by Jeremy Williams, Trainer/Consultant RJG, Inc. There are those who are good at what they do, and then there are those who are the absolute best. The gurus. How are they so good? What do you need to know to be on that higher level? In this article, we’re going to review several of the often-overlooked technical arenas that are vital to understand in order to become a … [Read more...] about How to Become a Plastics Guru: What You Need to Know
Process Improvement
How Second Stage Speed Influences the Process
by Shane Vandekerkhof, Global Training & Education Integrator at RJG Hold speed or hold velocity? How many machines today have it, and how does it affect the process? The machine controller input of hold velocity started to become more and more prevalent with the onset of electrically driven molding machines. The setting tells the machine how fast to move the screw during … [Read more...] about How Second Stage Speed Influences the Process
Foaming Agents: Impact on Production Efficiency of Custom Closures
by Mike Uhrain, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, and Nick Sotos iD Additives Part lightweighting has become a major trend in plastics. Brand owners are embracing sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives and want to reduce the carbon footprint of their end products. Molders are striving to achieve these goals for their customers by producing lower-weight parts using less plastic, … [Read more...] about Foaming Agents: Impact on Production Efficiency of Custom Closures
Industry Trends in Mold and Machine Maintenance
by Ashley Burleson, membership and analytics manager MAPP Ninety-nine percent of plastics companies have a tracking system in place for machine maintenance, according to a recent study conducted by the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (MAPP). Additionally, 90 percent of companies have a system to track mold maintenance in their facilities. The Mold and … [Read more...] about Industry Trends in Mold and Machine Maintenance
Benefits of a Central Resin Conveying System
by Jim Zinski, Novatec Increasing profits, satisfying customer demand and improving utilization of production floor space are all strong reasons to consider a new central resin conveying system. But what does that really mean? In basic terms, we're talking about automating the resin handling process. This includes getting the buckets, ladders, pallets, bags, manpower and … [Read more...] about Benefits of a Central Resin Conveying System