Guill Tool is proud to announce the immediate availability of its new die cart with easy disassembly and reassembly. It features a high volume, adjustable center accumulating crosshead. This crosshead is designed to produce a smooth linear bore and provide jacketing over various substrates. The crosshead’s maximum thru core is 18,” while its’ maximum die ID is 23”. Built to handle thermoplastic applications, the crosshead includes tooling and isolation sleeve design.

Additionally, the tooling section features quadrant heating. Guill’s crosshead stand is equipped with an integral alignment station and concentric role guide. The stand is also an integral cleaning station, so clients don’t need to remove the crosshead for cleaning. Lastly, this crosshead has “on-the fly” catenary adjustment and can be easily maintained with simple hand tools.

The pet care market is rapidly expanding as pet ownership increases, as does spending on pet food, grooming tools, and accessories. Pet owners are significantly concerned about the prevalence of zoonotic diseases and food contamination. They prioritize hygiene and wellness when purchasing products for their pets, setting the stage for manufacturers to provide products made of high-quality, food-safe materials. Among the many advanced materials used in product offerings, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) have emerged as the best of these breed.

KRAIBURG TPE, a globally recognized thermoplastic elastomer manufacturer, offers thermoplastic elastomers that comply with Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, US FDA CFR 21 (raw material conformity), China GB4806-2016, and EN71-3. TPEs are food-safe and meet DIN EN 71-3, REACH, SVHC and RoHS standards. They can be used to make pet accessories such as pet toys, bowls, collars, leash handles, training equipment, grooming tools, and other pet-related items.

Soft-touch effect, safety option

THERMOLAST® K FC/AD/PP series guarantees pet owners safe accessories for their animal companions. The compounds do not contain latex and toxic substances such as heavy metals, phthalates, and bisphenol A. It has excellent adhesion to PP, optimized flow properties, and can be processed by injection molding and extrusion, giving designers more design freedom. Natural and translucent colors are available, and the series can be colored in a variety of ways.

The FC/AD/PP series has soft touch surfaces with good haptics that are suitable for use on grip applications such as leash handles, pet collars, and other accessories such as pets feeding bowls, toothbrushes, and toys.

Toys that can last a long time

Meanwhile, the hysteresis property of THERMOLAST® K FC/HE/tl makes it ideal for pet chewing toys, as it aids in the preservation of the original shapes after extended use. These translucent compounds, which adhere well to PP and PE, can also be colored in a variety of ways. Similarly, FC/HE/tl is excellent for applications requiring both regulatory approvals as well as elastic properties. The series has optimized mechanical properties and the ability to recycle in-process, making finished goods production more cost-effective.

Driving change to creating positive sustainability impacts

Besides the material for pet products, KRAIBURG TPE is driving change to create positive environmental and social impacts to contribute sustainability alternatives in plastics.

For KRAIBURG TPE, sustainability is one of our key responsibilities which we do and practice every day to reduce negative impacts on the environment.

Credibility is important to us as we align towards fulfilling the needs and expectations of our customers with sustainable TPE products and solutions. To achieve our long-term goals, we will actively tackle sustainability challenges by working closely with our long-standing customers, partners, and suppliers. We will walk the talk and make clear, courageous and transparent decisions in all sustainability-related areas without resorting to green-washing.

Sustainability successes of our TPE

KRAIBURG TPE’s recent sustainability innovations include a specially developed material solution for automotive, consumer, and industry applications comprising post-consumer recycled (PCR) and post-industrial recycled (PIR) content. These TPE compounds meet the OEMs’ high requirements to building a circular plastics economy.

Are you looking for a sustainable TPE solution? Talk to us!

Our experts are happy to answer any questions you have, as well as to
offer the right solution for your application.

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS, May 16, 2022 – SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, today introduced LNP™ ELCRIN™ WF0061BiQ resin, a novel material that uses ocean-bound polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles as a feed stream for chemical upcycling into polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin. Ocean-bound plastic is mismanaged waste that originates within 30 miles (50 km) of the coast and is likely to end up in the ocean. The new grade is the latest addition to SABIC’s extensive portfolio of chemically upcycled LNP ELCRIN iQ materials, which help support circularity while serving as potential drop-in replacements for virgin PBT resins. LNP ELCRIN WF0061BiQ resin is a candidate for consumer electronics applications such as fan housings in computers and automotive seating, as well as electrical connectors and enclosures.

