A 360-degree look at resin conveying systems: types, operation, economics, design, installation, components and controls.
This Knowledge Center provides an overview of resin moisture and the drying process, including information on the best drying practices for your manufacturing facility. high density xps foam
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.
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.
Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.
First quarter was ending up with upward pricing, primarily due to higher feedstock costs and not supply/demand fundamentals.
Despite earlier anticipated rollover in prices for most of the volume commodity resins, prices were generally on the way up for all going into the third month of first quarter.
While price initiatives for PE and PVC were underway, resin prices had rollover potential for first two months of 2024, perhaps with the exception of PET.
Flat-to-downward trajectory for at least this month.
A mixed bag, though prices likely to be down if not flat for all this month.
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.
NPE2024: Following the company’s recent partnership buyout, new North American geographic territories are in its sight.
New materials and machinery offer processors the means to run their businesses more efficiently and more inline with the circular economy. But you have to say yes.
Firing up a cold blown-film line after a shutdown involves multiple pieces of equipment that all interact. Here’s a look at those components individually and some best practices on how to get your line up and running as quickly and safely as possible.
NPE2024: Purgex team hosting technical seminars throughout the show with industry pros.
NPE2024: Advancements and forward-thinking initiatives in plastics manufacturing will be highlighted.
Plastics processing activity didn’t make its way into expansion territory in March, but seems headed in that direction.
Beyond Plastic and partners have created a certified biodegradable PHA compound that can be injection molded into 38-mm closures in a sub 6-second cycle from a multicavity hot runner tool.
There are many things to consider, and paying attention to the details can help avoid machine downtime and higher maintenance costs. In this installment, the focus is on design and placement of sucker/puller pins.
Despite last-minute design changes and other unexpected roadblocks, thermoformer TriEnda works with a key supplier on innovative reusable shipping container.
NPE 2024: Teknor Apex discusses its recyclable thermoplastic elastomers and much more between Tuesday and Thursday
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.
technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.
Shibaura discusses the upcoming Plastics Technology Expo (PTXPO) March 28-30
As the government funds infrastructure improvements, a hot topic at NPE2024 – exploration of the role recycled plastics can play in upcoming projects, particularly road development.
NPE2024: Dr. Joseph A. Biesenberger, a pioneer in polymer science and education, was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 2024. From founding the Polymer Processing Institute to seminal works in reactive polymer processing, his impact continues to shape the plastics industry.
The Recycling & Sustainability Zone is the place to learn about new technologies and strategies for a greener plastics economy.
Follow the legacy of Chihiro Kanagawa, a pioneer in the PVC industry and advocate for sustainable growth. Chairman of Shintech, his vision transformed PVC manufacturing.
Three stages, five days of programming and more than 75 sessions — the all-new Spark Stages at NPE2024 give attendees a chance to rest their feet and exercise their minds.
NPE2024: Get to know the life and legacy of Luigi Bandera, the visionary behind Costruzioni Meccaniche Luigi Bandera, who revolutionized plastic extrusion technology and earned a place in the Plastics Hall of Fame in 2024.
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.
Cooling time is typically the longest step of the molding process. How can you make it more productive? Learn how cooling time can be turned into production time by running two molding processes simultaneously on a single molding machine. For longer cycles, this can mean twice the productivity. In this webinar, you'll learn more about the Shuttle Mold System and how to calculate its potential productivity impacts for your application. Agenda: Learn how the Shuttle Mold System can deliver value to your business See the recent technical updates made to the system Calculate the potential impact on productivity
Discover possible applications in large format printing including layup tools, transport modules, film fixation devices, design components and enclosures. These are used in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, architecture and many others. Agenda: Possible applications in large format printing: layup tools, transport modules, film fixing devices, design components and enclosures. Process reliability and component quality in component production Pros and cons of the technology Sneak peek into current development projects—What will the large format printing of tomorrow look like?
