Plastics Industry Automation
Automation in the Plastics Industry involves robots, cobots, molding cells, part pickers, and end-of-arm-tooling.
ESSENTIAL READING
VIEW ALL
What to Look for in High-Speed Automation for Pipette Production
Automation is a must-have for molders of pipettes. Make sure your supplier provides assurances of throughput and output, manpower utilization, floor space consumption and payback period.
Read More
How to Automate High-Precision ‘Micro’ Insert Molding
What does it take to automate a horizontal injection molding cell to handle micro-sized inserts and molded parts? General-purpose top-entry robots and tooling may not be up to the job.
Read More
How to Plan and Implement Automation in an Injection Molding Plant
There is no “one size fits all” solution in automation. When considering what it would look like in your plant, hone in on the staff, products, space, and goals that are specific to you and the automation system that you will be installing.
Read More
AUTOMATION—PART 2 When to Consider Six-Axis Articulated-Arm Robots
Extraordinary versatility suits articulated-arm robots to a wide variety of operations, from loading inserts and unloading parts to decorating, assembly and testing. They also pair well with Cartesian robots. Many mounting options and improved speed and ease of programming add to their flexibility.
Read More
How to Make Your Pneumatics ‘Smart’
Emerson’s Avantics Smart Pneumatics Analyzer digitizes the analog pneumatic environment and monitors and analyzes key operating data.
Read More
Implementing Automation Systems: How to Do It Right
If you’re thinking of putting a complex automation system for high-volume consumables into your plant, consider these tips on making sure both you and your supplier are ready to give it the best chance of success.
Read More
Latest Automation News And Updates
Norwalt Automation Expands Tampa Footprint, Capacity
The new 28,000-square-foot site in Tampa, Florida, will focus on machine and system integration activities for various sectors.
Read More
German Robotics and Automation Industry Forecasts Downturn in 2025
Germany’s VDMA Robotics + Automation Association is anticipating a 9% decline in 2025 sales to €13.8 billion.
Read More
No-Code Tool for Robot Interface Programming
Cloud-based library for application templates can reduce setup times by up to 80%.
Read More
AI-Powered Cobot Application Development
Universal Robots’ AI Accelerator hardware and software tool kit enables development of AI-powered cobot applications.
Read More
Engel Begins Construction of New Automation Factory in Poland
Engel subsidiary TMA Automation Sp. z o.o. is building a new office and production building in Gdansk, Poland.
Read More
Customizable Cobot Palletizing Tool
Piab USA says after two years as a specialty product, its cobot palletizing tool (CPT) end-of-arm-tool is now a standard configurable product.
Read More
Featured Posts
PTXPO On Display: LS Mtron’s Smart Solution
Get a preview of technology you’ll see live on the Plastics Technology Expo show floor March 18-20 in Rosemont, Illinois.
Watch
Production Monitoring Automates Molder’s Planning, Operations
DCT saves 60 man-hours per week by shifting from paper records and discrete spreadsheets to a shared, automatic production monitoring platform.
Read More
BMW Group Vehicle to Adopt 3D Printed Center Console
A vehicle coming to market in 2027 will include a center console carrier manufactured through polymer robot-based large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM).
Read More
PolyJohn Turns to Blow Molding, Doubles Its Productivity
Leading maker of portable sanitation products knew thermoforming, sheet extrusion, rotomolding and injection molding. Then it found the missing link to higher productivity and new markets: blow molding.
Read More
AMRs and Cobots Target Inspection, Palletizing and Movement of Finished Goods
The same year it marked its 70th year in ´óÏó´«Ã½, custom injection molder Hoffer Plastics (South Elgin, Illinois) — which routinely reinvests more than 10% of its annual revenue back into new equipment — prioritized automation in that CapEx with some stunning results.
Read More
Open Automation Enables Flexibility in Chemical Recycling
Software-defined equipment control systems can be duplicated, transferred and scaled with ease.
Read MoreFAQ: Automation
How to add automation to injection molding?
There is no “one size fits all” solution in automation. When considering what it would look like in your plant, hone in on the staff, products, space, and goals that are specific to you and the automation system that you will be installing.
Automation Supplier Categories
- Rebuilt Screws or Barrels
- Other Testing/Analysis Equipment
- Automation/Systems Integration
- Speed, Drive Controls
- Recording Instruments
- Troubleshooting, Problem Solving Systems
- Technical and Trade Associations
- Machining, Routing Software
- Materials Formulating Systems
- SPC, SQC Systems
- Product & Tool Design, Analysis Software (CAD/CAM/CAE)
- Assembly Robots and EOAT
- Flow Monitoring/Control Devices (for Liquids)
- Training Programs in Plastics
- Maintenance Management Systems
- Timers
- Rebuilt Motors and Drives
- ISO 9000 Software
- Job Quoting, Cost Estimating and Accounting Systems
- Dewpoint Monitors/Moisture Analyzers
- Parison Programmers
- Spray Painting Robots and EOAT
- Scheduling, MRP, Production and Inventory Management Systems
- Pressure Controllers, Monitors
- Temperature Controllers, Monitors
- Computer and Automation Testing Auxiliaries
- Color Matching/Formulating Systems
- Temperature Pyrometers, Sensors, Thermocouples
- Design of Experiments (DOE) Software
- Motion or Position Controls
- Part or Sprue Removal Robots and EOAT
- Screw Design/Analysis Software
- Sequence Logic Controls
- Level Sensors and Controls
- Used Molds
- Closed-loop Process Control Systems
- Used Machinery
- Machine Monitoring/Alarm Systems
- Pressure Sensors, Transducers
- General Purpose Robots and EOAT