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São Paulo—Inspectors from a new safety standard enforcement team forced an exhibitor to shut down a bag-making machine on the second day of the Feiplastic 2013 fair in São Paulo, saying the equipment, from an unnamed Chinese supplier, did not satisfy a revamped standard that Brazil is now more vigorously enforcing.

Researchers in China and Wisconsin have collaborated on research showing that a compound of commonly used medical plastics can be injection molded into shape memory polymers.

The new blends have the advantage of better shaping ability.

In an effort to address the growing global plastic pollution issue, ENSO Plastics, an environmental plastic solution provider, announced two new technologies, ENSO Renew and ENSO Restore that company President Danny Clark hopes will change the way plastics are used around the globe.
   

Success is the natural result of developing core competencies, utilizing technology, and hiring the best people to help achieve the company’s goals. Teamvantage, a full-service contract manufacturer, has been cultivating a culture of success that is evident in the company’s growth.
   

Although a stronger real is adding some headwinds, climbing 25% in the last two years, the Brazilian plastics machinery industry continues to see gains in its exports, particularly within Latin America, thanks in large part to an assist from its machinery association and the Brazilian government.

Gloucester Engineering Co. (GEC) President and CEO Carl Johnson says Asia-Pacific customers are demanding more sophisticated and larger machines.

"They want larger machines with higher outputs," he told PlasticsToday. "The demand for quality continues to grow."

Increasing polymer production in Brazil and a growing automotive market there have prompted Japanese plastic additives supplier Adeka Corp. (Tokyo) to establish a sales and marketing office in Sao Paulo. Adeka supplies antioxidants, light stabilizers, lubricants and nucleating agents among other additive products.

Guangzhou, China - The Solar Impulse aircraft safely reached Phoenix May 5 after a 20-hour flight from San Francisco. Next up: the leg from Phoenix to Dallas which will take off the week of May 20. Traveling at an average ground speed of just 40 mph, the Solar Impulse carried its sole occupant and pilot, adventurer Bertrand Piccard, on the 650-nautical mile first leg solely utilizing the power of the sun.

Elixir Medical Corp. (Sunnyvale, CA) has received CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark approval for a coronary scaffold system designed to degrade in about one year, returning the patients' coronary vessels to a normal condition. The DESSolve scaffold combines a proprietary poly-L Lactide (PLLA) plastic with an anti-proliferative drug called Novolimus.

As far back as I can remember since I’ve been in this industry (which is now 30 years), the SPI moldmakers and machinery makers have met together each spring. Many times the meeting was here in Phoenix, which made it convenient for me to attend after I’d begun writing about tooling and molding rather than selling it.