In this webinar, Cold Jet will discuss some of the ways processors use dry ice such as in-machine mold cleaning at operating temperatures, de-flashing or de-burring parts, improving OEE scores, extending mold life, cleaning parts before painting, post-processing 3D printed parts, lowering GHG emissions, and monitoring and reporting the process. Agenda: Cold Jet Overview & Dry Ice 101 Understanding the Process and Fine-Tuning Techniques Case Studies: Applications in Plastics Monitoring the Process Exploring the Importance of Dry Ice Cleaning in an ESG Era
Finding it hard to get technical talent? Experiencing the pain of a knowledgeable, long-term employee's retirement? Learn how plastics processors are training generative AIs on their operations and unlocking the value from their tribal knowledge. Plastics processors are training generative AI models on their operations — from machine manuals to tools, polymers, procedures, maintenance records and engineering projects. Applying generative AI in the right ways can lower plastics processors' costs, improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and upskill teams. In this webinar, you'll learn how to deploy AI technical assistants to your teams, what works and what doesn't, and how to use AI to build an organization that never loses tribal knowledge and fosters inter-team collaboration. Agenda: What is generative AI and how can its cognitive abilities be applied to plastics? Case study: how an injection molder trained a large language model on manuals and maintenance records to reduce downtime Case study: using generative AI in engineering teams to improve product development Live demonstration of a generative AI deep-trained on plastics knowledge Looking to the future: five predictions for an AI-augmented workforce in plastics
Turnaround time can be as low as 24 hours, although two or three days might be more typical. Rapid prototyping like this is especially useful to quickly identify critical end-use part geometries that will work in the molding process. Key components include material choice, 3D printing technology selected, use of adaptable mold bases for the mold inserts and implementation of appropriate injection molding process conditions. This presentation will review work conducted toward the assessment of a high-stiffness, high-temperature-resistant ceramic modified urethane acrylate for injection molding inserts. Agenda: Guide for 3D-printed injection mold inserts Optimization of digital light processing (DLP) printing Compatibility with various thermoplastics Real-world application success stories
Tony will address common challenges encountered at each stage and provide invaluable insights to effectively navigate these obstacles. Agenda: Bridging the gap between color and appearance: learn how to achieve harmony between the intended color and the final appearance of your plastic products. Importance of using a data-driven color management model: color measurement technology provides valuable insights and analytics that enable plastic manufacturers to optimize color formulations, troubleshoot color inconsistencies, enhance operational efficiency and drive continuous improvement in their production processes. Choosing the right toolset: gain insights into selecting the most suitable technology and processes tailored to your workflow and specific needs.
Every three years, leaders from almost every major industry gather at NPE to advance their businesses through innovations in plastics. The largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE offers six technology zones, keynote speakers, workshops and opportunities to build partnerships.
The 3D Printing Workshop @ NPE2024 – The Plastics Show, is an immersive, half-day workshop focused on the emerging possibilities for part production via 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology, the 3D Printing Workshop will build upon a successful model first introduced at IMTS 2014. Attendees will benefit from a program focused on practical applications of 3D technologies related to plastics processing. This event will conclude with a 3D Printing Industry Reception sponsored by Additive Manufacturing Media.
The Society Plastics Engineers (SPE) Extrusion Division and the SPE Eastern New England Section will co-host the Screw Design Conference-Topcon on June 19-20, 2024 @ UMass Lowell in Lowell, MA. This highly technical program will focus upon screw design principles for single and twin screw extruders with wide ranging topics relating to screw designs for feeding, melting, mixing, venting and pumping plastics products and parts. Areas of focus will include screw designs for melt temperature and gel management, gel minimization, bioplastics, recycled materials and foaming. In addition to the technical sessions, a tour of the UMass Lowel Plastics Processing Laboratories will be integrated into Day 2 of the event. This program is not just for screw designers, but to help anyone responsible for any type of extrusion operation to evaluate existing extrusion equipment; and also to prepare for future projects. Price to attend: Less than $1000! Registrations will be accepted in early 2024. Call for papers – To be considered to give a presentation, please submit a talk title and abstract on or before December 15 to: Technical Chair: Eldridge M. Mount III, e-mail emmount@msn.com Corporate sponsorships - A limited # of corporate sponsorships (15) are available on a 1st come basis. Included is a 6’ tabletop display (must fit on table), denotation in all promotional activities, and 1 no charge registration. To become a sponsor contact: Charlie Martin, Leistritz Extrusion, e-mail cmartin@leistritz-extrusion.com, cell 973-650 3137 General information: A reception on Day 1 and a tabletop display area will allow the attendees to meet and discuss state-of-the-art screw technologies with industry experts. The SPE Extrusion Division will issue a “Screw Design Certificate” to all participants who have attended the program. Students are encouraged to attend and will receive a discounted rate. For additional information contact: Program Chair: Karen Xiao, Macro Engineering, KXiao@macroeng.com
Debuting in 2010, the Parts Cleaning Conference is the leading and most trusted manufacturing and industrial parts cleaning forum focused solely on delivering quality technical information in the specialized field of machined parts cleansing. Providing guidance and training to understand the recognized sets of standards for industrial cleaning, every year the Conference showcases industry experts who present educational sessions on the latest and most pressing topics affecting manufacturing facilities today. Discover all that the 2022 Parts Cleaning Conference has to offer!
Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology, the 3D Printing Workshop at IMTS 2024 is a chance for job shops to learn the emerging possibilities for part production via 3D printing and additive manufacturing. First introduced at IMTS 2014, this workshop has helped hundreds of manufacturing professionals expand their additive capabilities.
Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).
Tandem extrusion of PS is still the standard technology, but new materials options and equipment technology are emerging.
Tandem extrusion lines are still preferred for PS foam processing because they provide very high output rate and more desirable cellular structure.
In tandem low-density foam extrusion, the two connected extruders have quite different functions. The primary extruder (top) works to melt and homogeneously mix the materials, including additives and reclaimed pellets. The secondary extruder cools down the melt prior to foaming in order to optimize melt strength and strain-hardening behavior.
The primary extruder in a tandem line is frequently equipped with a pineapple mixing section (or a Saxton mixer) to improve distributive mixing
Cell population density is proportional to the number of impurities incorporated in the melt. Talc is the most commonly used cell nucleating agent for foaming but must be used sparingly. Pressure-drop rate also plays an important role in determining cell population density. Image: C. B. Park et al., Polymer Engineering Science (1995)
Melt-temperature control is crucial to maximize the foam expansion ratio. If it’s too high, considerable gas loss results; too low, and the material may crystallize or solidify before sufficient expansion. Image: H. E. Naguib et al., Journal of Applied Polymer Science (2003)
An experimental comparison of high-temperature durability between conventional PLA foam and Macro’s heat-resistant PLA foam shows no major deformation of the heat-resistant PLA foam after filling with boiling water.
Low-density foams made of commodity polymers have countless applications, and most processors produce foamed sheet from tandem extrusion lines. But quite a few wonder why tandem foam lines are required in the first place. These lines are more complicated and difficult to run, not to mention more expensive, than a single-extruder foaming system.
Moreover, in some cases a tandem extrusion line isn’t altogether necessary to extrude low-density foams. For instance, low-density polystyrene (PS) foam sheet can be produced on a single foam extruder at output rates of about 600 lb/hr. So why is it possible for PS, and why can’t other thermoplastics be foamed similarly? To answer these questions, two matters need to be considered.
First of all, the most critical factor affecting the stable foaming process for producing high-quality foams with low density is the rheological characteristics of the polymers used. The rheology is related to crystallization behavior, the molecular structure, and the molecular weight. PS is a polymer with excellent foaming characteristics for several reasons. It’s an amorphous resin whose melt viscosity is relatively less sensitive to melt temperature than is the case with semi-crystalline polymers. This means that the melt-strength distribution cannot be as broad as the melt-temperature distribution.
PS is based on addition polymerization of styrene monomer, and as a result it has a weight-average molecular weight ranging from 150,000 to about 400,000 g/mol (higher than condensation polymers such as PET or PLA). This means that PS has relatively higher viscosity and melt strength at normal processing temperature (230 C, 446 F) and foaming temperature (120-140 C, 248-284 F). What’s more, PS has a bulky benzene ring as a branch to the backbone of the polymer molecule, which is favorable to forming higher entanglement density of molecular chains, even at high temperature. This feature is also believed to contribute to strain-hardening behavior during the biaxial elongation.
Since PS does not crystallize, there is no concern about a drastic viscosity hike, especially while the melt is being cooled down to reach the optimum melt temperature for achieving the best-quality foam.
Because of these material characteristics, PS can be foamed with relative ease, even on an unsophisticated single-screw extruder that provides less uniform melt-temperature distribution at the end of the secondary extruder. Given that PS gives relatively higher closed-cell content than other commodity polymers (regardless of the level of sophistication of the foaming equipment), it is safe to say that PS is one of the best polymers for various foam processes.
