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Plastics Technology, 2007-10-08, NPE 2006 News Wrap-Up: Materials
From PPs for frozen-food packaging to nylons and alloys that withstand the heat of circuit-board soldering or automotive paint ovens, NPE 2006 was rich in news of commodity and engineering resins and ...

Kunststoffe international, Beyond Human Capabilities
The quality of injection molded parts and the process stability are still heavily dependent on the knowledge and experience of the process technician. However, the ever increasing degree of freedom creates complex interrelationships between part quality and process parameters. At K 2019, IKV and an industrial consortium will demonstrate how algorithms based on artificial intelligence can support machine operators during the process setup by using machine data and quality data. When setting up in...

Kunststoffe international, Drivers of Electromobility
The transformation from the combustion to the electric engine entails several imponderabilities for the plastics industry. In part, electric drives have completely different material requirements which are becoming specifically evident with the increasing use of appropriate vehicles. The following article presents an overview of the most important changes. With the move towards electromobility, the automotive industry is facing a radical change. In the transition period, manufacturers will stron...

Kunststoffe international, Killing Problem Microbes
An American manufacturer and an invention team from Canada have developed and patented a formulation that can permanently protect plastic surfaces and metals from microbes. The technical active destroys the cell membrane of the germs without allowing them to adapt. It is applied in an online process after extrusion or thermoforming and then cured thermally or using UV light. ViaClean Technologies LLC has developed proprietary thermal, UV and hybrid cure antimicrobial treatment formulations, eith...

Kunststoffe international, No Chance for Dust and Contaminations
LSR optics offers a wide range of applications due to the optical brilliance, the possibility to produce undercut shapes not to mention the competitive pricing. The adhesive surface which is almost impossible to clean however makes the LSR parts vulnerable against contaminations. This characteristic however limits the possible ‧application fields. To overcome this limitation Wilhelm Weber has partnered with Fraunhofer IFAM in a recent research project. The numerous advantages explain the large p...

Kunststoffe international, Starting up under the Shadow of Corona
For almost two decades, an expert committee, meeting once a year, has supported Kunststoffe magazine in determining the state of play in the plastics industry and identifying current technical developments. This time, the traditional spring meeting gave it an opportunity to debate the consequences of the Corona virus. There were a lot of things different at this 18th session of the Kunststoffe editorial advisory board. It is not only that Dr. Rüdiger Baunemann, who had supported us for a decade ...

Kunststoffe international, Use Cases of Digitized Plastics Processing
While the use of assistance systems in production is increasing, the range of digital solutions continues to grow. However, the number of pragmatic approaches and real examples of implementation is still small, and the actual benefits of digitization are difficult to quantify. Part 2 of the series on the Plastics Innovation Center 4.0 (PIC 4.0) at RWTH Aachen describes the procedure by which industrial use cases of a Smart Factory are identified and converted into real testbeds within the PIC 4....

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, 30 Years of Playmobil: Investing in the Future
Sports and Leisure Investing in the Future 30 Years of Playmobil. This year, geobra Brandstätter GmbH & Co. KG celebrates the 30th birthday of its highly successful toy range. Headquartered in Zirndorf, Franconia/Germany, this toy manufacturer had the right idea at the right time, combined with sophisticated plastics processing technology and a clever marketing strategy, that enabled it first to take pole position among German toy manufacturers and then to conquer children's play rooms all...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Anniversary: Excellence in Compounding Technology
Market Excellence in Compounding Technology Anniversary. Over the years, Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer GmbH Co. KG, based in Stuttgart/Germany, has developed from a supplier of baking and kneading machines into a manufacturer of innovative compounding systems. Coperion was created in 2001 by a merger between Buss, Waeschle and Werner & Pfleiderer, and is now one of the leading suppliers of compounding technology for the plastics, chemicals and food industries. Petra Thomas-Hasenzahl Werner & Pfl...

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, Blown Film Extrusion Today
Blown Film Extrusion Today Versatility and Flexibility are Required Jens Spirgatis and Johannes Wortberg, Essen/Germany Because of the increasing demands being imposed on film products, e. g. in the area of food packaging, a continuing trend towards coextruded film is evident. In addition, the market requires high production flexibility on the part of film manufacturers. As a result of this, new requirements have arisen in relation to plant technology, to which the machinery manufacturers ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Broad Spectrum
Broad Spectrum Krauss-Maffei's Duroplast Forum Well Visited About 400 visitors, almost half from foreign countries, found Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik's Duroplast Forum in Munich/Germany at the end of May unusually appealing. In addition to the machine demonstrations there was a symposium with altogether 20 lectures presenting a cross section of today's thermosetting polymer technology. In 1998 Krauss-Maffei took over Fahr Bucher Service GmbH, Gottmadingen/Germany, with all ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Competing Processes: Is Plastic Laser Welding Economical?
Joining Technology Is Plastic Laser Welding Economical? Competing Processes. The increasing use of laser welding is due in no small part to the many technical advantages it offers. With regard to the economic advantages, prejudices still exist on account of higher investment costs and the, in some circumstances, higher costs for suitable materials. Any comparison with other processes must consider all aspects. Jürgen Klein Andreas Kraus The automotive supplier industry is particularly chara...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Composite Parts: Flexibility in Rigid/Flexible Combinations
Composite Parts: Flexibility in Rigid/Flexible Combinations In the production of rigid/flexible combinations, either thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), rubber, or liquid silicone (LSR) are used as the flexible component, depending on the case in question. As a specialist producer of multicomponent injection-moulded parts, Weigelt has a great deal of experience in processing all three materials. There are a number of challenges to be mastered when it comes to the application technology, however......

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Compounding: Throughput-determining
Trade Fair Report Throughput-determining Compounding. Compounders benefit from the trend towards smaller batch sizes of raw materials due to increased product variety, and increasing demand for modified plastics. The latest developments in co-rotating twin-screw extruders were designed to meet the new demands. Exhibitors of co-rotating twin-screw compounders appraised K2004 in Düsseldorf/Germany as a complete success. This year’s trade fair was replete with terms such as Do/Di ratio, increase o...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Concrete Building: Plastics Replace Plywood
Concrete Building: Plastics Replace Plywood Formwork made of plywood has many drawbacks. A new sandwich system in plastic offers improved surface properties, greater durability and lower repair costs. Ernst Schmachtenberg, Thomas Seul, Carsten Tüchert More than 10000m² of formwork for walls and ceilings were used on the big building sites for the Reichstag in Berlin alone (title photo). The mechanical stressing that acts on this formwork is enormous. Soffit formwork not only has to wit...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Consumption Stabilises: Low-density Polyethylene (PE-LD/LLD)
Trend Report: Commodity Plastics Low-density Polyethylene (PE-LD/LLD) Consumption Stabilises. The methods used for the processing of low-density polyethylene have been well-established for many years and can be described as fully developed. Coextrusion processes have continued to gain importance for the manufacture of blown and flat film. This is an ideal way to combine the properties of different PE products. Total Western European PE-LD/LLD consumption grew in the period from 2001 to 2004 by ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Convertible Roofs: Targeting the Fresh-air Fanatics
Convertibles Targeting the Fresh-air Fanatics Convertible Roofs. Auto manufacturers across the world regard maximum customisation of their vehicles as a magic wand for generating new incentives to buy in a largely saturated market. The convertible segment offers a particularly wide scope in this respect. Stefan Schlott Of the many thousands of individual parts found in a convertible, the top performs a rather ambivalent function. As a rule, when driving with the top down, it is expected to “res...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Cost Efficiency and Innovations
Cost Efficiency and Innovations BASF Striving for Disproportionately High Growth in Plastics In 2000, the plastics and fibres division at BASF generated roughly a third of the overall sales of some EUR 36 billion and roughly a quarter of the overall result of some EUR 3.4 billion. With cost-efficient plant and processes, further developed specialities and a simultaneous global presence, the division is intending to achieve disproportionately high growth over the next few years. Investment of...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Cutting Costs by Insert Moulding
Cutting Costs by Insert Moulding Practical Application of Automation Concepts The monotony of machine operation, heavy mould inserts and rising cost pressures are leading to increased automation in modern injection moulding plants. By sensible linking of manufacturing steps, production costs can be reduced. The trend in injection moulding is increasingly towards parts that can be passed from the production unit directly to assembly without the need for any downstream operations. To make th...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Decentralised Production: Demag Plastics Group – Globally Based
Special Demag Plastics Group – Globally Based Decentralised Production. For fiscal 2003/2004, which will end on September 30, the Demag Plastics Group has forecast received orders of 2650 machines with a value of about EUR 337 million. In fiscal 2002/2003, it sold 2347 machines and received orders valued at almost EUR 305 million. Sales were at EUR 312 million (Fig.1). The globally based manufacturer of injection moulding machines is achieving growing market shares in Europe and the USA, and se...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Dimensioning Parts: Non-linear Viscoelasticity
Simulation Non-linear Viscoelasticity Ernst Schmachtenberg Marcel Brandt Dimensioning Parts. Precise description of the non-linear viscoelastic material behaviour of thermoplastics in FEA makes it possible to exploit the mechanical potential of these materials in the best way possible and to optimise the development of corresponding parts. As more and more plastics are used in technical applications, design reliability and parts dimensioning are coming increasingly into focus. Shorter devel...

