Blog

The Connector Conundrum: 3D Printed Mold Tooling’s Role in Innovation | Plastics Technology

Combat the skilled labor shortage using this comprehensive resource to train your own plastics processing experts.

Deep dive into the basics of blending versus dosing, controls, maintenance, process integration and more. automotive body parts

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

While PE price reductions were not as apparent, they too were following the year-end price trajectory of PP, PS, PVC and PET.

Going into fourth quarter, prices of the five commodity resins were heading downward, barring supply interruptions.

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

By most measures, pricing for the five commodity resins appeared to be holding firm going into the third quarter.

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.

Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.

In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

Customizable equipment solutions, warm hand-off support, and seamless software integrations highlight Taiwan’s plastics show.

Recycler equips for new business in medical, housewares and carpeting.

Medical device manufacturer Curiteva is producing two families of spinal implants using a proprietary process for 3D printing porous polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

Biopolymers like PLA and PHA are able to meet sustainability goals while also delivering the performance attributes needed in rigid food packaging. Here’s what testing has shown.    

The MFI tester enables collection of meaningful pressure data in transducers in a relatively short time, providing realistic measures of the response time of a pressure transducer. This information is critical in the interpretation of pressure data measured in an extrusion process.  

Proper end-of-life outcomes for plastics are possible, if we’re willing to put in the work.

Videplast and ExxonMobil collaborated on the development of this cost-effective VSP film solution that contains no ionomers.

Software-defined equipment control systems can be duplicated, transferred and scaled with ease.

The same year it marked its 70th year in business, custom injection molder Hoffer Plastics (South Elgin, Illinois) — which routinely reinvests more than 10% of its annual revenue back into new equipment — prioritized automation in that CapEx with some stunning results.

How much resin is contained within a bucket, gaylord or hopper? That depends on the bulk density — a figure you need to learn how to calculate due to its impact on everything from storage and conveying to drying and molding.

The third iteration of the event takes place March 18-20 in Rosemont, Illinois, providing three days of exhibits, technical education and professional networking.

Plastics Technology’s Hot Shots parts competition is accepting submissions for the 2025 contest, with winners to be announced at PTXPO 2025.

Topping five other entries in voting by fellow molders, the Ultradent team talks about their Hot Shots sweep.

Serendipitous Learning Opportunities at PTXPO Underscore the Value of Being Present.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO. 

Center will be dedicated to product engineering, materials science and manufacturing technologies.

Südpack’s Multifol Extreme film is well suited for greasy, protein-rich and frozen foods

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.  

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves. 

After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

As self-imposed and government-issued sustainability mandates approach, injection molders reimagine their operations.

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

Get your clicking finger in shape and sign up for all that we have in store for you in 2023.  

Molding 2023 to take place Aug. 29-30 in Minnesota; Extrusion 2023 slated for Oct. 10-12 in Indiana.

Understanding plastic material compatibility and joint design is critical to achieving optimal weld strength and meeting industry standards. Discover how to optimize joint configurations and manage material properties to enhance weld reliability, minimize defects and boost efficiency. Gain key insights to optimize your laser and ultrasonic plastic welding processes for better results. Agenda:  Learn the principles of plastic material compatibility and their impact on weld strength Discover best practices for joint design to ensure optimal welding integrity Explore strategies for optimizing weld joint configurations for enhanced reliability Understand how to manage material behavior to minimize defects during welding Gain insights into achieving compliance with stringent industry standards

Join this webinar to explore the transformative benefits of retrofitting your existing injection molding machines (IMMs). Engel will guide you through upgrading your equipment to enhance monitoring, control and adaptability — all while integrating digital technologies. You'll learn about the latest trends in IMM retrofitting (including Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits) and discover how to future-proof your machines for a competitive edge. With insights from industry experts, it'll walk you through the decision-making process, ensuring you make informed choices that drive your business forward. Agenda: Maximize the value of your current IMMs through strategic retrofitting Learn how to integrate digital technologies to enhance monitoring and control Explore the benefits of Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits Understand how retrofitting can help meet new product demands and improve adaptability Discover how Engel can support your retrofitting needs, from free consultations to execution

The aim of this presentation is to guide you through the factors and the numbers that will help you determine if a robot is a smart investment for your application. Agenda:  Why are you considering automation? What problems are you trying to solve? How and why automation can help Crunch the numbers and determine the ROI

