Small and flexible: alpha plus extruders for roller blind producer

The French company SPPF based in Cholet Cedex produces 350,000 roller blind boxes and roller blinds per year and is thus known as a specialist in standard and customized PVC system solutions for windows. To extend its production capacity, battenfeld-cincinnati Austria GmbH from Vienna recently delivered a total of three alpha plus extruders with 60 mm diameter to the profile manufacturer. The customer is enthusiastic about this new version of the standard extruder model with BCtouch UX compact control.

20 years ago, battenfeld-cincinnati launched alpha, a product line with a completely new concept: a compact, standardized extruder series to make small technical profiles and pipes available at an attractive price without delivery times.

The sales success of this article has continued unabated ever since. The extruder specialist responded by adding the alpha plus to the range at the K 2019. Technically speaking, it is still the familiar high-tech plug & play extruder model, but this time plus the new BCtouch UX compact control system.

“With its easy, intuitive operation, this control system facilitates daily production work for our machine operators”, says Guillaume Le Roc’h, Production Manager at SPPF. Similar to its large sister, the BCtouch UX control system already long-established in the market, this new control system scores by its clear display of all required features on a 12” screen.

Pop-ups for settings and data input allow operation almost without any previous knowledge. A highly sensitive temperature monitoring facility is also integrated in this compact control system, which is of special advantage where thermally sensitive materials are processed.

Alpha extruders are available in sizes of 45, 60 and 75 mm as basic models, as well as with finely or coarsely grooved feed zones according to customers’ choice. They are equipped with a Knödler drive system as standard and come with an extremely compact design thanks to a highly sophisticated substructure.

SPPF chose the 60 mm version with a smooth feed zone and is very pleased with the new extruders. Guillaume Le Roc’h comments: “The extruders show high-quality workmanship and are consequently very reliable. Thanks to their compact footprint, they are also suitable for flexible use, which is very important in view of our extensive product portfolio.”

Of course, the sales price was also an important sales argument for the roller blind manufacturer. After all, the very combination of the extruders’ technical features with attractive pricing continues to win customers worldwide. More than 1,300 alpha extruders have been sold, 30 of which are plus models.

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MEDACCRED VIRTUAL AUDITOR TRAINING HELPS OVERCOME CHALLENGES TO GLOBAL COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

MEDACCRED has adapted its approach to training its auditors in response to the global pandemic-related travel restrictions.

To address the physical restrictions imposed by limited-entry national borders due to COVID, MedAccred is training some of its new auditors virtually via livestream video while the lead auditor trainer conducts an in-person audit from the factory floor.

In their first training audit, auditor trainees virtually observe a lead auditor conduct an in-person audit at a manufacturing facility. The trainee then performs the next two in-person manufacturing process audits while
being observed virtually by a lead auditor.

The primary method for auditor training continues to be in-person training within manufacturing facilities, but this new virtual training enables MedAccred to develop a strong regional capability in areas that continue to have travel restrictions in place.

This innovative training approach ensures continuity of auditing procedures and uninterrupted critical oversight across supply chains in the medical device industry during a period of disruption for global manufacturing as a whole.

Trademark Plastics in Riverside, California, was the first MedAccred Plastics Injection Molding accredited company to volunteer to host the virtual auditor training for new MedAccred auditors located in China and India.

Bryan Barrera, Chief Operating Officer for Trademark Plastics, said:
“Trademark Plastics Inc. has been honored to assist with virtually training new auditors for the MedAccred program. We’re proud to contribute to the global standardization of medical device manufacturing which will result in overall enhanced quality and patient safety. It’s more important now, during this pandemic, to maintain our focus on high standards throughout the industry.”

Connie Conboy, Director for MedAccred, said:
“During this period of disruption, it’s critically important for the MedAccred program to provide continuity of supply-chain oversight to our OEMs all over the world This ensures they can maintain the highest quality standards throughout the duration of the pandemic and beyond. We have pivoted to provide that critical global oversight, in spite of travel restrictions and closed borders, which will ultimately result in enhanced safety for patients.”

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Floreon signs UK compounding agreement with Hubron

Floreon is pleased to have signed a license agreement with one of the world’s leading suppliers of black masterbatch, Hubron (International). As a licensed compounding partner in the UK, Hubron has access to Floreon’s high-performance, durable, and flame retardant bioplastic materials, as well as compostable grades for horticulture and food packaging.

With over 85% of masterbatch production exported through a worldwide network of distribution partners, Hubron is an ideal partner to export Floreon grade bioplastics internationally.

“Hebron will provide us with technical support and technical staff to assist in customer trials. Collaboration is incredibly important to us, especially when our values, such as UK-based production, are so aligned, and we look forward to seeing this UK license agreement flourish.

” Floreon Technical Director, Andrew Gill.

Floreon is a high-performance, plant-based plastic, derived from crops such as corn and sugar cane, making it a renewable alternative to oil-based plastics. With over 12 years in development, Floreon now produces a variation of bioplastic grades that offer up to seven times improved carbon footprint to ABS-based plastics.