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, Ecoefficiency: Plastics in Politics and Practice
Ecoefficiency: Plastics in Politics and Practice The market for products made of biologically degradable materials is still at the beginning of its development. Market mechanisms and basic legal conditions will solely determine whether this new group of materials is penetrating the market. Ingo Sartorius Innovative new developments and advances are the basis for stabilisation and preservation of the competitiveness of European industry. They make i.a. relevant contributions to environmenta...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Editorial: Experience as Added Value
Editorial Experience as Added Value Rupert Stadler, Board Member for Finance and Organisation at Audi AG, sees "the German automotive industry as being set to face increasingly harsh, global competition in future, as a result of changes in society and expanding new markets". He feels that the route to success lies in "technology leadership, strict cost management and, above all, attractive cars at competitive prices“. In a bid to achieve this aim, car manufacturers are increasingly...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Editorial: Light and Versatile
Light and Versatile Just in time for the start of the new millennium, plastics packaging has become the leading packaging material, pushing paper/paper board/cardboard to second place. Correspondingly, the packaging segment is the main consumer of plastics and the main customer of the plastics producing industry. If machinery and equipment used for producing plastics packaging materials were to be included in this balance sheet, the significance of this particular area of application for our e...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Editorial: The Countdown Is On
The Countdown Is On The big date is approaching fast: on 20th October 2004, the Messe Düsseldorf will again open its gates to an expected 220000 visitors from more than 100 nations. With 2800 exhibitors from 55 countries and a yet again extended exhibition floor space of 160000m2, the specialist exhibition for plastics and rubber is the industry’s undisputed number one event in terms of size and importance. The exhibition has several important functions: the largest contact forum in the world n...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Effect of Structure-borne Sound: Acoustics of Plastics parts
Automotive Engineering Acoustics of Plastics parts Effect of Structure-borne Sound. By gathering material data according to the stressing, and selecting appropriate material models, it was possible to predict the sound emission of technical plastics parts as a result of structure-borne sound using FEA and BEA techniques. There is good agreement between the simulation and experiment. The need for acoustic design of technical parts or systems arises from legal and economic circumstances. The dri...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Efficiency in a Highly Compact Space
Efficiency in a Highly Compact Space Large-Scale Injection Moulding Machines Increase Productivity and Precision Thomas Langer, St. Valentin/Austria and Wolfgang Silmbroth, Ebensee/Austria A high level of productivity in a highly compact space, in terms of both machines and moulds, was the requirement that had to be fulfilled when Steiner Freizeitmöbel GmbH extended its production. Production capacity was expanded by 20 large-scale machines for the production of garden furniture and transp...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Efficient Project Development
Efficient Project Development Polyarylamide Compounds for Cycle Brake Housings Wolf Sanner, Rheinberg/Germany, Robert Olz, Bad Urach/Germany, Vito Leo, Brussels/Belgium, and Thomas Halcour, Kerpen-Sindorf/Germany Light weight, a balanced strength profile, an excellent surface finish and very good slip properties are the most important requirements for cycle brake components. Calculations and extensive laboratory and practical tests confirmed the suitability of polyarylamide (PA MXD6) compo...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Electrical Component Parts: Thermal Metal Spraying of Conductor Lines on Plastic
Further Processing and Finishing Thermal Metal Spraying of Conductor Lines on Plastic Electrical Component Parts. Thermal spraying of metals is a well known process principle for a long time. Its use in the field of selective surface coating of plastic component parts is new. Thick conductor structures for electrical applications can be applied with this technology. Gerhard Reichinger Knuth Götz Martin W. Ott Galvanic or chemical processes are the centre of attention in today's usual pro...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Electrifying: Emphatic Confidence
Special Emphatic Confidence Electrifying. At Netstal's advance press conference for "K", CEO Bernhard Merki, now in his second year of office, seemed satisfied with the progress made in the past year. The company will maintain its present course and push ahead with expanding its product ranges and sales network. The highlight was the unveiling of a new all-electric injection moulding machine. The board of Netstal-Maschinen AG, newly elected in 2003, is pressing ahead with its curre...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Electronic Components and Displays: Intrinsically Conductive Polymers
Special: Electronics Intrinsically Conductive Polymers Electronic Components and Displays. The importance of intrinsically conductive, that is, self-conducting, polymers is growing in many areas of the electronics industry: these materials are already finding use in through hole plating of printed circuit boards and as the counter electrode in polymer-based capacitors. Polymer electronics and polymeric light-emitting diodes (PLED) are being predicted as growth areas for the future. Stephan K...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Enterprise Transparency: Success Factor Business Process Management
Market and Management Success Factor Business Process Management Enterprise Transparency. In recent years it has turned out that controlling business processes is probably the most important factor for entrepreneurial success both in the manufacturing industry and in service industries. The following report describes how a medium-size enterprise organises, structures and supervises its processes. Peter Felber Due to the strong demand for IML technology (see box "In Profile") in the tele...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Evolution, Not Revolution
Evolution, Not Revolution Prototyping at Euromold: Optimisation of Existing Processes C. Bonten, C. Janßen and T. Seul, Essen/Germany Euromold 2001 clearly showed that in the field of rapid prototyping the innovative focus of equipment manufacturers last year is more on optimising than on developing new processes. Fig. 1 shows that demand for models and prototypes remains unbridled. The clouds of alchemy surrounding rapid prototyping are clearing, with many visitors showing that they are...

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, Favourable Level of Business Abroad
Favourable Level of Business Abroad Plastic Processors Moving Ahead Growth in the plastics processing industry was once again clearly above growth in the gross domestic product in 2000, at 5.2 % in real terms. All in all, the favourable level of business abroad was more than able to offset the renewed decline in sales in the construction industry (-5.4 %). The plastics processing industry recorded a clear increase in business in the year 2000. Sales in the sector rose 7.6 % in nominal term...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Focus on Injection Moulding Technology
Focus on Injection Moulding Technology Engel Points the Way for the Future In posting sales of around EUR 500 million in the last financial year 1999/2000, the Engel Group took yet another step along the road to success. The driving force behind the company's progress was the continuing development of the injection moulding technology. Engel's declared aim is to safeguard the company's future by increasing its market share particularly in North America and Korea. Engel, as an i...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Fuel Cell for Alternative Propulsion
Fuel Cell for Alternative Propulsion The Demands Made on the Plastics Frank Reil, Frankfurt am Main/Germany Drive assemblies powered by fuel cells have the potential of becoming the alternative to the combustion engines of today. It is logical that completely new criteria will then apply to the materials used for such applications. The special demands made by fuel cells are satisfied above all by engineering plastics. Our mobile society is based on vehicles powered by combustion engines....

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Good Growth Prospects: Ticona Sets its Stakes on Engineering Plastics
Special Ticona Sets its Stakes on Engineering Plastics Good Growth Prospects. An increasing number of key industries are substituting engineering plastics for conventional materials. At the same time, an ever-greater number of composites are being used. Ticona is intending to profit from both trends, which are set to become even more pronounced over the years to come. The focal points of the company's activities are constant process optimisation and the development of new products and marke...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Good is Not Enough: From Initial Idea to Successful Product
Innovation Management From Initial Idea to Successful Product Good is Not Enough. The chances of success for innovations and thus long-term economic growth are basically determined by favourable underlying economic and political conditions. It is particularly important for the marketing units of the companies to recognise which way technological developments are going and to correctly appraise the market opportunities. Stefan Marcinowski Chemical innovations make our life more pleasant and c...