An overview on the use of chemical foaming agents (CFAs) to successfully foam single and multilayered rotational molding parts, this webinar will illustrate the multiple benefits rotational molders can achieve, including reducing resin consumption, decreasing part weight, enhancing wall thickness and improving structural rigidity. Agenda: Charging the mold Dosing ratios Venting Optimal decomposition temperatures, cycle times and drop times for drop box applications Cooling considerations

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

The Detroit Auto Show, formerly known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), is located squarely at the intersection of technology and mobility. It’s a global event filled with tangible advances ready to hit the pavement today. Here, the software is as revolutionary as anything out there, and the hardware always looks better with a good polish. You won’t find any devices that will fit in your pocket, but you will discover machines that will move you in the most literal sense. You’ll also connect with thought leaders from around the world, both in and outside the automotive industry, whose collective visions for the future of mobility will shape the way we move for years to come.

ANTEC® 2025, SPE's Annual Technical Conference, showcases the latest advances in industrial, laboratory, academic, and international work focused on plastics and polymer science. ANTEC® will address a range of plastics technologies, polymer research, new materials, innovative processes, and more. There will also be a focus on scientific, technical, or industrial problems and their solutions. In addition to a comprehensive program, ANTEC® 2025 will offer exceptional networking opportunities, our prestigious SPE awards, symposiums, and our exclusive ANTEC® All-Access VIP Experience.

Each year Products Finishing partners with thousands of finishing operations in the U.S. to celebrate National Surface Finishing Day (NSFD) on the first Wednesday in March. NSFD is designed to celebrate and showcase the industry to trade schools, businesses, officials and media, as well as to celebrate employees and staff. The overarching goal of NSFD is to bring further awareness to the important roles plating and coating facilities play in their communities. Facilities are encouraged to host events and work with local media to build awareness about the contributions made by the surface finishing industry. For a helpful guide to reaching out to media outlets, download the NSFD toolkit here. How can you celebrate? Share your company’s story Hold an open house where the public can check out your facility –— either in person or virtual Offer student shop tours to local trade schools Invite local elected officials to visit and get to know your staff Celebrate your employees Share news about what you’re doing on social media and use the hashtag #NationalSurfaceFinishingDay or #NSFD

In its 25th edition, Plastimagen seeks to reaffirm itself as the main gateway to the plastics sector in Mexico and Latin America. This event will bring together a variety of prominent plastics industry leaders, including capital goods producers, raw material suppliers, investors, organization representatives and members of academia. The main objective of the event will be to promote the transformation of the industry towards a more sustainable model. This will be done by seeking to facilitate robust economic development, and providing solutions aimed at achieving a circular economy. PLASTIMAGEN® MEXICO is the biggest international exhibition for the plastics processing industry in Mexico and Latin America. This event brings together the entire production chain with top suppliers to meet the needs of various industries. PLASTIMAGEN® MEXICO 2025 will feature over 870 companies representing 1,600 brands from more than 27 countries, 14 international pavilions, and a specialized pavilion by the National Association of Plastics Industries in Mexico (ANIPAC). You'll see the latest in plastics processing, design innovations, and materials that support the circular economy.

PTXPO 2025 is a comprehensive showcase of cutting-edge technologies and innovations within the plastics molding industry. Join fellow molders, moldmakers, brand owners, OEMs and their full suite of suppliers in Rosemont, IL for three days of non-stop networking, education and business development opportunities.

Critical Cleaning Hands-on Workshop Do it; learn it! The one-day workshop teaches how cleaning and cleanliness testing work. By participating in hands-on exercises of techniques for cleaning and cleanliness verification, attendees gain the understanding and knowledge to make practical, effective, and sustainable manufacturing decisions. While exercises are supplemented by demonstrations and tutorials, the workshop is not death by PowerPoint! Topics include aqueous, solvent, and “non-chemical” cleaning, including cleaning chemicals and cleaning processes (spray, ultrasonics, cyclic nucleation, in-line, batch). Most manufactured product and product contact surfaces require cleaning during (and sometimes after) manufacture and assembly.  Examples of areas where effective cleaning is essential include: metal fabrication, product assembly, optics, electronics, microelectronics, wafer fab, medical devices, aerospace/aeronautics, military, and additive manufacturing. WHAT DO YOU CALL CLEANING? There are many different terms for cleaning. Cleaning Precision Cleaning Critical Cleaning Safety/Critical Cleaning Surface Prep for Finishing Technical Cleanliness Residue Removal WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE WORKSHOP If you or your company fabricates, finishes, maintains or repairs product or product contact surfaces (like reaction vessels), this workshop is time well-spent. If you sell chemicals or cleaning equipment, this workshop will help you better understand and optimize the market for your products. Examples include: Manufacturing Engineers Product Designers Managers Sales and Marketing Managers Facilities Personnel Assemblers, operators Process Technicians Quality Control Personnel Regulatory Affairs Experts (industry, military, and government) Safety/environmental professionals​ ​ Participants will receive a PDF Certificate of Completion with continuing education credits from Sam Houston State University.

