LINKING SERIOUS BUYERS TO THE BEST SUPPLIERS
Serving the UK & IE plastics industry
I recently read an article about a 5% increase in productivity achieved at Formula Plastics, just by changing their tool clamping system. It got me thinking about mould change methods available in the market, which I then discussed with suppliers.
Masterbatch as a simple colouring agent has been with us for some time, but we wanted to find out how far things had come. We posed three separate questions to UK based specialists that we thought would be of interest to our audience. As well as technical advances, aspects such as long-term environmental impact are also covered.
Gravimetric colour dosing units (also known as continuous or loss-in weight units) have been around for a while, so we asked the PlastikCity Ancillary Partners for some feedback that would help our readers to make a more informed decision when considering their options.
The ‘heart’ of any plastic processing machine is its Screw and Barrel, so if your equipment is not as athletic as you would like, perhaps a ‘transplant’ is the answer!
Guest Blog by Richard Webster of Plastic-IT
Most plastic injection mouldings that are produced today are still compromised when compared to what they could be in terms of fully optimised product….
We all like to think that we’re as careful with our company’s money as if it was our own…
But is this the reality?
When large OEMs such as JLR are ‘waving the flag’ in building a UK based supply chain, we are right to be more optimistic about the future of our Toolmaking industry. But do you need ‘deep pockets’ in order to be patriotic and support the cause?
There will always be an argument for using metal over plastic, which has often been seen by both the engineering fraternity and the general public as a ‘poor cousin’. However, the field of Plastic Component Design and Production has been evolving in recent years, and should now be viewed as a technical solution that in some cases can out-perform machined or cast metal….
When you buy a plastic processing machine, the plasticising screw is often supplied with a General Purpose (G.P.) design and nitrided wear resistance. In many cases the OEM won’t have been told you only process particular material grades, and a GP screw provides the biggest processing window across the spectrum of materials.
This design however, will always be a compromise….
We often think that it is better to buy cheaper equipment, making comments such as “The job is simple to run” or “It doesn’t require all the bells & whistles” to justify the decision. In my experience this doesn’t stack up and the more costly brands are often less expensive in the long run.
The definition of ‘Specific’ is clearly defined or identified or a precise detail. Unfortunately, when it comes to specific gravities for polymers, this definition doesn’t always hold true, so in reality you may just be ‘sticking your finger in the air’………
We all know that in recent years there has been a ‘buzz’ in the general Manufacturing Sector about more product being sourced from within the UK, but what do the actual numbers tell us?
We all know that All-Electric Injection Moulding Machines are more accurate, use less power and are quieter than hydraulic models. So what happened to the 2004 predictions of a year on year increase in their usage?
A PlastikCity customer approached me recently saying he would like to advertise various items from his factory on our website. He knew it was free to advertise so he told his staff to look around the factory and tell him what items were redundant and then put them up on our site.
Most screws are suitable for a number of refurbishments before the thermal stresses imparted by re-welding could result in weakening the structure of the base metal and lead to subsequent fracture……
A bit like not wearing a seat belt, most of us now feel uncomfortable about not recycling our household waste. Recycling can however be more than a way to appease your guilt as a major consumer (around a tonne of Carbon Dioxide production is saved for every tonne of re-processed material used instead of virgin), it can now also make good business sense.
The concept of Single Minute Exchange of Die has been around for a while, but for those of us working with a limited budget or a variety of materials (with different processing temperatures), anything under an hour would be nice! There are however some relatively inexpensive changes you can make, without having to result to budget-busting auto-tool change systems and magnetic platens….
The aim was to create a major resource for the plastics sector, one place to find everything you needed. From time to time, we need to review how we are doing, so for the purposes of this Blog, I have looked at things from the perspective of a new start company looking to develop an idea for a new `widget’ that just happens to be most easily manufactured in plastic.
Having spent a number of years inspecting worn screw and barrels, I know from experience that people go well beyond ‘a few thou’ of wear before deciding it’s time for a replacement or refurb. A good setter can often work with little more than a stick rattling around in an oversized tube, but there is always a price to pay……
For simpler moulding jobs, the ethos of “gravity is free, why should I buy a robot” still holds true. If, however, any of the following points apply, you should consider de-moulding with a robot.
