,000. The EIDL Advance is designed to provide emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This advance will not have to be repaid, and small businesses may receive an advance even if they are not approved for a loan. SBA’s EIDL and EIDL Advance are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response. The SBA is also assisting small businesses and non-profits with access to the federal forgivable loan program, the Paycheck Protection Program, which is currently accepting applications until June 30, 2020.

For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website at SBA.gov/Disaster.

DESIGN

COMMENT

by Michael Paloian, Integrated Design Systems, Inc.

Brainstorming – The Root of all Great Designs

The best product designs often represent the outpouring of ideas from many individual contributors with different perspectives and objectives. A great analogy to describe this process is to compare it to eight people standing around a statue and describing what they see from their perspective. Each person will view the same object from a different position and thus describe it from their point of view. The culmination of all these interpretations will provide a much truer description of the statue versus a single viewers point of view. This process of collaboration is often referred to as brainstorming. Effectively managing a brainstorming session takes skill and is somewhat of an art form. The moderator must encourage individual participants to express their ideas and challenge those of others without fear of embarrassment or retribution. In addition to encouraging participation, the moderator must also focus comments and ideas on specific critical features required by the product. A good moderator must also balance of objectivity with the goal of identifying the optimal specifications for a product. Well-managed brainstorming sessions are exciting and extremely productive. Countless ideas can quickly emerge from a small group of individuals. Throughout these sessions conflicting ideas are often expressed by contributors. It’s up to the moderator to record these contradictions and prioritize them based on management’s priorities. The focus of topics can be broad a very specific depending upon the phase of design development. For example, during the first phase of product design a project manager is often faced with simple question: “How should this product be configured and what features must it have?” There may be some basic idea for the products function, but a detailed description of how it is configured,

how it should look, what it should cost, or what features it must have, are not specified. Assembling a group of individuals from marketing, manufacturing, upper management, engineering, and service will provide a diverse pool of opinions from individuals with very different job responsibilities. A different assembly of individuals may be more appropriate if the product design cycle is it a later stage of development. If the design is being detailed for production, individuals for manufacturing, tooling and engineering might be a more appropriate group to brainstorm technical challenges encountered during that phase of development. The focus of these brainstorming sessions could include tooling complexity versus number of parts, aesthetic features versus tooling cost, structural requirements versus material selection, and mold design, etc. I have personally designed hundreds of products throughout my career and have discovered the benefits of collaboration with others throughout the design process. My experiences working with others has dramatically accelerated completion of my design projects as well as provided my clients with designs which have proven to satisfy everyone’s expectations. This high level of satisfaction is a direct result of the synergy derived from diverse points of view and the creative contributions of numerous collaborators. Hopefully this brief editorial will encourage you to consider structuring a well-organized brainstorming session during critical milestones throughout a product development cycle. I assure you your design solutions prove to be much more successful versus those that have been developed by isolated individuals with teams. Feel free to contact me with your comments at paloian@idsys.com. www.rotoworldmag.com 25

TRAVEL UPDATES

OsaTravel Revolutionizes Travel and Tourism in Europe with New Self-Service Website

26 ROTOWORLDÂ® | MAY-JUNE 2020

TRAVEL UPDATES European tour operator enables customers to plan and book trips directly online LONDON, ENGLAND — OsaTravel, one of Europe’s top tour operators, has launched a new self-service travel booking website that revolutionizes travel and tourism in Europe. OsaTravel gives customers the freedom to build their own tours. They can select the destination, duration of the trip, activities, and more. Because OsaTravel owns and operates the vehicles used in the tours through its OsaBus subsidiary, they are able to extend a high degree of flexibility to customers.

Zurich, Switzerland “We guarantee you will have the journey you have always dreamed of,” said a spokesperson for OsaTravel. “Our new website lets you create a tour based on your travel preferences.” This novel approach to tour booking stands in contrast to the industry norm, which is to force customers into preset schedules and routes. The spokesperson added, “It’s your trip. Do it the way you want to, not the way the tour operator says you should.” The website, osa.travel, features an interactive tour planning search engine on its home page. Customers can select destinations, along with trip parameters like small group vs. large group and dates of travel—and be presented with options for self-service booking. The site is launching with day tours, but the company plans to publish longer trip possibilities in the near future. Tours are planned with optimal sightseeing times, so a stop that requires an hour to fully appreciate will be scheduled for an hour, not a half hour, which is a frequent frustration in the tour business. “People tend to feel rushed on day trips,” the spokesperson said. “This is not a good thing for anyone. The whole point is to have an enjoyable experience.” OsaTravel is renowned for offering some of Europe’s most exciting tours, day trips, and shore excursions. Their team has a uniquely deep knowledge of local attractions and global connections. The company can arrange access to special events and provide private transfers. They enable booking of exclusive tours while providing special perks like room upgrades and daily breakfasts. The Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle Day Trip offers a good example of how OsaTravel’s selfbooking site creates a unique travel experience. Customers have a wide range of add-ons for their tour. These include a visit to Linderhof Palace, the Ettal Monastery, Wieskirche, or Oberammergau village. They can also book a tour guide for the day, if they want one. “If you want a guide, get a guide,” said the spokesperson. “That’s the power of this approach. Similarly, if you have already seen the Ettal Monastery, you don’t have to visit it again. That’s what happens on a cookie-cutter, pre-packaged tour. We let you see what you want to see, on your terms.” Some restrictions may apply due to the COVID 19 pandemic, so customers are encouraged to check with OsaTravel before confirming a planned trip. The company is offering day trips, however, because they are less likely to be affected by travel restrictions than longer, more complicated travel arrangements. OsaTravel is a tour operator that offers its services across Europe. The company sells and mediates plane tickets, travel packages, accommodation, travel insurance, and ground transportation services in virtually every location in Europe. For more information, contact Oskars Lusis, Osa Travel Ltd., Postal Address: P: +44 20 80 89 94 70, E: 241179@email4pr.com or W: https://osa.travel/ SOURCE OsaTravel

www.rotoworldmag.com 27

TRAVEL UPDATES Is it Safe to Stay in a Hotel, Cabin or Rental Home Yet? by Elizabeth Marder, University of California, Davis, and Paloma Beamer, University of Arizona After nearly three months of quarantine, millions of Americans are ready to travel – an overnight trip, a weekend getaway, a summer sojourn. As states reopen, that’s now possible, with a caveat. Before coronavirus, few people likely thought twice about staying in a hotel room, rental home, or cabin in the woods. But now, we have to factor in the potential for coronavirus exposure. Even if you’re OK with the travel risks of getting to your destination – by plane, train, or automobile - what about the risks of the destination spot itself? We are both exposure scientists. One of us feels comfortable booking a “no-contact” stay; the other still isn’t sure whether to take an overnight trip anytime soon. But we agree on two things: Traveling these days brings increased risk, yet ways exist to minimize that risk. The Issues Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is clear that travel heightens your chance of getting or spreading COVID-19. The travel industry is taking this seriously. Both the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Vacation Rental Management Association have released best practice guidelines and standards. No matter what type of stay you’re planning, the primary concern is coming into close contact (less than six feet) with an infected person. That probability is higher when you travel. Keep in mind a person with COVID-19 can spread the virus before developing symptoms. From the start, you must assume that everyone around you might be infected. Including yourself. Contact with contaminated surfaces is of less concern, but still something to consider. We are learning more about the potential for infections from them, but we do know coronavirus has been detected on guest-room surfaces. Try to minimize your contact with surfaces - tabletops, chairs, bathroom sinks, duvet covers - that haven’t been cleaned or disinfected. A further complication: The pattern and extent of COVID-19 can vary between communities, even in the same region. Laws and public-health guidelines vary as well, so make sure you check for updates before traveling. Before You Book There’s no way to make a stay 100 percent safe, but there are certainly ways to make a stay safer. Remember each lodging scenario is different; for example, unlike hotels or rental homes, campgrounds 28 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

typically have only shared bathrooms. But wherever you might stay, start by checking out the establishment’s website, or call to ask what management is doing to reduce transmission risk. Make sure to ask about: Air quality. Cleaning with approved products should be frequent. Ask if handwashing or hand-sanitizing stations are available in common areas. Engineering controls, like increasing air exchange or HEPA filters in the ventilation system, should be in place. If that’s not the case, consider bringing a portable

air purifier with a HEPA filter. On the low-tech side: Can windows be opened for better air flow? A fan can help bring in more outdoor air and increase the mixing rate if used near an open window. No-contact options. Are digital keys available? Health policies. Is everyone required to where masks and are health screenings given to guests and staff? Is the rental business limiting capacity to promote distance? That is, are they booking only every other room? And are they preventing one-night stays, which would bring in more people and therefore introduce more risk? Avoid lodgings with same-day turnovers. Strategies for a Safer Stay Once you’ve determined the management is doing all it can, you need to do all you can to minimize exposure. Wear a face covering and practice social distancing in common areas. Minimize time in enclosed, less-ventilated spaces, like elevators. Avoid contact with “high-touch” surfaces in shared spaces, like the elevator call button, door handles, and dining tables and

TRAVEL UPDATES United Asks Passengers to Complete Health Self-Assessment

The process will take place during check-in through the airline’s app, online, at the airport kiosk or with an agent. United Airlines has announced it is asking all passengers to complete a health self-assessment during their check-in process. Based on recommendations from the Cleveland Clinic, the “Ready-to-Fly” checklist asks customers to confirm they have not experienced any COVID-19-related symptoms in the 14 days prior to flying. The new requirement is part of United CleanPlus, the company’s health and safety plan. “As people are returning to their daily activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, their health and safety -- as well as the health and safety of others -- should continue to be top-of-mind,” said Dr. James Merlino, chief clinical transformation officer at the Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center and a United CleanPlus advisor. “We worked closely with United to develop a health selfassessment for its customers to better ensure precautions are taken before beginning their journey.” In accordance with guidance set forth by Cleveland Clinic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, the Ready-to-Fly checklist requires customers to click “accept” to indicate they have reviewed the checklist during the digital check-in process on the United mobile app, at United.com, on a United kiosk, or by reviewing and verbally confirming when checking-in with an agent at the airport to receive their boarding pass. The checklist includes the following: • You have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 21 days. • You have not experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 14 days (excluding symptoms from a pre-existing condition):