“We’re continually expanding our LNP ELCRIN iQ portfolio – and the PET waste streams used to produce these materials – to help divert more plastic from the oceans while helping our customers incorporate recycled materials in their products, achieve their carbon neutrality goals and meet consumer demands for greater sustainability,” said Sanjay Mishra, GM Technology & Footprint, Specialties, SABIC. “Within the next decade, we anticipate upcycling 10 billion plastic bottles into higher-performing, durable materials that deliver enhanced value to customers. SABIC is committed to working with the plastics supply chain to find new solutions to address urgent environmental issues such as reducing ocean-bound plastic waste and achieving net zero carbon emissions.”

Circularity Without Compromising Performance
The new LNP ELCRIN WF0061BiQ grade, a glass fiber-reinforced PBT material, features non-brominated, non-chlorinated flame retardancy meeting the UL94 V0 standard at 0.8mm and F1 rating. It also delivers excellent heat resistance, toughness and stiffness, and high flow well-suited for molding thin-wall applications for outdoor environments such as electrical equipment enclosures.

All LNP ELCRIN iQ materials can serve as possible drop-in replacements for conventional PBT to help manufacturers increase the sustainability of end products. SABIC’s proprietary upcycling technology, which involves the repolymerization of ocean-bound PET into PBT, delivers virgin-like performance properties. This process surpasses mechanical recycling in quality and consistency.

“According to an internal life cycle analysis conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/14044 protocols, LNP ELCRIN WF0061BiQ compound can offer potential reductions of up to 14% in carbon footprint and up to 25% in cumulative energy demand, when compared to the virgin PBT compound reinforced with glass fiber,” said Darpan Parikh, Americas Customer Fulfillment Leader, Specialties, SABIC. “By replacing virgin material with our resins, customers can help reduce environmental impacts by reusing plastic waste and eliminating halogenated additives.”

In addition to SABIC’s new LNP ELCRIN WF0061BiQ resin, based on ocean-bound PET bottles, the company has introduced many different and innovative grades to the LNP ELCRIN iQ portfolio, including glass- and mineral-reinforced products and flame-retardant formulations. For example, SABIC’s new LNP ELCRIN WF006XXPiQ and LNP ELCRIN WF0061XPiQ compounds incorporate pre-consumer recycled glass fiber diverted from the waste stream of industrial processes. The use of recycled glass fiber further enhances the circularity of these upcycled PBT materials. The diversity of these formulations enables LNP ELCRIN iQ resins to be considered for applications beyond electrical and electronics components, such as automotive exterior parts, healthcare applications and personal care products.

SABIC is not only creating sustainable materials but also regularly formulating new resins and compounds using environmentally responsible and safer chemistries, such as non-brominated/non-chlorinated flame retardants. According to the GreenScreen for Safe Chemicals benchmark rating, which was created by the non-profit organization Clean Production Action (CPA), these SABIC materials, and others in development, are, or will be, recognized with a score of 3 or higher, out of 4. Benchmark 3 is a relatively better result compared to that of average products and indicates only a slight concern.

The parent company’s Members’ Assembly approves the consolidated financial statement and renews the appointments to the Board of Directors. The Group continued to enjoy exceptional financial and asset solidity. Revenues exceeded pre-COVID averages, with Tiles posting the best result ever and all sectors reporting good performance

Consolidated revenues of more than 1.53 billion euros, up almost 40% on 2020, with sales and orders returning to pre-COVID levels. These were the key facts that emerged from the SACMI Imola Members’ Assembly held on Saturday 14 May, which approved the Group’s Consolidated Financial Statement and proceeded with the renewal of the Board of Directors.

From an economic perspective, SACMI confirms its exceptional financial and asset solidity, with net equity reaching 773 million euros and the net financial position touching +97 million. Ebit and Ebitda also progressed impressively in 2021, reaching 82 and 145 million euros respectively.

The year 2021 was characterized by a sharp increase in revenues – thanks to strong order flows – and record-breaking performance, especially in Tiles, which saw a remarkable 99% increase in machine sales; Whiteware also performed well thanks to a generalized market recovery and the finalization of numerous projects that had been put on hold by the COVID emergency.

Advanced Materials posted highly satisfying results, both in the traditional Refractories and Metal sectors and in emerging areas, especially those linked to the manufacture of components for the lithium-ion batteries that are driving global growth in electric mobility.

