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Plastics Technology, 2008-09-08, Plastic Pallets Gain Ground In an Eco-Conscious World
Low-cost wood is still king, but plastics" reusability is a growing attraction among manufacturers looking for sustainable material-handling options. The one major hurdle is today"s high res...

Kunststoffe international, Diverse Shapes and Applications
Styrenics can be polymerized using different technologies and it can be modified with a range of copolymers. The resulting plastics offer a wide range of properties allowing to customize them for different applications. ‧Because of this range of properties they are suitable for many industries. Strong demand is for example driven by the automotive industry, healthcare and the packaging industry. Styrenic polymers are amongst the economically most important plastics. They combine benign processin...

Kunststoffe international, Sustainable Growth
Because of its good temperature resistance, impact resistance and aesthetics appearance, acrylonitrile-‧butadiene-styrene is often used in household goods and in the automotive industry. The development of a ‧circular economy also shows successes. More and more ABS materials used in a range of applications are ‧containing a contribution of recyclates. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is the largest-volume engineering thermoplastic resin, offering an excellent balance of heat, chemical, and ...

Kunststoffe international, The Role of Chemistry in Plastics Recycling
Today plastics recycling is usually only classified as being either mechanical or chemical. This view ‧ignores the fact that the main difference between the two is whether physical or chemical reactions are taking place. However, precise differentiation is crucial for any assessment of the possibilities and limitations of plastic ‧recovery processes and whether materials are actually being recycled or merely their raw materials recovered. Plastics recycling has been enjoying a considerable boom ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Anniversary: Independence is Trumps
Anniversary: Independence is Trumps On September 12th, Hanser Publishers of Munich/Germany, celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary in the company of authors, partners, employees and members of the founder’s family. Right up to the present, this publishing house, which looks back on a long tradition, has warded off all merger moves and remained securely in family hands. The celebrations in the Muffathalle, a renowned temple of culture just opposite the Deutsches Museum, were opened with a m...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Application and Recovery: Plastics in Electric and Electronic Appliances
Application and Recovery: Plastics in Electric and Electronic Appliances With their versatile and highly adaptable properties, polymers are ideal construction materials for electric and electronic appliances. Both the tremendous complexity of the corresponding waste generated as well as the strict regulations of the European WEEE directive call for a new approach for the establishment of an eco-efficient waste management. Klaus Vorspohl, Ingo Sartorius The market for electric and electroni...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, BASF and its Customers: Profitable Growth
Market and Management Profitable Growth BASF and its Customers. By seeking even closer collaboration, BASF intends to keep growing profitably alongside its customers. Examples are the joint development of a new sports-shoe design with adidas-Salomon and the assumption of responsibility for the entire coating process at automotive producer Renault. Gudrun Klein In line with its strategic guideline, "Help our customers to be more successful," BASF is seeking to focus on even greater custom...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Costs and Benefits: Recycling Plastics from Electrical and Electronic Products
Recycling Recycling Plastics from Electrical and Electronic Products Frank E. Mark Costs and Benefits. Plastics recycling can only be economic if the resulting recyclates are attractive to the market. For this to be the case, they must meet certain minimum specifications at a price that is significantly below that of the virgin material. Conservation of resources, avoidance of landfill disposal and minimisation of environmental impact are the main objectives in the treatment of waste plastics ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Driving the Automotive Industry: Engineering Elastomers
Trend Report Crosslinking Plastics Engineering Elastomers Driving the Automotive Industry. Within the elastomer-manufacturing industry, there is increasing concentration and focus on product groups. Regardless of this, the trend towards relocating production of standard products within the expanded European Union continues to advance. In the future, China and India will also increasingly emerge both as markets and production locations for engineering elastomer products. Werner P. Lauhus The Eu...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Efficiently Packaged Mineral Water
Efficiently Packaged Mineral Water An Eco-Efficiency Tool for Analysing the Suitability of Different Types of Mineral-Water Packaging Peter Saling, Ludwigshafen/Germany Should mineral water be dispensed into glass, PET or aluminium? Is returnable packaging always better than the disposable kind? The BASF eco-efficiency tool sets out to analyse these questions from economics and ecological aspects. What should products look like in the future? How can we prepare our products and processes...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Elastomers
Elastomers Economic Situation and Observed Trends Werner P. Lauhus, Münster/Germany World consumption of synthetic rubber is expected to grow at +2.9% per year by 2005. Of this, China expects to see the biggest growth at +8.4%. In 2000, the synthetic rubbers with most growth in demand were EPDMs, owing to the increased consumption of technical rubber goods, and butadiene rubber, because of increased use in tyre applications. Germany is one of the world’s biggest technology motors in the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Energy Consumption: How Much Energy Does a Drive System Need?
Energy Consumption: How Much Energy Does a Drive System Need? Injection moulding machines with electromechanical drive systems have lower energy consumption than their hydraulic counterparts. This is a generally accepted fact. But do the energy savings of 50 to 80% as described in older studies also still apply to the new machine generations? And what are the potential savings for a complete production cell? Recent studies provide some answers. Johannes Wortberg, Thomas Kamps, Reinhard Schif...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, European Political Institutions and Plastics
European Political Institutions and Plastics VKE wants to form Political Communication with the Committees of the EU actively Increasingly guidelines resulting from political decision processes of the European Union influence national markets and global competition. To have an influence on behalf of the interests of the plastics industry, the Association of Plastics Producing Industries, VKE, wants to intensify its communication with European political institutions. The basic political con...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)
Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) Erich Klement, Ludwigshafen/Germany A precondition for the market success of EPS foam in different market segments was its great flexibility in product production with respect to foam density and geometrical form as well as the adaptability of the characteristics of the finished products to user requirements. Although this foam material has established itself today in many application sectors, its development potential is still very large. Exactly a half centur...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Fibre-reinforced Plastics: Naturally Better
PU Technology Naturally Better Fibre-reinforced Plastics. With hemp, sisal etc. in a polyurethane matrix, large-format mouldings can be produced that are on a par with their glass fibre-reinforced equivalents. In the ideal case, the lower intrinsic weight of natural fibres can even achieve weight savings of up to 15%. However, so far there have been restrictions due to the handling of natural fibre mats. The development of the NFI process now allows more economical natural fibre rovings to be us...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Growing Profitably: BASF: "Offering Customers Clear Advantages"
Special BASF: "Offering Customers Clear Advantages" Growing Profitably. By clearly focusing on the business model of the future, reducing fixed costs and concentrating on profitable segments in partnership with customers, BASF plans to achieve continued successful growth in its plastics business. The aim is to earn a premium on the cost of capital. BASF intends to push ahead with the strategic development of its plastics business. This was made clear by Dr. John Feldmann, the BASF AG bo...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, High-perspective Location
High-perspective Location BASF Schwarzheide Attracts Investors Through investments of around DM 2 billion, BASF Schwarzheide GmbH has gradually become a highly competitive site within the BASF Group. The company is aiming to achieve a turnover of DM 1 billion in the coming year. Through attractive investment promotion schemes, it is hoped that in particular plastic converters will re-locate to the site during the next few years. The Schwarzheide site in the southern part of the German Sta...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Life Cycle Costing: Making Sustainability of Plastics Measurable
Market and Management Making Sustainability of Plastics Measurable Life Cycle Costing. Analysing the production process for plastics in order to assess sustainable processes and products does not go far enough. The experience gained from over 220 eco-efficiency analyses shows that not only the ecological but also the economic effects over the entire life cycle must be examined. Markus Piepenbrink Andreas Kicherer The vision of a sustainable development, in harmony with the future, is most cer...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Materials of the 21st Century: Plastics Producers Remain on Path to Growth
Special: World Market Plastics Producers Remain on Path to Growth Fred Baumgartner Materials of the 21st century. Global plastics production has grown at an impressive rate since the last K-fair in the year 2001. Nevertheless, the plastics industry, and especially plastics production, still faces major challenges. Key words are restructuring, globalisation and pressure on margins. A central challenge for the future will be to obtain reasonable margins in spite of high pre-product prices. Plas...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Modified Polyphenylene Ether (PPE)
Modified Polyphenylene Ether (PPE) Henk Perree, Bergen op Zoom/Netherlands Blends based on polyphenylene ether (PPE) combine the properties of plastics such as polypropylene, polystyrene and polyamide with the familiar high heat resistance, high dimensional stability and good hydrolysis resistance of PPE. Applications are to be found primarily in the automotive sector. Modified PPE blends are well known for their high heat resistance, high dimensional stability, very low water absorption a...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, PET Packaging: Growth Market with a Future
