Plastic Material News

Switch to New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K Purging Compound Saves Injection Molder $78,749 Per Year

October 1, 2010 - Buffalo, NY - The Dyna-Purge® Division of Shuman Plastics, Inc. announces that the company recently helped save one of its clients $78,749 annually by switching to New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K engineered purging compound. This global Tier I injection molder, specializing in automotive interiors, supplies large panels to an automotive manufacturer at a rate of 345 vehicles per day. The Ontario, Canada based injection molder called on Dyna-Purge® after they encountered a problem changing over from black to a lighter color.

"We operate four different machines, ranging in size from 1100 to 1550 tons, and the interior parts in question are usually run on a UBE 1550T machine, where we use four different molds on a daily basis," explained a member of the injection molding company's management team. "The production runs can be as short as 72 parts and are offered in three basic colors: black, ivory and gray.  When we changed from black to a lighter color, swirls would often form on the lower end of the panels."

All of the panels are made from PP and the processing temperatures range from 428°F to 440°F (220°C to 226°C). The UBE 1550T is purged an average of four times per day. To resolve the swirl problem, the operators would raise the temperatures by 100°F (38°C), closing off some gates, and then run straight PP through the remaining gates. On average, they would use 101 pounds of PP per purge at a cost of $151.50. When operating expenses were factored in, the overall cost per purge was $170.

The technical staff at Dyna-Purge worked with the Tier 1 supplier to identify the cause of the swirls as bleeding from gate hang-ups. A decision was made to sample New and Improved Dyna-Purge® K, a mechanical, non-abrasive purging compound designed for purging PP and other low-temperature resins.
"New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K is specially formulated to flow naturally through the machine and provide for a 'dual power' cleaning technology," said Tim Cutler, Dyna-Purge® Business Manager. "A non-melting but softening thermoplastic scrubs while a proprietary ingredient expands to clean hard to reach areas on the first purge, without leaving residue."

Using New & Improved Dyna-Purge K on just one machine lowered the Tier 1 supplier's overall purging costs by 44% for the annual savings of $78,749. In less than 11 minutes, and with no temperature adjustments, they were able to transition from black to ivory colored panels. In addition, the supplier lowered its scrap rates by 51% to less than 50 pounds per purge.

Developed as part of the company’s continuous product innovation program, Dyna-Purge® K is ideal for processing temperatures ranging from 290°F to 550°F (143°C to 287°C). Furthermore, like the company's other products, New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K utilizes FDA-compliant ingredients. It is easy to use, with no mixing, soaking or machine adjustments required.

For additional information, including a Case Study on the Tier 1 supplier's  use of New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K, contact Shuman Plastics, Inc., Dyna-Purge Division, 35 Neoga Street, Depew (Buffalo), NY 14043; Phone: (716) 685-2121; Fax: (716) 685-3236; E-mail: info@dynapurge.com; Website: www.dynapurge.com

IDES Unveils New CostMate® Plastic Injection Molding Part Cost Estimator & Quote System

August 19, 2010 - Laramie, WY - An accurate estimate of piece part cost is essential when developing a plastic product.   The challenge is making sure that all of the cost drivers have been accounted for.  Mistakes during the estimation phase can be tremendously costly once the part is actually produced and sold.

In 1997, IDES originally developed CostMate® to help plastic injection molders determine the true cost of an injection molded plastic part.  The new CostMate® has been integrated into the Prospector plastics search engine so that resin information is transparently pulled into estimates.  Project quotes can now be easily stored and retrieved for future use.  Additionally, a secondary cost feature makes it easy to account for things like shipping, packaging or other items.  Full part and sprue/runner entries make it possible to track material and regrind use and cost.

More information is available at: http://www.ides.com/prospector/costmate.asp

Downloadable Images
CostMate® Screenshot: http://www.ides.com/images/prospector/IDES-Costmate.jpg

CostMate® Report Screenshot: http://www.ides.com/images/prospector/IDES-Costmate-Report.jpg

About IDES Inc.
IDES is a plastic materials information management company. The Plastics Web® from IDES is a website with a vertical search engine connecting tens of thousands of companies around the globe with plastics content and technical datasheets from 800 global resin manufacturers. The company provides custom information management services for nearly all resin distributors and a number of resin manufacturers.  IDES is headquartered in Laramie, Wyoming, with offices in Europe.

For more information, visit www.ides.com.

Dyna Purge® Announces New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K For Purging Low Temperature Resins

July 2010 - Buffalo, NY - Advanced formulation provides a brighter, more powerful clean by expanding and cleaning hard to reach areas - The Dyna-Purge® Division of Shuman Plastics, Inc. has introduced the company's latest technology breakthrough -- New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K, a low-temperature, non-abrasive, non-chemical engineered thermoplastic purging compound.  New and improved Dyna-Purge® K is specially formulated to flow naturally through the machine and provide for a "dual power" cleaning technology. A non-melting but softening thermoplastic scrubs while a proprietary ingredient expands, removing contamination without leaving a residue.

