Injection Molding

injection molding

The Troubleshooter, Part 128: The simple fix for cracked parts

Sometimes it’s the little things that cause big problems.

I could hear a big truck coming down the snow-covered road in front of my office. The driver had become a friend and, like all of the others, likes to get my packages to me as early as possible so he can get a cup of coffee and scratch the ears of Jake, my black Labrador Retriever, before hitting the road again.

Editorial: Unrestricted free trade doesn’t benefit the country’s manufacturing industry

Last week President Obama gave a speech with his view of the future of job creation in the U.S. The Republican party countered with its own ideas. Is unregulated commerce destroying U.S. manufacturing? Yes, argues Glenn Beall, author of our By Design series of article and Plastics Hall of Fame inductee, in this editorial.

Can we just catch our breath?

After a few wrenching years, we may seem to be stabilizing. But honestly, I don’t think so.

There have been a number of positive economic stories in our business reported recently. Granted, it’s a small number, but compared with the virtual absence of any good news from late 2008 until early 2010, the good news stories feel like the first days of fresh spring air after a bitter winter.

Change is inevitable, and accelerating

This is a salute to you, IMM reader, as well as an invitation to the future and a very fond farewell.

Collaboration not competition helps Michigan moldmakers thrive

The Southwestern Michigan Coalition proves that success can be found in cooperation with industry peers, not just competition, with benefits to be realized by all. It's well-known that Michigan's manufacturing industries have suffered tremendous losses over the past five years. In the molding and mold manufacturing industries, many companies have been forced to close their doors, shrinking the number of suppliers that primarily serviced the automotive industry in that state.

Smith Metal Products breaks ground on new facility, likely to hire soon too

Smith Metal Products, the metal injection molding (MIM) and ceramic injection molding (CIM) division of Plastic Products Company Inc., broke ground in Center City, MN for a new 60,000-sf manufacturing facility. The new facility will relocate the company three miles from its current location to a new industrial park, and allow for future expansion. The total investment for the new facility including new debind and sintering equipment, all-electric molding machines and automation equipment totaling approximately $6.5 million.

Exporting molds: Painful for many mold makers, but help is available

A lot of opportunity exists for mold manufacturers to export their molds, and in spite of the complexities of exporting, there are ways to do this that can help you get more business.

By Design: Gross Mismanagement Part II: Downsizing as Dumbsizing

Many countries struggle to provide for an increasing number of unemployed citizens. Some are financially strained and facing default. Back in the days when there were plenty of jobs nearly everyone who worked could take care of themselves and the system worked well. If jobs could be found for whomever wants to work today, it would solve a lot of the world's current problems.

Bioresorbable polymeric stents near clinical stage

After more than 20 years of development, bioresorbable coronary stents are close to commercialization, setting up what is sure to be a hotly contested battle for a multi-billion dollar market.

Medical Musings: Can Engel solve the amorphous metal puzzle?

The potential for injection molded amorphous metals in the medical market took a big step forward with the announcement that Engel Austria GmbH (Schwertberg) will join forces with Liquidmetal Technologies (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA).

The goal is to develop net shape parts that are stronger, and possibly more cost effective, than metals and composite plastics currently used for precession medical instruments and devices, hearing aids, implants, and dental tools.

IPF show: Toshiba opts for systems approach as differentiator

Toshiba Machine Co. (Tokyo) views production cells and system-based solutions as the way ahead amid an increasingly competitive market for injection molding machines. "The number of machines we ship is declining while simultaneously, more of our customers are asking for complete systems," explains Hideo Tanaka, a Toshiba advisor.

Injection molded medical clamp weighs just 0.003g

A medical clamp with a part weight of 0.003g will be manufactured from polyacetal supplied by Ticona in a cycle time of 4 seconds in a demonstration at the German medical show Compamed being held in Düsseldorf Nov. 16-18.

Smith Metal Products breaks ground on new facility, likely to hire soon too

Smith Metal Products, the metal injection molding (MIM) and ceramic injection molding (CIM) division of Plastic Products Company Inc., broke ground in Center City, MN for a new 60,000-sf manufacturing facility. The new facility will relocate the company three miles from its current location to a new industrial park, and allow for future expansion. The total investment for the new facility including new debind and sintering equipment, all-electric molding machines and automation equipment totaling approximately $6.5 million.