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, Heat Management
Heat Management PU Rigid Foam for Building Insulation Stefan Albus, Herne/Germany One of the most prominent applications of polyurethane in building construction is as rigid foam for thermal insulation - such as in sandwich panels for industrial construction or as slabstock for roof insulation. This article describes the economic and ecological importance of this high-performance insulation material and explains its constructional and physical strengths by means of its applications in roof...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, High-grade Bath Concepts: Pampering the Senses
High-grade Bath Concepts: Pampering the Senses Many people dream of having a bathroom in which they can really spoil themselves. Luxury baths with a high-grade plastic finish appeal to the senses. Two different composite concepts that give such bathtubs the necessary stability owe their success to an invisible composite partner: polyurethane. Polyurethane provides excellent adhesion to other materials, makes them easy to process and affords adequate reinforcement even without glass fibres. P...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, High-performance Polymers: Metal Substitution and Miniaturisation
Trade Fair Report Metal Substitution and Miniaturisation High-performance Polymers. Fuel cells, short-term implants, miniaturised electronic components and even baking moulds – high-performance plastics are to be found almost everywhere. Designers always choose members of this small group of specialty polymers for parts that require high thermal stability or special properties such as chemical resistance, high light transmission or biocompatibility. Visitors to K2004 were able to discover numer...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, High-temperature Thermoplastic Films: Flexible Printed Circuits
Special: Electronics Flexible Printed Circuits High-temperature Thermoplastic Films. Flexible printed circuits (FPC) are growing in popularity. These FPCs are based on polymer films. In addition to the already established materials, the spotlight is increasingly falling on heat-resistant thermoplastic polymer films for this application. Christian Seidel Larissa Zirkel Helmut Münstedt The advantages of flexible printed circuits (FPCs) over rigid circuit board solutions are plain. The relative...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Hot-runner Technology: Real Wood Applications
Tooling Real Wood Applications Hot-runner Technology. The interior trim strip of an upper middle-range car is manufactured economically and in top quality using a hot-runner system from Incoe International, Inc. In this case, it is not produced by in-mould decoration of a film, but – to give a special touch to the car interior - of a real-wood veneer. Klaus-Dieter Kapp In our society, the automobile is still a status symbol. It is therefore not surprising that some demanding customers for upper ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Increasing Competitiveness: Saving Costs with Optimised Mould Temperature Control System
Increasing Competitiveness: Saving Costs with Optimised Mould Temperature Control System The right mould temperature control ensures high product quality and a low reject quota, even with short cycles. Extensive practical experience and independent test results allow plastics processors to select the best cooling method for their production. Ralf Radke High requirements and standards on quality are forcing plastics processors to continually improve their products. Producing high-quality pr...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Industry-oriented Software Solution: Company-wide Networking of Injection Moulding Operations
Software Company-wide Networking of Injection Moulding Operations Industry-oriented Software Solution. In April 2001 HTP High Tech Plastics AG, located in Burgenland/Austria, made a decision to use the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software b2 from bäurer GmbH as a company-wide solution for its injection moulding operations. During the decision-making process, the quality of the software and the support from bäurer were decisive. HTP justifies its decision in favour of bäurer and b2wincar...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Injection Moulding Technology for the Packaging Industry (2): Systems Approach
Injection Moulding Systems Approach Injection Moulding Technology for the Packaging Industry (2). "Automate or die" was how Husky founder Robert Schad posed the crucial challenge facing the plastics processing industry 30 years ago. Companies today that want to be faster and more profitable in the market than their competitors will benefit from the rapid implementation times and instantly high productivity and reliability provided by turnkey injection moulding cells. What use is the best...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Innovation and Efficiency: Bayer: Success by Splitting the Plastics Activities?
Special Bayer: Success by Splitting the Plastics Activities? Innovation and Efficiency. As part of its corporate restructuring, Bayer AG is appearing at K 2004 this autumn with two fundamentally different plastics companies: MaterialScience concentrates on innovations, while, since July 1, the new Lanxess has oriented itself towards cost efficiency and worldwide niche markets for “mature” products. Through its reorganisation, Bayer MaterialScience aims to focus even more clearly on its strength...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Integrated and Global
Integrated and Global E-Business Strategy at The Dow Chemical Company The Dow Chemical Company regards itself as a leading company in the e-commerce sector. The company is already achieving sales of 20 % in certain business segments. Dow's investments in this field are greater than those required for a world-scale polymer plant. E-commerce has become the key to successful market performance for companies all around the globe. According to forecasts, yield in the B2B field is expected t...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Integrated CAE Solution: Proper Simulation of Fibre Reinforcement
Construction Proper Simulation of Fibre Reinforcement Integrated CAE Solution. The methodology and corresponding software presented here enables local anisotropy to be taken into account during the design of parts injection moulded from short-fibre-reinforced thermoplastics. Comparisons with experiments on parts confirm very good agreement between simulated deformation and actual deformation for the pump housing studied. Higher demands on greater strength and rigidity nowadays mean that therm...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Interview with Dr. K. Bourdon: “We Need to Strengthen our Corporate Identity”
Market and Management Ferromatik’s “Innovation World” open day was a huge success, attracting over 1000 professional visitors (see report on page 4). Kunststoffe editor Clemens Doriat met Dr. Karlheinz Bourdon, president of global plastics machinery of Milacron Inc. and interim managing director of Ferromatik Milacron Maschinenbau GmbH, on the fringe of the event in Malterdingen/Germany. “We Need to Strengthen our Corporate Identity” Karlheinz Bourdon on the German/American collaboration, the G...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Interview: "Success Through Global Technological Expertise"
Interview The circle closes – even if in a round-about way: The then Balda GmbH sold its camera production to China in 1985, bidding good-bye to this division. Balda is now a stock market-listed company split into three business groups: Infocom, Automotive and Medical. Through the field of mobile telephony, it has made a return to cameras in the form of camera phones. Clemens Doriat, one of the editors of Kunststoffe, met Ralf Ackermann, the member of the Board of Management of Balda responsible...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Interview: Global Material Flows Present Opportunities
Interview In Western Europe in 2004, more than 38 %, or 21 million t, of polymer production was processed to packaging materials. This puts the packaging sector far ahead of the construction industry at the top of the list of plastics applications. Kunststoffe editor Gerhard Gotzmann spoke at Interpack to the managing directors of Windmöller & Hölscher, Dr. Jürgen Vutz and Peter Steinbeck, about the sector’s current situation and innovations in packaging materials. Global Material Flows Prese...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Interview: “Ensuring Sustainable Development”
Interview At a press meeting held jointly by adidas, Renault and BASF, Dr. John Feldmann, member of the board of executive directors of BASF AG, talked to Gudrun Klein, responsible for materials and applications at Kunststoffe, about the tasks involved in implementing the company’s strategic guidelines. “Ensuring Sustainable Development” Dr. John Feldmann about BASF’s recipe for success in its collaborative ventures with customers. Kunststoffe: Dr. Feldmann, as a member of the board of execu...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Interview: “Faith-healing is not Enough”
Market and Management Interview: “Faith-healing is not enough” The new captain on board SMS Plastics Technology has set a new course, given a few sharp commands (edition 8/04, page 50) and hoisted the sail. So will the wind now pick up or is Wilhelm Schröder merely puffing up his cheeks? Clemens Doriat and Gerhard Gotzmann, editors of Kunststoffe, wanted to find out. Wilhelm Schröder talks about the end of a downward spiral, the art of motivation, misdirected ambition and catering to customers...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Interview: “With the Four Pillar Strategy, We Are on the Right Track“
Interview “With the Four Pillar Strategy, We Are on the Right Track“ On the occasion of a press conference held by Degussa AG, Dr. Manfred Spindler, Executive Vice President and Head of the Specialty Polymers Division at Degussa, answered questions about business development and strategy. The interview was carried out by Gudrun Klein, who is responsible for materials and applications at Kunststoffe. Dr. Manfred Spindler about the main reasons for Degussa’s success in global competition Kuns...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Joining, Texturing, Modifying: Selecting the Right Laser
Special Selecting the Right Laser Joining, Texturing, Modifying. While the use of laser technology was often limited to expensive products in the past, inexpensive diode lasers and more compact Nd:YAG lasers are finding an ever-wider field of application in the plastics industry. For every specific application, the question always arises as to what is the right laser beam. Arnold Gillner Applications within the field of plastics range from products for packaging, electronics, household appli...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Laser Direct Structuring of Plastics
Laser Direct Structuring of Plastics A New Addition to MID Technologies Horst Wißbrock, Lemgo/Germany The traditional MID production technologies now include a new process that has been well received by specialists: laser direct imaging of thermoplastics. All the fundamental aspects of this method – technological, ecological and economic – are described and compared with prior technologies. Moulded interconnect devices – injection moulded thermoplastic circuit carriers – are predicted to...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Laser Technology: A Flexible Tool for Structuring, Marking and Joining
Special A Flexible Tool for Structuring, Marking and Joining Laser Technology. Lasers have long been an established component of innovative production solutions in manufacturing technology. In plastics processing, marking can be regarded as the biggest market segment. Welding has crossed the threshold to industrial application. Arnold Gillner Ulrich Russek While laser welding of metals is established for many products in electronics, the household appliances industry and automotive technology, ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Latest Materials and Production Processes: 3D-MID Technology
3D-MID Technology Latest Materials and Production Processes. The use of the MID technology opens up fresh potential for the development and design of three-dimensional circuit carriers. It means, for example, that an electronic device can be manufactured in any desired shape, and it offers maximum integration potential at the same time. Klaus Feldmann Andreas Kunze Whereas thermoset materials are generally used to manufacture conventional printed circuit boards, thermoplastics tend to be the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Logistics: Centralised Painting of Plastic Parts
Processing Centralised Painting of Plastic Parts Logistics. Centralised painting of plastic parts for the automotive sector can reduce colour mismatches and simplify logistics. This concept also offers plastics processors an interesting opportunity to gain a competitive edge. Tobias Rinza A concept is being debated within the automotive sector that concerns the location and core expertise of suppliers of coloured plastics: the centralisation of plastic parts painting, i.e. painting of all plas...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Machine Peripherals: Modular Controls Increase Efficiency
Material Handling Modular Controls Increase Efficiency Machine Peripherals. A new control system for material handling unites extensive functionality and network capability. This contribution describes what the advantages of the modular control concept are and what properties characterise it. Reinhold Kuchenmeister A new Ethernet based generation of control systems opens new possibilities for plastics processing plants. The control concept of Motan GmbH combines high flexibility with great tec...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Market & Profiles
Markets and Profiles Dynisco New Owner Audax Group of Boston/USA has taken over all companies formerly belonging to Dynisco LLC from Madison Capital Partners of Chicago/USA. The transaction affects Dynisco Instruments and Dynisco Polymer Test, both Franklin/USA, Dynisco Europe of Heilbronn/Germany and Dynisco Extrusion of Hickory/USA. Audax plans to enhance Dynisco, whom they rate as the leading supplier of measuring systems, control technology and line components for the plastics processing in...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Market News
Henschel Mixers for China Henschel has reason for celebration: the company will deliver 26 combination mixers for the production of PVC dry blend to Dalian Shide Group of China, one of the largest producers of PVC window and door profiles. This is the largest order for mixers that Henschel Industrietechnik GmbH of Kassel/Germany has ever received. Each combination mixer has a mixing capacity of 20,000 t/a delivered during 7,200 operating hours per year. Combination mixers consist of an FM 1000 f...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Market News
News In Brussels, in November 3rd European Blow Moulding Conference EuPC, the European umbrella association for the plastics processing industry has issued an invitation, together with the Dutch association, NRK/HKV, and the plastics packaging association, IK Industrieverband Kunststoffverpackungen e.V., to the "3rd European Blow Moulding Conference – Packaging and Technical Applications". The conference, which is being held on 17-18 November in Brussels, will bring together representat...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Material Data Determination: Crash Simulation
Simulation Crash Simulation Material Data Determination. Simulation of the mechanical material behaviour of unreinforced thermoplastics under crash loads presupposes an appropriate material description. A computer-aided optimisation process based on reverse engineering is an efficient way of calibrating a strain-rate dependent elastic/plastic material model. Ernst Schmachtenberg Markus Brinkmann As plastic parts are manufactured with increasing complexity and quality, they are finding ever mor...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Microsystems: MID Housing for a Flow Sensor System
Microsystems: MID Housing for a Flow Sensor System The MID technology allows the integration of electrical and fluidic functions in housings for micro-system components. At the Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft, a flow sensor system has been developed with a thermal flow sensor and an MID housing. Flow sensor systems are used whenever volume flows of gases or liquids have to be accurately determined, metered or controlled. Possible fields of application for such systems include laboratory apparatu...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Microtopographic Requirements for Injection Moulding: Optical Surfaces in View
Tooling Optical Surfaces in View Microtopographic Requirements for Injection Moulding. Injection moulding of functional optical surfaces requires not only a command of high-precision machining operations for production of the mould inserts, but also the ability to replicate these high-quality surfaces in the moulded parts. In fact, such surfaces exhibit roughness values of