According to Nancy Mitchell, Dyna-Purge® Technical Product Manager, the enhanced formulation of new Dyna-Purge® K delivers a brighter, more powerful clean and is field proven to lower purging costs. "Dyna-Purge® K expands even more than previous formulations to clean hard to reach areas on the first purge," she explained. "It cleans faster and reduces scrap and reject rates, while only a small amount of the compound is required."

Tim Cutler, Dyna-Purge® Business Manager, noted that "customers who had been using original Dyna-Purge® K have eagerly made the switch to the new and improved Dyna-Purge® K and experienced up to 15% additional savings." They have been able to significantly increase productivity on their injection molding and extrusion machines, purging a wide range of low temperature resins.

Developed as part of the company’s continuous product innovation program, Dyna-Purge® K is ideal for processing temperatures ranging from 290°F to 550°F (143°C to 287°C).

Furthermore, like the company's other products, New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K utilizes FDA-compliant ingredients. It is easy to use, with no mixing, soaking or machine adjustments required.

As part of the new product introduction, plastics processors can choose one of two special offers: a free 10 pound sample of New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K, or the purchase of a 55 pound box of New & Improved Dyna-Purge® K with the company's Satisfaction Guarantee -- if the user is not satisfied that it performs better than their current purging compound, Dyna-Purge® will fully refund the cost of the product.

For additional information, contact Shuman Plastics, Inc., Dyna-Purge Division, 35 Neoga Street, Depew (Buffalo), NY 14043; Phone: (716) 685-2121; Fax: (716) 685-3236; E-mail: info@dynapurge.com; Website: www.dynapurge.com

First American Plastics Launches New Website

June 29, 2010 - South Beloit, IL - First American Plastics, a leading value-added manufacturer of custom plastic injection molding solutions to companies all over the United States, has launched its new website, complete with a user-friendly and esthetically pleasing design.

The new website (www.firstamericanplastic.com), discusses First American Plastic’s capabilities, the markets they serve, their certifications, explains their value added services (such as multi-step assembly), and features a blog and visuals.

   

“We revamped the website with a fresh new design, and we support it with up-to-date, relevant content,” said Steve Erickson, a vice president at First American Plastics. “The new site is aimed at providing a more complete representation of First American Plastic’s expertise in plastic molding, value added services, mold takeover, design assistance, tooling repair and assistance.”

Along with the advanced features and functionality, the photo gallery section of the site provides a unique opportunity for prospective customers to have a chance to see a small sample of tools and molds that First American Plastic Molding Enterprise has worked on.

Established in 1993, First American Plastic Molding Enterprise is a Certified Minority Business Enterprise. They have been certified in a variety of industries, including Dairy, NSF, Automotive, Consumer, Medical, and original equipment manufacturing, and have the capability to handle projects in a timely fashion without sacrificing quality.

“We have the level of expertise and attention to detail that you expect,” Erickson said, when asked about First American’s breath of experience in the marketplace. “Our workforce of approximately 150 individuals includes 14 cross-functional management team members who share more than 300 years of molding experience.”

First American operates two facilities in the United States, its headquarters in South Beloit, Illinois, and another plant in Ocean Springs, Miss. These plants are 39,000-sq.-ft. and 22,000 sq. ft., respectively.

About First American Plastics Corporation
First American Plastics Corporation is a provider of thermoplastic molding and custom injection molding services for the food, packaging, automotive, and (non-invasive) medical industries. They have been in business since 1993 and are headquartered is in South Beloit, IL, 75 miles northwest of Chicago.

Timbercon Announces Low Pressure Overmolding Capabilities

June 1, 2010 - Lake Oswego, OR - Timbercon, Inc., a fiber optic product and solution manufacturing company, announced today the immediate availability of low pressure overmolding capabilities for fiber optic cable assemblies.

Low pressure overmolding uses a Thermoplastic Polyamide material available in a variety of hardness durometers and colors. Current mold dimensions are approximately 4"x4"x1.5" with future capabilities up to 6"x4"x2".

"This capability can be used for breakout transitions, strain relief, encapsulation, connector boots and other harsh environment requirements," said Brendan O'Dea, Design Engineer. "This technology increases our capabilities for providing high quality fiber optic cable assemblies for many industries and applications. We are excited about the potential requirements from our customers to help solve difficult product designs."

About Timbercon, Inc.
Founded in 1997, Timbercon, Inc. is a fiber optic product and solution manufacturing company providing a vast array of connectivity solutions to the data storage, telecommunications, military, industrial, broadcast and networking industries. In addition to standard fiber optic patch cords and attenuated loopbacks, Timbercon has pioneered proprietary products, many of which are now considered to be an industry benchmark. Additional company information can be found at www.timbercon.com.