Market and Management Growth Market with a Future PET Packaging. In mid-September, drinktec, the trade fair for beverage and liquid food technology, will open its gates in Munich together with the PETpoint. PET applications will thus play a prominent role at this event. With its outstanding properties, PET has become one of the most important packaging materials for the industry. New areas of application are being developed through innovation, opening up solutions and creating new benefits for ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Plastics Remain a Growth Industry
Plastics Remain a Growth Industry Gottfried Zaby, Leverkusen/Germany Just since the last K in 1998, total global production of plastics has risen by more than 12 % or 20 million tonnes, from 158 million tonnes in 1998 to 180 million tonnes in 2000. Within the European Union, some 47 million tonnes of plastic were produced in 2000. One in every four tonnes of plastic in the world now comes from the countries of the European Union. The industry can therefore embark on K 2001 with impressive pr...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Polypropylene
Polypropylene Yves Bonte and Rainer Schweda, Brussels/Belgium Several factors support the continuous growth of polypropylene consumption. Besides the general economic growth, polypropylene is continuously expanding its applications arena thanks to its versatile properties portfolio, excellent processability, relative low density and good cost/performance balance. Lifestyle changes of the consumer further stimulate the substitution of other thermoplastic resins and traditional materials like ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Polypropylene Films: Versatile Packaging Solutions
Commodity Plastics Versatile Packaging Solutions Polypropylene Films. In an established field of application such as flexible and rigid film packaging, are innovations still possible with polypropylene? Certainly – because new advances in polymer design are continually giving rise to new combinations of conversion processes and applications. At a time of increasing debate about sustainability and conservation of resources, the use of polyolefins offers advantages. A material such as polypropyl...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Polystyrene recycling: Regranulates from Post-consumer Waste
Polystyrene recycling: Regranulates from Post-consumer Waste Although the plastics in the “Yellow Bag” recyclable waste collection are still sorted primarily according to article type, this is gradually being replaced by sorting on the basis of plastic type. The polystyrene mixture obtained in this way has been examined to see whether it can be mechanically recycled by the conventional wet-mechanical process as well as by polymer solution recycling. The German Plastics Recycling Association ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Printing and Finishing Webs
Printing and Finishing Webs Max Dominik, Eschwege/Germany The only way to obtain the latest information about the status of printing and coating techniques for continuous webs is to specifically ask the manufacturers of the machines and equipment used for such applications. The result of such inquiries is that the only signs of innovation are in the form of improvements, greater automation, increased economic efficiency and energy savings. Hopes of a pioneering innovation appeared a few ye...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Recovery of Used Plastics from E+E
Recovery of Used Plastics from E+E The Impact and Consequences of the New European WEEE Directive Frank E. Mark, Horgen/Switzerland The upcoming European WEEE Directive (Waste of Electrical and Electronics Equipment Directive) and its transposal to national laws will entail new technical requirements for plastics manufacturers and processing plants and establish new yardsticks. In the future economical recycling principles will be guidelines for research, development, design, production an...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Strong Upturn: Polycarbonate (PC)
Trend Report: Engineering Plastics Polycarbonate (PC) Strong Upturn. Following a period of subdued growth from 2001 to 2003, during which prices dropped dramatically, the global market for polycarbonate has been growing strongly since mid-2004. Thus, consumption is outstripping growth in capacity. Polycarbonate blends and film are becoming increasingly important, especially in the IT and automotive sectors. In 2004, some 15 million t of engineering thermoplastics were consumed worldwide. Arou...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Sustainable Marketing
Sustainable Marketing How a Biodegradable Polyester Meets The Criteria for Sustainable Business Dirk Stärke and Gabriel Skupin, Ludwigshafen/Germany A biodegradable copolyester has similar properties to PE-LD and can therefore be processed to form films for packaging applications. It meets the strict criteria and requirements made on biodegradable materials and guidelines for compost quality and phytotoxicity. Since 1998, BASF has been marketing a biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyester (gr...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, The Crucial Question in Fire Protection
The Crucial Question in Fire Protection Flame-retardant Thermoplastics – Product Strategy and Development François de Bie, Bergen op Zoom/Netherlands What is your stance on polybromine? The use of flame-retardant plastics in electrical engineering and electronics (E&E) is frequently a compromise between economics and technical feasibility. This article outlines the topic from the point of view of a raw material producer and describes modern solutions. The choice between halogenate...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Thermoforming: Packaging is Dominant
PE103118 Trade Fair Report Packaging is Dominant Thermoforming. After the technical parts sector saw significant growth three years ago, the packaging sector was more strongly represented at K2004. In addition to known technologies, interesting innovations were presented in detail. With the KMD 85 type automatic pressure formers, Kiefel AG, Freilassing/Germany, presented a machine for mass production of packaging parts. Its drive directly incorporates the new “Simotion” control technology from S...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, TPE Test for Automotive Engineering
TPE Test for Automotive Engineering Comparison of TPE with Elastomers Norbert Vennemann, Osnabrück/Germany, Susanne Leifheit and Peter Schulz, Wolfsburg/Germany This paper compares selected thermoplastic elastomers in respect of key mechanical properties, ageing behaviour and oil resistance with two covalently crosslinked elastomers based on EPDM and ECO. A new evaluation method also makes it possible to establish specific differences between the TPEs. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) hav...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Waste Policy: Ways, Goals and Conflicts
Waste Policy: Ways, Goals and Conflicts More than 120 experts from industry, politics and government authorities met in Bonn in January at a plastics industry symposium entitled “The Recycling of Plastics from Technical Applications” to discuss problems and solutions connected with European product guidelines. Dorothea Wessel The main topic at the symposium was the consequences of the EU Directives for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV), Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the reg...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Which Drive for An Injection Moulding Machine?
Which Drive for An Injection Moulding Machine? All the Facts, All the Trends Thomas Kamps and Johannes Wortberg, Essen/Germany The question as to the most suitable drive technology for injection moulding machines is a controversial and usually emotional one. It raises aspects such as energy consumption, reproducibility, oil leakage and cleanroom conditions. Processors need an objective and factual analysis to help them decide on the right drive technology. According to a Delphi study, 28...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-02-24, Company History: 50 Years Old – and Bubbling Over with Ideas
Market and Management. 50 Years Old – and Bubbling Over with Ideas. Christoph Schumacher. Company History. At Arburg, 2006 marks a particular anniversary: Exactly 50 years ago, the enterprise built its first series injection moulding machine. A look back reveals that Arburg was a significant trend setter for the development of injection moulding technology. Visitors who come to the headquarters of the Arburg GmbH + Co KG situated in the Northern Black Forest will find an enterprise that is y...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-03-23, Food Packaging: To Each Yoghurt Tub, Its Own Polystyrene
Packaging. To Each Yoghurt Tub, Its Own Polystyrene. Food Packaging. More and more dairy factories are processing their own yoghurt tubs and similar containers. Forming, filling and sealing of the plastic food containers are being performed in one operation by multifunctional machines. This is increasing the demands on the polymer films, the polystyrene manufacturers and their raw material. Peter Weinkötz, Christian Schade. Refrigerators, toys, CD jewel cases, insulation materials – polystyrene ...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-03-23, Packaging Recycling: From Bottle to Bottle
Packaging. From Bottle to Bottle. Packaging Recycling. Current high polymer prices are stimulating the packaging industry’s interest in recycling technology. Several processes have already been implemented on an industrial scale for PET bottles. Other polymers are being studied for their suitability for a closed-loop process. Frank Welle. For some considerable time, plastic packaging has been collected and converted into high-quality recycled material. However, it is only in the last decade th...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-04-25, TPU Processing Aids: Polyethylene Extrusion without Melt Fracture
Additives Polyethylene Extrusion without Melt Fracture TPU Processing Aids. During polyethylene extrusion, melt instabilities can lead to surface defects or melt fracture. Additives based on thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers postpone melt fracture until higher shear rates. At the same time they improve melt release from metal moulds and dies. Polyethylenes are the world’s top-selling polymer group and demand for these materials is continually rising. One good reason for this is the cost-b...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-05-23, Innovative Potential: Additives Now and in the Future
Additives Additives Now and in the Future Innovative Potential. The use of additives to extend the range of properties offered by plastics has made a vital contribution to the success of these materials. Additives are important components in plastics formulations, which assist their processing and ensure a long service life. Additives modify, influence and safeguard service properties. They also achieve new effects and functions that open up considerable innovative potential. Rudolf Pfaendner...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-06-30, UTECH 2006: PUrists Together
Market and Management. PUrists Together. UTECH 2006. This year's Utech Exhibition made distinct impressions with regard to innovations in the field of polyurethane machine technology. On the one hand, companies in the PU sector used this year's trade fair to present a host of novelties. On the other hand, the Isopa Association through its "Walk the Talk" initiative drew attention by way of example to the safe handling of isocyanates. LED of Villers-La-Montagne/France appeared ...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-07-04, Company History (3): The Road to Global Player
