Toyo system makes heat-resistant bottles A new blow molding system for heat- and pressure-resistant PET bottles was introduced in Orlando, Fla., at Nova-Pack Americas 2000, held Jan. 31-Feb. 1.
The developer claims the 500-milliliter PET bottles are capable of withstanding the heat and pressure necessary to package pasteurized beer.
The stretch blow molding technology is called S-Cosmos, and was developed by Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd. in Yokohama, Japan. The company is producing equipment to produce 30,000 bottles per hour, according to Schotland Business Research Inc., the Skillman, N.J.-based organizer of Nova-Pack.
Schotland tel. (609) 466-9191, fax (609) 466-8833, e-mail [email protected] schotland.com.
Spray-on coating blocks interference
Egyptian Lacquer Manufacturing Co. developed a water-based coating to shield against electromagnetic and radio-frequency interference.
The Lafayette, Ind., firm said its Tara spray-on coating does not flake off and has exceptional adherence to plastics and other substrates. Because it is water-based, it can be removed easily to recycle plastic parts. It also is easier to clean from painting-mask systems than conventional water-based coatings. Egyptian claims Tara is Underwriters Laboratories-approved for use on engineered plastics such as ABS, polyphenylene oxide, polycarbonate and ABS/PC blends.
Egyptian said the patented product was developed in cooperation with custom injection molder Sajar Plastics Inc. of Middlefield, Ohio.
Tel. (765) 447-2136, fax (765) 447-0249, e-mail [email protected] .cioe.com.
Michigan companies team up on presses
Vertical-clamp injection molding machines from Gluco Inc. of Jenison, Mich., are getting some new technology from another Michigan company, PlastiMatix LLC, of Farmington Hills.
The two companies will market Gluco's current line of vertical presses and a newly designed press. All of the machines sport a tie-barless design.
Gluco's current design is a modified four tie bar "C" frame, with a vertical injection unit and vertical clamp. The PlastiMatix "Box" design will allow for vertical or horizontal injection units, or both. Gluco will produce the model with a basic, easy-to-use controller and hydraulic system, but those features can be upgraded to match customer requirements.
Clamping forces range from 10-300 tons. Shot sizes range from 0.75-36 ounces.
PlastiMatix also announced it will begin marketing Model FS robots with six axes from Kawasaki Robotics USA. Wixom, Mich.-based Kawasaki has supplied the metalworking industry for the past 30 years, but the company now is targeting the plastics industry.
PlastiMatix Tel. (248) 324-1650, fax (248) 324-1653.
Mold-base software reduces design time
An Israeli company, Cimatron Ltd., has developed software for designing mold bases called MoldBase 3D.
Any change in the mold base is automatically reflected in the assembly or plate drawing. The software covers guide pins, leader pins, screws, ejectors, spacers and cooling channels.
MoldBase 3D supports major industry mold-base products such as D-M-E, DMS, Futaba, Hasco, Pedrotti, Rabourdin, Sideco and Strack in a single database.
Cimatron is based in Givat Shmuel, Israel. In North America, Cimatron Technologies Inc. has operations in Livonia, Mich., and Burlington, Ontario.
Tel. (734) 432-6600, fax (734) 432-6601.
Firms to use borates in flame retardants
Albermarle Corp. is teaming up with the Borax Flame Retardant Group to develop and market halogen-free flame retardants.
The companies will explore broader use of borates supplied by Borax. Firebrake zinc borates, for example, have been used in PVC, polyamides and epoxies and have potential in styrenics, engineering plastics and other polymers.
The companies said zinc borates can replace antimony trioxide and act as a synergist with brominated flame retardants.
Albermarle, based in Baton Rouge, La., supplies Satyex and NcendX flame retardants. Borax Flame Retardant Group of Valencia, Calif., was established four years ago.
Albermarle tel. (225) 388-8176, fax (225) 388-7686, e-mail war [email protected], Borax Flame Retardant tel. (800) 847-0822, fax (661) 287-5522.
French firm markets extrusion machinery
A French company, Corelco, is marketing its line of corrugated pipe and plastic netting machinery to North America.
The company's EC corrugators produce flexible tubing with diameters from 0.16-10.4 inches. Corelco's new Prefilco process extrudes corrugated sheathing directly around electric wires, water mains, gas pipes or television cables.
The company's plastic netting extruder produces square mesh, up to 61/2 feet wide.
Corelco is based in Manziat.
Tel. +33 (385) 36 12 58, fax +33 (385) 30 04 55, e-mail [email protected] corelco.com.
Gammaflux cabinet saves floor space
Gammaflux LP of Sterling, Va., which makes hot runner temperature controllers, has moved its floor-standing 9500 series into a cabinet mounted onto the injection molding press, dubbed the 9600 Series.
Gammaflux also added a remote monitor that can be mounted at any location, such as alongside the machine's operator panel, for easy access to data.
A customer in Belgium requested the machine mounted cabinet to conserve floor space.
Tel. (703) 471-5050, fax (703) 689-2131.
Sartomer monomers safe for evironment
Sartomer Co. introduced two monomers for the composites industry it claims can help environmental compliance and improve properties.
PC-300 is an acrylate monomer and PC-301 is a methacrylate type. The Downington, Pa., firm says they offer reduced shrinkage, higher temperature resistance and the ability to replace styrene in various composites such as unsaturated polyesters and vinyl esters.
It also reports the materials do not contribute to volatile organic emissions, and they provide metal adhesion and enhanced thermal cycling in uses including gel coats, cast polymers and composite anchor media.
Tel. (800) 345-8247, fax (610) 363-4140.
Liquid dispersions are pumpable, dust-free
Advanced Compounding has developed liquid dispersions for flame retardants used in thermoplastics.
The company said its new products have relatively low viscosities, are pumpable and dust-free. The dispersions are suited to polyolefins, styrenics, PVC, polyesters and other polymers. They are available in carriers such as a trimellitate, mineral oil and certain phthalates. Advanced Compounding, a division of Amspec Chemical Corp., is based in Cheshire, Conn.
Tel. (800) 345-5185 or (203) 271-2526, fax (203) 272-8398.
Derakane resins offer better performance
Dow Chemical Co. has improved its Derakane epoxy vinyl esters for fiber-reinforced applications.
Derakane Momentum resins offer enhanced performance and productivity, according to the Midland, Mich., company. They provide higher reactivity, easier workability, quicker gel-to-cure and fewer bubbles. Dow also claims the Momentum products lead to less stress cracking and lighter color and that they require less catalyst and have longer shelf life.
Momentum resins can give up to 20 percent quicker gel-to-cure times, Dow said. Their reaction kinetics often eliminate the need to use amines in formulations, for improved workplace safety.
Tel. (517) 636-3369, fax (517) 638-6922, e-mail [email protected] .com.
DSM PP compounds feature high strength
DSM Engineering Plastics claims its new line of polypropylene compounds has up to 30 percent higher strength than conventional glass fiber-reinforced PP.
The Evansville, Ind., firm said it combines resin, fiber, coupling chemistry and compounding techniques to create the new products. They allow use of lower reinforcement levels to give products lower specific gravity. Their high strength also allows reduced wall thickness.
Other features noted by DSM include higher surface hardness for more scratch resistance and heat-deflection temperatures of up to 320 degrees F. DSM offers the compounds in reinforcement levels of 10, 20, 30 and 40 percent. The materials are well-suited to automotive and lawn and garden components.
Tel. (800) 333-4237, fax (812) 435-7702, e-mail [email protected] .com.