- Temperature of 100.4F or higher - Cough - Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing - Chills - Muscle pain - Sore throat - Recent loss of taste or smell • Have not been denied boarding by another airline due to a medical screening for a communicable disease in the last 14 days. • Have not had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days. The checklist also affirms customers are willing to abide by the airline’s other safety protocols, including wearing a face covering, which is now mandatory for all employees and customers on board a United aircraft. Customers who are unable to confirm these requirements and choose not to travel will be able to reschedule their flights. Customers also can choose to check-in at the airport for further review. “The health and safety of our customers and employees is our highest priority, and we have been working closely with trusted medical experts and partners to institute new practices and procedures to further protect those who work and travel with us,” said Pat Baylis, United’s corporate medical director. The United CleanPlus program also employs products and recommendations from Clorox and the Cleveland Clinic to guide the airline’s new cleaning, safety, and social-distancing protocols, such as touchless check-in for baggage at select locations.

www.rotoworldmag.com 29

From Zeros to Heroes Rotomoulding’s Fight Against COVID-19 by Martin Coles, Managing Director, Matrix Polymers

Admit it! Just a few weeks ago you felt uncomfortable when someone asked

you that dreaded question, “So what do you do?” “I’m in the plastics industry,” you confessed and then you tried to redeem yourself by explaining that you’re involved with a fantastic plastics process called rotomoulding that actually makes really good and useful things, products that aren’t single-use, but are designed to last for decades…

Sani-Cab Rotomoulded Disinfecting Shower (Courtesy of Plastex, Mozambique)

30 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

Water Purifiers, turning tap water into ultra-pure water for use in medical laboratories (Courtesy Elga and Rototek)

But you were already on the back foot, they heard the word “plastics” and that didn’t sound good. Perhaps now however, many people’s poor perceptions of our industry will begin to change. Plastics have been vital in the global fight against the terrible COVID-19 pandemic and have saved countless lives. And whilst, quite rightly, much of the attention will be on the role of plastics used in making billions of pieces of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), a multitude of rotomoulded products have also been absolutely critical in supporting health services around the world. So, I think it is important that we celebrate the work that some of our colleagues in the roto industry have been doing that have helped in this fight. Rototek - One Rotomoulder’s Role in the Fight Rototek are a large rotomoulder based near Newark in England and they manufacture a wide range of very high quality custom moulded products. Operations Director Shaun Mills and his team have been extremely busy these past weeks, working round the clock in these uncertain and challenging times, helping save lives by making all kinds of products to support hospitals and medical laboratories around the world. Many of these mouldings illustrate nicely the diversity of what can be made by the rotomoulding process and also highlight the quality that can be achieved, with tight tolerances, high aesthetic detail, and great design. Effluent Tanks for COVID-19 “Pop-Up” Hospitals Seven new large-scale critical-care National Health Service hospitals were built in the UK in March, in response to the rapidly growing epidemic and the fear that the health service would not be able to cope with the numbers of COVID-19 patients. Rototek stepped up to the plate to manufacture a large number of effluent waste tanks for these “Pop-Up” hospitals in record time. Baker Ruskinn – Incubators Rototek manufacture a range of Anaerobic and Microaerophilic Incubators for Baker Ruskinn. These are used for developing cultures of micro-organisms and bacteria in laboratories around the world. These mouldings have to be made to an exact tolerance as oxygen has to be removed from the incubators and there must be an air-tight seal. Bristol Maid – Hospital Bedside Cabinets The UK’s National Audit Office estimates that 5,000 people die each year in the UK from infections such as MRSA and this costs the UK Health Service £1 billion ($1.2 billion) a year. The “Design Bugs Out” programme was a design challenge run by the UK’s Department of www.rotoworldmag.com 31

Health together with the National Health Service. The aim was to bring designers and manufacturers together with clinical specialists, patients, and frontline health staff to design hospital furniture and equipment so that it is easier and quicker to clean, to help combat infections. One of the results was the rotomoulded Bristol Maid Bedside Cabinet. Drawers can be inserted from either side enabling the cabinet to be positioned on either side of the bed and the upper and middle drawers can be fitted with locks to provide secure storage for the patients’ medicines and property. The product has been designed to have smooth and rounded surfaces and all areas are easy to access, so cleaning is simple and effective. Elga – Water Purifiers Purified water is crucial in any laboratory and medical diagnostic facility and Rototek make a range of parts for Elga’s Medica Pro and Purelab Chorus water purifiers. These include various storage reservoirs as well as outer casings. With these devices tap water is filtered to produce ultra-pure water. Adaptable, Innovative and Ingenious Rotomoulders Those of us who work in the world of

rotomoulding are very well aware of the incredible design freedom, flexibility in production, and sheer diversity of products that can be made. It is also true that there are some exceptionally innovative people in our industry, which sets this process apart. Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic rotomoulders around the world have come up with astonishing ideas and have rapidly introduced totally novel and enterprising products to help deal with the crisis. There has been unprecedented co-operation and support between rotomoulders, who have shared freely their thoughts, ideas, and resources to come up with immediate solutions to life threatening problems – they have been designing beds for hospitals, COVID-19 testing booths and ventilators, hand wash basins, and hand sanitizer dispensers. In Mozambique, in Africa, Plastex have come up with the great idea of adapting an existing water tank to produce a disinfecting shower! Zeros to Heroes I was delighted to hear about a recent article in the UK’s Daily Express newspaper, which was titled – “Plastic is unsung life-saver during this health crisis, so let’s not demonise it.”

Baker Ruskinn Incubator (Courtesy Baker Ruskinn and Rototek)

32 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

Bristol Made Hospital Bedside Cabinet (Courtesy of Bristol Made and Rototek)

The article focused predominantly on PPE and highlighted the fact that most of it is made from plastic. The piece ended by describing the makers of plastic as “another set of heroes” and the final comment, which referenced plastics said, “Surprisingly it’s helping us to save the world.” So perhaps people are starting to realise that plastics are here for a reason and they have many positive contributions to make to society? In the future maybe there will be less of the indiscriminate ‘plasticsbashing’, that we’ve all suffered from. As members of the rotomoulding community, I believe it is the responsibility of all of us to identify, highlight, and support our ‘heroes’ and let the world know that what we do is valuable and in many cases critical to peoples’ wellbeing. We should hold our heads up high – and celebrate our rotomoulding heroes!

ARM

REPORT

Serving the Rotational Molding Industry Worldwide for Over 40 Years

The mission of the Association of Rotational Molders is to promote, educate, and inspire the rotomolding industry. For more information, visit ARM’s website at www.rotomolding.org or contact the Association at 630-942-6589 or info@rotomolding.org.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

ARM is Engaging Members in New Ways For the rest of the messages I write this year, I will continue to record some numbers that are affecting my thinking, just like I did when I wrote my last message on 3/21/20. Today is 05/11/20 (happy belated Mother’s Day to all the moms!). The US has 1,334,951 confirmed COVID-19 cases (up from 6,519 on 3/21). There have been 4,142,97 cases worldwide (up from 204,000), and the DJIA is at 24,333 (up from 20,315). Schools, restaurants, bars, and other “non-essential” businesses remain closed. For all intents and purposes, face masks are mandatory while injecting disinfectants into patients seems like a prudent medical strategy. In the last 50 days, ARM enacted its plan to engage with its members in a different way. ARM has more frequent emails going out to membership with updates on topics ranging from PPE (personal protection equipment) to the PPP (Payroll Protection Program). Webinars are occurring more frequently with many more planned. ARM is working hard to engage in a social distancing environment. Membership feedback has been crucial during this time. We are getting suggestions from members about what type of information they need to navigate the storm. As quickly as possible, we are acting on suggestions and putting reliable content in front of members. This model seems to be working. We continue to value and act on the feedback received, so please keep it coming. Based on travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines, ARM is modifying the format of the Summer Regional Meetings this year. Rather than hosting three to four meetings around the US this year, ARM is going to host an online Regional Meeting. While we are giving up the face to face meetings that membership finds so valuable, we are moving to a format where more participants can view and access presentations and information. I am hopeful that this format proves to be as effective as other regional meetings. By the time you read this, members will be able to access recordings from these meetings on our website. Finally, I want to remind you that ARM’s knowledge library is accessible to our members. The knowledge library has information on almost any topic that applies to your business. This is a great resource to help train and educate your employees. Thank you for your continued support of ARM! Sincerely, Rick Carlsen Solar Plastics, LLC ARM President

www.rotoworldmag.com 33

ARM

REPORT Rotoplas Rescheduled to September 2021; Online Annual Meeting Scheduled for September 2020 ARM has rescheduled Rotoplas, our international trade show, to September 20-23, 2021. In its place this year, we are conducting an Online Annual Meeting that is free to members. The meeting will be held the week of September 21, 2020. It will include online education, a virtual exhibit hall, and networking opportunities. We will bring you the industry knowledge you expect from our Annual Meeting, address rotomolders’ challenges as a result of COVID, and provide the problem-solving benefits that come from our members putting their heads together. The online format allows us to reach rotomolders who don’t typically attend the Annual Meeting. We will provide more details this summer but you can sign up today at bit.ly/2020roto The Board of Directors decided to reschedule because of travel bans impacting members, restrictions for holding meetings in Illinois, difficulties in international travel, and the safety of our members. Exhibitors All Rotoplas exhibitors will also have space at our online trade show in conjunction with the 2020 online meeting at no

additional cost. We have a unique plan for the online show this September and we look forward to sharing details with all of our molder and supplier attendees. Sponsors We’d like to thank our 2020 and 2021 sponsors for their support. RotoPolymers NOVA Chemicals Exxon Mobil Chemical Company LyondellBasell Jerico Plastic McCann Plastics ENTEC Polymers M. Holland Dow Chemical Company Mosaic Muehlstein Nexeo Stoner Solutions Quantum Polymers STP Rotomolding