Market and Management. The Road to Global Player. Company History (3). After the euphoria of the initial start-up phase and the dynamic economics that characterised the years following its founding, Arburg introduced a number of successful ideas in the years between 1970 and 1990 that helped the company on the road to becoming a global player. One of the lasting concepts still employed today is that of modular construction. Christoph Schumacher. At the beginning of the 1970s, Arburg’s Allroun...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-09-08, Natural-fibre-reinforced Plastics: Considerable Potential for Improvement
Additives Natural-fibre-reinforced Plastics. At the Global Wood and Natural Fibre Composites Symposium held by the Institut für Werkstofftechnik at the University of Kassel, experts took stock of the present state of development of natural-fibre-reinforced plastics. In their favour, these reinforcing materials offer eco-friendliness, low cost and light weight. There are problems to solve in terms of their characteristic odour and property and design limitations. Considerable Potential for Impr...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-09-10, Company History (4): Heading in New Directions
Market and Management. Heading in New Directions. Christoph Schumacher, Company History (4). In the years between 1990 and 2005, Arburg developed the series that form the basis for the current machine line. During the same time period, the company became a systems supplier, and with its new modular drive concept tailored to the specific application fully matches machine perform-ance to customer requirements. As many times previously, the K-Show in Düsseldorf in 1992 was once again a display ...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-09-27, EU Legislation: The REACH Syndrome: Incurable, But Not Fatal
Market and Management. The REACH Syndrome: Incurable, But Not Fatal. Wolf J. Köhler. EU Legislation. The European Chemicals Act – REACH – will be entering into force in 2007. It will have an impact on the entire industry, including plastics producers and plastics converters. Although the high macroeconomic effort caused by the Act is not offset by any perceivable benefit over the short term, it is not possible to prevent the Act in political terms. It is thus high time for companies to implemen...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-09-28, Reactive Processing: From Expanded Foam to Structural Part
PU Technology. From Expanded Foam to Structural Part. Reactive Processing. Developments here are characterised by simplification of the machinery and user-friendly ease of operation. In addition there is increased flexibility and specialisation in production plants. By combining different processes specific to the customer new product ideas are achievable. Two interesting technologies take the form of spray technology for heavy layers and spray impregnation of semi-finished fibre-reinforced pro...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-03-15, Car Bodies from Natural Fibres and Vegetable Oils
Car Bodies from Natural Fibres and Vegetable Oils Renewable Resources It might be possible to develop a material system based on hemp fibre and vegetable oil resin that could be processed using common SMC moulding techniques. The first exterior auto body components have been produced and tested in order to demonstrate the technical possibilities of this material group. Jörg Müssig, Uwe Schönfeld, Hans-Bernhard von Buttlar, Meike Schmehl Since the mid-1990s, natural fibres have found a plac...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, Basis of Product Quality
Basis of Product Quality Materials Supply (Trade-fair-pre-report K 2007) From release from store through purification and drying to mixing and metering the machinery and plant manufacturers present a broad product spectrum of innovative exhibits. Gentle transport of materials, precise and flexible metering of materials as well as computer-aided documentation of all steps in a process are necessary contributions by machinery and plant manufacturers to materials supply in order to keep abrea...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, Energy Efficiency Taking on Increasing Importance
Energy Efficiency Taking on Increasing Importance Engineering Plastics (Trade-fair-pre-report K 2007) The innovations in engineering plastics for K 2007 are to be found primarily in areas of particular importance for these plastics, including the automotive sector, industry and medical technology. It is in these sectors that the performance potential of these plastics can be exploited to the full. The challenges for these materials lie in component applications that have so far been based on...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-10-21, Bioplastics
Bioplastics Market Potential with Risks (Trade-fair-pre-report K 2007) Bioplastics experienced their first ever boom in demand over the last year. Slowing climate change with renewable raw materials and escaping the price uncertainties of fossil resources would appear to be a future-oriented strategy. But bioplastics are not without risks. In view of the high investments required, the question is whether the market can do this on its own or politicians will come to its aid. Sabine Arras and ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-10-21, Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)
Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) Strong Growth in Consumption (Trade-fair-pre-report K 2007) The global market for expandable polystyrene (EPS) has been growing at above average rates for years, mainly driven by growth in the Chinese market. But Europe, too, has significantly increased its demand in recent years. The main contribution is made by the thermal insulation of buildings, particularly during the renovation of old buildings to reduce energy consumption. Wolfgang Glenz Expandable polys...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-10-21, Polycarbonate (PC) and Polycarbonate Blends
Polycarbonate (PC) and Polycarbonate Blends Continuing Growth (Trade-fair-pre-report K 2007) Thanks to robust growth, global polycarbonate production capacities were well utilized in 2006. PC consumption increased by above average rates especially in the Far East. In China alone it will rise by about 18% per annum in the next few years. PC blends and PC film are steadily taking on ever more significance, especially in the IT and automotive sectors. Klaus Horn, Hans-Joachim Laue, Uli Franz, Uw...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-11-21, Pipe Systems in the Engine Compartment
Pipe Systems in the Engine Compartment High-temperature Polyamides Polyamide 6 and 66 have become established under the hood as materials for air ducts and media pipes. However, these materials are continually faced with new challenges. For example, the trend towards turbocharged engines creates higher thermal stresses. Detlev Joachimi Ralf Zimnol Ludger Meinerding The main processes used to produce pipe systems from polyamide 6 and 66 (PA6 and 66) for application in the engine compartm...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-12-17, Many Improved Details
Many Improved Details Machine Technology At this year’s K show, injection molding machine manufacturers – from both Europe and Asia – exhibited several new developments and many improvements. It is obvious that their objective is to satisfy the technical as well as economic needs of their customers. Reinhard Schiffers At past K shows, injection molding machine technology focused on drive technology. While up to a few years ago various drive solutions were exhibited, the concepts presented...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-12-17, Not off the Rack
Not off the Rack Tubes and Profiles A large variety of products combined with specific requirements for individual customers means there is a wealth of approaches and solutions for extruding pipes and profiles. But extruders are not alone in the limelight. Peripherals tailored to the process are getting increased attention. Paul Gorczyca Growing market demands insist on the further development of our available technologies. This, in turn, is causing the competencies in individual branches ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-12-17, Technology being Consolidated
Technology being Consolidated Compression Molding Innovations in the compression molding sector were scattered very widely. This reflects the situation throughout the machinery segment. Exhibits from machine manufacturers ranged from pelleting and twin-belt presses via laminating units through plastic and rubber presses both in relation to performance and production of a very wide range of machines. The trends are in the direction of synergistic system technology, automation and customization ...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-01-15, Elastomer Industry Has Understood
Elastomer Industry Has Understood Elastomers (Trade Fair Report K 2007) The elastomer industry has become ever more heavily dependent on automotive manufacture (approx. 68 % of elastomer products are processed in this sector). Increasing raw material and energy costs associated with spiraling oil prices and growing price pressure due to cheap imports from Asia and Eastern Europe have severely shrunk margins despite continually rising sales. The European, and in particular the German, elastome...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-01-15, More Complexity, Speed, and Intelligence
More Complexity, Speed, and Intelligence Part 2: The Molds’ Inner Life (Trade Fair Report K 2007) Injection molds are the interface and bottleneck between the product developer’s ideas and what is possible in polymers. Their current level of achievement – combination of technologies, integration of additional tasks, and speed, to name a few – is impressive. Georg Krassowski Following Part 1 of this report, which was focused on the practical use of injection molds (Kunststoffe internationa...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-02-17, Growth in Specialties
Growth in Specialties Compounds, Additives, Distribution Compounding is enjoying renewed importance. The resurgence of compounding is typically happening in sectors that cannot be served by masterbatches. For instance, systems with high filler levels may be involved or it may be a matter of achieving the finest possible distribution within the compound. Newly developed additives are permitting numerous customized innovations. The industry must seriously get to grips with the new European Che...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-04-14, From the Pressure to Innovate to a State of Exhaustion
From the Pressure to Innovate to a State of Exhaustion VDI Injection Molding Conference 2008 The calendar had its way: the annual conference of injection molders in Baden-Baden, Germany, took place already at the end of January this year. The theme of this year’s event was "Innovation and Productivity", and the organizers focused on current developments in processing technology. Practical assistance was offered to those who have to withstand the everyday pressures associated with succe...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Bio – Sense or Nonsense
Over the long term, renewable energy sources and biomass can replace and complement the limited amount of fossil fuels and raw materials to some degree. Against this backdrop, renewable resources will become increasingly important in the future. Per se, however, they are not necessarily good as a material to be used, just as petroleum is not necessarily bad as a material to use. The amount of oil, gas and coal on the Earth is limited, but renewable resources are not present in limitless amounts ...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Food Packaging: A Green Light for Recyclates?
