Nanotechnology — as well as bio-resins, another promising new area — were the themes of the company’s booth at NPE2009. Making the actual nanomaterials sets Nissei apart from other plastics machinery manufacturers, said Nobu Kobayashi, marketing team coordinator of Nissei America Inc., the Japanese company’s U.S. operation in Anaheim, Calif.

“We like to sell the molding machine and the material to the customer, all together. It’s a one-piece solution to the customer, and we know the carbon nanotube technology will be huge in the future,” Kobayashi said in an interview during NPE.

For the application, molding the trays from Voltiga and high-impact polystyrene gives improved properties over the traditional materials such as polystyrene or ABS, Kobayashi said. The HIPS/nanotubes combination resists static electricity, which can damage the product. “And it’s equally strong or stronger than glass-filled material,” he said.

The PS or ABS carrier trays also require a costly second step, of adding an anti-static coating, he said.

The Voltiga press is equipped with a Nissei’s special VT screw, which minimizes the deterioration of the carbon nanotube composite materials.

Nissei makes the nanotubes at its Nanomaterial Division compounding plant, located in its machinery factory in Niigata, Japan. Working with a university, Nissei developed a proprietary technology called teh “pre-mixing method” that enables the company to make its own nanomaterials.

The term “nano” means a billionth. Nano-sized particles can be used to add multiple functions to the performance of the molded part, according to Atsushi Koide, director and general manager of Nissei’s Nanomaterial Division. Nanotechnology can add electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and mechanical strength, as well as dimensional accuracy, surface finish and moldability, he said via e-mail.