ReelView Fishing faced an electronics obstacle in the development of its new technology for underwater video. Additive manufacturing for moldmaking allowed for the speed necessary to iterate to a solution. How inventors and invention will benefit from new ways of obtaining production-ready tooling.

Here is the classic frustration for the engineer inventor: A big, breakthrough idea that ought to be attainable advances through 90% of the development needed to make it real, only to stall at that point because of one vexing, unanticipated detail that presents a problem too difficult to solve in a cost-effective way. For ReelView Fishing and its system for underwater real-time fishing video, that problem was a cable connector.

The ReelView Fishing system offers a way to obtain real-time underwater video of fishing on the angler's smartphone. Source: ReelView 

The fishing line serves as the signal transmission cable. For the inventors, the challenging component of this system was the connector merging this line to the camera. Source: ReelView

Solving the problem of this connector (and it has, thankfully, now been solved) ultimately required the startup company to invent not just its new technology for fishing, but also an entirely new underwater connector design. Realizing this design — getting to the answer quickly and then being able to manufacture it — presented molding and moldmaking challenges that 3D printing answered in two different ways. In the solution ReelView found, developed with the aid of injection molding specialist Alba Enterprises, LLC, 3D printed steel mold tooling is used for overmolding around a 3D printed polymer component of the connector.

The resulting success provides an example of what may well be the most transformative role additive manufacturing is set to play in moldmaking, particularly as it relates to AM making steel mold tooling. Attention to AM in moldmaking sometimes focuses on AM-enabled internal features such as conformal cooling channels. However, the advance of metal additive for moldmaking has also improved the speed with which AM can deliver a tool. This speed improvement has significant implications for product development, and the leaders of both companies experienced this with the connector application.

“Iteration is the area where additive helped us so much,” says ReelView founder Dustin Alinger. The molds used to make successive versions of the connector design could have been made conventionally through machining instead of 3D printing (there are no conformal cooling lines, for example), but he says the molds could not have been delivered as cheaply or as quickly in this way. For each new connector redesign, a new mold was obtained in less than one week, at a cost of about one-third of what conventional moldmaking would have required. Whether the additive mold will deliver the life of a conventional tool is a valid question, he notes, but the steel mold does deliver a production-quality part, which allowed the ReelView team to evaluate real connectors in real testing that would match the use and experience of the customer.

Alba Enterprises employed 3D printed steel mold tooling to help ReelView rapidly iterate to a solution. Both laser powder bed fusion and TrueShape molds were used.

Alba Enterprises’ president and CEO is Richard Oles. He says this kind of application represents the reason why his company is exploring and developing 3D printing molds, investigating and characterizing various additive mold tooling processes in both metal and polymer. The freedom to iterate often determines whether a promising new idea or technology will be realized. “With 3D printed tooling, there will be products successfully introduced that otherwise would never have made it to market,” he says. In the right cases, only AM offers the speed and ease of tooling creation needed to chase an idea through enough iterations to fully realize the solution to the problem at hand.

An example of the underwater view made possible with the ReelView system. This still was captured from underwater video by a camera integrated with the fishing line. Source: ReelView 

That means the ReelView Fishing system, as interesting as it is, is something even more than a new resource for anglers. It is also an electrical engineering success, made possible because of the way 3D printed mold tooling opens up the range of what inventors can achieve.

In other words, fishermen, underwater signal transmission, and the future of invention all connect. To see this, it helps to look at the connector.

“You cannot do Wi-Fi underwater,” Alinger says.

The finished connector on the left is seen here with transparent overmolding. The overmolding process, which includes a polymer 3D printed piece, is described below. 