“There is a huge opportunity to utilize Floreon’s technology and grades of bioplastic to enhance our sustainable offerings. Our global network seeks out innovative sustainable and end of life solutions, which makes our partnership with Floreon an exciting prospect.”

Fergus McKendrick, sales director at Hubron.

https://www.floreon.com

Toray Creates Negative Photosensitive Polyimide Material that Could Drive Ultrafast Communications

Toray developed a negative photosensitive polyimide material that is 100 micrometers thick and can fabricate vias (glossary note 2) with 10-micrometer diameters. The company achieved this by leveraging the functional polyimide design technology it has amassed over the years to enhance light transmittance and control photoreactions.

Toray additionally made it possible to cut thermal stress to less than half that of regular polyimide materials and thus reduce warping by controlling polyimide resin cross-linking density from photoreactions during exposure and lowering curing shrinkage.

This material should make it possible to miniaturize electronic components and semiconductor package wiring and enhance reliability. Toray is shipping prototypes with a view to commercializing the material as a varnish and sheet.

The company aims to augment its lineup with grades with low thermal expansion coefficients and dielectric levels and small dielectric losses, offering them for semiconductor devices and electronic components that can drive ultrafast communication technologies.

Toray plans to deliver a presentation on its breakthrough at Wafer Level Package Symposium 2022, which starts on February 15, 2022.

Toray will continue leveraging its core technologies of synthetic organic and polymer chemistry, biotechnology, and nanotechnology to research and develop advanced materials that transform societies in keeping with its commitment to innovating ideas, technologies, and products that deliver new value.

A new graphene nanotube product for thermoplastics allows automakers to increase cost efficiency

Painting of exterior automotive parts, such as fenders, bumpers, tanks flaps, grilles, mirror housing, exterior trims, and rear quarter panels, is complicated by the necessity of separate operation lines for metallic and polymer components, as plastics are insulative, which makes in-line electrostatic spray painting impossible. This leads to additional expenses and slows down the whole painting process. To overcome this, manufacturers of automotive parts should wisely choose temperature-stable thermoplastic grades and modify these systems with electrically conductive additives. The most widespread is carbon black. However, because of their high working dosage required, car end parts with additives demonstrate worsened mechanical properties and processing challenges.

Ocsial, the world’s largest manufacturer of single-wall carbon nanotubes, also known as graphene nanotubes, has launched the new easy-to-use TUBALL MATRIX 822 graphene nanotube concentrate specifically designed for PA, filled PPS, ABS, TPU, and PC compounds for injection molding.

Introducing these nanotubes creates a permanent and homogeneous electrical conductivity without “hot spots” in the range of 10^5–10^9 Ω·cm, while retaining the original key mechanical properties, such as durability and strength, and minimally impacting the host polymer matrix. Furthermore, a low working dosage of 0.1-0.3 wt.% of graphene nanotubes demonstrates only a limited effect on rheological properties and processability.

Graphene nanotube concentrate now enables in-line e-painting of plastic exterior parts together with metal components using electrophoresis, where previously, separate production lines were required. Manufacturers of polymer injection molded parts for automotive, industrial, construction, mining, and other applications now have the opportunity to reduce production costs and the number of rejected final parts without changing standard operating processes by using high-performance graphene nanotubes.

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UBQ Materials Named a Finalist for 2022 SXSW Innovation Awards

Flir Si124Industrial Acoustic Imaging Camera

Sun Chemical Advances Digital Color Innovation on its PigmentViewer App with New Lumina Royal Sparkling Blue

Sun Chemical continues to build its color library with its mobile-based application, PigmentViewer App, featuring the company’s newest launch, Lumina Royal Sparkling Blue, a high chroma, blue-shade effect pigment with intense color. It joins the popular Lumina Royal family of products, all of which are included in PigmentViewer App’s comprehensive color library.

PigmentViewer App is built on virtual renderings that capture the whole appearance potential of a pigment, enabling the designer to evaluate the color “panel” in a digital format. In this case, the “panel” is replaced by the smartphone or e-tablet display.

Visualization of the color from different angles may be achieved by changing the angle of the device relative to the viewer. The viewer needs only treat the device as if it were a conventional panel or sample, and with regular movement, the digital pigment application creates color travel as one would observe in a real-life physical environment.

In addition to viewing individual effect pigments from the company’s comprehensive portfolio, PigmentViewer App also offers the option to compare two pigments side by side on one screen, improving upon the traditional method of evaluating one panel at a time.

Delivering exceptional chromaticity and unmatched lightness, Lumina® Royal Sparkling Blue joins the comprehensive effect pigment portfolio of products in PigmentViewer App. The effect pigment can be used to create vibrant new colors and styling options throughout the aqua to violet color areas.