New Webinar Series: Designing Rotomolded Parts with Michael Paloian This summer ARM conducts an ambitious six-part series on Designing Rotomolded Parts. Every two weeks through August, Michael Paloian of Integrated Design Systems will present on design basics, guidelines, materials, case studies, and more. Members can sign up for free using the links in our email newsletter. Recordings will be available to members after each session is complete. Join us throughout the summer for these valuable presentations: • June 11 – Product Design Basics • June 25 – Design Guidelines • July 9 – More Design Guidelines • July 23 – Reaching Further • August 6 – Materials • August 20 – Case Study Thanks to Michael Paloian of Integrated Design Systems for organizing these presentations for ARM Members. Michael Paloian is president of Integrated Design Systems, Inc. 34 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

(IDS), located in Oyster Bay, New York. Since its inception more than 35 years ago, IDS has developed hundreds of products ranging from MRI machines to pool chlorinators under the direction of Mr. Paloian. Michael’s education as an industrial designer and plastics engineer has provided him with a unique set of design skills, enabling him to design products from concept to production. Mr. Paloian has an in-depth knowledge of designing parts in numerous processes and materials, including plastics, metals, and composites. This broad knowledge base combined with his extensive experience in designing hundreds of products provides him with a distinctive advantage in optimizing designs based on materials, process, and cost. Mr. Paloian holds more than 45 patents and has served as chairman for a few divisions within the SPE. He has lectured hundreds of times for organizations such as the SPE, SPI, ARM, and IDSA. Michael has also written numerous articles concerning design for publications such as Machine design, Design News, Innovation, RotoWorld® and Plastics Design Forum. Mr. Paloian has also lectured in Paris, Rome, Brazil and India.

ARM

REPORT ARM Leak Testing Summary by Technical Director Nick Henwood On Thursday April 30, 2020 ARM held a discussion on Leak Testing, moderated by Education Committee Chairman Ron Cooke (ExxonMobil) and Sandy Scaccia (Norstar Aluminum Molds). The session was very well attended and the discussion between everyone on the call was excellent. There was so much useful information exchanged that we decided to try to capture all the salient points. We began by talking about the methods that are commonly used for leak testing of rotomolded parts, then discussed some more unusual methods that had been tried. Then we talked about whether leaks can be rectified and what can be done to stop the leaks happening in the first place. This led us into a very interesting detailed discussion about issues with metal inserts, which is one of the most common causes of leak problems. Air Pressure Testing Several molders described the set-ups they use; this may be to check the air-tightness of rotomolded cases or to detect leaks in large tanks. Typically all orifices of the part are sealed and air pressure is applied at a very low level; usually 1 psi or less. Safety issues around any type of air pressurization were immediately stressed; the provision of appropriate control valves, pressure relief valves, and emergency venting facilities is essential. The part is held at pressure for a period of time (15-60 minutes in many cases) and the outside is sprayed with a solution of dish detergent. Vigorous bubbling will provide evidence of leaks, even small ones. Another version of the Air Pressure Test is to take the part up to pressure and close off the air source. If the part holds its pressure over time, you can be confident that leaks are not occurring. You should do this on a fully cooled part, to avoid part shrinkage complicating the issue. “Dunk Tank” Testing This type of testing is typically carried out for rotomolded fuel tanks. The tanks are pressurized with air and the assembly is submerged in a tank of water. In many cases, slightly higher air pressures (up to 3 psi) and shorter pressurization times (2 – 10 minutes) are used, compared to Air Pressure Testing. Leaks will be detected by visual observation of bubbles escaping from the outside surface. Submersion depths of 2 inches under the water surfaced were mentioned. Mostly single “dunks” are employed, rather than multiples. Due to tank buoyancy, submersion will require considerable force and various mechanical systems can be employed to do this. Sometimes there can be false positives; air bubbles can form on the part for other reasons. If in doubt, the

questionable area can be subjected to a confirmatory test using air pressure and detergent (see above). Practical issues raised included the commercial availability of suitable dunk tanks, the need for different sized tanks for different sized parts, water filtration (typically standard pool filters systems are used), and the difficulty of observing bubbles (some tanks have side windows to facilitate this). Testing very large parts would necessitate an excessively large tank; in these cases Air Pressure Testing with detergent spray would be more practical. Typical leak problem areas are similar to Air Pressure Testing. Coastguard Regulations specify a 3 psi pressurization; this can create problems with the walls of the tank being over-stretched and possibly failing. Comments & Other Methods of Testing – Tried or Currently Used There was a caution that any detergent sprayed onto part surfaces should be washed off afterwards; it’s possible that the detergent could cause stress cracking problems later in the life of the part. One contributor shared that they had traced leak problems back to dirty tools and poor powder quality. One question was how much the part should be allowed to cool before testing. Theoretically, immediate contact with cold air or water after molding might change the morphology of polyethylene in subtle ways that could change stiffness and impact strength. In most industrial environments, it seems that leak testing is carried out after other post-mold assembly operations have taken place; maybe 24 -36 hours after molding. In the case of nylon fuel tanks, post-treatment by hot water immersion is often used (to improve impact strength). One molder related an experience with natural crosslink PE tanks, where the parts passed the initial tests, but leaks were detected later. This was traced back to the presence of small voids around metal inserts. Initially, a thin membrane of PE was present that acted as a seal, but with use this membrane became degraded. An additional test was implemented, where a 100W inspection light was used to intensely illuminate the tank from the inside. This was sufficient to highlight voids to visual inspection. This obviously wouldn’t work with black or highly pigmented tanks. One interesting technique was described, using a thermal imaging device. Cold air was blown through the hot part immediately post-molding (using a transvector) and cold spots / possible leak areas could be identified. A high-frequency spark tester, and even ultrasound have also been used to test for leaks, although both were reported to be extremely labor-intensive options. www.rotoworldmag.com 35

ARM

REPORT It was pointed out that a presentation at a recent ARM meeting (by a rotomolder member, Floteks in Turkey) had described a leak detection method that employed a dunk tank fitted with hydrophones to detect bubble release. Leak Protection & Rectification Typical leak problem areas are parting line faults, excessive part porosity, inserts that have not been fully encapsulated, badly applied spin-weld fittings and gaskets that have not been sufficiently tightened down. Some of these “bad actors” can be addressed after testing, some cannot be. Depending on client requirements and specifications, it may be allowable to fix small leaks after testing. Military specifications tend not to allow for any rectification. Parts made from crosslink PE will be less able to be retrospectively fixed. Minimizing Scrap Through Preparation / Handling of Inserts It was generally agreed that problems around molded-in metal inserts are a major cause of leak testing failures. One molder described a test that could be used as an initial screen on parts immediately after molding. A suction cup was applied to the area of the part around the insert. If the cup was able to stay in place, this indicated that there was no air leakage path around the insert. If the suction cup fell off, there was a potential problem. One way to avoid problems with molded-in inserts may be to avoid using them! One option mentioned is to mold an empty pocket into the part and then apply an insert after molding. Voids around metal inserts are often due to contamination by liquids (such as cutting oils) during their manufacture. Cleaning of inserts before use in rotomolding is recommended; acetone

was suggested as a suitable cleaning solvent. Standard polyethylene (PE) will not chemically bond to metal, so inserts depend on full encapsulation of the insert by the PE during molding. Poor PE powder quality may stop this happening, creating a void. So may insufficient heat getting to the insert. In the past, inserts have been sandblasted, to make contact surfaces rougher. Another intriguing option would be to powder coat inserts in a PE that had been specially treated to promote adhesion. One molder said that he had used a rotolining PE grade to do this, with good results. Although this would add unit cost to the insert, it could save considerable scrap costs and may be economic in many cases. Conclusions Our participant survey showed that this was a very useful session and hopefully the above notes will enable us to share the information more widely. One of the real benefits of ARM is that so many members are willing to share both their good and bad experiences, which helps to improve the rotomolding industry for all of us. ARM holds sessions like this every two months. Sometimes they focus on a specific topic, sometimes they cover a more general “What’s Your Problem” format. Either way, I try to attend as many as I can; I never finish listening to one without learning several valuable new lessons. This is one of the many free-to-member services that ARM provides. Dr. Nick Henwood serves as the Technical Director for the Association of Rotational Molders. He has more than 30 years of experience in rotomolding, specializing in the fields of materials development and process control. He operates as a consultant, researcher and educator through his own company, Rotomotive Limited, based in UK.

SEPTEMBER 21-24, 2021 Rotoplas 2021 Rosemont, Illinois USA rotomolding.org SAVE THE DATE

36 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

ARM

REPORT The Benefits of Membership

Train your employees, reduce scrap, connect with customers, learn from experts and peers. This is what comes with membership and the return on your investment is tremendous. Complimentary Registration for the 2021 Annual Meeting Provided for one employee for each new member company. This is your free entry to the world’s pre-eminent rotomolding meeting, held once every three years. Sales Inquiry Notifications We review sales leads typically from companies seeking molders – and email them to our member companies. We actively advertise for leads on behalf of our members. Sample Operator Instructions An 80+ page document calling out the highlights of nine company’s operator instructions. Also more than 700 documents and presentations from past Annual Meetings. Immediate Free Access to more than 60+ on-demand webinars Topics range from Determining Your True Cost to Proper Sampling Techniques. A dozen new titles were added in 2019. Immediate Free Access to ARM’s classic training video library Includes programs on curing, venting, and good manufacturing practices. All videos include Spanish subtitles. Free Access to Troubleshooting Calls These moderated teleconferences are conducted every six weeks (eight

per year) and allow you to troubleshoot your process and discuss HR issues with other molders, suppliers, and rotomolding experts. Networking with Industry Peers The greatest ARM benefit: Informal learning at a coffee break could revolutionize your process or reduce your expenses by tens of thousands of dollars. We hear it from members again and again. Awards and Awareness Showcase your company in our online member directory and through awards including Safety Award, Product Competition, and more. Discounted Registration to all ARM Meetings Includes regional meetings, the in-depth Hands-On Rotomolding Workshop at Penn College, and our Executive Forum which will be held in Italy. Rotolink Our weekly e-newsletter announces upcoming programs, shares important industry news, and profiles our members. Annual Meeting The premier event for rotomolders, their suppliers, designers and educators. Programming includes professional and industry speakers, valuable networking, group workshops, and exhibition. To apply for membership, please visit www.rotomolding.org

www.rotoworldmag.com 37

INDUSTRY 4.0

EPISODE 3

by Rob Miller, Whitten Battenfeld/RotoLoad

If only there was a better way!