Yet despite its ease of processing, tandem extrusion lines are still preferred for PS foam processing because they provide very high output rate and more desirable cellular structure (see Fig. 1). With one extruder it is very difficult to achieve a high cooling capacity, due to significantly limited residence time.
The second critical factor contributing to the quality of the final foam is the foaming equipment. In a typical tandem low-density foam extrusion line (Fig. 2), the two connected extruders have quite different functions. The primary extruder works to melt and homogeneously mix the materials, including additives and reclaimed pellets. Also, since physical blowing agent is injected into the primary extruder, the screw in the extruder plays an important role in dispersing the blowing agent into extremely fine droplets.
These droplets must be dispersed in the melt in such a way that the interfacial area is maximized, so that a homogenous phase of the blowing agent/polymer solution is obtained in the shortest time possible. In the primary extruder, a pineapple mixing section or a Saxton mixer (Fig. 3) is used frequently to improve distributive mixing.
For safety reasons, the primary screw should have a blister ring, which acts as a melt seal, right before the injection port of the blowing agent. This prevents the flammable hydrocarbon blowing agent from flowing back to the hopper or feeding zone. The blowing-agent-laden melt would go through a crossover melt pipe from the primary to the secondary extruder.
The secondary extruder is usually called a cooling extruder because that is its basic function in the process. The melt is cooled down to optimal temperature to maximize the melt strength and the strain-hardening behavior at the foam expansion stage. The optimum melt temperature varies, depending upon the content of blowing agent dissolved in the melt and the original onset temperature of crystallization or solidification during cooling.
For example, PS dissolved with 5% isobutane should be cooled from 220 C (428 F) down to around 135 C (275 F). This is a typical condition for producing PS foam sheet used for disposable food packaging such as meat trays and clamshells. During the dramatic reduction of melt temperature, the viscosity of the melt substantially increases, especially at the end of the secondary extruder. It is quite challenging to achieve uniform melt-temperature distribution, which directly affects the melt-strength uniformity.
In the case of semi-crystalline polymers, crystallization in the barrel of the cooling extruder can happen and induce a melt-pressure hike, particularly when the melt temperature goes down too much, which makes the foaming process much more difficult to control. Depending upon the solubility of the blowing agent used, the melt pressure should be maintained above the solubility pressure of the blowing agent in such a way that the blowing agent can stay completely dissolved in the melt. When the cooled molten polymer dissolved with blowing agents approaches the die-lip exit, cell nucleation takes place due to thermodynamic instability triggered by reduced pressure.
Basically cell-population density is proportional to the number of impurities incorporated in the melt. Talc is the most commonly used cell nucleating agent for various foaming processes. The typical range of talc content is 0.3-2% by weight for optimal cellular structure and expansion ratio. Adding too much talc might result in high open-cell content due to extremely low cell-wall thickness, which is attributable to excessively high cell-population density. Pressure-drop rate also plays an important role in determining cell-population density (Fig. 4).
Once the cells are generated in the nucleation step, they keep growing until the cell pressure goes down and reaches the ambient pressure. This is called a cell-growth stage, where both solubility and diffusion rate of the blowing agent affect the cell growth rate in the expanding foam. For instance carbon dioxide (CO2) alone is nearly impossible to use for production of low-density foam sheet using an annular die, because of severe corrugation on the surface of the foamed sheet. This is why butane or pentane is frequently used for manufacturing PS or PP foam sheet. CO2 is more appropriate for high-density or medium-density foam having numerous fine cells, considering its higher cell-nucleating power than hydrocarbon blowing agents.
During the cell-growth stage, the foam goes through dramatic quenching because of adiabatic expansion and brisk heat absorption during vaporization of the blowing agent. In order to maximize the foam expansion ratio, melt-temperature control is very important because too high a melt temperature can lead to considerable gas loss due to cell rupture and coalescence, and too low melt temperature can make melt crystallize or solidify before sufficient expansion, as indicated in Fig. 5.
Cooling air is often applied to the surface of foam exiting the die, which is intended to form a very thin, solid skin layer on the foam surface for higher gloss because the appearance of the foam is commercially important.
THE PLA ALTERNATIVE While PS foaming has been widely used for decades, of late it has been placed under the environmental microscope. Whether the claims being made by environmentalists—and the bans that have followed in many cities—are based on “sound science” is not the point. Truth is, many processors are looking at more “environmentally friendly” options, with polylactic acid (PLA) being highest on the list.