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, MID - A New Technology Reaches Production Maturity
MID - A New Technology Reaches Production Maturity Markets, Opportunities and Developments Michael Kömpf, München/Germany The areas of application for the MID technology (Moulded Interconnect Devices) are expanding at a significant rate. The boom in telecommunications and further developments in the field of automotive sensor systems are opening up new markets. The recent MID Congress in Erlangen/Germany illustrated the potential and future of the technology. MID components integrate ele...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Mobile Financial Tool: Always Up to Date
Market and Management Always Up to Date Mobile Financial Tool. Now that PP and PE-LLD are quoted on the London Metal Exchange, Carl Hanser Verlag and the journal Kunststoffe together have started a mobile service tool e*broker. The financial pager provides the plastics industry with the latest prices round the clock and in real time. If any proof were still needed that polymers are continuing to establish themselves in areas that were once the reserve of metals, it has been furnished now in a co...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, More Transparency and Greater Production Area
More Transparency and Greater Production Area Facts and Figures about Arburg As its new production hall comes on stream, Arburg is starting the assembly of the new 2500 kN clamp force injection moulding machines. The year DM 595 million. Eugen Hehl, chairman of the Arburg managing board, speaking at the presentation of the new production hall, described 2000 as a record year. At an international press conference in September, the managing board published the new market figures and forecast...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Morphology and Mechanical Properties: Blends of Polyamide 66 and Syndiotactic Polystyrene
Blends Blends of Polyamide 66 and Syndiotactic Polystyrene Morphology and Mechanical Properties. Blends of polyamide 66 and syndiotactic polystyrene only display enhanced mechanical properties if good compatibility exists between the two materials and an optimum morphology can be achieved. Different compositions of these blends were investigated in a study employing a compatibility enhancer. Materials of this type are attractive for the production of automotive components that are exposed to hi...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Multi-component Injection Moulding: New Properties through Rigid/Flexible Combinations
Multi-component Injection Moulding: New Properties through Rigid/Flexible Combinations Being a parts supplier to all major international mobile phone manufacturers, Balda AG also manufactures various components for outdoor phone models. Constant new designs, increasingly complex mould technology and ever shorter marketing cycles have led to the development of new practices and procedures within the company that effectively exploit synergies between design and production. Reinhard Mettenbrink...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, New Possibilities for the Injection Moulding of Thin-wall Parts
New Possibilities for the Injection Moulding of Thin-wall Parts Precompression as a Supplementary Stage in High-speed Injection Moulding Nikolaus Kudlik, Näfels/Switzerland In recent years, there has been an increasing trend towards reducing the wall thickness of plastic parts. This applies not only to traditional thin-wall products in the packaging segment, but increasingly also to technical articles in the electrical and electronics sector. There are various reasons for wanting to red...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, News
TLC / DSM: TLC Takes Over DSM Product Portfolio Techmer Lehvoss Compounds LLC (TLC) and DSM Engineering Plastics, Americas, have agreed upon TLC’s take-over of engineering plastics specialty compounds performance plastics portfolio effective 1st October 2004. This transaction includes the acquisition of the Electrafil and Plaslube product ranges. TCL, an international joint-venture between Techmer PM and Lehvoss will install the new product facility and technical headquarters on a 81000-m2 site,...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, News
mpm Group Sales Up by 10% In the fiscal year of 2003/2004 (30th September) , mpm Group saw a 10% increase in sales to EUR 1.25 billion. (previous year: EUR 1.131 billion). This preliminary figure was released by chairman of the board Pepyn Dinandt at a company K exhibition press conference. At roughly EUR 1.27 billion (previous year: EUR 1.12 billion), incoming orders rose by more than 13%. Dinandt also emphasised the company’s positive pre-tax profit and the group’s cashflow. Preliminary result...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, News
Krauss-Maffei New Branch in Mexico At the beginning of this year, the reaction technology division of Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik GmbH with headquarters in Munich/Germany, opened up a new branch in Estado de México. With this move, the company has now provided in-situ support for Kraus-Maffei’s PU processing activities in the country. The branch includes a spare parts store and employees have direct access to the company’s global on-line order system. IK Environmental Standards The new harm...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, News
IKV Aachen Sidel Is Granted Right of Use The Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University has granted the French company Sidel S.A.S., Le Havre, the right of use of a plasma interior coating technique for PET bottles. The application of this technique is suitable for PET bottles containing highly sensitive beverages such as beer. “Actis” coating machines are installed at the company headquarters of Martens N.V. brewery in Bocholt/Belgium. Beverages bottled by this brewery hav...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, On the Success Trail: “Product Portfolio Must Match Customer Demands”
Special “Product Portfolio Must Match Customer Demands” On the Success Trail. Krauss-Maffei is likely to post sales of more than EUR 500 million for the 2003/2004 financial year, and thereby surpass its record results from 1999/2000. This was one of the remarks made by Josef Märtl, chairman of the board, at the company’s preliminary press conference in the run-up to the “K” plastics fair. The interim results for all three business areas make for good reading. Josef Märtl, chairman of the board,...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Opportunity and Challenge
Opportunity and Challenge 3D-MID: Technologies and Trends Karl Kuhmann, Münster/Germany Roland Dörfler and Gottfried W. Ehrenstein, Erlangen/Germany As an alternative to conventional interconnect technology on the basis of planar thermoset circuit boards, MID technology represents a novel design and manufacturing concept that provides a high degree of functional integration. Well-considered use of MID technology can offer a number of benefits with regard to increased design flexibility, co...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Optimisation: Plastic Windows in Profile
Optimisation: Plastic Windows in Profile Simple adjustments to the design of the profile and the steel reinforcement of any polyvinyl chloride (PVC) window frame can substantially improve both thermal and mechanical performance. The construction industry expects its building materials to offer increasing energy efficiency and in so doing is putting pressure on window manufacturers to permanently optimise their products. Massive efforts have gone into improving the thermal properties of glazi...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Perfectly Happy
Perfectly Happy Software Supports 3D Measurements on the Part Karl Obermann, Großhabersdorf/Germany Specialist software is available for direct CAD data-to-part comparisons. The system is easy to use and compatible with all common measurement machines. Dynamit Kunststoff GmbH installed Faro Europe’s CAM2 Automotive software because it wanted to integrate hand-held measurement machines into the data flow for automotive development and manufacture. The results that have been gained with th...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, PET in Packaging
PET in Packaging Prospects and Limitations Horst-Christian Langowski, Frank Welle, Freising/Germany Over the years, no other packaging material has presented the industry with such high growth rates as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The positive market development is due primarily to the increasing popularity of PET bottles. And the growth is continuing unabated. Now that glass bottles have been substituted to a large extent for mineral water, PET manufacturers and bottle producers ar...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Planning Future Scenarios: Automotive Applications in the Distant Future
Planning Future Scenarios: Automotive Applications in the Distant Future It’s a long journey from polymer granules to automotive parts. It’s an even longer one for those whose job it is to envisage where plastics will be used in the cars of the future and which market trends providers of raw materials should follow. This is precisely the task of Bayer Polymers’ Creative Center, which has just launched its latest development for the cars of the future, called smart surface technology. Martin ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Plastic as an Optical Medium: Plastic Optics with a High Functional Integration
Injection Moulding Plastic Optics with a High Functional Integration Wolfgang Müller Plastic as an Optical Medium. Plastics are not only attractive for optical applications as an inexpensive alternative to glass. Properties such as their formability frequently make plastics the material of choice. If plastics are to be employed as optical materials, then they have to match up to the inorganic glass types that are frequently employed for optical applications. These display very good dimension...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Plastic, the All-purpose Material: Function in Form
Plastic, the All-purpose Material: Function in Form The correct plastic for a particular requirement and function can now be found in almost all sport and leisure applications. With its almost unlimited mouldability and colouring, this multitalented material is often used as a substitute for metal, glass or wood products. Gudrun Klein Sport and leisure applications are particularly influential in plastic’s popularity. This is partly due to the commitment shown by the plastics industry as r...

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, Polyethylene (PE-LD, PE-LLD)
Polyethylene (PE-LD, PE-LLD) Inken Beulich and Mike Cook, Horgen/Switzerland The family of low density polyethylene resins (PE-LD) includes both homopolymers and copolymers produced by the high-pressure process (PE-LD) as well as linear copolymers (PE-LLD) which are polymerised at low pressures. While the consumption of PE-LD shows only a moderate growth-rate of 1 to 2 % p. a., the linear product family continues to enjoy growth rates of more than 10 % p. a. The original polyethylene, high...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Polyoxymethylene (Polyacetals, POM)
Polyoxymethylene (Polyacetals, POM) Mark Noatsch and Frank Reuter, Frankfurt am Main/Germany Polyacetals (POM, polyoxymethylene) have a proven track record in numerous demanding technical applications. This is because of their exceptional combination of high strength and stiffness, good resilience and high surface hardness. POMs also have good processing properties and can be modified to selectively improve their processing properties. By far the greatest proportion of polyacetals - over 9...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Potential for Saving: Cost-efficient Designing
Product Development Cost-efficient Designing Matthias Schmuck Jürgen Gäbelein Potential for Saving. Eighty percent of product and product follow-up costs are defined during development. Product development therefore offers the greatest scope for savings. Practical examples from a development service provider illustrate the salient aspects of cost-efficient designing in plastics. Production outsourcing has now become one of the most common phrases in the headlines of the economics sections o...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Processing of Thermosetting Resins: Pioneering Spirit Needed for Survival of the Species
Processing of Thermosetting Resins: Pioneering Spirit Needed for Survival of the Species Can thermoset processing prevail in the competition for raw materials in the future? To be in with a chance, courage will be needed to use the new processing and mould technologies and the improved materials for more economical working. Joachim Berthold Thermoset processing is still dominated by injection moulding and compression moulding. More than ever before, however, there are moves to make product...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Production Methods: Coping with Product Diversity
Market and Management Coping with Product Diversity Production Methods. Particularly companies with expensive production units and high setting-up and start-up costs are seeking new ways to comply with the difficult production and supply requirements created by the increasing diversity of the manufactured products. The method of dynamic production cycles offers highly promising approaches for tackling the problems associated with this. Josef Wüpping The diversity of products is growing in ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Quo Vadis - SMC in Automotive Construction
Quo Vadis - SMC in Automotive Construction Uwe Reimer, Ulm/Germany, Gerd Esswein, Ludwigshafen/Germany, and Heinrich Derek, Stolberg/Germany The automotive market is changing faster all the time and development times are falling sharply. The question for SMC is whether it will master the attendant challenge and so go from strength to strength or whether it will pale into insignificance. In the automotive industry, SMC finds itself currently both on the verge of another new departure and at...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Radical Changes in the Plastics World
Radical Changes in the Plastics World New Strategies, New Companies, New Chances Jürgen Stebani, Kaufbeuren/Germany The plastics industry finds itself in a period of radical change in which it must adapt to the needs of a product sector that has now come to maturity. Accordingly, there is currently little interest in new technologies or new materials that, in terms of quantity and complexity, do not fit in with the future structure of a global or supraregional industry that operates world-...

