Matthew Naitove

Matthew Naitove Contributing Editor

Automation

This Might Have Been Written by a Robot

Well, I trust you would notice the difference. But you’d be surprised how well the “bots” can compose plausible text almost instantly. I challenged a popular AI “chatbot” to address some current concerns about chemical recycling. Some useful lessons resulted.

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Postprocessing

New Cleanroom-Rated Static Eliminator

Neutralize static hands-free in sensitive medical, pharmaceutical and electronic manufacturing operations.

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Packaging

Linear Leak Tester with Upgraded Controls and Versatility

Indexing-conveyor system tests a wider range of bottle sizes and offers expanded remote support and data reporting.

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Learn Fundamentals of Materials Handling in Self-Paced Online Course

Learn about equipment, procedures and maintenance for material handling related to injection molding.

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Biopolymers

Plastics and the Joy of Chemistry

A Public Broadcasting program revels in the achievements of polymer chemistry while also warning of the problems that come with its benefits.

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Fast, Easy Six-Axis Robot Integration Created by a Molder for Molders

Custom injection molder Noble Plastics has done its own six-axis robot integration with several brands of injection machines for over 20 years. Now it’s offering a turnkey service with what’s said to be unmatched speed, affordability and ease of implementation.

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polyolefins

In Sustainable Packaging, the Word is ‘Monomaterial’

In both flexible and rigid packaging, the trend is to replace multimaterial laminates, coextrusions and “composites” with single-material structures, usually based on PE or PP. Nonpackaging applications are following suit.

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PET

Ultra-Compact PET Machine For 12 L in Two Cavities

New size of all-electric reheat stretch-blow machine for large PET bottles debuted from 1Blow at K 2022. It retains the company’s signature small footprint and energy-sparing features.

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Packaging

New Designs for Electric & Hybrid Packaging and Industrial Blow Molding Machines

Introduced at K 2022, Bekum’s 21 models in the new EBLOW 8 Series and  XBLOW designs include all-electric packaging machines from small to large, plus industrial units with a novel two-stage clamp in servohydraulic or hybrid versions.

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Word Games: What’s a ‘Hybrid’?

Any molder will tell you there’s a difference in working with electric vs. hydraulic drives. Servohydraulic is still hydraulic; a hybrid machine is something different. Imprecise use of terms causes needless confusion.

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Blow Molding

Large Electric Shuttle for Coextrusion with PCR

At K 2022, Plastiblow showed the new all-electric PB50ES-1000 Coex3 machine making three-layer, 20 L jerrycans with PCR in the center layer.

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How Was K 2022 for Blow Molding?

Over a dozen companies emphasized sustainability with use of foam and recycle, lightweighting and energy savings, along with new capabilities in controls, automation and quick changeovers.

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