Kunststoffe: Mr. Hackl, this new regulation has been in the making for years. Since being published in the Official Journal of the European Union last 28 March, it replaces all previously valid national regulations. What do recycled plastics have to fulfill for them to be approved for food packaging according to the new rulings? Hackl: According to the new regulation, packaging materials and food packaging with recycled plastics content may be put in circulation only if the recycled plastics con...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Increasingly Simple and More Effective
The demands of processors when investing in new machinery and equipment for pelletizing, conveying, drying and metering are many. On the one hand, maximum flexibility is sought, while on the other, increasingly specialized applications require new and custom-engineered solutions. Numerous examples covering this range of requirements will be evident throughout the exhibition. A.B.S. Silo- und Förderanlagen Flexible Storage A.B.S. Silo- und Förderanlagen GmbH, Osterburken, Germany, s...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Injection Molding Machines Become “Green”
After some turbulent months, the injection molding machine branch appears to have settled down again. However, the dark clouds on the economic horizon are already ing their shadow from a distance and seem to indicate that the concentration process involving machine manufacturers is not yet at its end. The most recent fusions and acquisitions mean that two old and well-known companies will be appearing at the Fakuma in new garb – namely, Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH and the Demag Plastics Grou...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-10-17, Polyamides (PA)
The class of polyamide materials has undergone strong developments in recent years. Among the most mentionable ones are the introduction of very free-flowing products to the market and improved heat resistance of polyamides. Other highlights include hydrolysis-stabilized materials and the triumphant success of numerical development methods which have left mere virtual crashtests far behind them in the meantime. Here we have been seeing a tendency toward combining high-grade products with sophist...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-10-17, Polyaryletherketones (PAEKs)
Apioneer in PAEK highperformance polymers, Victrex was formed in 1993 through a management buy-out from ICI. ICI had already launched two lineararomatic thermoplastics – polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyetherketone (PEK) – in 1981. Victrex plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, today has production facilities in the UK and sales organizations in Europe, America, the Asia-Pacific region and Japan. Its range of over 40 products has become highly complex: various fill...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-02-17, Energy-Efficient Processing of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Plastics
In recent years, growing environmental awareness and the rising cost of raw materials have accelerated the search for alternative materials. Renewable CO2-neutral materials that can help combat climate change are of special interest. At the same time, the energy efficiency of processing techniques is slowly undergoing a rethinking, not least of all because of increasing energy costs. To date, energy losses in manufacturing processes have been accepted as a necessary evil for high-value productio...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-04-16, Eco-friendly – for Safety’s Sake
Germany is an environmentally aware. This was confirmed by a representative survey published in December 2008 by the Ministry for the Environment, Conservation and Reactor Safety (BMU). The majority of those surveyed gave environmental protection and climate change a high priority, and displayed a clear readiness for sustainable consumer behavior. For instance, 52 % of survey participants stated that they pay attention to power consumption when purchasing household appliances; in addition, 22 % ...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-10-14, Engineering Plastics from Renewably Sourced Materials
Can bio-plastics be used for sophisticated technological applications? Can polymers made from renewably sourced materials be processed on standard machines? Do plastics from renewably sourced materials really have a better ecobalance? Questions like these are often asked by potential users for this new class of materials. This article will provide answers to these and other questions while explaining basic concepts in the field of ''''plastics from renewably sourced materials''''. Explanation of...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-10-14, Focus on High-Tech
Whether it’s electrical or electronics, construction, engineering, packaging, chemical process technology, IT, automobiles or aircraft, practically all branches of industry can benefit from the innovation potential of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Their market growth therefore is very rapid. At present it is in the region of 25 % per annum. In ten years’ time the world market for CNTs is predicted to have a turnover about USD 2 billion. Bayer MaterialScience has therefore recently begun construction ...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-10-14, Formed by Air
The global crisis in the first half of 2009 created a challenging economic situation in many companies in the blow molding industry. Manufacturers of technical blow molded products in particular have been affected by the economic downturn. At the same time, revenue at companies producing blow molded packaging has also been affected by the consequences of the crisis in spite of their proximity to consumers. Some indicators pointed toward a stabilization of the situation in the plastics industry a...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-10-14, Pressure in Form
Reliable processing machines, problem-free integration with peripheral equipment via automation and efficient use of energy sources provide the basis for the success of plastics processing companies. This article discusses current developments in a number of companies that manufacture equipment for compression molding and points out trends. Direct Processing Dieffenbacher GmbH, Eppingen, Germany, one of the market leaders in the area of large presses and complete compression molding systems for ...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-11-19, Every Kilo Counts
For many years lightweight construction has counted amongst the cardinal virtues in designing new vehicles. This is a challenge for both automobile manufacturers and their suppliers. The aim is to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle through the use of the lightest possible individual components and thus contribute to lower fuel consumption and emissions. The public debate about CO2 emissions from personal mobility is seen as one of the most important drivers of lightweight vehicle construct...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-04-20, For the Sake of the Environment
Thanks to nanotechnology, there are several ways to save energy. This not only protects the environment. Many innovative products are also ready for the market, and will make future applications highly attractive. Typical examples are organic LEDs (OLEDs), organic photovoltaic systems (OPV), and engineering plastics, which require less energy during processing than before, whilst simultaneously permitting higher throughput per hour. Using Less Energy Organic electronics are one example of how na...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-08-19, Biopolymers as a Source of Energy
Biopolymers are defined as plastics that are made from natural (renewable) raw materials and/or are biodegradable (Fig. 1) [1]. In order to achieve maximum sustainability, cascade use and CO2 reduction costs through intelligent disposal of biopolymers are increasingly being discussed in association with the so-called “end of life”options for products. On top of that there are a number of special provisions for biopolymers in packaging that for example allow a time limited exemption to the take b...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-08-19, From Megatrends to Business
By the year 2030, the world's population will have risen to more than eight billion people. Some five billion of these will live in cities. At the same time, many people will be living healthier lives and receiving better medical care than today. Around 30 % of global greenhouse gas emissions and over 40 % of global energy consumption are presently accounted for by buildings. Over 14 % of all greenhouse gases worldwide come from the transport sector. In these future global trends, Bayer Mat...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-08-19, Grow Strategically
During the pre-K event in Amsterdam in late May 2010, four materials manufacturers informed visitors about their orientation in the recent past and their strategies for the near future. Since the world economic crisis began in mid-2008, these companies have repositioned themselves and come to concentrate on their core competencies. They have restructured their portfolios and directed further development mainly toward plastics for specific applications. Since the automotive industry has been espe...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-08-19, Plastics versus Metal
For a product to be competitive in the global marketplace, high-performance materials, optimized components and cost-efficient production methods are required. The innovation drivers described below are the engine for constant change. Standards and legislation tighten up product safety and environmental standards and spur on the harmonization of guidelines in global markets. Eco-friendly products can be obtained through the use of “green” materials, the voluntary elimination of polluting finishi...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-08-19, The Interior Goes Green
Several techniques are available to produce soft-touch surfaces for instrument panels. There are some well-known injection molding techniques, that are used to process polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene (ABS) ‒ compact and foamed ‒ mostly applied for small vehicles. Polyurethane (PU) and sprayed skins ‒ compact and foamed ‒ are mainly employed in upscale vehicles. The best price-performance ratio with high freedom of design at the same time is, however, achieved when applyin...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, A Material Unlimited