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, Self Colouring of ABS: New Service Brand Supports
Market New Service Brand Supports Customers Self Colouring of ABS. BASF's new in-house coloration (self colouring) concept, Colorflexx, has survived its baptism of fire. New partners now strengthen the team. Initial market experience is helping to guide customers through the changeover. Sylvaine Metayer Florian Greger ABS is increasingly being subject to the laws that apply to a commodity material, i.e. intense competitive pressure and continually shrinking margins. This acrylonitrile/butadi...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Small But Potent
Small But Potent Special Plastics for Injection Moulding Microparts Christian Schneider and Gerhard Maier, Kaufbeuren/Germany Microparts for automotive engineering, medical technology and similar applications have so far been made from engineering polymers, such as POM or LCP. Unfortunately, the current product range does not meet the requirements that micro injection moulding makes on material properties. Specially modified formulations are intended to aid users in choosing the right mate...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Solder-resistant PBT
Solder-resistant PBT Radiation-crosslinking PBT for the SMD and 3D-MID Technology Uwe Kannengießer and Siegbert Stober, Marl/Germany The big advantage of crosslinkable polybutadiene terephthalate moulding compounds when it comes to new production techniques in electrical engineering is that they can withstand high temperatures over the short term. They are an inexpensive alternative to highly heat-resistant thermoplastics and can also be processed on the same tools as standard moulding com...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Statistical Pitfalls: Packaging - The Plastic Industry's Largest Customer
Packaging Packaging - The Plastic Industry's Largest Customer Statistical Pitfalls. Publications from the Federal Statistics Office list a number of performance figures for the plastic packaging sector and plastic production. These figures must be interpreted with great care because of the risk of, inter alia, counting factories twice and because without deeper analysis it is not possible to unambiguously categorise the products as sheet, film and hollow bodies. Haimo Emminger Plastic ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Strategic Reorientation: “Homemade Problems Can Be Corrected”
Special “Homemade Problems Can Be Corrected” Strategic Reorientation. After taking up office in January, Wilhelm Schröder, who holds responsibility for plastics technology on the managing board of the SMS Group, sent out a strong signal at a press conference held at the end of May in advance of the upcoming K trade fair. A detailed package of structural measures was announced to bring the company back on course following a difficult year. The SMS Group made the headlines last year when the Weis...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Strong Growth in Polyamides: Polyamide (PA)
Trend Report Engineering Plastics Polyamide (PA) Strong Growth in Polyamides. In automotive construction, the electrical/electronics sector and the packaging industry, users and developers particularly value the properties of polyamides. These include high mechanical and thermal stress resistance, excellent low-friction properties and abrasion resistance, good chemical stability, low stress-crack resistance and last but not least good electrical insulating behaviour. Detlev Joachimi The consu...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Swiss Network: Nanoreplication in a Network
Special Nanoreplication in a Network Swiss Network. A joint project which pooled the competence of research institutes and industrial partners created a technology base for nanoreplication in Switzerland. By using moulding tools with lateral structure sizes of below 100nm, the partners conducted replication tests with different moulding processes and measured these on a centralised basis. The partners are now in a position to better exploit this know-how in the production of nano-structured par...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Synergy: mpm also Shows its Strengths in Extrusion Technology
Synergy: mpm also Shows its Strengths in Extrusion Technology For the first time, Krauss-Maffei Extrusionstechnik, Munich/Germany, and Berstorff GmbH, Hanover/Germany – both of them part of the mannesmann plastics machinery Group (mpm) – staged a joint Extrusion Forum in Munich. Gerhard Gotzmann With the presentation of a large number of innovative exhibits and a high-calibre lecture program, the forum attracted around 1200 participants. It was also attended by thirty partner companies as ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Tailored EPDM
Tailored EPDM Selectively Controlled Properties with Metallocene Catalysts Wolfgang Steinhoff, Bad Homburg/Germany, and Robert S. Snyder, Wilmington, Delaware/USA Metallocene catalysts allow different comonomers and dienes to be incorporated into EPDM during polymerisation. This allows the rapid development of tailored products with improved properties, better processability and an even broader range of applications than was hitherto possible with EPDM products. With the introduction of ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Testing Technology: Fully Automated Serial Testing
Testing Fully Automated Serial Testing Testing Technology. Fully automated material and component testing is being increasingly discussed and implemented. The main reasons for this are the high testing frequency, manipulation-free, reproducible tests and cost savings it permits. The real need for automated or semi-automated testing must be carefully considered in each individual case. Marc Bohr Quality standards and above all product requirements are now so high that they make a fundamental re...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, The Machine Manufacturer as Service Provider
The Machine Manufacturer as Service Provider From the Injection Machine Manufacturer to the Value-Added Partner Gerd Liebig, Schwaig/Germany In the injection moulding machine business, service still ranks much lower than in other industries. With new service concepts and availability guarantees for a production system, the machine manufacturer is now taking on at least some of the responsibility for the part to be produced. The injection moulding machine is an investment that needs some ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, The Newly Discovered Charm of Parts
The Newly Discovered Charm of Parts Success Factors in the Automotive Supplier Industry Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, Recklinghausen/Germany Is the suppliers pyramid completely upside down? The high margins are to be found not in complicated systems business but rather in parts supply. For, while systems suppliers return on sales is around 3.8%, parts suppliers show 6.5%. This is the outcome of a joint study by the Center for Automotive Research at the University of Applied Sciences of Gelsenkirc...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Trends in Plastics Research
Trends in Plastics Research External Service Providers as the Third Column of Research and Development Jürgen Stebani, Kaufbeuren/Germany A need of new R&D services has developed in the plastics market with the increasing focus of OEMs on finishing and of plastics manufacturers on economic production of plastics. Some enterprises are already established in the market and are successfully closing the gaps in the area of plastics development between basic research, plastics producers and use...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Triple Combination
Triple Combination Multi-component Injection Moulding of Thermoplastics, Elastomers and Thermosets Richard Herbst, Eching/Germany, and Friedrich Johannaber, Lohmar/Germany Special conditions will have to be met, if different plastics are to be combined by injection moulding. The latest processing technology employs stack moulds and handling units, for increasing profitability through high output rates from relatively small machines. Gripping and handling systems, combined with magazining f...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, VDI-K Automotive Congress: Progress in Smaller Steps
VDI-K Automotive Congress: Progress in Smaller Steps With more than 1500 participants, this year’s International Conference on “Plastics in Automotive Construction” surpassed the organisers’ expectations. Experts from automotive construction, the suppliers industry, raw materials manufacturers along with politicians, researchers and scientists gathered to debate the opportunities and potential for plastics in automotive construction. Wolfgang Kircher Plastics are sought-after design materi...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, What Customer Focus Really Means
What Customer Focus Really Means Strategies and Approaches for a Secure Future as a Plastics Processor Tom Sommerlatte and Andreas Ferdinand, Wiesbaden/Germany To be able to continue to beat the competition in the future, plastics processors must take key factors into account in their company development. The market share must be grown through innovation and the principle of customer focus redefined. Different approaches and strategies are already in use. The plastics industry in Germany...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Wood extrusion: Wood from the Extruder
Wood extrusion: Wood from the Extruder Wood fibres and thermoplastics are an interesting combination of materials. Although the technology has been known for some time, it is currently getting a new lease of life. Dirk Kaczmarek, Johannes Wortberg For the reinforcement of plastics, increasing use is being made of natural fibres in addition to the traditional glass, aramide and carbon fibres. In many cases, wood fibre and sawdust-filled plastics can be a worthy substitute for natural wood o...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Worldwide Growth: Engineering Plastics
Trend Report Engineering Plastics Polyoxymethylene (Polyacetals, POM) Worldwide Growth. Because of their property profile, polyacetals are used in almost every area of industry. They are established on the plastics market. The greatest amounts are consumed in the Asian area. Stefan Kutta Nenad Katalenic Polyacetals are established on the plastics market – with a growth of about 4 to 5% averaged over several years. World consumption rose from 570000 tonnes in 2001 to about 730000 tonnes last ye...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, “Competition Despite Cooperation“
“Competition Despite Cooperation“ Pepyn R. Dinandt talks about formulas to weather the crisis, the multi-brand strategy, and perspectives for the injection moulding machine business At a time of global structural changes in the plastics machinery manufacturing industry, and a change of ownership, Pepyn R. Dinandt has held the post of chairman of the managing board of the mpm Group for just over a year. Time to take stock. The interviewer was Kunststoffe plast europe editor Clemens Doriat. ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-12-07, Case Study (6): Hot-Runner Solution for a Light Guiding Optical Part
Tooling Hot-Runner Solution for a Light Guiding Optical Part Case Study (6). High-performance materials and careful design of the mould layout and manufacturing process permit economical injection moulding of optical parts. The sixth and last part of this series deals with the production of high-quality light guiding optical parts. The choice of the hot-runner system is extremely important. Dirk Paulmann Jürgen Kanzler The illustrated light guiding optical part is an electromechanical part tha...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-01-09, Plasma Processes: The Functionalisation of Plastic Surfaces
Engineering Plastics The Functionalisation of Plastic Surfaces Plasma Processes. The plasma technology offers a wide variety of possibilities for functionalising surfaces to comply with the relevant specifications. Not only is the process more environmentally friendly than other methods, it also yields very high quality. This article describes the basic principles for a better understanding of this technology for industrial application. Ernst Schmachtenberg Andreas Hegenbart Through the applica...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-01-15, Preliminary Exhibition Report: Winter in Milan
Special Winter in Milan Preliminary Exhibition Report. In the middle of February, the 14th Plast will be held at the new Fiera Milano exhibition complex. The “International Exhibition for Plastics and Rubber Industries” will be coupled for the first time with the Ipack-Ima packaging exhibition, which is the reason for the early date. This combination should be a double attraction for many visitors, despite the unusual timing. According to the organisers, the Plast in Milan is the second-...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-01-15, State-of-the-Art and Perspectives: Laser Beam Processing of Polymers
Laser Laser Beam Processing of Polymers State-of-the-Art and Perspectives. From creating nanostructures on surfaces to assembling large lightweight parts, laser beams find use as flexible tools in polymer part manufacturing – new processing techniques that employ highly functional polymers are expanding the field of application for laser technology continually. Arnold Gillner With the possibilities it offers for welding, cutting and modification, the laser technology available today covers a...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-01-26, Structuring and Ablating: Manufacturing Medical Products with Laser Technology
Special. Manufacturing Medical Products with Laser Technology. Martin Wehner Philipp Jacobs Structuring and Ablating. Polymers can be precisely structured by radiation from UV excimer lasers or line-tuned CO2 lasers. Even flexible materials like thin tubes can be drilled with high accuracy. Additionally, the laser technology is very well suited for the manufacture of prototypes and small series. As a sequential production method, laser technology is considered not to be a competitor to esta...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-02-21, Nanocoating: Seat Coverings: Soil-repellent and Comfortable
Interior Seat Coverings: Soil-repellent and Comfortable Nanocoating. Comfort is a central function of an automobile seat, while attractive appearance is also a must. Nanotechnological methods offer potential for improving the soil repellency and easycare properties of seat upholstery. The interior appearance of a car has an enormous influence on the purchasing decision for both new and used cars. The easycare properties, soil repellency, lightfastness and mechanical strength of the interior co...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-03-23, Lanxess: Moving Boldly into the Future
Market and Management. Moving Boldly into the Future. Lanxess. Roughly a year ago, Lanxess AG, which had been spun off from Bayer AG, experienced a historical day when trading in its shares commenced on the Frankfurt stock exchange. Restructuring measures and a strategic realignment of the company to the market made the Lanxess share into the most successful new issue for 2005, according to a stock exchange assessment. As the outcome of this first year, Saltigo, the former fine chemicals busines...

