The following news briefs were gathered by reporter Rhoda Miel from Plast-Ex 2001, held April 20-May 3 in Mississauga, Ontario.
Dentist to pry open new uses for acrylic
Dental specialist Bob Huybrechts stumbled onto the plastics industry more than five years ago as he sought a way to make a more comfortable dental plate for patients, creating an acrylic blend that could reshape itself to each person's mouth.
Now he is looking for opportunities to expand sales beyond the dental industry.
"We're looking for new contacts for other industrial applications in the future," said Huybrechts.
His company, ThermoElastic Technologies Inc. of Toronto, introduced his Bitem-brand acrylic to dentists in 1996. Dental technicians and laboratories can formulate blends to provide either a hard surface for chewing or a softer surface that will fit snugly around teeth or on gums.
The same molding potential that helps dental plates fit each person's mouth can be used for handles, foot supports, ear pieces on glasses and a variety of other custom grips, he said.
"It's very sophisticated to make, but it is very easy for the patient to use," Huybrechts said.
HCI Canada adopting new parent's name
HCI Canada Inc. is getting ready to change its name to match its corporate parent's.
Within the next few months, the company name officially will switch to Brenntag Canada Inc., but the Mississauga, Ontario-based business will continue to offer the same services, said Robert Elvin, business unit manager-plastics.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands-based HCI was bought out by Brenntag AG of Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany, late last year.
Gain Technologies touts trial center
Gain Technologies Inc. is offering injection molders an opportunity to try out gas-assist molding programs with a new trial center at its Sterling Heights, Mich., headquarters.
The company has three presses on site, with clamping forces of 200-950 tons, said Ken Bodenhorn, customer service manager. Since the site opened in December, molders have tested the systems with both production and prototype tools.
Husky extends line of hybrid electrics
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. has expanded its Hylectric line of hybrid electric presses, adding a 250-ton machine.
The H225 is focused on applications for thin-wall packaging, medical molding, cellular-telephone production and other processes that require precise performance but want to take advantage of the improved energy efficiency of an electric system.
"An all-electric machine is limited in terms of speed," said Karl-Heinz Hoefert, inside sales manager for Husky's small-tonnage machines.
The Hylectric line continues the use of hydraulics in the press for short cycle times but has an electrical drive for the biggest energy user, the extruder.
The H225 is the fourth press in the hybrid electric system for , Husky of Bolton, Ontario, It offers a 100-, 175- and 1,100-ton system. A fifth press will debut soon.