Be it foam material, coating or a molded part – in offshore operations, polyurethanes are taking on more and more important tasks to help make crude oil production safer. In refrigerators or houses, eco-efficiency analysis now can show just how much energy can be saved by insulating with PU foam materials. And in automobile interiors, these widely varied materials form sophisticated surfaces while fulfilling the low emission levels required by the automobile industry. In medical technology, poly...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, An Industry on Tenterhooks
That the global economy is back on an even keel can be seen from the companies’ order books, some of which are full to overflowing. Many manufacturers have profitably used some of their free resources last year for intelligent enhancements to their machine portfolio. At this year’s K show, they will therefore serve up a number of attractive innovations and improvements in detail. Besides energy efficiency, which continues to be a hot topic, exciting trade show exhibits are focusing on functional...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Color Takes on a Functional Role
One of the latest milestones in the development of new pigment chemistry was the diketopyrrolopyrroles (DPP). A pigment with Color Index P.R. 254 came on the market only in 1986 as Irgazin DPP Red BO for coating applications. The first DPP for plastics was launched in 1989 under the trade name Cromophtal DPP Red BP and was characterized by its brilliance and high color strength. With its excellent processing and performance characteristics such as light and weather fastness, heat resistance and ...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Elastic Diversity
Thermoplastic elastomers, as well as long-established conventional elastomers, are undergoing continual further development. They are increasingly fulfilling higher requirements such as enhanced heat resistance and freedom from halogens. They are also becoming electrically conductive and eco-friendly. These properties are opening up new applications for these materials in cables, the engine compartment and medical technology. The diversity of applications is continually growing, which will be ap...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Facilitating Technical Life
Accounting for less than one percent of world plastics production, highperformance plastics are barely visible. But wherever these experts amongst the plastics have conquered a niche position, they are tremendously important and are opening up an increasing number of applications. Lightweight construction in the automotive and aircraft sector continues to be one of their principal domains. Yet the “green” trend is also gaining increasing ground, in the form of both biobased and low-emission mate...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Precise and Efficient
Energy efficiency, the key word at the K2007, is taking on concrete forms this year in the area of material drying. While technical developments with the goal of improving energy efficiency have been ongoing for some time, they are now being backed up with quantitative data. In addition to energy labels, actual measured values provide information as to how much energy the drying process really needs. Many exhibitors are focusing specifically on drying of PET, given that the number of application...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Raising the Standards
The proportion of commodity plastics in the choice of materials can be expected to increase further in view of the demands on the supply of water or on electric mobility. Despite all the criticism, these plastics also belong to the problem solvers of society today, and their field of application is expanding steadily. The proximity to the customer and the offer of meeting his requirements together with him are crucial factors for a successful market position. BASF The Film Shrinks, the Expectati...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Stable PET Foaming
Markets are constantly changing, which is particularly true for the packaging market. Especially for developments in the packaging area, environmental aspects are growing in significance, beside aspects of costs and mechanical properties. The value creation chain of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for instance, has the great benefit of being excellently suited for recycling. The share of recycled PET today is up to 100 % in packagings. Some of the requirements for packaging materials are posed...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Systematic Metal Substitution
The polyphthalamide Rilsan HT is a new member of the polyamide 11 (Rilsan PA11) and polyamide 12 (Rilsan PA12) family of engineering polymers from Arkema. Polyamide 11, which is derived 100 % from renewable vegetable feedstock (or oil), and polyamide 12 have been used for decades as a metal substitute in the automotive industry. Rilsan PA11 is already established for flexible high-temperature applications, such as biodiesel fuel lines or brake booster tubing, up to150°C. In order to extend metal...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-11-25, Of Fibers, Foam and Nano (?)
The artificial, that is technical or even artistic, imitation of nature by humans is known in the language of our times as bionics. It is however not known to the author of this article whether W. H. Carothers (1896–1937) consciously wanted to copy the high tensile strength of the hardened secretions from the spinnerets of spiders or silk worms. What is known is that these are proteins characterized by the carbamide group -CONH-. What he did was to mix the AH salt from adipic acid and hexamethyl...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-01-25, Appealing to (almost) all the Senses
The themes of resource conservation, efficiency, safety and environmental compatibility clearly set the tone for the elastomer manufacturers at K2010. After the rather pessimistic mood of the last couple of years the exhibits made a welcome positive impact on the senses: products from Bayer MaterialScience for atmospheric lighting, from Merquinsa for silky touch, from PolyOne for brilliant colors or from Kraiburg TPE for a fresh scent. The multitude of innovations shows that the capabilities of ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-01-25, Efficiency Has Many Names
Eco, green and efficient are the keywords that have largely dictated developments in the field of drying in recent months and years. This is reflected today in the smart-controlled and energetically optimized process steps involved in the drying of plastics. In this regard, throughputs and metering levels are increasingly declining. Processors have a growing need to handle minute amounts of highly concentrated additives in the form of pellets, powder, meal and liquid. Simplified operation and th...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-01-25, Old Hat or Modern Materials?
Biopolymers are not a new class of polymers. They were the first commodity plastics and were manufactured industrially as early as the 19th century [1]. In times of changed ecological awareness within society as well as shrinking crude oil reserves and rising prices the acceptance of and demand for bio-based plastics is growing. In addition modern biopolymers have a great number of additional functions that add value to end products. Although the percentage share of biopolymers in the overall po...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-02-21, Driving Force, but no Think Tank
In the plastics sector, the K trade show is the fair with the highest number of exhibitors under one roof. At the latest K, taking place for the 18th time, 247 exhibitors from China (2007: 154 companies), 42 enterprises from Hong Kong (2007: 29 exhibitors), and 139 companies from Taiwan (2007: 132 enterprises) were present. Even without Hong Kong and Taiwan, exhibitors from China made up the second largest group from outside Germany, behind Italy. CHINA – Stimulus for Europe In 2009, PE, PP, PVC...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-04-25, Chemical Cross-Linking During Fires
Many polymers have a dangerous combustion potential. For this reason it is often necessary to incorporate flame retardant additives (FRs). These substances are used with the objective of interrupting the combustion cycle at a single or multiple points [1]. Accordingly we can differentiate between various mechanisms and FR groups. What they all have in common is the fact that the additives or fillers have to be incorporated into the polymer matrix and often negatively affect the mechanical proper...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-04-25, Sustainability in the Children’s Room
As the costs of raw materials and energies are constantly growing, the issues of sustainability and efficiency determine the strategies of development and success in virtually all branches of industry, starting from energy generation up to production of the final product. Fuel-saving vehicles with low emissions of pollutants, or, if possible, none at all, are just as popular with customers, as, for instance, energy efficient injection molding machines. This “green trend” has eventually reached t...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-05-12, Packagings Doing the Balancing Act
Agood half year ago, the K trade show revealed what will probably become more of a certainty at the interpack in May 2011. With the general challenges of globalized economy, packagings increasingly have to do the balancing act between consuming less material and providing enhanced and better functionalities. To satisfy this trend, especially plastics solutions are well-suited: Not only their great benefit – lightweight – but also their ability to protect goods in the long run, make plastics the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-08-24, Back to Nature
They are very attractive – some unusual, others look familiar: objects and articles made by designers and stylists who are committed to sustainability. The frame of a racing bike, for example, is made of hemp and bamboo [1] (Title photo). Liquid wood is the raw material for the heels and soles of pumps [2] (Fig. 1), a computer mouse [3] (Fig. 2) or containers and tableware [4] (Fig. 3). The retro-style radio is made of pine and sonokeling wood [5] (Fig. 4). And the “Jelloware” cups are based on ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-08-24, Bio above All?