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, 2006-04-04, Trend Report: Success through Design and Technology
Packaging Success through Design and Technology Trend Report. New fields of application for PET packaging arise from market demand and through innovations that indicate new routes, new solutions and advantages for specific markets. A stroll through the rows of goods in the supermarket makes one thing clear: PET is in vogue. Otto Appel Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has many technological possibilities and sufficient freedom of design to allow the appropriate packaging to be developed for an...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-04-09, News
K 2007 Invitation for Exhibitors The theme of the K 2007 in Düsseldorf/Germany is ”Turning Vision into Business”. The international plastics and rubber business will hold their most important technical trade show worldwide from 24 to 31 October, 2007. Invitations for exhibitors will soon be sent to interested firms and individuals all over the world. The deadline for all enterprises that intend to take part in this trend setting trade show is 31 May 2006. As the organisers, the Düsseldorf exhibi...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-04-25, Marking: Coding at Full Speed
Special Coding at Full Speed Marking. International standards require products to be clearly marked. An ink-jet printer has proved the ideal solution for coding window profiles directly in the extrusion line. Gernoth Rath Dimex Accord Profile GmbH was founded in 1979. Ten years ago it was one of the first companies in Europe to recognise the trend towards environmentally friendly products, discontinuing production of lead-stabilised profile and using CaZn stabilisers instead. To further distin...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-06-27, Light Sources: OLED – Light of the Future
Special: OLED – Light of the Future. Olaf Rüdiger Hild. Light Sources. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) are lightweight, small and can be integrated into almost every object. In addition, they consume little energy. If it becomes possible to reduce their costs further, they will displace conventional light sources in the near future. The first incandescent light bulbs, which still used a carbon filament, were produced in 1854 by Heinrich Göbel. In the year 1879 Thomas Alva Edison was th...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-06-29, Lanxess: Growing Along with the Chinese Market
Compounding Industry. Growing Along with the Chinese Market. Gudrun Klein. Lanxess. The recent commissioning of a compounding facility for semi-crystalline plastics in the Wuxi industrial area, situated not far from Shanghai, is a part of the Lanxess growth strategy in China. The enterprise intends to produce necessary materials for the Chinese automotive and electrical/ electronics industries on site with trained Chinese personnel and state of the art equipment according to German environmental...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-06-29, Quality Planning: From Customer Requirement to Industrial Mass Production
Quality Assurance From Customer Requirement to Industrial Mass Production Quality Planning. The term quality planning describes a method for improving the cost efficiency of the production process and enhance customer satisfaction. By taking suitable measures, a company aims to fulfil both the various market requirements and the requirement profile of the particular application. Gerhard Berger Markus Beitzel In accordance with the quality planning method, Kraiburg TPE GmbH, Waldkraiburg follo...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-06-30, Extended Spectrum: High-Tech in Three Dimensions
Market and Management. High-Tech in Three Dimensions. Extended Spectrum. “People, ideas, innovations” was the motto of the summer forum held by Krauss-Maffei in Allach on the outskirts of Munich. All in all, some 50 exhibits from the three segments of injection moulding, PUR processing and extrusion were on show. At the same time, the company also presented its full range of services. Attracting 3500 visitors, the summer forum constituted one of the big events organised by the sector. The Kra...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-07-31, Blown Film Technology: Strategic Realignment Makes for Success
Market and Management. Strategic Realignment Makes for Success. Blown Film Technology. With the introduction of its Kirion machine series in 2001, Kiefel Extrusion GmbH of Worms/Germany repositioned itself as a manufacturer of technologically demanding blown film systems. The company’s machine range currently includes module-based high-performance systems for monofilms and barrier films with up to nine layers, as well as the MDO units (Machine Direction Orientation) first presented at the NPE i...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-08-02, Interview with Rainer Armbruster: “The Beautiful Thing about this Market is that it is Growing"
Exactly five years after the purchase of a new plant, Foboha GmbH, specialised in the production of complex injection moulds for multi-component applications, opened a large scale extension building that more than doubles the previous useful area. Kunststoffe editor Clemens Doriat met Rainer Armbruster, the chairman of the board, in connection with the ceremonies in Haslach/Germany. “The Beautiful Thing about this Market is that it is Growing" Rainer Armbruster commented on developments in ...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-08-02, News
Albis Plastic Sales Office in Turkey The Hamburg-based distributor and compounder of engineering thermoplastics is strengthening its sales activities in Turkey by forming a subsidiary. Albis Plastic Turkye is based in Istanbul. The company sees interesting market potential in this region. At the same time, Albis Plastic announced the closing of its compounding plant in Rosenberg, Texas/USA. Its stated reason for the decision was overcapacities in the US compound market and structural changes am...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-08-06, Performance Show: Westphalian Extrusion Marathon
Market and Management. Westphalian Extrusion Marathon. Performance Show. The “Open House” held at Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik GmbH, Bad Oeynhausen, in June on the topic of irrigation pipe concluded a series of five events celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary in Europe. This article summarises the technologies that were exhibited. The first in this series of presentations already took place in autumn of last year as the so-called High-Solution pipe extrusion line with innovative dimensi...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-09-27, Heat Resistance: Miniature Electronic Components Produced from PEEK
Special Miniature Electronic Components Produced from PEEK Heat Resistance. As a result of the ban on lead-containing solders, processing conditions in the solder bath method have become far more extreme, pushing conventionally used materials to their performance limits. For this reason, the high-performance polymer PEEK, with its excellent thermal, electrical and mechanical properties, is being increasingly used for miniature electronic components. Steffen Germer The relentless miniaturisati...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-09-27, Interview with Hans Wobbe: “Permanent Productivity Increases”
Interview “The leading market position of Engel is attributable to two factors. On the one hand, the high-technology business that requires continuous development, and, on the other, the production of large numbers of machines that makes financing the cost-intensive developments possible,” according to Engel’s website. These are the responsibilities of Dr.-Ing. Hans Wobbe, Managing Director of Engineering at Engel Holding GmbH. Kunststoffe’s editor, Clemens Doriat, met with him for a conversati...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-09-28, A Personal Opinion: Has Injection Moulding been Fully Exhausted?
Injection Moulding Has Injection Moulding been Fully Exhausted? A Personal Opinion. So the technical possibilities in injection moulding machine construction have been exhausted? If such arguments had ever been valid, we would still be driving at 20mph on our roads and a journey to China would take three months. Helmar Franz If we review the development of injection moulding machine manufacturing over recent years, we could join in with the hymn of praise about the innovations that are taking p...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-10-27, Lanxess: Ensuring Sustained Growth
Market and Management Ensuring Sustained Growth Lanxess. The chemical company, Lanxess, has managed to achieve a turnaround barely two years after its formation. It is now consolidating its organic growth on the basis of efficiency improvements, a well stocked innovation pipeline and a business focus on important growth markets. Through acquisitions of existing businesses, the company also sees external growth opportunities. This was reported by corporate management recently at an international...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-11-15, Editorial: Generating Added Value
Editorial. Generating Added Value. The German automotive industry spends more than EUR 16 billion a year on research and development, tackling the challenges of the future, since it is through innovations in key areas, such as safety, quality and the environment, that a high potential can be opened up and tapped. Maintaining a knowledge lead over competitors is vital for the success of an industry whose home market is in a high-wage country like Germany. And the ever-closer cooperation between t...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-12-06, Corporate Strategy: Global Thinking and Acting in Corporate Technical Operations
Market and Management Global Thinking and Acting in Corporate Technical Operations Corporate Strategy. Progressive globalisation is not only making global business and management-oriented thinking necessary but is also increasingly affecting the strategy and actions of those responsible for corporate technical operations. It is no longer opportune for internationally positioned companies to act solely in a European dimension, let alone just a German one. This can even be problematic. Ralf Ack...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-12-06, Metal Replacement: Liquid Crystal Polymer in Springform Baking Pan
High Performance Plastics Liquid Crystal Polymer in Springform Baking Pan Metal Replacement. In the 1980s, high-performance plastics such as liquid crystal polymers (LCP) were seen as the future of polymer materials. Today, because of their good flow properties and other advantages, LCP are used primarily for small, thin-walled precision parts in electronic applications. To extend use of the versatile property profile offered by these materials, innovations with LCP are also being systematically...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-01-22, Market Niches are Becoming ever Larger
Market Niches are Becoming ever Larger Interview: Hans-Theodor Kutsch on the development of the Albis business from distributor to market and development partner. Changes in the pricing and profitability of raw materials and plastics are constantly forcing large companies to choose a new direction for their portfolios. In doing this the division of labour with distributors and compounders is becoming increasingly more important. Gudrun Klein, responsible for Materials and Applications at Kuns...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-01-22, Mould-Base Concept for Hot-Runner Moulds
Mould-Base Concept for Hot-Runner Moulds Innovative Quick-change System Two companies have collaborated on the development of an innovative quick-change system for hot-runner moulds. The novel design, which is based on the concept of mould bases, slashes set-up times by more than half and offers savings of up to 30% in the construction of complex multi-cavity moulds. Michael Jauss, Andreas Hoch At Fakuma in October 2006, KWO Kunststoffeile GmbH presented an injection mould which features sta...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-02-13, From Three-dimensional Cell Cultures to Contour-matching Mould Temperature Control
From Three-dimensional Cell Cultures to Contour-matching Mould Temperature Control Success through Cooperation Even if the approval procedures are often protracted, the development and production of items used in medical technology requires short development times and the highest quality standards. By systematically collaborating with research institutes processors can reduce their costs and achieve distinct competitive advantages. Gösta Pretel Alexander Walter Modern laboratory routine ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-03-15, A Billion in the Medium Term
A Billion in the Medium Term Premiere Midway through December, Engel delivered the first injection moulding machine to be produced by the company in China. The Austrians have invested a total of 25m EUR in the new Engel Machinery Shanghai facility. This fits in with Engel’s production-platform strategy and produces identical machines to its sister companies in St. Valentin/Austria and York/Pennsylvania (USA). Kunststoffe editors, Clemens Doriat and Gerhard Gotzmann, asked Dr. Peter Neumann, Ch...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-03-15, Materials for Clean Diesel Engines
Materials for Clean Diesel Engines Engineering Plastics Selective catalytic reduction technology (SCR) can significantly help to cut nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel engines through the use of an aqueous urea solution. This opens up another field of application for engineering plastics, in which they will have to meet new chemical resistance requirements. Wolfgang Sauerer, Tilman Reiner Whether it is California’s LEV II emission standards or the impending Euro 5 exhaust gas regulations, ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-03-15, Modular Concepts for Lighter Engines
Modular Concepts for Lighter Engines Engine Components Technical and high-temperature thermo plastics such as glass fibre reinforced polyamide 66, polyphenylene sulphide or polyphthalamide are finding increasing use for numerous engine components in modern automobiles. As opposed to light aluminium, they offer an even greater potential for lightweight construction. It is the design freedom of plastics that has enabled the manufacture of complex modules – with a positive effect on costs. Mich...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-03-15, We Must Continue at Full Throttle
We Must Continue at Full Throttle Gudrun Klein The automotive sector is BASF’s second biggest revenue driver. In 2006, it made around 12% of its total returns of 52.6 billion EUR from sales of products to the automotive industry. Raimar Jahn, Head of the Automotive Steering Committee at BASF and Chairman of BASF Coatings AG, gave Kunststoffe an interview on the company’s current communications strategy. Kunststoffe: How would you sum up the work performed so far by BASF’s Automotive Steering ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-04-17, Fibre Composite Robot Arms
Fibre Composite Robot Arms CFRP With very high specific stiffness carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) offer very promising potential in machinery manufacture for elements subjected to large dynamic loads. Fibre composite technology took on a decisive role in meeting the performance enhancement targets for a packaging robot. Gerhard Musch, Christoph Nägeli, Karl-Heinz Sprenger The F44 packaging robot from packaging equipment manufacturer Gerhard Schubert GmbH, Crailsheim, Germany is an i...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-04-17, Hydraulics is High-Tech