38 ROTOWORLDÂ® | MAY-JUNE 2020

INDUSTRY 4.0

EPISODE 3 As I sit att my desk typingggg this episode on my manual typpewriter, I am finding that there are some keys that aaare a little sticky. I tthhink ttthat I neeeed a seerivvcce caalll. If only therrre was a beetter way. I am also lookingggg for my corrrection tape, or whhhite out as I unfortunately did not do veryyy well in typing in high school. The teacheerrr promised to give me a 50, if I prommmisssed to never take typing againnn. If only there was a bbbbetter wway. Who would havvve known baccck in 1980 that I would have been tyyyping for the better part of mmy dailyyy life. If only there was a betttter wayy. Once I am ddone, I will have to buuy a stamp, and puutt this letter in the maill to Susan. Onncee her team reecceives, it, theyy will haave to typpe their thhhoughts and putt them in the mmaill backk to mee. WAIT A MINUTE… There is a better way. None of us would consider running our business with manual typewriters in 2020. As the GOOD GUYS we have all embraced electronic technology for the daily operations of our business. We keep our key employees up to date with the latest cell phones so that we can all be in constant and immediate communication. Some of us have mobile access to live video in our facilities, so that we can see exactly what is going on, at all hours of the day and night. It seems these days that time moves so very quickly. I have a personal theory that this is at least in part, due to our constant expectation that everything is instant. We eat fast food and get frustrated when it is not brought to our car fast enough, or hot enough, or cold enough. We have incredible expectations to the speed that our employees, colleagues, customers, even family respond to text messages, or emails. Reality is that I have run this article by Susan several times prior to this publication, and each of those transactions took seconds, not days! So why can it be slow and difficult when it comes to adopting modern and helpful technology in our manufacturing? Reality is that many of our manufacturing processes are stuck in 1980.SSSCCCCRRRRAAAATTTTCCCCCCCCHHHHHH HHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COVID-19 HIT!! It doesn’t matter where you are located, or what you do, or in fact your opinion of the virus or the actions taken because of it, there is absolutely no denying that our lives were dramatically affected by this virus, in every sense of the word. Our personal lives, that of our families, friends, colleagues, and businesses were absolutely derailed, disrupted, and in many cases put on hold. We now collectively continue to try to negotiate and develop what our new reality looks like, and how we will continue to exist, not just exist, but we must figure out how to thrive in this new reality. We now need to determine what our futures will look like, how we will recover, and how we will move forward. It would be quite easy, and very understandable to be reluctant to continue with or totally shelve any previous investment plans. The truth is that it could be argued that now is the time when we MUST look into and invest in technology to get us out of this

situation, with a healthy outlook, and a positive future. There are a lot of significant arguments for why Industry 4.0 principals are even more valid and applicable to our businesses as we move forward. Firstly, the cost of data has decreased exponentially. I am sure that may of you will realize this, but for fun, lets look at a few numbers. These numbers represent commercially available purchase prices for hard drives from various manufacturers. Lets have a look. Back in 1982 when I was plucking away on my manual typewriter, 1 MB (yes-ONE MEGA BYTE) had an average cost of a little over $ 4,000.00 USD. Forward to 1990, and that price had dropped to a little less than $ 100.00. At the beginning of 2000, that same 1 MB of data storage had dropped to about $1.50. Fast forward to 2010, the cost had dropped to less than $ 0.02 per MB. And now at the beginning of 2020, that same 1 MEGA BYTE of storage has dropped to $0.0029. Less than 3 tenths of a cent. I wanted to explore this part of the process to begin the thought process that considering the implementation of Industry 4.0 principles within your manufacturing environment does not represent a massive investment. Not only is it not a large investment of your hard earned money, the payback can be very fast, and there are many trends of companies using the 4.0 technology to develop new ways of creatively billing for products, resources, or services. In closing, I wanted to offer a few basic examples (in no particular order) that we will examine in much more detail in coming episodes. Maybe these will get your creative thoughts flowing, and even perhaps start some internal discussions within your organizations as to how you can use and really benefit from Industry 4.0 technology. • • • • • •

Manage your valuable inventory and resources. Improve manufacturing and human efficiency. Reduce waste. Perform diagnostics, service, and updates on machinery remotely. Reduce human congestion and traffic. Reduce machinery use and traffic. www.rotoworldmag.com 39

THE POWER OF PIGMENT A Study of Dry Blending by Dr. Nick Henwood, Rotomotive Limited Color is widely used in the rotomolding industry, to provide both aesthetic appeal and product differentiation. In terms of its effect on customer perception, color can be seen as a universally beneficial feature. However, from the point of view of the molder, using color can present a variety of challenges, which must be understood and addressed. Color will add cost and will introduce an extra degree of variability into the process. Incorporation of colorants into the base resin may create an overall reduction in physical properties, may result in specific defects in the part and may necessitate a change in molding conditions. Many of these potential pitfalls can be avoided by correct selection Color

compounding and then pulverized to powder), dry blending is significantly more cost effective and offers the rotomolder increased operational and logistical flexibility. However, it is generally accepted that pre-colors will retain better physical properties (particularly impact strength) compared to dry blending. The study described in this article addresses the following important research questions, as they relate to dry blending: • How is the reduction in physical properties affected by pigment type? • How is the reduction in physical properties affected by pigment addition rate?

concluded that intensity of blending made no clear difference to the retention of physical properties. What can be agreed as an important general point is that many effects are pigment specific. This becomes an important issue, because most custom colors are matched by using a combination of pigments (usually 3-5 different individual pigments) in order to achieve the required shade. Therefore, the physical properties of different final colors will be affected to a different degree. Materials, Methods & Equipment The natural PE powder used throughout this study was a 35 mesh ExxonMobilTM LL8460.29, which is a linear low density

Color Index Number

Pigment Name

Type

Brown 24

Chrome antimony titanium buff

Inorganic

Red 254

Yellow shade dieto-pyrrole-pyrrole

Organic

Yellow 183

Red shade monoazo

Organic

Red 101

Red iron oxide

Inorganic

Blue 29

Ultramarine Blue

Inorganic

Green 17

Chrome oxide

Inorganic

White 6

Titanium dioxide

Inorganic

Black 7

Carbon Black

Inorganic

Table 1: Description of Pigments Used

of pigments, materials, additives and mixing methods. Dry blending a pigment mix into natural polyethylene (PE) powder is a long-established coloration technique and is still employed widely throughout the rotomoulding industry. Compared to the use of pre-color (i.e. pigment and PE incorporated together by melt 40 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

For this study, a slow speed low intensity blending method was selected. Although high intensity blending has been proposed as offering better impact retention, there is little published data to support this. A comparative study carried out in 2000[1] demonstrated that these claims of overall superiority were questionable and a more recent study[2]

hexene copolymer and is a widely used roto grade in North America. This study investigated a selection of the pigments that are used frequently by commercial color houses in the pursuit of custom color matches. All of the pigments used had good heat stability and high fade resistance; these are essential properties for use in rotomoulding. The selected

pigments are detailed in Table 1. Pigments were blended with natural PE powder, using a planetary blender at ambient temperature, as illustrated in Figure 1. This type of blender is typical of heavy-duty mixers used in the commercial catering industry. It features a heart-shaped paddle that rotates at slow speed (adjustable from 50 to 150 rpm), whilst an auxiliary circular paddle movement ensures that material is continuously brought from the sides of the bowl to the center. The unit shown is capable of thoroughly mixing a 5 lb batch of natural powder and pigment in 15 minutes. Previous comparisons have demonstrated that the action in this blender closely mimics mixing in horizontal trough ribbon blenders up to at least 1000 lb capacity. A range of pigment addition rates was produced, commensurate with normal practice in dry blending: • 25, 50, 100 & 150 g pigment / 100 lb PE powder • equivalent to 0.055, 0.110, 0.220 & 0.330 % by weight

Results & Discussion The results for the effects of pigment type

BRN24

RED254

YEL183

and pigment addition rate on Impact Strength (MFE) are shown in Figure 2. The MFE for natural PE, i.e. with zero pigment addition, is shown as a comparator. In all cases, there was an immediate reduction in MFE when pigment was introduced, even at the lowest addition rate. This immediate reduction varied from approximately 35% to 65%, depending on the pigment. As pigment addition rate was increased, there was a divergence in behavior, according to pigment type. In the case of Brown 24, Red 101 and Black 7 pigment, there was no substantial further loss of MFE as pigment addition rate was increased. In the case of Green 17, White 6, Blue 29 pigment, there was a further loss of MFE as pigment addition rate was increased, down to approximately 65% loss from natural. In the case of Red 254 and Yellow 183 pigment, MFE was substantially reduced as pigment addition rate was increased. In the case of Yellow 183, the MFE had reached 0 ft-lb by the maximum pigment addition rate. As described in the previous section, the ARM procedure suggests that the mode of failure of each sample plaque should be noted. When testing PE roto

RED101

BLU29

GRN17

WHT6

BLK7

60.0

Mean Failure Energy (ft-lb)

Figure 1: Planetary Blender

The pigment / PE powder blends were rotomolded in a “double hex” fabricated steel tool, using a uniaxial gas-fired rotomolding machine. Molding conditions were controlled using a modified K-PAQ device, to monitor Internal Air Temperature (IAT) in real time. Each rotomolded part was sectioned into the 24 sample plaques (5” x 5” x 1/8” thick) required for ARM low temperature impact testing. The thickness conformity of each sample plaque was checked using a K-METRON magnetic tester. Sample plaques were conditioned at -40°F for 48 hours in a commercial freezer and then impact tested according to the ARM procedure[3], using a 10 lb dart. This procedure allows a Mean Failure Energy (MFE) to be calculated (measured in ft-lb) for each sample grouping, as well as a measure of the propensity of sample plaques to fail in brittle or ductile mode (measured as % Brittle Failures). The morphology of molded samples was assessed by cutting a very thin cross section through the full thickness of sample plaques and then subjecting these strips to microscopy.