The Earth’s oil, gas and coal resources are limited. In the future, renewable energy and biomass will replace and supplement these limited fossil sources of energy and raw materials to a certain degree. As a consequence, renewable sources of raw materials will continue to gain in importance in the long term. But renewable resources are not good per se, just as crude oil is not bad per se. In the same way that oil can either be burned or converted into valuable chemical raw materials, corn, wheat...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-08-24, Focus on Sustainability
The People’s Republic of China is not only the largest producer of plastics in the world; at the same time, this huge country is also the largest consumer of the five most widely spread plastics in the world (63.65 million tonnes), as was stated by Ma Zhang Feng, secretary general of China Plastics Processing Industry Association (CPPIA), Bejing, at Chinaplas 2011. China consumed approx. 65 million tonnes of plastics in 2010, with an average 46 kg consumed per person. Record Figures for the Chin...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-08-24, Good for the Environment
The term “bioplastics” is ambiguous and needs to be differentiated with respect to functionality and raw materials base. To begin with, the prefix “bio” can stand for two different properties: “bio-based” and “biodegradable”. A bio-based plastic is one that is generated partly or entirely from renewable resources and can just as likely be biodegradable as it may also be nondegradable. When we speak of “biodegradability”, we mean the capability of the plastic to be transformed into CO2, water and...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-09-23, Processes before the Melt
Increasing attention has been paid in recent years to the process steps of transporting, mixing, metering and drying prior to molding. Their importance for the reliable and cost-effective production of high-quality moldings is advancing the further development and optimization of high-performance material handling systems. The compatibility of the individual units and their central operability often plays an important role here, while the rigorous recycling of production wastes has also become s...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Polyamides (PA)
Considering PA6 compounds, BASF SE in Ludwigshafen, Germany, DSM Engineering Plastics B.V. in Sittard, Netherlands, and Lanxess AG in Leverkusen, Germany, remain some of the major suppliers of compounds, whereas DuPont in Wilmington, DE/USA, Rhodia S.A. in Saint-Fond, France, and BASF are leaders in PA66. Almost every supplier expanded capacities or announced to do so; and this was before, but mainly after the economic crisis, with demand having recovered from the downturn amazingly fast. BASF i...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)
The global capacity for PBT base polymer has been steadily increasing in recent years and totals well over 1 million t in 2011. Most PBT is processed into compounds by reinforcing with glass fibers, modifying with additives such as flame retardants and hydrolytic stabilizers or blending with thermoplastics such as polycarbonate (PC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). According to estimates by Lanxess AG of Leverkusen, Germany, global sales of these compounds in 2010 were in the region of 900,0...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Polyoxymethylene (POM)
Polyoxymethylene or polyacetal is a very versatile and generally easily processed polymer. Depending on the method of production, it is manufactured as a homopolymer or as a copolymer. The wide variety of fields of application have brought a large number of POM compounds to the market in recent years. The benefits lie in the outstanding mechanical properties and the very high resistance to moisture and hydrocarbons. More than 70 % of the world demand for polyoxymethylene is currently met by the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Polypropylene (PP)
All the signs are pointing to steady growth in the polypropylene market. In 2010, the global market for polypropylene (PP) was about 50 million tonnes. In volume terms, the Asia-Pacific region enjoys the largest share, accounting for some 50% (North and South East Asia including India). With annual growth rates currently at 5.7%, volume is projected to hit 65 million tonnes by 2015. Growth opportunities in the PP market can best be illustrated with reference to the development of per capita cons...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Polyurethanes (PU)
In 2010, global sales of PU reached 13.3 million tonnes (Fig. 1). By 2013 this figure is expected to be approx. 15 million tonnes. In recent years, Asia-Pacific (APAC) has become the region with the highest PU consumption, due in particular to the economic boom in China (Fig. 2), accounting for a share of almost 43 % in 2010. With a share of slightly more than one-third, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) took second place, followed a considerable way behind by the NAFTA region which contributed...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-01-30, Impressions of Hall 11
Toolless manufacturing is more than skin deep. It is taken for granted today that rapid manufacturing specialists can produce not only trinkets for design-conscious apartment dwellers and true objets d’art worthy of exhibition in a gallery, but also essential parts for hightech industries and short production runs for many other sectors. Now, the technology is mastering three-dimensional partdata directly through the use of 3-D printing or laser sintering without the intermediate step of physica...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-04-20, Home and Dry?
Compared with the case for conventional plastics, our knowledge of, and experiences with, the relatively recent field of bioplastics are still patchy. The results presented here, along with findings from practical studies jointly conducted by the Kunststoff-Zentrum SKZ, Würzburg, Germany, and Mann+ Hummel ProTec GmbH, Bensheim, Germany, were obtained on a commercial injection molding grade of PLA supplied by Nature Works, Minnetonka, MN, USA. While they are a snapshot in time, they represent a f...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-04-20, Plug-In Connectors for Household Appliances
With an estimated size of USD 160 billion in 2010, the global household appliance industry, also referred to as “white goods”, is a large market, which not only affects our functional home but it is also being impacted by the social structure of an average household. Global demand for appliances is set to rise by a low single digit percent annually through to 2015. This will be mainly driven by expansion in market penetration in developing countries, innovative electronics technologies and envir...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-07-23, Long Live Hydraulics
Whether the machine is in fact a fireworks of innovation will be up to the much-invoked market – KraussMaffei, for one, chose drum rolls and pyrotechnics to introduce the new GX series of injection molding machines to several hundred invitees on the occasion of a customer event on May 15. At a press conference held at the works in Munich, Germany, just before the ceremony began, Dr. Karlheinz Bourdon, vice president technologies for the group’s injection molding machines segment, explained the c...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-07-23, Long-Term Growth Trend
Private households and motorists are not the only victims currently groaning under the weight of high energy- and fuel prices. German plastics suppliers also suffer from the increasing costs of raw materials. “In the previous year, we have for the most part succeeded in passing the increased costs on to customers”, said Dr. Wolfgang Hapke (chairman of PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V.) recently as he explained the current situation of the plastics industry to representatives of the trade and econo...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-09-17, Efficiency Meets Process Integration
The topic of energy efficiency, which is still current among injection molding machine manufacturers, is increasingly being superseded by the term “production efficiency.” Besides a purely economic consideration of the processes, attention is increasingly turning to the fields of process integration and complex manufacturing cells. Continuing optimization of the drives and system technology is accompanied by intensive work on integrated processes. The results are impressive. Modular machine seri...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-09-17, Ultralight Electric Vehicle
The development of practicable electric vehicles for day-to-day operation is at the focus of a wide variety of activities in politics, business and science. Innovative vehicle concepts are being feverishly generated, unusual materials and material combinations tested and projects and platforms initiated for the development of demand-oriented electric vehicles. The Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK) at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, has also been focu...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-10-15, New Process Variations Expand Sales Markets
The thermoforming process finds many applications in the packaging sector as well as for technical parts. It is used when thingauge or large area parts are to be manufactured quickly and economically from thermoplastic resins. New developments and advances in machine technology, tooling, infrared heaters and materials are presented. Materials as the Key to Economical Production The demand for highly automated large machines has grown worldwide in recent years. As a consequence of the increasing ...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-10-15, Things are Moving!
The integration of robots into injection molding processes is well advanced. Products from various manufacturers can be relatively easily connected up electrically and mechanically via Euromap interfaces 12/67 and 18, and rapidly put into operation. Apart from this, manufacturers of injection molding machines and system integrators now offer robot cells for loading and unloading and other applications as a standard solution. This gives the plant operators tried-and-tested technology, which is mo...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-11-26, Both Ecological and Economical
Foodstuffs are no longer regarded just as an individual product, but are seen in a broader context. An important role is played here by the packaging. Consumers are increasingly demanding ethically and ecologically impeccable products, also with respect to the packaging. In order to meet this trend towards holistic product consideration, the industry is trying to produce more environmentally friendly – and hence sustainable – packaging through material reduction and/or material substitution. All...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-11-26, Inliner for Automotive High-Pressure Natural Gas Tank
Compressed natural gas or CNG is becoming increasingly popular with consumers as a vehicle fuel. According to information from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt or KBA) some 19 % more natural gas-powered vehicles were registered last year than in 2010. So their growth was almost twice as high as that of the market as a whole. The main advantages of natural gas as a fuel are its lower price and eco-friendliness. Natural gas vehicles, for example, emit around 25 to...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-01-28, Is the Future of Plastics Green?
At the present time, renewable resources are undergoing a renaissance that reaches far beyond the traditional sphere of biopolymers. Biomass is the raw material for modern biorefineries, which – besides producing biofuels – can supply a whole range of building blocks for old and new plastics. Through the use of biomonomers, plastics such as polyolefins and PET can be made 100 % biobased (Fig. 1), without jeopardizing their property profiles or efficient recycling. The implications of increased b...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-02-22, Are Halogens Really Necessary?
Preventing fire is a better way to protect life, limb and property than fighting it. Design engineers and manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment, systems and components are tasked with ensuring that high safety standards are met. That is not easy given the plethora of polymers specified by designers and the seemingly unstoppable urge to miniaturize and integrate functions. Notebooks and smart-phones, electrical household appliances, electrical systems for industrial and residential...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-04-19, Injection Moldings for the Compost
What does a manufacturer of injection molding machines for rubber processing do to equip himself for the green future of the plastics industry? He founds a company that develops and processes biomaterials. And what if he lacks the necessary experience? He enters into a cooperative venture with a manufacturer of plastics injection molding machines. “So you want to know how a caoutchouc machine manufacturer gets involved with renewab...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-05-16, Is the Future of Plastics “Green”?