Since it’s a biobased polymer, PLA is compostable, and, at less than $1/lb in North America as of this writing, is regarded as one of the most reasonable alternatives to PS foam. But foaming PLA is no easy processing feat. As already noted, PLA is a condensation polymer with lower molecular weight than PS, so it has intrinsically lower viscosity and melt strength. This makes the rheological properties of PLA quite sensitive to melt temperature.
As a result, to foam PLA, chain extenders must be added to increase the molecular weight to boost viscosity and melt strength. Even though the chain extender is compounded with the PLA, it is still difficult to get high-quality PLA foam with high expansion ratio—as well as high closed-cell content—using conventional tandem PS foam extruders. This is because in most cases the conventional tandem foam extruders for PS are incapable of providing excellent melt-temperature uniformity. In particular, cell opening on the cell walls can take place due to local weak spots in extensional viscosity as the cell-wall thickness gets thinner and thinner during the cell-growth stage.
Since PLA is a semi-crystalline polymer and its viscosity is quite low and sensitive to melt temperature, it is extremely difficult to properly foam PLA for low-density products. Moreover the crystallization-induced viscosity hike at a low temperature range plays a role in narrowing the foaming process window. Thus these uncooperative attributes of PLA resin inevitably require a more advanced tandem foam extruder that has innovative screw and extruder designs for a reactive extrusion process for foaming PLA. For this reason, only a few foam manufacturing companies could succeed in commercializing low-density PLA foam for disposable packaging around the world.
The currently commercialized PLA foam still has a couple of constraints in actual applications. Firstly, low-density PLA foam has inadequate heat resistance for high-temperature applications. PLA foam is significantly deformed when put in contact with boiling water or hot foods. Secondly, the FDA has not approved the use of PLA foam having the chain extender in direct contact with hot food or water. This is because of concerns that the epoxy-based chain-extender molecules could leach into the hot-filled contents.
As a result, the application of current PLA foam sheet is limited to only low-temperature packaging like trays for meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits. These two drawbacks have been delaying the practical replacement of traditional PS foam with compostable PLA foam.
Recently Macro Engineering and Technology Inc. rolled out an innovative tandem foam extrusion line that is capable of producing 16 times expanded PLA foam sheet with the aid of advanced screw and equipment design. In addition, Macro invented a patent-pending new technology to overcome the two critical disadvantages of conventional PLA foam. Figure 6 shows the experimental results comparing boiling-water resistance between conventional PLA foam and Macro’s heat-resistant PLA foam. It is clear that no major deformation of the foam is shown for the heat-resistant PLA foam sheet.
All things considered, compostable PLA foam as a renewable alternative packaging is projected to attract gradually more and more attention in foam packaging markets across the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DR. RICHARD LEE
Dr. Richard (Eungkee) Lee received his BSc, MSc (Seoul National University, South Korea) and PhD (University of Toronto) in Polymer Science and Extrusion Foaming Process. Currently he is a R&D project manager of Macro Engineering and Technology Inc., Mississauga, Ont., in charge of developing extrusion foam lines for PLA, PP, PS, and other polymers. Contact: (905) 507-9000; rlee@macroeng.com; macroeng.com.
Kooper brings 33 years of experience in the industrial and consumer packaging industries to OMV--the closed-loop, turnkey, inline extrusion, thermoforming and tooling systems manufacturer.
Has worked in technical roles for leading processing companies in his career of 40+ years.
As drying, blending and conveying technologies grow more sophisticated, they offer processors great opportunities to reduce cost through better energy efficiency, smaller equipment footprints, reduced scrap and quicker changeovers. Increased throughput and better utilization of primary processing equipment and manpower are the results.
Streamlined stack is joined by high-speed extruder; service cart for maintaining screws, dies and rolls; and other products.
Coverage of single-use plastics can be both misleading and demoralizing. Here are 10 tips for changing the perception of the plastics industry at your company and in your community.
Driven by brand owner demands and new worldwide legislation, the entire supply chain is working toward the shift to circularity, with some evidence the circular economy has already begun.
Implementing a production monitoring system as the foundation of a ‘smart factory’ is about integrating people with new technology as much as it is about integrating machines and computers. Here are tips from a company that has gone through the process.
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