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0

100

120

140

160

Pigment Addition Rate (g/100 lb) Figure 2: Effect of Pigment Type & Addition Rate on Mean Failure Energy

www.rotoworldmag.com 41

grades by this method, the type of failure mode is usually clearly defined as either brittle (plaque shatters to several discrete pieces upon impact) or ductile (a hole is torn through at the point of dart contact, but the plaque stays intact). These failure modes are illustrated in Figure 3. Previous studies[4] have suggested the calculation of a measure to assess the propensity of sample plaques to fail in brittle or ductile mode. The number of brittle failures that occur in a test are counted and compared to the total number of failures and expressed in percentage terms (%BF):

Experience in using this measure indicates that, from a statistical viewpoint, a measurement of less than 20%BF can be counted as ductile behavior. The results for the effects of pigment type and pigment addition rate on ductile / brittle behavior (%BF) are shown in Figure 4. The %BF for natural PE, i.e. with zero pigment addition, is shown as a comparator; failure mode in this case was fully ductile (i.e. 0%BF). In nearly all cases, there was an immediate transition in failure mode from ductile to brittle when pigment was introduced, even at the lowest addition rate. This offers a corroboration of the immediate loss of MFE that was measured. This immediate ductile to brittle transition is a feature of dry blending, which previous studies have shown to prevail, whether blending is by low or high intensive means. Whilst the data in Figure 4 exhibits a few outlier results (e.g. some low %BF values for Black 7 & Brown 24 pigment), the trend is clear. To further clarify the variable effects on MFE of different pigment types, sample strips cut from molded parts were examined by optical microscope. As an illustration, Figures 5 & 6 show a comparison between photomicrographs (magnification X60) from parts colored as follows: • Red 254 pigment (80% loss of MFE at 150g / 100 lb) 42 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

Figure 3: Type of failure mode in ARM Procedure

BRN24

RED254

YEL183

100

RED101

100

BLU29

100 100

GRN17

WHT6

100 100

BLK7

100100 100 100

100 100

92 92

Percentage Brittle Failure (%BF)

%BF = 100 x (number of brittle failures) / (total number of failures)

79 75

75 67

63 58

40 36

33 25

10 0

100

150

Pigment Addition Rate (g/100 lb) Figure 4: Effect of Pigment Type & Addition Rate on Brittle Failures

• Red 101 pigment (50% loss of MFE at 150g / 100 lb) In both photomicrographs, the grain boundaries between individual particles of PE powder that have fused together have become visible. This is because the pigment has coated the outside of the PE particles and has served as a “highlighter” of the grain boundaries. In the case of Red 254, it appears that the pigment has fully coated the powder particles, hence the very clear definition of grain boundaries. In the case of Red

101, the definition is less clear and it appears that the pigment coating of the outside of the PE particles is not complete. This visualization offers a clue to why there is a reduction on MFE of dry blends. It is suggested that the pigment coating interferes with the fusion of the PE particles and therefore weakens the structural integrity of the part at a microscopic scale. In its raw state, Red 254 was observed to be a much more finely divided pigment than Red 101, so the same weight of the former pigment will contain many more individual

grains of pigment than the latter and its availability to coat PE particles will be greater. In both photomicrographs, pigment agglomerations are evident as dark concentrated patches. It is believed that the large circular shaped blobs are probably air bubbles in the section of the part. Conclusions & Recommendations It is clear from this study that the incorporation of dry blended pigment into natural PE powder will result in a significant loss of impact strength at -40⁰F, as measured by MFE. In the case of the common pigments used, this loss could range from 35% to 100%, depending on pigment type and addition rate. The inclusion of any quantity of dry blended pigment changed the failure mode from fully ductile to completely brittle, in almost all cases. On this basis, it seems unhelpful to classify different pigment types as “good” or “bad”. Whilst some pigment types and addition combinations can have a catastrophic effect on MFE, the effects of others may be tolerable in some cases. Clearly this depends very much on the performance needs of the rotomolded part; it is recognized that dry blended rotomolded parts have been used successfully for many years, in a wide range of product and market sectors. The two organic pigments that were tested (Red 254 and Yellow 183) exhibited a more marked deleterious effect and it is suggested that this may be due to the fact that organic pigments are often supplied in a more finely divided form than inorganic pigments. One interesting speculation and area for potential further study would be to examine whether such organic pigments could be treated to agglomerate particles and therefore to have a reduced effect. In practice, custom color matches use several individual pigments, mixed together, to create the desired shade. The choice of pigments is driven largely by the requirement to match a particular shade and the use of some pigment types may be unavoidable. For example, organic

RED 254 150 g/100 lb (MAG X60) Figure 5: Photomicrograph - Pigment Red 254

RED 101 150 g/100 lb (MAG X60) Figure 6: Photomicrograph - Pigment Red 101

pigments often impart a vibrancy and brightness that cannot be replicated by inorganic pigments. Even some minor components of such a mix (i.e. pigments present at low addition rates) may have a highly deleterious effect. This will further complicate the prediction of impact strength reduction. Under these circumstances, it would seem prudent to fully test and evaluate individual color matches before final sign-off, especially if part impact performance is in any way critical. Acknowledgments This study was made possible by a research grant from the Roy Crawford Rotomolding Education & Development Foundation. Grateful thanks are also extended to

ExxonMobil Canada for the donation of suitable PE powder. References 1. HENWOOD, NG: “Adding value to Rotational Molding with Color and Special Effects”, Proceedings ANTEC 2000, Society of Plastics Engineers. 2. HAY, H: “Color Additives and the Performance of Rotomolding Resins”; Presentation given at the Fall Conference 2018, Association of Rotational Molders. 3. ASSOCIATION OF ROTATIONAL MOLDERS: ARM Procedure “Low Temperature Impact Test” Version 4.0, July 2003. 4. HENWOOD NG et al: “Removing the Mystery from Rotomolding”, Proceedings ANTEC 2005, Society of Plastics Engineers. www.rotoworldmag.com 43

Succeeding in

Uncertain Times

by Octavio Egea and Arjun Shukla, Frog Madrid

Want to know how to lead your business into an uncertain tomorrow? First, let’s consider how humans perceive the future. The future never ceases to amaze us On one hand, we’re obsessed with it. We fret about the uncertainties of tomorrow and the impact they may have on our own lives, the lives of people around us, and on the institutions that matter to us most. We try to anticipate future events and the changes that come with them in order to embrace, adapt or fight as needed. On the other hand, both as individuals and as organizations, we’re often caught napping by the rapid onset of uncertainties. Corporate history is littered with tales of organizations that were blindsided by trends that now seem imminent and obvious. How can we better position ourselves for an uncertain future? To understand this, we must first understand ourselves. 44 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

How humans see the future The most common way we anticipate future changes is by using historical extrapolation. We exercise our pre-existing mental models, experiences and knowledge to form opinions on what the future might look like. This makes sense, right? The future often seems obvious in retrospect, but looking ahead, it could manifest itself in so many different ways. However, our future projections are usually based on a narrow focus on the breakout effect of a handful of trends or forces. We do this as a way to isolate and manage the potential for uncertainty. Although this is a comforting way to work, it limits a full understanding of what’s possible. Sometimes, the future looks nothing like the present. Other times the future simply means

continuity of the current status quo. Often, it is a bit of both. In an organizational setting, the effects of radical changes over a medium-to-long time horizon are further exacerbated. Despite claims (often indignant and impassioned) to the contrary, structured, long-term thinking is rarely embedded into the cultures of most organizations. This is likely because the business machinery built over the last few decades was created to assure the delivery of results under predictable conditions. Frameworks like historical forecasting, competitive benchmarking,” best practice” analysis and value chain mapping can only use a static snapshot of the past to aid decisionmaking for the future. Furthermore, product/service lifecycles, and their corresponding time to market are getting shorter, while the variety offered to customers has broadened significantly. The corresponding incentive structures discourage long-term thinking. Companies promise to deliver long-term value but are in fact obsessed with short-term goals and immediate results. This short-term focus is evidenced by the decreasing time horizon of strategic planning in modern business history. In the 1960s, organizations made 10-year plans. In the decades that followed, fiveyear and then three-year plans became the norm, Now, companies make 90-day “action plans.” Unfortunately, reducing time horizons doesn’t necessarily lead to flexibility. Too often, it simply breaks down existing rigidity down into smaller chunks. How to future-proof your business While most organizations have some formalized idea of where they want to go, what they really need is a structured reflection on the potential drivers of change and the capabilities to respond to them. So, how can executives and institutions thrive in an environment of uncertainty? 1. Anticipate and enact change Position your organization to make the most out of a dynamic and unpredictable business environment. Nokia started off as a pulp and paper mill. The Indian IT giant Wipro started off as manufacturer of refined cooking oils. At a certain point in the past, these companies made a conscious decision to allocate their limited resources to develop new capabilities based on their understanding of the changing business landscape. Disruption, discontinuity and shock are not the same concepts. Each require the ability to pivot, adapt, and capitalize on change. 2. Inculcate strategic flexibility When developing a core strategy, an organization must consider developing contingent strategies around it that get activated due to an internal or external trigger. Whether it is initiating the development of a new product, expansion to an adjacency or entry into a new market, a contingent strategy could take many forms. Businesses need to develop the capability to monitor technologies, regulations, and competitive dynamics to understand how these forces work together in a system. 3. Reflect on the relevance of your capabilities Know what your organization does well and continue to build on