The use of biomass, particularly for the production of bioenergy, places a considerable burden on existing agricultural land (Title figure) and forests. An attractive alternative option is direct chemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) without plant photosynthesis and biomass growth and therefore without competing with food production. Carbon dioxide gas is available in large quantities as a waste gas from power plants. Since a considerable amount of energy is released during combustion, the...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-06-19, Innovative, Cost-Efficient, Eco-Friendly
The continuing upward trend in the use of fiber-reinforced plastics is clearly reflected in the diverse areas of activity in the composites market. Besides new process technologies for large-scale production, there is increasing focus on machinery developments, innovative fiber and resin materials, and intelligently combined material systems. Sustainability concepts, such as recyclability, and research and development innovations are also showing the enormous potential of fiber-reinforced plasti...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-08-19, Machine Manufacturers Tool Up for K2013
To develop efficient solutions, strategic partners have to pool their know-how. What are the important trends currently dominating the industry in your view? Kraibühler: Production efficiency takes priority over everything else; we drive this concept forward in a progressive way, and also offer comprehensive advice. An important role in improving production efficiency is played by, for example, the automation of production and the integration of upstream and downstream production steps. To manag...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-01-23, Trend Report: A Sector with Plenty of Potential
Makers of equipment and components for producing film showed at K2013 that there is still scope for innovations, even in a mature technology like film extrusion. Novelties both large and small are boosting production line efficiency while enhancing film quality. Makers of blown film extrusion lines presented their latest developments for enabling customers to run versatile, efficient film-production operations. Thus, high output no longer is the main focus of the innovations presented. Instead, ...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-02-20, Country Report Greater China: More Quality Rather than Quantity
Can the plastics machinery producers from Greater China meet the demand for technologically sophisticated machinery and equipment in the region in the future? In any case, at the K trade fair more and more exhibitors from China, Taiwan and the region accepted the challenge. A look at the exhibits shows that growth can be achieved also in Asia not only through volume but also through more value added. About 45 % of all plastics are manufactured in Asia: 23.9 % in China, 4.9 % in Japan and 15.8 % ...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-03-21, Door Panels with Natural Fiber Content: Every Ounce Counts
The use of natural fibers for interior components in the automotive industry is becoming increasingly important. In addition to sustainable cost and weight reductions, the independence of raw material supply is also an important argument for using natural fibers. The weight of automotive components plays an increasingly important role in the debate on CO2 emissions. This is why a key focus of development at Johnson Controls over the past few years has been on reducing the weight of automotive pa...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-03-21, Quality Assurance: Scratch-Resistant
High-grade plastic surfaces, e. g. of polypropylene, should exhibit the highest scratch resistance possible. This can be achieved by means of specially developed masterbatches. Whether the modification fulfills the requirements for scratch resistance can be verified with specific equipment, e.g. the Erichsen test. If a product exhibits signs of damage before or shortly after being purchased, there will either be no sale, or a complaint will be lodged. A flawed surface automatically suggests poor...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-05-07, PET Preforms: An Accumulation of Productivity-Enhancing Details
At drinktec in Munich last fall, Netstal offered a world premiere: two new models of the PET-Line marked the start of the next generation of high-efficiency systems for PET preform production. The detail improvements add up to a considerable productivity gain. In reengineering its PET-Line series, Netstal-Maschinen AG, Näfels, Switzerland, has developed many innovative detail solutions that, in total, have once again considerably improved the performance, reliability and energy efficiency of the...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-06-17, Clean Melt Increases Profitability
A new melt filter is described which is suitable for filtering not only polyolefins, but easy-flowing materials as well, such as PET and PA. Its rotating filter drum achieves very homogeneous film qualities with better color dispersion and temperature distribution in the melt, as well as a marked reduction in the reject rate. Film extrusion is an example of a production process where melt filters can usually be integrated in the line even when processing new material. The purpose is the removal...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-06-17, Recovering Carbon Fibers
Pyrolysis is currently considered to be the only process for recycling carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) that is available on an industrial scale. The way by which it is performed is decisive for the quality of the recovered fibers. This article reports on relevant investigations. Since 2000, the worldwide market for carbon-fiber-reinforced composite materials (CFRP) has grown from 30,500 to 43,500 tons per year. According to the latest estimates, the demand for carbon fibers will rise to ...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-07-22, New Formula for Dissolving Power
The European Chemicals Regulation REACH has led to a new – and more particularly, intensive – toxicological assessment of well-known and widely used solvents and cleaning agents. Commonly used substances such as NMP (n-methylpyrrolidone), NEP (n-ethylpyrrolidone) and DMF (dimethylformamide) were suddenly subject to far more stringent classification and labeling. The pressure on companies to eliminate employee-endangering products and to replace them with user-friendly alternatives increased mass...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-08-19, Eco-Friendly Fire Prevention
The electrical & electronics industry is increasingly requiring eco-friendly flame retardant solutions for the plastics used in these sectors. Halogen-free and polymeric flame retardants are driving innovation here. Flame retardantUL 94[4 mm]P-content [%]FR-content [%]Tg[°C]DOPOV01.611.2155DOPO + MPP (1 :1)V02.16.5 + 6.5157DOPO + 30 % AlOOHV00.42.8168DXM-11V01.08.7174DXM-11 + MPP (1:1)V00.95.2 + 5.2179DXM-11 + 30 % AlOOHV00.87.0171Flame retardantUL 94[4 mm]P-content [%]FR-content [%]Tg[°C]DOPO...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Polycarbonate (PC)
Compared with the previous year, global sales of polycarbonate in 2013 remained practically unchanged at 3.62 million t. At the end of 2013, sales picked up and also increased during the first two quarters of this year, so that the outlook is good for 2014. In the medium term, a worldwide growth of 5 to 6 % is expected for the PC market. Capacities are being expanded mainly in China. The strengths of PC are excellent optical properties such as glasslike transparency and a high refractive index, ...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
In recent years, the PMMA market has exhibited highly volatile phases, characterized by extreme fluctuations in demand. In 2012, demand stabilized and despite a difficult environment showed moderate growth in 2013. Thanks to creative and innovative product ideas and continuous development of existing products solutions, opportunities to expand the current spectrum of applications always exist. The financial crisis in the years 2008 and 2009, followed by the European debt crisis in 2010, left de...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Polyurethanes (PU)
The world market for PU grew at an above-average rate in 2013, with total sales reaching 16.4 million t. Prognoses indicate that in the medium term it will continue to grow globally at an annual rate of about 5 %. For years, investments by PU manufacturers have concentrated on the largest PU regional market, the Asian-Pacific region. However, other regions are also displaying solid growth. The primary driving force behind growth in PU sales is the improving prosperity in emerging countries such...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-11-26, Keeping a Clear View
Low weight and huge design freedom: Due to these advantages, polymers are once again finding increasing use in vehicles. When it comes to glazing, though, they have never been considered ideal. That view is set to change thanks to a new special-purpose molding compound made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Every gram saved saves on fuel. This simple relationship is one of the main reasons why auto makers are increasingly producing parts from lightweight polymers instead of from heavier metal...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-07-20, The Carbon Footprint of an Injection Molding Machine
The CO₂ footprint is regarded as a reliable indicator of the way people, machines, and products affect climate. On the basis of its dual-platen GX series, KraussMaffei has investigated the climate impact of an injection molding machine and defined measurable data. Greenhouse gasesMolecular formulaGreenhouse gas potential with regard to 100 yearsCarbon dioxideCO₂1MethaneCH₄21Nitrous oxideN₂O310ProcessActivity dataEmission factor Greenhouse gas potentialShareRaw part manufacture8,364 kg3.3 kg CO₂...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-08-17, Full Order Books
To meet sophisticated consumer needs, modern film packaging materials are turning into functional all-rounders. They are used for protection, shipping and presentation of goods. At the same time, flexible plastic packaging makes an important contribution to environmental conservation. Film manufacturers such as the RKW Group meet modern market demands with the latest production technologies, R&D and comprehensive sustainability management. Plastic packaging is the best-selling material in the G...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-08-17, PET Recycling in Europe
The recycling systems of the countries presented here differ in their design, though they generally follow the concept of product responsibility, so that the distributor of the packaging is responsible for the costs of collection and recycling. However, it can be seen that Europe also needs to make greater efforts in the field of collection in order to exhaust the available potential. The utilization of PET beverage bottle waste has a longer tradition than the utilization of other plastic packa...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-09-18, Strong Links and Brilliant Surfaces