Elastomer proves flexibility in two-shot process

Thermoplastic elastomer supplier Kraiburg TPE (Waldkraiburg, Germany) and toolmaker/molder Mues Products & Moulds GmbH (Kolbermoor, Germany), have joined forces to debut a new type of removable badge plate for engine covers in the automotive sector molded using a two-shot process.

Collaboration not competition helps Michigan moldmakers thrive

The Southwestern Michigan Coalition proves that success can be found in cooperation with industry peers, not just competition, with benefits to be realized by all. It's well-known that Michigan's manufacturing industries have suffered tremendous losses over the past five years. In the molding and mold manufacturing industries, many companies have been forced to close their doors, shrinking the number of suppliers that primarily serviced the automotive industry in that state.

IPF show: Self-centering mold boosts processing precision

Guide pins in a tool typically require a clearance of 2o micrometers and thus they don't contribute much if an application is ultra-precise according to Japanese toolmaker Nishiuchi Seisakusho (Kiryu). The company has developed what it calls the Floating Self-Centering Mold System that does away with guide pins altogether, while enabling the molding of precision components such as connectors with wall thickness down to 0.09 mm and core hole width of 0.12 mm.

IPF show: Ube debuts injection press for Asian auto molders; three-shot foam molding process

Ube Machinery Corp. (Ube, Japan) entered the all-electric arena in 1996 through joint development of the MD Series with Niigata Machine Techno (Niigata, Japan). At IPF Japan 2011, the machine builder introduced its first wholly original all-electric machines, the UF Series.

Injection molder Bianor plans a new facility; already thinking of further investment

Bianor will invest more than PLN 16 million (about $5.15 million) in a new plastics processing facility in the Special Economic Zone in Bialystok, Poland. The factory will become operational in mid-2012 and employ about 100. The company already employs about 320, with its customer base including Bosch-Siemens Appliances, Philips and Newell Rubbermaid.

Sleep apnea device owes sleek new look to PC/ABS compound

Improved design is a major goal of the newest model of one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea, which affects one in five adults and correlates to diabetes and hypertension.

Great ideas come in surprising ways. In fact, Bobby Musselman, inventor of the Cell Buckle, never thought about inventing anything until a long road trip in August of 2010 to Sturgis, South Dakota, to the big annual motorcycle rally there, created a need: a hands-off way to use his cell phone while he was riding.

Introduce your plastics to the mother of invention

Plastics have proved to be a boon to inventors! Just think of all the widgets and gadgets that inventors have made using plastics. Case in point: One of those entrepreneurial inventors, Tim Crawley, developed Snappy Grip handles. Why this invention? Well you know what they say about necessity being the mother, etc.

It takes a village:  A new invention comes to fruition

When a person who knows nothing about the plastics industry gets an idea for a new household gadget, where does he turn? Well, to lots of different people.

When Joe Welchert visited with IMM about two years ago, he had a great idea for a new product: an attachment for a wet/dry vacuum to accomplish a variety of tasks around the house that couldn’t be done with a regular vacuum cleaner. The problem was, Welchert didn’t know anything about plastics or molds, or have a clue as to how to get his invention manufactured.

Virtual Event, Real Benefits: Save your company money, meet peers, win (another) iPad 2 and more

Our marketing blitz has probably made clear that this Thursday, Sept. 8, we will host the plastics industry's first Virtual Event, with the subject "Continuous Improvement in Injection Molding." A few thousand "early adopter" processors already have registered but here's a call to the other 100,000 of you out there. We're baiting our offer with another iPad 2.

Can we just catch our breath?

After a few wrenching years, we may seem to be stabilizing. But honestly, I don’t think so.

There have been a number of positive economic stories in our business reported recently. Granted, it’s a small number, but compared with the virtual absence of any good news from late 2008 until early 2010, the good news stories feel like the first days of fresh spring air after a bitter winter.

When is a mouse more  than a mouse?

In the world of consumer electronics, gadgets are extremely popular with buyers. But gadgets should also be useful in a variety of ways. Could a computer mouse be a marketing tool?

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