these core strengths, but be cognizant of when is the right time to disengage from one capability or develop another. For example, restaurants that traditionally prioritized dine-in experiences have had to adapt to offering delivery capabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic while dining in is no longer an option. No matter what’s in store, preparing for the future is about developing a deeper knowledge and awareness of your organizations strengths and capabilities to better understand their changing relevance. 4. Leverage the power of ecosystems In volatile environments characterized by liquidity, companies are compelled to capitalize on the transient advantages that they hold and increase their malleability. One way to achieve this is to delegate complete sections of the delivery process on to third parties more capable of effectively and efficiently cover them and focus what you’re good at. Adopting a distributed operating model and joining/ establishing business ecosystems provides organizations with a distinct advantage. It enables them to maximize value for their clients while using their limited assets wisely, thereby enhancing strategic flexibility. 5. Instill organizational agility Organizational agility goes beyond deployment of the agile methodology and into the realm of people. It means understanding collaboration dynamics, developing scalable processes, and building a culture of getting things done, often with limited resources and in an ambiguous environment. There’s no universal formula to instill this attribute across all organizations in a uniform manner. However, agile organizations respond better to change, make quicker decisions, think on the move and develop new capabilities, which is all necessary in uncertain times. 6. Define your purpose Companies that want to thrive in the future need to take the lead on defining what the future looks like. There exists a clear correlation between a company’s sense of purpose and their ability to innovate and transform themselves. Whether this has to do with changing customer preferences or introducing a new technology, ambition-driven companies need their finger on the pulse to justify major strategic decisions, especially for the medium- to long-term time horizon. 7. Embrace that artistic drive Creativity encourages managers and executives to get out of siloed thinking and question the way things have been traditionally done. Developing this quality emboldens companies to look beyond the world of data and into the world of possibilities. It allows us to ask not just “who are we?” but also “who could we be?” The future is rarely an agglomeration of individual drivers. Markets and technologies exist in systems, made up of numerous individual factors that are inextricably interlinked to each other. That’s why change often requires entire segments of the system to be reimagined. By embracing the attributes mentioned above, organizations can position themselves to not only survive, but to thrive in the future—no matter what it holds. www.rotoworldmag.com 45

Your connection to the world of

Rotational Moulding

Welcome to Rotomould Online

As we are unable to host the Rotomould 2020 Conference as confirmed for the 21st to the 23rd June, in Hobart, ARMA Rotoconnect have decided to go ahead with a unique version of our usual education and networking programme. We will host a series of live webinars and specially recorded presentations over those dates that is completely FREE for the entire rotational moulding industry. This special event will include 2 hours content each day. You can set aside some time to watch live or they will be available to view for 7 days following their release to give you the opportunity to continue your professional development, even if we can’t all be together at the moment. All you need to do is REGISTER your details on www.rotomouldconference.com.au and we will send you links each day to receive or view the content! If you receive this issue after the event dates, send an email to michellerose@ rotationalmoulding.com and we will see what arrangements we 46 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

can make for a later viewing. Here are a few of the presenters and the topics you wont want to miss: The Great Machine Debate – Graeme Hall & Ben Hopley, Viscount Rotational Moulding Have you ever wondered what type of rotational moulding machine is right for you and your business? Like some of the

ARMA

ROTOCONNECT great equipment rivalries, for example Ford versus Ferrari, or more locally Holden versus Ford, the great debate of Carousel versus Shuttle lives large in the rotational moulding community. Which side of the fence do you sit in this great rivalry? Ben Hopley and Graeme Hall have a fun look at which machine is right for you and challenge the truths and myths of Carousel versus Shuttle machines. Ben and Graeme, both never short of an opinion, challenge each other in the great Red Versus Blue debate. Currently Design Manager at Viscount Rotational Mouldings Ben Hopley is an end to end product developer who likes to take a view of the whole Rotomoulding process. Starting in Science he quickly saw the light and moved on to an Honors Degree in Industrial Design, his CAD experience bringing him into the industry. Prior to Viscount, Ben spent 10 years with Melbourne Rotomould and has now been part of the development of over 300 rotationally moulded products across a broad range of industries. A hands-on approach sees him not only designing parts and tooling but moulding trials, setting up CNC trimming, and training production staff. Enthusiasm for the process has led to experience in designing, troubleshooting, repairing, and installing all types of Rotomoulding machines and equipment. His passion for Rotational Moulding has also seen his continued involvement in many large research and development projects. When asked what he does for fun Ben said “Rotomoulding”! The current ARMA President Graeme Hall has worked in Rotational Moulding at Viscount Rotational moulding for 20 years and the broader plastics industry for 40 years. In various technical and operational function in this time, for both family and multinational businesses, he has garnished a very broad experience base in plastic processing. Originating in his trade background of fitting/turning and toolmaking he has a very keen interest in what makes a machine work and how to optimise its efficiency. His experiences in operational roles as well as technical functions have given him a good understanding of what is the right equipment for you. Rotational Mouldings particular reliance on the interaction between materials/machine/mould and people drive Graeme to continue to challenge himself and continue to learn and develop his understanding of the Rotational Moulding process. Eye on the Future – Morris Miselowski, Business Futurist Nothing feels more natural to Morris Miselowski than challenging the status quo. He’s forever imagining what a different world might look like. Morris was born to be a futurist. The son of holocaust survivors, who had seen the world crumbling around them, he grew up in a household that believed

Morris Miselowski, Business Futurist

there would always be a better tomorrow. This belief has become his lifelong passion. Through powerful storytelling, and practical and uncanny insights, Morris takes some of the world’s biggest organisations and brands on a journey that enables them to see what tomorrow might look like – long before they experience it. A hell-raiser to the core. Morris is known to hurl metaphorical hand-grenades into rooms to push companies to unshackle from legacy systems and stuck-in-the past thinking. A conversation with Morris often starts with making people uncomfortable, to get them comfortable to dream – big, bold, audacious dreams. He’s teeming with questions about the world around us. Through childlike wonder and curiosity, Morris approaches organisational challenges from the viewpoint that tomorrow is under our control – and it can be transformed. He’s no Nostradamus though. Through his depth-ofknowledge he hypothesises, rather than predicts what lies ahead. For over 30 years, Morris has been methodically collecting evidence and information across 160 industries. He’s also picked up an assortment of weird and wonderful facts, much like a bowerbird. It’s through this wide lens that he provides bespoke and matter-of-fact exchanges, exercises, and experiences so organisations can understand what their future potential might be in the marketplace. Through his inquisitiveness and human-centric approach to future thinking, Morris motivates businesses to do things differently – by shifting and shaping their thinking. He assists them to see their own industry with a clarity they may not have been able to before. It’s these a-ha moments that gives Morris the greatest joy and drive. Morris has identified opportunities in all sorts of areas, from dynamic architecture and active bedding to the aged-care workforce and digital twinning. He was speaking about digital wallets, branded fruit and vegetables and smart homes and cities well before they became a reality. To Morris, everything that businesses do and believe in is a construct of the mind. It can be broken down – and rebuilt for a successful future. To get to where he is, Morris has worn many hats. By the age of 18, he was living the entrepreneurial life running a direct mail business. However, moving from his garage-bound business to the global stage, including delivering a TEDx talk, took a few more steps. He spent many years as an academic in management and marketing and even ventured behind prison bars, to work as a Chaplain. He’s also Australia’s first and only futurist in the Einstein 100 Genius (G100) alumni, an honour he shares with the exceptional, Barbara Streisand. More recently Morris has been working closely with Griffith University as an ambassador and Adjunct Industry Fellow. No matter your business type, Morris will assist you to smash all the barriers that are boxing you in. He is lively, forthright and a truly global thinker, who will awaken your creative force. Re-imagine the possibilities. www.rotoworldmag.com 47

ARMA

ROTOCONNECT Rotomoulding & The Environment – Chris Glenn, Bushmans Group The ARMA Environment Sub-Committee is working on recycling, product stewardship, acknowledging the benefits of multi-use plastics and profiling how amazing roto is for the planet. Chris Glenn will discuss these projects are developing and Chris Glenn, Bushmans Group delve deeper into the positive aspects of the freshly launched Operation Clean Sweep and the new ARMA Recycling Logo. Chris Glenn is the Managing Director of Bushmans Group. Bushmans manufactures water and industrial tanks and associated products at five locations, from North Queensland, through NSW and Victoria, to Adelaide. Chris has led Bushmans since 2009 and has continued to develop its operations, ensuring the business is successful, the products are great quality and operate with the highest level of stewardship in communities across Australia in which they operate. Prior to running Bushmans, Chris worked across Australia and New Zealand for more than 20 years, in global and Australian corporations, including Group General Manager Tyco Fire and Security and as Managing Director of the ASX listed Coventry Group. Chris’ time in the corporate sector includes experience in manufacturing, industrial distribution, and Industrial services. Chris is on the board of ARMA and is the Chairman of ARMAs Environmental subcommittee. What is Operation Clean Sweep? – Michelle Rose, ARMA Prior to Covid, the ARMA Environment Group has signed on to be a partner of Operation Clean Sweep but the launch was held off. In this presentation Michelle will explain what Operation Clean Sweep is, the audit process, and what you need to do to assist the industry in heading towards zero pellet/powder loss. Employment Essentials – Nina Mapson Bone, Beaumont People Nina Mapson Bone from Beaumont People will provide an in-depth look, using information from an industry survey, on what employment in the manufacturing sector will look like. The presentation will include how to find the right staff, how to keep them, and what happens if you need to let them go.