That simple fact seemed to present the central obstacle standing in the way of the capability he had set out to find. The angler and electrical engineer wanted to be able to watch his bait and the response of the fish in real time through video. But while underwater video cameras are available, their signals cannot wirelessly reach a smartphone above the surface. However, there is a wire of sorts — the fishing line. Alinger’s insight: Can the fishing line be used to carry a signal from the camera? He left his work with a large engineering enterprise to found the company that set out to develop this idea. And the hardware piece that proved the most difficult was the connector uniting the signal-carrying fishing line with the underwater camera.

The reason is because this connector faces so many demands at once. It has to perform reliably underwater, despite being pulled and jerked by fish. And it had to be small enough, no more than 5 millimeters in diameter, to be threaded through the line guides of a fishing rod. All of this produced a set of requirements no available connector could meet.

“We could find a two-pin waterproof connector, but not one you can pull on with 50 pounds of force. Then when we found a connector you can put 50 pounds of force on, and maybe waterproof it, we learned it is not going to be small enough,” he says. “The combination we needed wasn’t there.”

Rich Oles of Alba Enterprises (right) shows Peter Zelinski the Babyplast injection molding machine. 3D printed tooling plus a compact precision molding machine offer a system for the rapid development of new ideas, he says.

But inventing a new, tangible, producible electronics component is not just a design engineering challenge. It is also a challenge in manufacturing, not ReelView’s expertise. “It took us time to figure out we were going to need to go after this idea through injection molding,” Alinger says. But it was this understanding that ultimately got the company to the right provider, and to a successful solution. Alba Enterprises, which markets the compact Babyplast injection molding machine, also uses this platform along with its own internal engineering expertise to help customers with product design and process development for molded products.

Another element of Alba Enterprises’ system for rapid product iteration in molding is a standard mold base for small 3D printed mold tools. Molds are sized to this standard base. Peter Zelinski talks about the design and features of this small mold base, and the molding machine that uses it, in a video filmed at Alba’s Colorado facility. WATCH

The success ReelView and Alba Enterprises realized is multifaceted. 3D printed tooling is the enabler, but not the only technology that proved valuable. Another is polymer 3D printing. Another, says Oles, is Scotch tape. 

Injection molds are essential to the production of many plastic parts, but frequently they are an impediment to the development of new products. Mold cost and lead time can preclude physical iteration, often the only course for product improvement. Alba Enterprises has pursued 3D printed tooling as part of the answer to this, and more, is developing a process around additive tooling that includes other elements aiming to speed production development. (See video about a mold base design that is part of this work.) The company's name for this process (it has applied for a trademark) is Scientific Additive Injection Molding, or SAIM.

TrueShape is a additive manufacturing process specifically for moldmaking that uses a flowable metal paste. Zelinski filmed an introduction to the process at Mantle’s facility in California. WATCH

“A metal 3D printed tool means we can do product development with production-quality parts and potentially [let a company] go to market in just a few weeks,” Oles says. Additive molds Alba Enterprises has used have been 3D printed in steel via laser powder bed fusion, and via the flowable metal paste TrueShape process from Mantle, both of which were used successfully for design iterations of the ReelView connector. (The final mold was made by Mantle.)

The injection molding process for the connector is overmolding. That is, plastic is molded around existing elements placed into the mold. “We have to make the part without damaging the electronics,” Oles says. This is part of the challenge. Another part of the challenge simply related to the way connector designs would have to be validated — in use. No digital simulation was sufficient to arrive at a design, because the part would need to be tested in the water, by anglers, according to the various potentially rough or careless ways an angler might put it to use. Alba Enterprises General Manager Michael Dalrymple led the project within Alba and performed the engineering work for each iteration.

Michael Dalrymple (right), general manager for Alba Enterprises, led the mold engineering work for the ReelView connector development. Here he explains the overmolding solution to the author.

Alinger says, “The internals we’re molding around are very delicate. That affects the way we gate the tool. Then there are injection machine settings such as temperature and pressure. To tune the process, those things are knobs we needed to turn. And then the actual outside geometry of the part is also something that evolved over time.”