Similar to the Lumina  Royal family’s most recent additions such as Lumina  Royal Blue Russet or Lumina Royal Sienna, Lumina  Royal Sparkling Blue provides strong sparkle to achieve an attractive eye-catching appearance. It provides broad suitability across many applications, including automotive, industrial, and packaging.

https://www.sunchemical.com/

Dow achieves new milestones to helping to promote a circular economy in China with Liby’s sustainable packaging

The milestones are part of Dow’s sustainability targets and support China’s environmental goals

 Dow (NYSE: DOW), a global materials science company, and Liby, a leading laundry brand in China, announced today several new milestones that address plastic packaging waste to helping to promote a circular economy in the country.

These milestones include:

• Dow’s recyclable packaging solutions have been adopted for use in nine of Liby’s products since the brand introduced China’s first recyclable packaging for laundry pods in 2020. To date, Liby’s sustainable solutions have allowed millions of its customers the ability to recycle packaging waste easily, along with responsible disposal and recycling infrastructure.
• Enabled by Dow’s INNATE  TF Polyethylene Resins for Tenter Frame Biaxial Orientation (TF-BOPE), Liby’s recyclable packaging earned the first “Double E” (easy-to-collect and easy-to regenerate) label in China, which helps consumers distinguish recyclable packaging from other packaging.
• Liby closed the loop in plastic waste re-use by adopting recyclable cushion packaging made with Dow’s post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins, which are converted from plastic waste provided by Dow’s recycling partner – LOVERE.

These new achievements are part of Dow’s sustainability targets and commitment to close the loop by enabling 100% of its products sold into packaging applications to be reusable or recyclable by 2035.  Dow’s efforts are also supporting with China’s 14^th five-year plan to stop plastic waste from entering the environment and promoting the use of sustainable plastic products.

“We are delighted to collaborate with industry leader Liby who shares the same vision as Dow to accelerate the move from  linear to circular economy,” said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial vice president of Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics.

“These accomplishments are amongst the many that reflects our commitment to capture the full value of plastic and keep waste out of the enviroment, and we look forward to celebrating more milestones with our partners to achieve a sustainable future together.”

Dr. Liping Zhang, Liby’s Chief Scientist, shared “The use of recyclable packaging and PCR resins is one of Liby’s sustainability focuses, which also supports China’s peak emissions and carbon neutral goals. We are proud to be working with Dow to achieve a circular economy and to stop the plastic waste in China”.

Kodak Xiao, Asia Pacific Marketing Director for Packaging & Hygiene, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics says, “Plastic is too valuable a resource to be thrown away or lost to landfill. Tackling plastic waste is a global issue that requires localized solutions.

Through our achievements with Liby, we are able to demonstrate how we partner with local brand owners as well as recyclers to establish an innovative business model and advance our sustainability commitments.” The partnership between Dow and Liby continues to expand with several ongoing recyclable packaging projects in the pipeline, including another PCR resin application that will be announced soon.

 “Double-E” label is issued by Green Recycling Plastic Supply Chain Group (GRPG) – an association established between China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) and China National Resource Recycling Association (CRRA).

The “Double E” certification and evaluation standards of plastic recycling were developed by GRPG based on China’s industry situation and related policies, in accordance with the country’s five-year plan. TÜV Rheinland, a global leading testing service provider, certified Liby’s recyclable packaging with an excellent rating.

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Reinventing laboratory equipment with TPEs

Most medical decisions are based on laboratory test results, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis for early prevention and treatment of illnesses. These work of analysis and testing has been aided by a variety of
equipment and devices in the clinical laboratory.

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are increasingly used for the development of safe and efficient laboratory equipment to improve detection, evaluation, and response, either at home or in a clinical setting. KRAIBURG TPE, the recognized global TPE manufacturer offers its THERMOLAST  H TPE series of compounds for a variety medical and healthcare applications.

The compounds meet the performance and structural criteria for clinical laboratory equipment and components. These include buttons, handles, droppers, valves, pipettes, test tube racks, stoppers, flexible connections,
closures and gaskets.

Better structural properties and performance with TPEs THERMOLAST H TPE series of compounds exhibit flexibility, durability, and a soft and velvety surface in respective applications. These compounds, available in a variety of pre-coloration options, have a wide processing window and can be processed via injection molding and extrusion. Furthermore, KRAIBURG TPE is able to customize the compounds to suit the customers’ needs to fulfill medical regulations for specific clinical laboratory equipment and applications.

Solutions for versatility and safety
The THERMOLAST  H series of compounds are sterilizable with an autoclave at 121°C and also through the EtO process. It is also free of hazardous substances such as latex, PVC, heavy metals, and phthalates, resulting in high-quality material solutions that meet Cytotoxicity, GB/T 16886.5, ISO10993-5, as well as various global food contact and relevant medical standards.

The series’ compounds also meet food-grade standards such as the Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011, the US Food and Drug Administration’s Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 (21CFR), and China’s GB (GuoBiao) standards.

Additionally, the series of compounds feature excellent properties such as adhesion to PP, soft-touch surface, chemical abrasion, compression set, haptics, etc., allowing for product design flexibility.

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