Nina

48 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

Nina Mapson Bone is the Managing Director of Beaumont People, a specialised recruitment business that truly believes in “placing people first”. She is also President of the RCSA (Recruitment Consulting and Staffing Association of Australia and New Zealand) and she is Chair of the Development Committee for the NORTH Foundation, a charity which supports innovation in health research and patient care. Nina helps business leaders with their people problems and delights in bringing talented people together to drive value, build vision and realise opportunities. With extensive leadership experience, she has built and restructured high-performing teams with a focus on talent attraction and retention. As a non-executive director and managing director, Nina understands the challenges and complexities of driving growth and ensuring a customer-first approach in large, diverse businesses that have multiple service lines. If you have a business problem, complex tactical challenges with your employees or organisational structure, you can be guaranteed that Nina has helped others navigate through similar issues. Nina has an MA (Hons), is a Fellow for the RCSA (Recruitment Consulting and Staffing Association) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The New 4766 – Leisa Donlan, ARMA CEO The new 4766 is a comprehensive review of the standard in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific for buried, partially buried, and aboveground tanks for water and chemicals. The document has been through all the approvals required and has only been delayed by the complications of approvals in New Zealand under their recent COVID-19 shut down. Expected to be finally approved in June or July this year, in this presentation Leisa will update the industry of what made it into the final version, what changes will need to be made (if any), and how certification to both 4766 and Watermark is now possible where required. 30 Minutes in Rotomoulding – LIVE! In this live online meeting, we talk about Rotomould Online, what stood out or assisted your business, and any questions you may have. We will also talk with several moulders about what the current scenario looks likes now we are heading out of COVID-19. All this and more at www.rotomouldconference.com.au

ARMA

ROTOCONNECT Who is ARMA Rotoconnect?

ARMA ROTOCONNECT is the premier organisation for rotational moulders throughout Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia, and as one of the most active associations in the world. We also have rotational moulding and supplier members around the globe who enjoy our resources and extensive industry network. Our members have a proven commitment to providing their clients with quality products and services. Can I Access Your Benefits If I Am A Moulder In Another Part Of The World? You certainly can and we have a range of manufacturers that already have complete access to our technical library, training resources, workshop, and conference videos. We also list you as a member on the busiest site for rotomoulding in the world, www.rotationalmoulding.com This is the ROTOCONNECT membership!

There is a range of safety and design posters that our members and supporters can print for the factories and showrooms!

What do Current Members Think of Your Service? Well instead of us telling you what we think, here are a few comments from the companies directly. “By joining ARMA as soon as we thought about moulding, we

saved tens of thousands of dollars by accessing machinery and moulds through their website and they helped us find all the industry suppliers, so we started way ahead of the game.” “Our ARMA membership keeps us up to date with whatever is going on in the industry and we are always included in business referrals. There have been several occasions when our company has gained great new clients or managed our risk better because we had prior knowledge of a problem.” “I used to think there wasn’t much I didn’t know about rotomoulding and that’s probably true about the process itself but the industry is changing all the time and being involved in ARMA means we keep up to date and I really enjoy the opportunity to network with peers in the industry, as well as having some influence on the bigger picture through our ARMA membership.”

How Do I Obtain More Information? Contact us at info@rotationalmoulding.com and we will forward through the details of all services and inclusions as well as the pricing options and application!

Association of Rotational Moulders Australasia Inc. PO Box 826, Ipswich Qld 4305 AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 (0) 7 3812 1450 Fax: +61 (0)7 3009 0600 www.rotationalmoulding.com CEO: Leisa Donlan ldonlan@rotationalmoulding.com Deputy Executive Officer: Michelle Rose michellerose@rotationalmoulding.com

www.rotoworldmag.com 49

TECHNICALLY

SPEAKING

by Alongkorn Kanokboriboon, SCG Chemicals

A Combination of Smart Materials and Good Processing

Fiigure 1: Complete aeration system in operation in a wastewater pond

Rotational molded products are commonly found as household products or as toys, but there are far fewer examples of industrial products in the market. Perhaps, the reason is the inherent nature of the raw materials normally used. Polyethylene (PE) is the material of choice for rotomolded products due to various reasons: balance of stiffness and impact, ease of processing, market availability, and reasonable price. However, there are certain limitations as well. Some of them include low modulus to weight ratio, tendency for material to creep over time, and its softening behavior at high service temperature, to name a few. In this issue, we will discuss about a case where a combination of smart use of materials and good processing technique can create a product that can be as strong, durable, and functional as ones made from metals. This particular case is a water turbine that is used as an aerator by creating a vortex when spin near to the water surface to add oxygen into a water pond. This water 50 ROTOWORLDÂŽ | MAY-JUNE 2020

Figure 2: Another installation in a sugar-cane processing plant

TECHNICALLY

SPEAKING

Figure 3: Assembly of the entire system with three rotomolded floats attached to the turbine (stainless steel version)

turbine is 1.2 meter in diameter and 50 centimeter in depth. It is mounted at the center of three cylindrical floats in triangle arrangement and is driven by a powerful electrical motor mounted on top. The first version was actually made of 316L stainless steel, which is extremely durable and is resistant to corrosion from aggressive wastewater conditions. But the stainless steel turbine was very heavy (75 kg or 154 lbs) and required an extra powerful motor to drive it, not to mention high power consumption required to operate the system. The process to fabricate the stainless steel part was also timeconsuming, labor intensive, and expensive because of extensive metal-cutting and manual welding required one unit at a time. When the rotomolded version was conceived, it was intended to shorten the production process, to reduce costs, and to be able to mass produce. Ideally, it should also be lighter to be compatible with a smaller motor and to save on running costs in the long run. But more importantly, the key requirement is that the plastics rotomolded turbine must be stiff enough to withstand the hydrodynamic load on its blade created during the turning actions.

Figure 4: Bottom side of the turbine showing its nose tip and rotating fins

Figure 5: Cut-out of the turbine exposing the inner PE foam layer

After careful consideration, it was decided that this part had to be a multilayer product with PE as an outer protective skin and PE foam as the inner structural layer to provide the needed strength without adding too much overall weight. The new rotomolded version would weigh 45 kg (100 lbs) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 30 kg (66 lbs) PE and 15 kg (33 lbs) PE foam. The selected PE was octene copolymer of 0.935 density and 4.0 MI for its excellent chemical resistance and superior ESCR. The complimentary PE foam was heatactivated, 5-time expansion foam for ease of processing and mechanical properties. Another function of PE foam is that being closed cell structure it does not absorb water in the case of outer skin being punctured. In another word, PE foam can provide extra safety factor should one of the three floats fail. The rotational molding process of PE/ PE foam has to be precise since PE foam activation is temperature dependent. At too low a temperature the foaming agent will not activate, and expansion will not occur. On the other hand, at too high a temperature PE cells will over expand and collapse into spider web-like structure. Molding trials were done on a three-arm carousel oven. The mold was made from fabricated carbon steel metal sheet. Molding cycle was about 45 minutes for heating and about 1 hour 30 minutes for cooling. To reduce trial-and-error, a temperature monitoring device was employed to measure and control temperature inside the mold in real time. The finished product was installed with mold inserts for easy assembly to the metal frame attached to the three floats. The final assembly was then test run in a local pond for weeks with continuous operation to ensure its mechanical integrity. After proven success, more systems were ordered, produced, and installed at several wastewater plants. This case study clearly shows that rotationally molded products with smart design and the right material selection can be successfully deployed in demanding industrial applications. www.rotoworldmag.com 51

ARMO

NEWS

ARMSA ARM-CE NORDIC ARM StAR BPF IT-RO

SOCIETY OF ASIAN ROTOMOULDERS • StAR

StAR Uses & Explores “Virtual” Canvas for its Events Calendar om 2020-21 Following its highly successful run of online activities during the two – month COVID-19 Lockdown, StAR braced itself for an extended absence of physical meetings. India had settled for a new situation of living with the virus, with partial lifting of restrictions; social distancing continuing to be the norm to be strictly adhered to. With StAR members and roto industry people getting preoccupied with resumption of their businesses and factory production, StAR was into planning mode again. A fine balance had to be maintained in keeping up the tempo of activities in less available time for the purpose. At the same time we had to be at our innovative best to explore all that was possible on the “ virtual “ canvas. Well-spaced out weekly webinars have now replaced the twice a week frequency of the lockdown period for this very popular StAR activity. All the focus is now is on the importance of the topic and quality of the presenter. The size, interest, and interactivity of audiences at these webinars are pointers to a bright and sustained future for this activity. StAR articles and digital bi-monthly Rototalk are continuing online activities, but a new silver lining is seen in energetic online group discussions and brainstorming for specialized technical activities and new initiatives. For the first time, the far reaching impact on the industry and economy are determinants of the nature, scope, and objectives of these initiatives. The constraints on physical meetings have encouraged the emergence of highly innovative software by agencies to give the look and feel of the real experience in virtual events. StAR is already into discussions with some of them for suitable execution. StAR webinars since May 1,’20 • May 01, UV Stabilization of Plastics – A science simplified: By V. Bhadauria, Alok Ind • May 05, Rationalising our Business Model in Uncertain Times: By Mohit Shukla, MPlast • May 08, COVID-19 Macro View – Time to introspect: By R. Ravi Kumar, Roots Multiclean • May 12, High Density LLDPE Roto Grade: By D. Sahoo, Indian Oil Corp • May 15, Innovative Solutions to Improve Productivity for Moulders: By V. Sharma, Chem-Trend • May 19, Smart Manufacturing: By Rajnish Gera, Sintex 52 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

• May 22, Plastics in India – New Frontiers: By J. Doshi, R. Kamath & A Baheti • May 27, MSMEs – The “Long” Road Ahead: By Blaise Costabir, GMI Zarhak • May 29, Challenges & Opportunities for Indian Roto: By M. Khandelwal, GAIL • June 06, Understanding Technical Data Sheet -I: By Ravi Kadivar, Greenage Ind • June 13, Understanding Technical Data Sheet –II: By Ravi Kadivar, Greenage Ind • June 20, Improving Manufacture & Business of Roto Products – H Agarwal, Oriplast StAR Articles since May 1 • May 29, Processing of XLPE Vs PE: By Ravi Mehra, StAR Founding Chair • June 02, Polyethylenes & Comonomers: By Ravi Mehra, StAR Founding Chair

ARMO

NEWS BRITISH PLASTICS FEDERATION ROTATIONAL MOULDING GROUP â&#x20AC;˘ BPF

Guiding You through the Plastic Sector Climate Change Agreement Scheme

The Climate Change Agreement (CCA) scheme has been extended by two years and eligible plastics processors can now apply for entry by contacting BPF Energy. Companies with a CCA can benefit from exemptions on their Climate Change Levy (CCL) of up to 92% for electricity and 81% for natural gas. The closing date for new applications to the Environment Agency is 30 September 2020 but applications can take a while to process, so BPF Energy advises companies to apply as early as possible. Email us to find out more A Climate Change Agreement (CCA) is a voluntary agreement containing targets to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Participants of the scheme benefit from Climate Change Levy (CCL) exemption, of up to 92% for electricity and 81% for natural gas and other fuels.