Hydraulics is High-Tech Describing hydraulic drive technology as antiquated, Professor Dr.-Ing. Alfred Feuser considers as being an outdated point of view. He is convinced that hydraulic systems are well on their way towards re-establishing on those markets that had counted for lost. This development will be supported not least by electronics, and this also shows on the "Motion, Drive & Automation", the sector’s leading trade fair, which is the crowd puller on the 2007 Hanover Fair. Ku...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-05-14, Economical Production of Heat Sinks for LEDs
Economical Production of Heat Sinks for LEDs Thermally Conductive Compounds Lighting systems based on LEDs are being used ever more widely. Compact and rugged LEDs can be found everywhere today – whether in automotive headlights, street lamps, traffic signals or office and household lighting. A ceramic powder-filler polyamide 12 contributes to economical and cost-effective production of LED lighting. Luca Posca LEDs (light-emitting diodes) offer many advantages compared with conventional inc...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-05-14, Everything in a Continuous Flow
Everything in a Continuous Flow Injection Moulding and Surface Finishing in a single process sequence The principle of one-piece flow is currently gaining in importance in the manufacturing and processing of plastics. Working together, Balda and Singulus have developed an inline system for injection moulding, coating and painting plastic parts. The processing centre is targeted to begin operation at Balda in Bad Oeynhausen this May. Christoph Stecker Balda AG, Bad Oeynhausen/Germany, and...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-05-14, Give Leaks No Chance
Give Leaks No Chance Open-air Plasma Electronic circuits and components have to be reliably encapsulated to protect them against dust and moisture. Many electronics companies now use a surface-pre-treatment technology that up until now was only found in the automotive sector: open-air plasma. Peter Langhof Whether in daily manufacturing or the development of new processes and products: surfaces and their properties are playing an increasingly important role in nearly all industrial areas. Th...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-06-18, Expertise at the Micro-Level
Expertise at the Micro-Level Development of the Micro-technology Market They are everywhere, yet invisible. Although or even because micro-technological components are development-intensive products, they have penetrated all major sectors of industry. Micro-systems technology is forecast to enjoy continued strong growth. Christine Neuy Josefine Zucker An extract from the on-line encyclopaedia Wikipedia: "Micro-technology is technology with features near one millimetre (0.1-1000μm). ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-06-18, Keeping an Eye on Costs
Keeping an Eye on Costs Supply Chain Management With innovative and highly efficient processing technologies involving reverse-integrated procedures for polycarbonate and polyurethane production, Bayer MaterialScience achieves considerable savings in processing costs and energy consumption in their global manufacturing network. Thanks to specific technology expertise, world-scale plants, and product innovations, the company considers itself well prepared for the future – in spite of rising com...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-07-18, Guide Wire for Intervention Using Magnetic-Resonance Tomography
Guide Wire for Intervention Using Magnetic-Resonance Tomography Fiber-reinforced Composites Since the use of tissue-damaging ionizing radiation is not necessary with magnetic-resonance tomography, this imaging method has significant potential with regard to performance of minimally surgical procedures. However, because of their electrical nature, metallic materials cannot be used here. Christian Brecher, Sebastian Schmitz, Sascha Krüger In magnet-resonance tomography (MRT) magnetic fields an...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-07-18, Yesterday’s Surfaces for Tomorrow’s Applications
Yesterday’s Surfaces for Tomorrow’s Applications Technical Premiere Unfortunately, traditional materials like metal and wood have certain undesirable properties such as high weight or moisture-susceptible surfaces. During the 3rd Technology Day held at Kunststoff Helmbrechts AG, a manufacturing process celebrated its premiere, with which the appealing look and texture of these materials can be transferred to plastic components. Andreas Stein On April 19th, some 130 visitors found their way t...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Ambitious Goals under New Command
Ambitious Goals under New Command Strategy Change At Krauss Maffei, restructuring according to the wishes of the new owner, with the integration of Berstorff, is in full swing. Unaffected by this, this Munich-based company is the only one in the world that is engaged in injection molding, extrusion and reaction technology, and is continuing to dovetail its three business divisions. The reasons for a strategy change may be failure or foresighted adjustment to changing markets." It was n...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Biggest Growth in Our History
"Biggest Growth in Our History" On Track for Success Engel reports the most successful year since its foundation. Besides achieving record sales, the injection molding machine manufacturer has realized one of the biggest projects in its history by opening its new large machine factory in Shanghai with an investment of EUR 25 million. With sales growth of ten percent, to 601 million euro, Engel continues to maintain its position in the European market." With these words, Dr. Pet...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Conserving Resources through Plastics
Conserving Resources through Plastics The world currently consumes some 84 billion barrels of oil equivalent of energy each year, with the fossil fuels of coal, oil and natural gas accounting for by far the biggest share of our energy supply, at around 81%. And energy requirements will continue to rise – at a considerably faster pace in the developing countries than here. Still Oil for Another 50 Years at Least A realistic assessment by the International Energy Agency shows that, while the m...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Focus on Attractive Added Value
Focus on Attractive Added Value BASF The company BASF is going to concentrate increasingly on global business that promises a high margin. Accordingly, it would like to increase the percentage of sales related to innovative products and specialties for individual sectors and customers from about 25 to over 40 %. The company made this announcement at its pre-K 2007 press conference. Plastics are energy-efficient materials and for this reason alone will continue to be in great demand. With t...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Focus on the Environment
Focus on the Environment Pre-K Event In early June, a number of material manufacturers held a press event in Belgium to show their latest achievements and present the results they have achieved and future goals. Common to all companies was a striving for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions and materials. The plastics industry is currently surpassing itself with good reports and new record results. Financial year 2006, in particular, exceeded all expectations. However, a dark...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Goal: Quicker Return on Investment
"Goal: Quicker Return on Investment" Lanxess After conducting a successful restructuring and implementing a global approach, Lanxess intends to invest more heavily in research and development of products that are close to the market. The focus is on future technologies and future markets with a potential for growth that promises a quick return on investment. With this strategy, the company hopes to generate further growth and close the gap with the competition. Lanxess intends to inc...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Modular Approach Pays Off
Modular Approach Pays Off Blown Film With sales nearly doubling in six years, Kiefel Extrusion GmbH, Worms, Germany, has recorded impressive growth rates. At the start of the year, the machinery manufacturer was acquired by Brückner Holding. The takeover of Kiefel AG, Freilassing, Germany, by Brückner Technology Holding GmbH, Siegsdorf, Germany, in January 2007 meant a noticeable change for Kiefel Extrusion GmbH, Worms, Germany. "There is a serious difference between belonging to a lea...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Vision Works – Today and Tomorrow
"Vision Works – Today and Tomorrow" Bayer Material Science At K2007, Bayer MaterialScience, true to its motto "Vision Works – Today and Tomorrow," is focusing on innovation themes. At the pre K press conference, the company took stock of its economic situation, while looking to the future. In keeping with the corporate strategy, all its activities in future will focus on further improving its customer relationships, expanding its market position, increasing growth by innovati...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, 450 Parts under the Same Lid
450 Parts under the Same Lid Product Engineering Sanitary hygiene is not exactly a nice word to describe the comfort state-of-the-art bathroom design offers – not to mention its technical refinements. Consuming only the minimum of space, 450 individual parts were built into an integrated shower toilet. Nearly all of the parts had to be newly designed. Having introduced a Japanese production philosophy, the manufacturer was able to preserve the production site in Switzerland. Ralph Schreibe...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, Faster – More Specific – More Efficient
Faster – More Specific – More Efficient Developing Compounds As individual product versions continue to proliferate, polymers users are increasingly demanding polymer formulations that are optimally suited for their specific applications. Such solutions will not be found by standardizing polymer formulations, but by combining developmental experience with new, faster and, at the same time, more efficient R&D techniques to accelerate the development of specialty products. Jürgen Stebani Ger...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, Great Achievements in any Respect
Great Achievements in any Respect Extrusion of Pipes and Profiles (Trade-fair-pre-report K 2007) Customers today are more interested than ever in high-performance extruders to process PVC, polyolefins and WPC. While new extruders were developed, extrusion dies were also improved to fit the high outputs incurred. Dimension change systems continue to advance. Moreover, many users require measures to step up their plants’ energy efficiencies. Calls for higher plant performances, quicker produ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-10-21, From Tetra Pak to Raw Materials
From Tetra Pak to Raw Materials Recycling Paper and plastic-coated paper can provide a new group of secondary raw materials for plastic-reinforcing fibers. A newly designed, conical co-rotating twin-screw extruder can produce marketable semi-finished products. Rainer Bittermann Eva Sykacek A growing area of the plastics processing industry is concerned with combining wood chips and plastic to create new materials (wood plastics composites / WPC). The Institute of Natural Materials Technolo...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-11-21, A Shining Example
A Shining Example Function Integration An LED lamp manufactured entirely by multi-component injection molding provides an excellent example. Integrating various functions such as lenses and circuit path as well as inserting the illuminant and resistance in the mold saves working steps and improves quality by shortening the process and tolerance chain. Dietmar Drummer Roland Dörfler Optical technologies play a starring role in many areas of daily life: Light technology that ensures better...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-11-21, Plastic Housing on an Engine Test Stand
Plastic Housing on an Engine Test Stand High-temperature Plastics Because of the associated weight savings and cost benefits, plastics are being used increasingly in under-the-hood applications. Trials involving housings for an electromagnetic valve train (EMVT) are intended to show that, in spite of some disadvantages, high-temperature plastics represent the material of choice for these applications. A. Siebert et al. The noteworthy recent increases in the prices of fossil fuels have s...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-11-21, Weight-Saving Plastics for Reduced Fuel Consumption
Weight-Saving Plastics for Reduced Fuel Consumption The ongoing climate debate is forcing the auto industry to make greater efforts to harmonize mobility, environmental protection, and efficiency. Consequently, the International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt – considered as the world’s leading fair for the automotive industry – was deeply involved with ecological issues. The "green" IAA presented today’s products as well as ideas and concepts for tomorrow, aimed at considera...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-12-17, German-Chinese Synergies
German-Chinese Synergies Two-brand Strategy. Haitian, the Chinese manufacturer of injection molding machines, has set out to conquer the world market including its premium segment. Management’s new two-brand strategy leaves no doubt as to the seriousness of their purpose. Clemens Doriat Our vision of ourselves is to lead the world market in terms of piece numbers as well as sales," says Zhang Jianzhang, Board Chairman for Haitian International Holdings Ltd. The first part of this target...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-12-17, Machinery Manufacturers in the Leading Pack
Machinery Manufacturers in the Leading Pack Italy With 440 exhibitors Italy represented the second largest national group at K 2007. This reflects the importance of the Italian machinery manufacturing industry in Europe and the significance of the German market for the Italian industry. Globally Italian plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers hold a leading position and rank third in terms of production and export behind Germany and Japan. Italian manufacturers offer a wide range of standa...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-01-15, Bringing Measurement to Optical Effects
Bringing Measurement to Optical Effects Color Measurement (Trade Fair Report K 2007) The range of requirements is expanding. Automobile manufacturers and their suppliers have to reliably determine both color and surface effects. Capturing light dependent effects, gloss as well as the colormetric behavior of translucent objects is becoming more important. In some extrusion applications color measurement is already part of the quality control and is starting to be used as part of the production ...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-01-15, Inductive Heating of Injection Molds
Inductive Heating of Injection Molds Temperature Control Inductive mold heating represents a variant of variotherm mold temperature control. It offers the possibility of generating high temperature gradients in an extremely short time, while only heating small mold areas. This can reduce cooling times markedly. Udo Hinzpeter The Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid, working with Hüttinger Elektronik GmbH + Co. KG, Freiburg, Germany, and twenty other companies, tackled the use of inductive mold h...