One important change to the outside geometry was this: The team discovered the connector needs a stress relief, a sleeve to protect the cable where it meets the connector body. Because this sleeve would be pliable while the connector housing is rigid, a different material was needed. ReelView and Alba Enterprises’ solution was to make this stress relief as a separate piece, added to the components being overmolded. At high volumes, the piece might make sense to mold, but the initial run was made through 3D printing instead. Because of the need for a tight, waterproof seal, dimensional precision was important. The stress relief was 3D printed by B9 Creations in the company’s Resilient-Silicone elastomer on its fine-resolution photopolymer DLP (digital light processing) AM system.

The overmolding setup is delicate, and this is one of the important considerations. Placed into the mold prior to molding are the internals of the connector plus the stress relief for the line. The stress relief is a separate 3D printed component.

Overmolding thus involves placing the connector’s internal elements and the 3D printed stress relief into the 3D printed mold. Holding these elements in the mold is nontrivial, because of the vertical orientation of the two halves of the mold in the Babyplast machine. In a high-volume production application for this part, the molder would find a more automated solution, but to make the connectors at the volume ReelView will need to satisfy its initial market entry, Alba was able to employ an off-the-shelf adhesive.

Oles says, “Scotch tape has a thickness that is dimensionally repeatable.” Machining just enough relief into the mold leaves clearance for a piece of tape to both hold the line in position and sufficiently seal the mold. (Not every valuable solution needs new technology.)

It has taken five iterations of the mold design to arrive at a reliable, compact connector design, reliably produced within the compact injection molding machine. But this number of iterations is not the important point.

The more meaningful point is this: ReelView had no idea how many mold design iterations would be needed.

3D printed tooling was the enabler not because it offered a sufficiently fast and economical way to get a series of five molds, but because it offered the way to keep on making mold after mold, for as long as it took, without knowing which of these molds might prove to be the production tool. If ReelView’s inventors had lacked this freedom, it is unclear how they would have proceeded toward their connector design, or how much more time they would have spent on getting there.

Updated and republished from Additive Manufacturing Media.

Peter Zelinski reports on the advance of 3D printing for industrial production as editor-in-chief of Additive Manufacturing Media. Find his work in Additive Manufacturing magazine, in The BuildUp newsletter, and on The Cool Parts Show, which he co-hosts. SUBSCRIBE HERE

NPE2024: Lowering barriers to additive manufacturing adoption in toolmaking.

3D printing a core and cavity on machine from Gefertec, followed by machining, allowed for a complete mold tool to be produced in three days.

There are things you may have put off when you were occupied with shipping parts to customers. Maybe it’s time to put some of them on the front burner.  

Israeli startup Largix has developed a production solution that can 3D print PP and PE without melting them. Its first test? Custom tanks for chemical storage.

Alba Enterprises created a mold base to match the needs and pacing of product iteration using mold tooling made via additive manufacturing

When the electronics enclosure key to these AR goggles proved difficult to mold, 3D printing allowed the inventors to keep the complexity — while also making improvements for assembly and user experience. 

Metal paste is the starting point for a process using 3D printing, CNC shaping and sintering to deliver precise H13 or P20 steel tooling for plastics injection molding. Peter Zelinski talks through the steps of the process in this video filmed with Mantle equipment.

Dear Plastics Technology Audience Member:

Starting on Thursday August 8, 2024, PT will begin “gating” its premium content, asking all new website users to provide some information about themselves — name, title, employer, email address — before they are provided free access to the content.

We are doing this because the ways PT’s audience finds and accesses our content is changing. Google’s search algorithms, increasingly, make it difficult to connect PT’s content with the people who might make use of it. On top of that, generative AI like ChatGPT is serving up PT content to internet users without attributing that content to PT.

As a result, it has become increasingly important for PT evolve its audience development strategy and learn as much as possible about who is accessing our content, what content they are accessing and how they are accessing it.

With this audience development strategy, we hope to do two things:

PT plays a distinctive role and has earned a place of esteem within the focused and specialized industry it serves. Large developments in the media landscape are forcing us to change the way we communicate with our audience. We are confident that our audience values the role PT plays in their professional lives and will join us in this effort to stay connected to them.

We thank you for your continued interest in and support of PT and welcome any questions you might have about the brand’s new content gating strategy.

Welcome! You’ve unlocked premium content.

If you have time, please tell us a little more about yourself.

Unlimited access to our free premium content requires a little more information from you.

Your email address will be used to communicate with you about Plastics Technology subscription offers, related products and services. Refer to our Privacy Policy for more information. Wondering why you’re seeing this? Read more here.

medical plastic injection molding Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us