To take part in the scheme you will become a Partner with BPF Energy Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Plastics Federation. BPF Energy was formed to help the BPF administer a scheme that is open to both members and non-members of the Federation. There is a 58% discount to the BPF Energy fees for those who are full BPF Members. Closing date: 30 September 2020 As this information is potentially important to your company, please can you forward this on to the relevant individual if this is not yourself. For more information, contact the BPF BPF House 6 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JE, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 5000, +44 (0) 20 7457 5020, or email reception@bpf.co.uk

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ARMO

NEWS BRITISH PLASTICS FEDERATION ROTATIONAL MOULDING GROUP • BPF

British Plastics Federation Launches PPE Suppliers List to Help COVID-19 Response PATIENT CARE DEVICESSURGICAL AND SUPPLIES by Thomas Parker 21 May 2020

The British Plastics Federation launched the PPE suppliers list after it was contacted by more than 100 different organisations for help source critical equipment. The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has launched an online portal to help organisations across the UK locate personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers in response to the coronavirus outbreak. It comes after the trade association was contacted by more than 100 different organisations – including the UK, Scottish, and Welsh governments, as well as the NHS – to help source suppliers that can provide critical equipment for frontline workers. The requests have predominantly been for PPE, but other items such as bottles and closures for hand sanitiser have also been called for. In response, the BPF has concentrated on helping to locate manufacturers and suppliers from across the country. Director-general Philip Law said: “BPF member companies have stepped up to transform and expand their manufacturing operations, working longer and harder to ensure we can provide the protective equipment and medical supplies the UK needs. “We are also working closely with the government to access the specialist manufacturing equipment that is urgently needed.”

The British Plastics Federation has predominately received requests to help in the supply PPE equipment (Credit: Flickr/Simon Davis/DFID)

Plastics Business Berry Among the List of PPE Suppliers in the Uk The BPF has split the list of PPE, plastic Bottle and clinical waste suppliers into eight different categories depending on this service they are providing. These are aprons and gowns; bottles and caps for hand sanitiser; clinical waste bags and liners; medical mouldings components, and PPE production; sheets and film that can be used for visors; ventilator components, and packaging; visors and face shields; and other items. Aprons and Gowns • Berry bpi • Cromwell Polythene 54 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

• Henley’s Medical Supplies • Imperial Polythene • Polystar Skymark Packaging International Ltd • Tibard • Weldbank Plastic Company Bottles and Caps for Hand Sanitiser Bottles • Alpla • AST Plastic Containers UK LLP • Berry & RPC – M&H Plastics • Caledonian Plastics • Coral Products

• Esterform Packaging • Euro Extrusions / Precision Bottles • IPACKCHEM • Jubb UK • MacAlpine Plumbing • Measom Freer • Nolato Jaycare • Precision Bottles • Plastipak • Robinson Packaging • Spectra Packaging Solutions • Thermo Fisher Scientific Caps and Closures • Aptar

ARMO

NEWS BRITISH PLASTICS FEDERATION ROTATIONAL MOULDING GROUP • BPF

• Bericap • Berry Bramlage • Rieke • Scope Next • Silgan Plastic Closures Suppliers of bottles, caps and closures • Berry Bramlage • Berry Superfos • FL Plastics • Measom Freer

• Epsotech • Flambeau • George Utz Ltd • Goodfish Group • Fenton Precision Engineering • Iota Sigma Manufacturing Ltd • Polymermedics • Tex Plastics • WSM Plastics • Zotefoams PLC

Clinical Waste Bags, Bins and Liners • Aquapak Polymers Limited • Cedo • Craemer UK Ltd • Cromwell Polythene Ltd • Hanmere • Leedan Packaging Ltd • Mauser • Palagan Limited • Plasmech • Povoas

Sheets and Film For Visors • Capital Valley Plastics • Cromwell Polythene Ltd • Eagle Plastics • Macpac Stockport • Palram • Pargroup Ltd • Peerless Plastics & Coatings Ltd • Prime Plastics • RENOLIT Cramlington Ltd • Stephen Webster Plastics • The Plastic People • Vacuum Formers • Summit Systems • Aprol International • Eagle Plastics

Medical Mouldings, Components and PPE Production • Amaray Plastics, Dubois Ltd. • Desch Plantpak

• Macpac Stockport • Oadby Plastics • Perspex Ventilator Components and Packaging • 4plas ltd • Aztec Mouldings • Agentdraw • Andel Plastics & Maxmag • Big Bear • Bolton Plastics • ENL Limited • Iota Sigma • Kingspan • McLaren Plastics Ltd • Numatic • RJG Technologies Ltd • Rotational Moulding Group • St Davids Assemblies Ltd Visors and face shields • ENL Limited • Fenton Precision Engineering Ltd • ICL Tech Ltd • Kingsmoor Packaging • Kite Packaging • LJA Miers

Association of Rotational Moulders Southern Africa PO Box 6966 Birchleigh 1621 Gauteng South Africa Tel: +27 82 772 3769 Fax +27 12 541 1738 Chairman: Wayne Wiid info@armsa.co.za www.armsa.co.za

Association of Rotational Moulding (Central Europe) e.V. (ARM-CE) MAUS GmbH - Rotationsgießformen Am Viehweg 9 - D-76229 Karlsruhe Amtsgericht Mannheim, HRB 103433 Tel.: +49 (0) 7 21 / 9 48 74 12 Fax: +49 (0) 7 21 / 9 48 74 44 Mr. Oliver Wandres, ARM-CE Chairman info@rotational-moulding.de www.rotational-moulding.de

British Plastics Federation Rotational Moulding Group 6 Bath Place Rivington Street London EC2A 3JE United Kingdom Tel: 020 7457 5000 Fax: 020 7457 5045 Chairman: Mr. Philip Maddox PhilipM@LeafieldEnv.com

The Nordic Association of Rotational Moulders Executive Board Chairman: Mr. Ronny Ervik ul. Zielona 8, 61-851 Poznan, Poland Tel: +48 607-126-004 Fax: +48 61-858-8611 info@rotomoulding-europe.org www.nordicrotomoulding.org www.rotomoulding-europe.org

Society of Asian Rotomoulders (StAR) 40/145, Ground Floor, Chittaranjan Park New Delhi 110019 Tel: + 91-11-41630157 Fax: +91-11-41634952 Mob: + 91- 9810305356 sb.zaman@staraisa.org arnacz@satyam.net.in www.starasia.org

IT-RO Italia Rotazionale Katia Zoppetti Via E. Brigatti 12 20152 Milano (MI) Italy Tel: +039 348 7652560 www.it-ro.it

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56 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

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ADVERTISERS’

INDEX

60 ExxonMobil Chemical Co. PO Box 96126 West Springs Calgary, Alberta Canada, T3H 0L3 800.668.0177 kevin.c.jamieson@exxonmobil.com https://www.exxonmobilchemical.com /en/products-and-services/ polyethylene 9 Ferry Industries, Inc. 4445 Allen Rd. Stow, OH 44224-1093 USA 330.920.9200 sales@ferryindustries.com www.ferryindustries.com 7, 16 Jerico Plastic Industries, Inc. 7970 Boneta Rd. Wadswroth, OH 44281 USA 330.730.6314 Minerva Plant: 330.868.4600 steve@jericoplastic.com www.jericoplastic.com 13 Orenda 165 Steelcase Rd. East Markham, Ontario L3R 1G1, Canada 905.513.8043 sales@orenda-automation.com www.orenda-automation.com

21 Poliplast S.p.A. Via Carrali, 8 24020 Casnigo (BG) Italy +39 035 724145 info@poliplastspa.com www.poliplastspa.com 3 Powder King, LLC 41780 N. Vision Way Unit 120 Bldg. 2 Anthem, AZ 85086 USA 623.551.9897 sales@powder-king.com www.powder-king.com 2 Roto Polymers 26210 Emery Rd. Ste 202 Cleveland, OH 44128 USA 1.844.POLIMER (1.844.765.4637) info@rotopolymers.com www.rotopolymers.com 59 Rotomachinery Group Via Crosa, 53 28065 Cerano (NO) Italy +39.0321.772021 polivinil@polivinil.com www.rotomachinerygroup.com

19 NOVA Chemicals 1555 Coraopolis Heights Rd. Moon Township, PA 15108 412.490.4311 Doug.Biela@novachem.com www.novachem.com

57 VMP, Inc. 24830 Avenue Tibbitts Valencia, CA 91355-3404 USA 888.4.VMP.INC 661.294.9934 info@vmpinc.com www.vmpinc.com

17 Polnac Lázaro Cárdenas, No. 49, Col. San Jerónimo Tepetlacalco, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico C.P. 54090 +52 (55) 5362-5360 ext. 275 glenn@polnac.com www.polnac.com

12 Whittmann Battenfeld (Roto Load) 35 Leek Crescent Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4C2, Canada 905.887.5355 Toll Free: 1.888.466.8266 info@wittmann-group.ca www.wittmann-group.ca

58 ROTOWORLD® | MAY-JUNE 2020

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VOLUME XVI, ISSUE 3 • 2020

VOLUME XVI, ISSUE 3 • MAY-JUNE 2020

Rotomoulding’s Fight Against COVID-19

CONVERSION

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