The following briefs were gathered by Plastics News staff reporters Angie DeRosa, Rhoda Miel and Frank Esposito at the Plastics Encounter show, held in Cleveland June 19-21.
Dri-Air offers dryer for small presses
Dri-Air Industries Inc. is touting a portable drying system for injection presses under 20 tons.
The East Windsor, Conn.-based manufacturer of plastic drying and loading systems displayed the system at Plastics Encounter Cleveland June 19-21.
The system handles 10 pounds per hour, said Herb Wishow, sales manager, allowing processors to dry material off-line and convey it to the micro-molder. Its hoppers have a 5-15-pound capacity. The system runs on 110 volts and does not require compressed air, Wishow said.
Yarde Metals opens Ohio plant in March
Yarde Metals has opened a 30,000-square-foot facility in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio. The Bristol, Conn.-based company manufactures metal shapes for dies.
Yarde Metals opened the facility in March, said John Zasadni, branch manager.
The company has locations in Tewksbury, Mass.; East Hanover, N.J.; Long Island, N.Y.; and Philadelphia. The new facility will house $1 million worth of inventory with 15 employees, Zasadni said in a June 21 interview at the Plastics Encounter Cleveland trade show.
Heraeus Noblelight unveils technology
Heraeus Noblelight Inc. has introduced infrared welding technology for injection molded components.
The Duluth, Ga.-based designer of scientific and technical lamps showed its technology at Plastics Encounter Cleveland June 19-21.
The noncontact technology makes for a cleaner process, officials said, touting it as a replacement for hot plate and vibration welding. The company emphasizes no part or tooling contamination, higher production output, lower operating costs and single- or multiple-station machines.
``This just seems to be a natural extension of what we've been doing,'' said Ed Arneson, business manager. The company has had the technology for a while but is stepping up to answer the requests of original equipment manufacturers who want a lamp and process that can work with complex parts.
``It's something that can be used across the board for plastics welding,'' he said.
BinMaster introduces inventory software
A new player is entering the market for vendor-managed inventory for plastics processors.
Lincoln, Neb.-based BinMaster Level Controls introduced Smart Bob II, a personal-computer-controlled system that will allow processors to increase automated resin buying. The system uses electromechanical sensors that detect when a silo is getting low on resin. The sensors are hooked to a PC with a dial-up modem that can contact a predetermined resin supplier to order more material.
``Six months ago, this was unheard of,'' said Rich Tavis, product manager with the division of Garner Industries.
The unit lowers a weighted bob, or anchor, into the vessel until it contacts the material. Tavis touted the electromechanical system as being superior to ultrasonic sensors, because some plastics absorb ultrasonic signals, he said.
``Plastics in general are very difficult for ultrasonic sensors,'' he said in an interview at Plastics Encounter Cleveland.
Tavis said BinMaster is working with a major plastics supplier on an exclusive deal to use the system with its customers.
The Smart Bob II uses inventory-management software that can be networked so everyone from operators to management has access to up-to-date inventory levels in graphic and file formats.
C.A. Litzler acquires Molding & Coating
Dip molding machinery supplier Molding & Coating Technologies is now a brand name of Cleveland-based C.A. Litzler Co. Inc.
Litzler, a Cleveland-based manufacturer of continuous processing ovens and machinery, disclosed the acquisition June 19 at Plastics Encounter Cleveland. Terms were not revealed.
MC&T was owned by George Heath Sr., who died in August, said Susan Kauchak, marketing coordinator.
``It was family-owned, and they thought it was appropriate if someone else took over,'' Kauchak said in a June 27 telephone interview.
MC&T will remain in Cleveland with about 12 employees, officials said. General Manager Bill Urban said the product line fits well with Litzler's continuous processing technology. Litzler has no plans to acquire other plastics companies, he said.
The company is seeking to become more involved in trade shows and branch out by targeting smaller companies.
MC&T had 2000 sales of $3 million, according to company officials. They would not disclose Litzler's total sales.
Hydro-Pac debuts line of compressors
Hydro-Pac Inc. has debuted a new line of compressors geared toward use in gas-assist injection molding.
The LX series ranges from five to 40 horsepower and can hook into gas assist systems with 70-140 pounds per square inch to boost the pressure to 3,000 psi or higher, said Walter W. Robertson Jr., general manager for the Fairview company.
Hydro-Pac introduced the compressors in January. The company made its first trade show appearance at Plastics Encounter in Cleveland June 19-21.
Briefly ...
Resin distributor Albis Corp. recently added Eastman Chemical Co.'s Titan-brand liquid-crystal polymer to its lineup. Albis of Rosenberg, Texas, already was a distributor for Eastman's cellulosics and copolyester product lines, said technical sales representative Kimberly Stein. Albis' product mix is split between commodity and engineering resins.