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, Acquisition Poker and Dramatic Upswings
Acquisition Poker and Dramatic Upswings Injection Molding Machine Construction The sector can look back on an eventful 2007 – especially as far as the manufacturers of injection molding machines are concerned – with a dramatic upturn in the economy, record sales, radical structural changes in both companies and markets, surprising changes in the holders of key posts and, at the end, an almost euphoric K exhibition. And the New Year has got off to a dramatic start once again on a number of coun...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-02-29, Design and Lighting Technology
Design and Lighting Technology Trend Report The lights in and on automobiles are assuming an ever more make-distinguishing design function. In this regard, the state of development of high-output LEDs (light-emitting diodes) in combination with appropriate plastics plays an important role. With the introduction of daytime running lights for all new EU cars starting at the latest in 2010 in particular, LED lighting technology will no doubt achieve a breakthrough. The automaker Audi is in the fo...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-02-29, Social Behavior with a Cost Benefit
Social Behavior with a Cost Benefit Company/Business Ethics By changing the material used for a seal, it was possible to reduce the number of attachment points for an automotive maintenance cover from six to four. The cost benefit associated with introduction of this change provided the necessary momentum for an automaker to award the contract for processing this component to GWW, a non-profit organization that employs handicapped individuals. Between 2000 and 2007, GWW (Gemeinnützige Werkst...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-05-10, Catalyst between University and Industry
Catalyst between University and Industry Academic Cooperation RWTH Aachen University has started operation of its new Catalytic Center, which is granted more than EUR 7 million as a fund by the Bayer group. Do you know what an enzyme or a catalyst is? [...] It triggers changes!" Walter Leitner, managing director of the Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC) at RWTH Aachen University used this citation of Robert Musil’s "The Man without Qualities" to start t...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-05-10, Injection Molding on a Low Flame
Injection Molding on a Low Flame Energy Efficiency Over 4,000 visitors to an in-house trade show? Arburg has just cleared this hurdle with its Technology Days. Besides the variety of applications for its own models, the injection molding machine manufacturer is also showcasing its energy efficiency and preventive maintenance program. In passing, the management also reported record sales for the Hehl group. Clemens Doriat A name becomes a program. Arburg GmbH + Co. KG has defined efficient ...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-05-10, Today’s Ideas – Tomorrow’s Technologies
Today’s Ideas – Tomorrow’s Technologies IKV Colloquium The 24th International Plastics Engineering Colloquium held at the IKV Aachen, Germany, took place under the motto "Today’s Ideas - Tomorrow’s Technologies". Many of the research results and recent developments presented are ready to be put into industrial practice. Ulla Köhne One highlight of the event was doubtless the plenary lecture "Medical technology – joint research with industry as a driving force for innovation (…a...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-06-16, Bright Heads
Bright Heads Ultrasonic Welding The tuning between the welder and welding tool, or horn, is very important in ultrasonic welding. With the proper design, even soft materials that usually create problems can be bonded successfully. While typical ultrasonic welding applications are usually found in the automotive, packaging or textile industries or in the medical device sector, leisure and adventure articles are not among the classical applications. The present case involves a baseball cap wit...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-06-16, Sensor-Equipped Automobile "Thinks" Along with Driver
Sensor-Equipped Automobile "Thinks" Along with Driver High-tech Polymers It's like squaring the circle: Modern automobiles are expected to provide greater safety, comfort or performance, but at the same time cost less, be more fuel-efficient and have lower emissions. In order to satisfy these apparently contradictory requirements, high-tech polymers are increasingly becoming the interconnecting link. Henning Küll Countless assistance, communications and safety systems characteri...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-06-16, The Right Configuration at the Click of a Mouse
The Right Configuration at the Click of a Mouse Software Tools Producers and users of injection molding machines will soon be able to communicate more easily with their machines. In the future, new ergonomic software tools will guide them straight to the desired control application or the right parameterization during mold changes. What used to require a detailed knowledge of complex programming languages and expertise can now be done quickly and efficiently by mouse click. Wolfgang Windhager...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-06-16, We're Moving towards Specialties
"We're Moving towards Specialties" Dr. Willy Hoven-Nievelstein talks about paths to success in the engineering plastics business Which challenges are manufacturers of engineering plastics facing today? How important are innovations for the future success of a company? Gudrun Klein, who is responsible for materials and applications at Kunststoffe, discusses these and other current topics in an exclusive interview with Dr. Willy Hoven-Nievelstein, Group Vice President of Engineering ...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-07-15, Foam Under Control
Typical raw material formulations for foam extrusion consist of up to eight components that must be processed under defined conditions. Equipment manufacturers face the challenge of developing technologies and control concepts that ensure reproducible production of semi-finished foam products. This article focuses on foam extrusion lines set up in tandem with two extruders in an in-line arrangement (type: ZE/KE; Fig. 1): a co-rotating twin-screw extruder (ZE) for melting the polymer and incorpor...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Chinaplas Growing with the Economy
The doors to the Chinaplas exhibition were open to the specialist public from 17 to 20 April. Once again the event on the Pudong International Fairground, Shanghai, generated record figures. On an area of 134,500 m2 over 1,700 companies from 36 countries, including 200 first-time exhibitors, presented their goods and services. In comparison with Chinaplas 2007 in Guangzhou the exhibition area taken up was 27 % greater and compared to the 2006 event in Shanghai 41 %. The organizers, Adsale Exhibi...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Transparency in Production
Short production runs, countless mold changes, tight delivery schedules, small profit margins – this list could probably be lengthened by several items without difficulty. While it has been possible to optimize operations in administrative areas through use of appropriate office programs, production areas have lagged behind because of a lack of the urgently required transparency. Machine utilization charts in the form of planning boards with brightly colored pin-up cards, long, closely typed ord...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Bonding with Sensitivity
Nonpolar plastics are often welded by means of ultrasonics, because it is a versatile and economical process. From the simple handheld unit to machines with one or several welding heads and fully automatic equipment integrated into large production lines, a suitable unit can be found for every application. Laser technology is continually presenting surprises. The possibilities here appear to be far from being exhausted. PU technology holds potential to improve the economics of final assembly thr...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Double Digit Growth
At the end of May for the second year running Husky Injection Molding Systems S. A. hosted their Medical & Health Care Day at their European Headquarters in Dudelange, Luxembourg. OEMs, tool makers and providers of injection molded medical products were amongst the invited guests. The event was well received by the more than 100 delegates from 49 companies and confirmed the increasing importance of this sector. Gerhard Gotzmann, Editor-in-Chief of Kunststoffe, talked to Volker Neuber, Vice P...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Exploiting Opportunities in Lightweight Construction
With their excellent properties fiber-reinforced polymers are becoming increasingly popular and displacing classic materials. Technical polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers are extremely interesting for the development of thermoplastic composite materials. They can not only replace glass fibers in composites , but also open up significant new potential for the development of a new class of cost effective materials with exceptional impact absorption that are also suitable for applications with ...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Metal Needs Plastic
The pioneering work in the field of hybrid metal/plastic manufacturing processes was performed by the entertainment industry 30 years ago. Today, besides the electronics and automotive industry, medical technology is among the pacesetters in the dynamic market growth of hybrid parts. Manufacturers and suppliers can gain an in-depth insight into innovative manufacturing processes, such as outsert technology (Title photo), and their potential at hybridica, which is being held for the first...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Tailor-Made for Complex Applications
The increased use of hot runners even with large numbers of cavities and complex applications has pushed the development of compact multi-cavity nozzles and “hot sides” with optimized tip geometry. New machine series are aimed at leaving minimum gate marks even with fast cycles. On the temperature control front, the trend is toward adapting to specific requirements of individual customers to which the builders respond with modular design and highly configurable control and cooling ...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, The Energy Crisis is Playing into our Hands
Aframed quotation hangs on the wall of the board room: „Es gibt nichts Gutes, außer man tut es.“ („Actions speak louder than words.“ – Erich Kästner) With this in mind questions regarding a possible stock market flotation of KraussMaffei, which was the subject of intense speculation at the beginning of the year, seem rather superfluous. When external factors, such as the MDAX having fallen by more than 30 % within a single year, are consid...