Week of 12/02-12/06: All about 3D printing at EuroMold and Top 10 articles

But as Senior Editor Clare Goldsberry pointed out, it turns out that this year's event was less about molds and more about 3D printing.

"If there are any mold makers or molders out there who think that 3D printing (additive manufacturing) isn't a disruptive technology, think again," she wrote.

3D printing also generated quite the buzz on the U.S. mainstream media's radar when the U.S. House approved a 10-year extension of an existing federal law banning guns that can pass undetected through metal detectors or X-ray machines. It seems that means no plastic 3D printed guns using technology like SLA, SLS or FDM, Clare wrote.

"Like anything else that is invented, the invention can be used for good or for evil. What one person sees as a boon to society, someone else can think of a way to use that same thing for ill," she wrote. "Take the power of nuclear energy for example: it can be used to destroy entire cities or it can be used to provide energy to hundreds of thousands of homes and manufacturing plants."

Back at Euromold, attendees were serenaded by an unusual looking musical combo this year, Senior Editor Norbert Sparrow wrote.

"But it's not necessarily the musicians in the ODD band that will be attracting attention: all eyes will be on the instruments, which were manufactured using 3D printing technology," he wrote.

"If you're a musician or even just a music lover, the question that immediately comes to mind is, how do the materials and production process affect the sound of the instruments?"

Read his article to find out the answer.

Norbert also covered several medical stories, including a look at the Top 10 Medtech States. 

"California may get a bad rap in some quarters-and some of it is justified-but medical device manufacturers aren't packing their bags just yet for the safe tax haven of Texas or other states generally considered to be more welcoming to business interests," Nobert wrote." The medtech industry employs 84,000 people directly and injects nearly $60 billion into the state economy. None of the other states even come close, as shown in the Top 10 States for Medtech, an infographic produced by UBM Canon."

European Editor Karen Laird talked with Gerard de Reuver, CEO at DSM Dyneema, about the company's product, Dyneema, its ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMPE) fibers, light enough to float on water, but 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers. First introduced in the late 1970s, today Dyneema is used in numerous applications, including bullet-resistant armor for vehicle and personal protection, clothing, ropes, cables and nets and safety gloves. 

"DSM Dyneema sees innovation as key to maintaining a competitive advantage. To achieve the full potential of its most important resources - the people working there - DSM Dyneema has stimulated the emergence of a culture that is both enabling and learning," Karen wrote.

Is the Lone Start State ready to be the new hub for PET bottle recycling? CarbonLite Recycling thinks so. I talked with the company's CEO Leon Farahnik about CarbonLite's decision to build its next bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Abilene, TX, which is about 150 miles west of Fort Worth. The facility is scheduled to begin production in late 2014, and will process used plastic beverage bottles into food-grade raw material to make into new bottles.

Since the recycling rate in Texas is about 18%, compared to California at 65%, I was curious about why they chose Texas for this plant. 

"We felt that Texas had a great potential for the use of post-consumer recycled material, plus the location puts us close to our main customer in the state," he said.

In fact, one of CarbonLite's biggest customers in Texas will be Nestlé Waters North America for its Ozarka brand spring water.

Automotive Editor Stephen Moore looked at sealing technologies that reportedly address fuel economy, lightweighting, start-stop and electrification.

"The ability of sealing solutions to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions is coming into focus as automakers seek strategies beyond lightweighting to meet legislated targets. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (Plymouth, MI) recently outlined its Low Emission Sealing Solutions (LESS) initiative that aims to address multiple transportation industry challenges." 

"One such product is a gas-lubricated mechanical face seal called Levitex, which is under development and due for introduction in 2017. The seal is made from high strength automotive steels and proprietary Freudenberg high performance elastomers," he wrote.

Top 10 most-clicked PlasticsToday articles 12/02-12/06

1. Berry Plastics plans to close five plants

2. Plastics gaining market share in caps and closures market

3. 3D printing gets its groove on at Euromold

4. PP foam part honored with SPE award

5. EOS GmbH introduces new metal and plastic offerings at EuroMold 2013

6. Tier I Japanese firm works with Toyota to develop high impact "salami structure" PA/PP alloy

7. Bioplastic suppliers look to offer consumers a sustainable caffeine fix

8. KraussMaffei won't shutter Treuchtlingen plant, after all

9. Automotive survey shows push toward global markets

10. Wisconsin precision job shop adds injection molding department