Having worked for over more than 40 years in thermoforming acquiring competence, Parat group has grown to be an innovation driver in the area of large plastics elements for lightweight construction. The company makes cladding components for utility vehicles, agricultural and construction machinery, as well as for cars and caravans. Parat Gmbh + Co. KG in Neureichenau, Germany, undertook an investment of EUR 5 million, making it the owner of the largest and most modern LFI (Long Fiber Injection)...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-10-12, Less Energy for More Performance
Manufacturers of extrusion blow molding lines are focusing on energy-efficient, all-electric systems. Retrofits are available for old machines that have substantial energy-saving potential. In the field of stretch blow molding, the central themes are reductions in bottle weight and aseptic filling of perishable products. In 2015, blow molding remains the most important process for manufacturing plastic hollow parts that come in complex shapes and all kinds of volumes. Most components serve as pa...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-10-12, Lighting with a Future
The light market is in a state of change. The lighting industry is gradually phasing out conventional lighting products. The future belongs to the LED, thanks to its high energy efficiency together with its long service life. In this attractive field of application, specially adapted plastics are proving to be ideal materials. Transparent materials together with LEDs allow attractive light designs for lighting, computer monitors and TV screens or in the automobile. Energy consumption is to be re...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-10-12, Preventing Runaway Vehicles
Engineering plastics can replace metals in safety items of equipment. A tailor-made polyamide 66 compound for a newly developed wheel chock offers the technical performance of metal in combination with weight savings, low environmental impact and the economy of polyamides. Plastics have steadily gained in importance over the years as more and more metal parts have been replaced with lighter plastic solutions with the objective to make vehicles lighter. Every gram counts. A 100 kg reduction in ve...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-10-12, Sustainably Produced Foam Mattresses
The greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is harmful to the global climate. But the latest research and practical tests have discovered that it is a useful raw material for flexible polyurethane foams. By using carbon dioxide, it is even possible to replace some of the scarce oil on which these materials are otherwise based. Carbon dioxide (CO2) escapes in enormous quantities from homes, cars, factories, and power stations. More than 30 billion t CO2 are currently released into the atmosphere every yea...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-03-08, From Simple to Highly Complex
Frimo group, formerly a specialist in model technology, foaming tools and mold carriers, became a full-range supplier in polyurethane processing equipment over the course of the last century. They gradually enhanced their portfolio, adding the sectors of plant engineering as well as mixing and metering technology, including peripheral units. The headquarters of Frimo Group GmbH are in Lotte, Germany. This is where the group of companies manages its international polyurethane machine business. A...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-05-18, Turning Trees into Foam
Particle foams based on renewable cellulose derivatives could be an alternative to oil-based expanded polystyrene. In the context of a development project, researchers demonstrated that cellulose-based particle foams can be produced with varying densities using conventional processing equipment. In addition, these materials do not require halogen-containing flame retardants. Sustainable construction materials and halogen-free flame retardants are attracting increasing public attention. Poresta s...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-10-17, Polyurethane (PU)
The global PU market volume in 2015 amounted to some 17.5 million tons. In the medium term, an annual growth of some 4 % is expected, whereby the continued economic development in China will have a major influence. In general, PU sales are affected mainly by global megatrends and also by the economic situation of emerging countries such as India or Brazil. Population growth, urbanization, and climate change: Those are the megatrends that presently impact the plastics industry. Thanks to their ve...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-07-19, Illuminated Feel-Good Ambience
Energy efficient, inexpensive LEDs are inspiring designers and engineers to develop new esthetic and functional applications of light. Since this cannot be done without plastics, Albis Plastic invited interested appliers in the supplier and automotive industry to an exchange of ideas regarding new compounds and advanced applications. All by itself, the number before the title raised expectations for the premiere. That a meeting of this sort would not be a one-time thing was ultimately confirmed ...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-11-29, A Tight Spot
In injection molding, uniform temperature distribution across the surface of the mold wall has a significant impact on cycle times and product quality. However, production is often slowed by hot spots in areas that are difficult, or impossible, to reach with conventional water cooling. Spot cooling with liquid carbon dioxide can supplement water cooling to resolve these issues. As the following three case studies show, the results can be very impressive. The temperature of an injection mold is u...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-03-09, Synergies from the Far East
The change in drive-train technology from the conventional combustion engine to the electric drive poses a big challenge for car manufacturers and suppliers alike. Engineering plastics have versatile properties that offer a wide potential for applications in electric vehicles. The transformation in car drive-train technology that is underway is being accelerated by political policies. From 2020, all newly approved cars in the EU will be required to achieve an average emission target of 95 g CO2...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-07-17, Almost Inseparable
Although the use of different materials is one of the prerequisites for light and high-performance parts, the interface between metals and polymers is often the weak point of hybrid components. Now, however, nanoporous adhesive layers can be used to create permanent, reliable and practical joints. The direct application of a polymer onto a metal component, without the use of additional adhesives and a resource-intensive pretreatment of the surface, is desirable from a technical, economic and ec...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-08-14, Taxes, Bans, and Regulations
Plastic in general and particularly plastic packaging is more than ever in the center of attention. It is evident that the whole industry must increase the sustainability and circularity of its products. However, all stakeholders in the plastics industry need to consider how they will be affected by the upcoming legislation and work towards the objectives of the EU Plastics Strategy. The general public has a devastating image of plastics, fueled by pictures of marine litter and sensational stori...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-08-14, You Buy with Your Eyes
Female or male, young or old: many people want to look attractive. This benefits the cosmetics industry, and the market for cosmetics packaging is growing correspondingly. Plastic materials score highly here due to their outstanding freedom of design. According to estimates by the US market research institute Transparency Market Research, the global market for cosmetic packaging will grow by 4.4 % annually by 2024. In 2015, the market value was still USD 23 billion, and is expected to reach USD...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-12-19, Function-Full Envelopes
The great amount of materials being converted and the booming economy are not the only reasons why structural engineering should not be underestimated. Progressive developments, such as sustainable insulation materials, hybrid profiles, and multifunctional façades are solving ecological problems and will characterize the cities of the future. Some 5.2 million t of plastics were converted into builders’ ware last year in Germany, says the German Association of the Plastics Converters (GKV). That ...

Kunststoffe international, 2019-12-18, A Closed Recycling Cycle – Now!
As expected, the K 2019 displayed a wide range of machine technology and complete system solutions for plastics recycling. At least since the trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, it has become obvious that industry today can offer solutions for closing the plastic cycle. With their unique combination of low weight, longevity and broadly adjustable property spectrum, plastics are the key to future-oriented applications in many application areas. Without plastics, for example, the implementation of ...

Kunststoffe international, 2019-12-18, “We Aim to Expand through Acquisitions in Italy”
Now the sale has been completed – Covestro’s former polyurethane systems houses business had been acquired by private equity investor H.I.G. Capital. In future, the business will operate as an independent company under the name Plixxent. Kunststoffe lost no time in speaking to the new CEO, Dr. Jörg Schottek. In the interview, he talks about the future direction of the systems houses business, why he believes in growth, despite the current difficult environment in the plastics sector, and what th...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-02-12, Plastic Waste into Custom-Made Polyols
By means of high-performance processes, chemical recycling converts plastic waste into high-grade material for new plastic products. Moreover, freedom of design results by selecting a suitable process and the matching waste material. Hereby, the right combination permits customized polyols to be created for the desired application area. Old mattresses, insulating material, furniture, and steering wheels – this raw material, which Rampf Eco Solutions GmbH & Co. KG, Pirmasens, Germany, processes, ...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-08-11, Advantages through Sustainable ‧Temperature-Control Technology
Climate protection is still on the global agenda, even if its relative importance has changed recently in the public perception. Many so-called “low carbon footprint technologies” are already available and could be utilized immediately in plastics processing. But what carbon reduction measures are not only environmentally effective? Using practical examples, gwk shows how the use of efficient temperature-control technology rapidly pays off economically, too. The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-08-11, Glossy Components without Painting
Optics play an increasingly important role in plastic components. Glossy and even surfaces are decisive for an attractive appearance. With glass fiber-reinforced polyamides (PA), these requirements can usually only be achieved with an additional coating. A PA specially developed for surface design offers an alternative approach. A high-quality surface finish is more important than ever for polymer applications, because product design plays an increasingly important role as sales ‧argument for t...