CoreTech Released New Evaluation Version of Moldex3D eXplorer - Plastic Injection Molding Simulation Software Embedded in Mainstream CAD

May 6, 2010 - CoreTech System Co., Ltd. (Moldex3D), the world leading innovator of true 3D injection molding simulation, today has officially released the new evaluation version of Moldex3D eXplorer 2009, embedded in mainstream CAD: NX, SolidWorks and Pro/ENGINEER.

Within five times of unconstrained free trial analyses, this powerful simulation tool now provides users with higher accessibility. Part designers can apply for the new evaluation version of Moldex3D eXplorer on the Moldex3D official website and have the very first taste of its unique advantages immediately without any further application processes, saving considerable time and effort to get started. Moreover, evaluation users can easily apply for another 30-day extension trial license when they want to explore deeper into this tool.

 

Moldex3D eXplorer brings a strong light on the current solutions of part design, in which the performance and the calculation speed are both highly valued. Not only does it help users predict many potential problems in the early design phase but also focus on the most important filling issues, which have a great influence on product quality and manufacturability. Through a close link between CAD and CAE, Moldex3D now provides CAD users with more choices to meet customers’ various needs and to equip themselves ahead of the future market trend.

To learn more about the evaluation version of Moldex3D eXplorer available for free download, please click here.
For further information about Moldex3D, please visit www.moldex3d.com.

Note:
NX is a trademark or registered trademark of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.

SolidWorks is a trademark or registered trademark of Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.

Pro/ENGINEER is a trademark or registered trademark of Parametric Technology Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.

About CoreTech and Moldex3D

CoreTech System Co., Ltd. develops and markets Moldex3D CAE Software. Founded in 1995, its main mission is to provide software, service, and solutions to the injection molding industry. Moldex3D is the world leading CAE product for the plastics injection molding industry. With the best-in-class true 3D analysis technology, Moldex3D can help plastic part and mold designers to in-depth simulate the widest application range of injection molding processes, to optimize product design and manufacturability, shorten time-to-market, and maximize product return-on-investment. In 20 years of development, CoreTech has successfully won the support of thousands of customers through more than 5,000 case studies. Committed to provide the advanced technologies and solutions for industrial demands, CoreTech has extended the worldwide sales and service network to provide local, immediate, and professional service. For the latest news and information, please visit the Moldex3D official website at www.moldex3d.com. 

First American Plastics, Leading Injection Molding Services Provider, Featured in Plastics Business

Plastic injection molding company, First American Plastic Molding Enterprise, is included in 'Plastics Business' Winter 2010 article covering businesses' approach to disaster recovery

April 20, 2010 - South Beloit, IL. - First American Plastic Molding Enterprise, a leading plastic injection molding company, is featured in the winter 2010 issue of Plastics Business magazine. The plastic processing industry magazine includes First American Plastics' response to Hurricane Katrina in an article on disaster recovery planning and business continuity.

The injection molding company's facility in Ocean Springs, Miss., was hit by the 2005 disaster with minimal physical damage, yet the hurricane still had a large effect on the company's operations.

“Our industry should take a closer look at its recovery planning strategies and hopefully can learn from our experience.”

"The First American Plastics team is happy to be featured in Plastics Business magazine. Hurricane Katrina was an unfortunate experience for many people and businesses, and recovering from such a huge disaster definitely taught our company a few things about effective planning, as well as brought us a stronger appreciation for our hard-working employees," said Steve Erickson, Vice President of First American Plastics. "Our industry should take a closer look at its recovery planning strategies and hopefully can learn from our experience."

The article details First American Plastics' response to the disaster, including the need to transport supplies, food and gasoline from Chicago to provide meals and fuel for the 70 employees at the Mississippi plastic injection molding facility. While physical and structural damage was minimal, two-thirds of First American Plastics employees left the company, many to seek out new opportunities in different states.

Yet despite the catastrophe and the lessons learned, First American Plastic Molding Enterprise still provides quality products and services on time, every time. The company prides itself in its sustainable and cost-effective approach to business, and continues to survive in a challenging economy.

"There was no way that we could have expected the damage that Hurricane Katrina had on families, businesses and the entire country as a whole. However, we can learn from the disaster and develop better plans for recovery in the future," said Erickson. "In the meantime, our company will remain dedicated to producing plastic parts through sustainable, cost-effective and fully certified processes. It is our commitment that has kept us in business, and we stand by our work with pride."

ABOUT FIRST AMERICAN PLASTIC MOLDING ENTERPRISE: First American Plastic Molding Enterprise is a plastic injection molding company that provides a wide range of services, from design assistance and insert molding to testing and packaging. First American Plastics takes pride in its systematic process controls and sustainable solutions that deliver cost-effective plastic products on time, every time. For more information, visit http://firstamericanplastic.com/.