Performance Engineered Products Inc. (PEP) needs only to look up and down its street in Pomona, California, to grasp the inherent challenges that come with running a manufacturing facility in the Golden State. Once home to six injection molding firms, PEP is the last one standing on this particu

The first order of Nova Chemicals’ recently commercialized Syndigo rPE-IN3 recycled polyethylene (rPE) has been received and will be transported to Sigma Plastics Group in Shelbyville, Kentucky, where the resin will be used in stretch film products.  The railcar shipment order totals close to 20

Shell Polymers has installed the Smart Machine 2.8 at its Application Hall in Monaca, Pennsylvania, expanding its in-house capabilities to support the rotational molding market. Shell says the goal of the installation is to advance application development through customer-focused innovation and

Two-stage, vented single-screw extruders are common for many applications and resins. Venting is common with many styrenic resins and most applications involving postconsumer recycled (PCR) resins. A properly designed extruder and screw will be able to remove upwards of 90% of the volatiles thro

An Oklahoma company, Utopia Plastix, has developed resin products made directly from plants, which can be processed by traditional plastics processing methods like injection molding and extrusion. “Utopia Plastix is a plant-based alternative to petroleum-based plastics. We are not plastic. We ar

In the world of flexible packaging, many film processors have invested heavily in extrusion lines and slitting systems to increase throughput and product consistency. Yet a persistent bottleneck remains: handling the massive, unwieldy rolls of film that move between production steps. These rolls

The Global Impact Coalition (GIC), a group led by CEOs of chemical companies, reported the results of its study: Automotive Plastics Circularity.  Eight companies - BASF, Covestro, LG Chem, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Sabic, Suez and Syensqo – collaborated to process 100 end-of-li

Reactive extrusion (REX) is a process that enables the production or functionalization of polymers. Here, production refers to a polymer synthesized from its most basic building blocks via polymerization, whereas functionalization refers to a polymer that undergoes post-reactor chemical modifica

Business as usual in the compounding industry received a major wake-up call during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly compounders were facing supply chain disruptions, acute material shortages and price swings that continue to this day. Adding to the ongoing uncertainty are emerging regulatory rest

In today’s fast-paced global market, mold design must adapt to current industrial needs and realities. With products having shorter lifespans, mold makers need innovative solutions to stay ahead. That’s where injection molding side action comes in. It is the game changer for handling complex geometr

Mold tooling is a critical aspect of all plastic injection molding projects, determining the final shape and quality of designed parts or products. However, an injection mold is not a single item that takes the molten plastic flows and solidifies them. Instead, various components of an injection mol

Injection molding machines come with several components and features that play an important function in plastic part manufacturing. The valve gates make up one of the important parts of this machine. Moreover, the valve gate injection molding technique is a unique and effective one and well-suited f

Unlock the secret to flawless injection molding! The little features around the mold that ensure the most perfectly shaped parts are the core and cavity. These features not only render accurate dimensions but also improve productivity. Interested in how they function, what makes them important, and

The reason behind the diverse use of injection molding technology lies in its variations. Several types of injection molding techniques are used in industrial manufacturing. Not only plastics but some of them can produce metal, ceramic, and foamed products.  If you want to make an injection mold too

Both injection molding and 3D printing have their own unique pros and cons. This can make it challenging to select a suitable option for your project. If you are looking to create custom prototypes or need to manufacture parts in bulk, 3D printing vs injection molding can save you resources, effort,

Injection molding, an evolved version of metal die casting, is one of the most economical methods for mass production of thermoplastic parts. The success of this efficient process hinges on mold design. Even a minor mistake in injection molding design can cause major defects, making parts non-functi

For MedTech NPI Sourcing Managers, Biomedical Engineers, and QA Directors, bringing a new device to market is an exciting and important journey. Medical injection molding is quite different from regular manufacturing, as it demands a strong focus on risk management, strict compliance with FDA regula

Injection molding is a popular manufacturing method for plastic parts. This technology is efficient for high-volume production, maintaining repeatability and cost-effectiveness. However, any deviation in tooling,  process variables, and raw material quality causes various defects in molded parts. A

Sharp corners may give a design a defined look, but in some manufacturing processes, they may signal trouble. Injection molding is one of the clearest examples where sharp edges add more problems than benefits. If you had closely looked at molded plastic parts, you may have noticed that sharp edg

Do you need a few high-quality plastic parts but are worried about the high cost of injection molds and tooling? If so, there are several alternatives to injection molding that can deliver the same quality and precision.  Alternative plastic manufacturing processes, such as thermoforming, 3D printin