Similarly, Rigid Packaging saw orders recover more than proportionately, despite the ongoing impact of the health crisis, especially on the metal closures and vision system fronts; likewise for Beverage, with Africa and the Middle East remaining the leading purchasers of complete plants. Packaging & Chocolate also bounced back convincingly. This was largely due to a strengthening of the product range and the development of solutions able to accommodate new eco-sustainable primary packaging and wrapping materials.

In terms of markets, SACMI strengthened its sales position in all the world’s main areas as investment levels spiked across Europe and the Americas. Despite very strong competition, SACMI also performed well in Asia, confirming its role as a key technology provider both in the traditional ceramics and packaging sectors and in emerging areas such as components for the electrical automotive sector, Carbon and advanced ceramics.

Throughout 2021, the focus was on supplying technologies and production processes that are environmentally sustainable, a goal that’s playing an increasingly strategic role in business decisions. “Governance, skills, and a sense of belonging to the company are all vital factors in responding to change”, stated the President of SACMI Imola, Paolo Mongardi. He also pointed out that the extraordinary results of 2021 stemmed from “SACMI’s ability to hold its course in heavy seas, ensuring continuity of production and excellent levels of customer service throughout the health crisis”. Investment in skills training remains as important as ever: in addition to the 17,000 hours of technical and language training and 6,700 hours of safety training provided in 2021 alone, the company is pushing ahead with the Academy, the SACMI training hub both for internal staff and stakeholders. Moreover, projects with schools, universities and research facilities continued apace, with active partnerships now exceeding 100; lastly, since its founding, the Group has now filed more than 5,000 patents.

Note also that 2021 saw SACMI increase its workforce to 4,720, over 1,100 of whom are employed by the parent company. SACMI maintains one of the lowest staff turnover levels on the market (just 1.6% in SACMI Imola), a clear sign of employee loyalty.

Despite military conflict in Europe, spiraling energy and raw material costs and severe procurement problems, the first few months of 2022 have seen SACMI move forward with determination. As President Paolo Mongardi points out, the company “aims to continue investing in innovation and skills. This will largely concern the new professions and enabling technologies needed to accomplish digitalization and the green transition, ensuring the company has all the tools it needs for a second century of success”.

Multi-Touch roll stack is good for our feet

The sustainable plastic floor boards made of CERAMIN by CLASSEN for healthy living are recently being produced on a complete extrusion line with a Multi-Touch roll stack from battenfeld-cincinnati Germany GmbH. CLASSEN, based in Kaisersesch / Germany, is the inventor and manufac-turer of these innovative, PVC-free floor coverings with the “Blue Angel” seal of quality. CERAMIN is produced from polypropylene as base materi-al. It is pollutant-free, 100 percent recyclable and produced with recycled materials. The sturdy, durable floor coverings based on CERAMIN offer all the advantages of plastic flooring for private residences as well as for pub-lic and industrial buildings. The floors are dimensionally stable, abrasion- and water-proof, warm to the touch and resistant to UV light.

Conventional plastic floors based on soft PVC have the disadvantage of poor recyclability and are subject to criticism due to their pollutive ingredi-ents such as chlorine, stabilizers, phthalates and other plasticizers. This is why the CLASSEN Group has developed CERAMIN as a material for the carrier boards of PVC-free floor coverings. In detail, CERAMIN boards con-sist to 60% of a natural mineral filler material, to 39% of polymers based on polypropylene, and to 1% of environmentally friendly and health-compatible additives. The carrier boards in plastic floors from CLASSEN are covered with a protective undercoat as well as a primer and decorative layer with a soft-touch surface finish to make human feet feel comforta-ble.

In the production of the main component, that is, the 2-to-5-mm-thick board, it is of course vital that the board is absolutely even, has a clean, ripple-free surface and complies with extremely narrow strength toler-ances. This is important for further processing as well as for its later use as floor covering. In the battenfeld-cincinnati line, the impeccable quality standard of the CERAMIN board with high filler content is primarily due to the Multi-Touch roll stack. Due to continuous contact between the board and the rolls, this device ensures perfect conditions for calibration and cooling.

The two lines now installed at CLASSEN are equipped with two twin screw extruders from Leistritz Extrusion GmbH, based in Nuremberg/Germany, which are connected to the dosing unit and ensure perfect homogenizing of up to 8 t of melt per hour. Downstream, these are connected to an automatic flat-sheet die, through which the melt film proceeds into the 2.6 m-wide Multi-Touch roll stack. Here, pre-calibration takes place in a two-roll stack, before the board passes through several more rolls for recalibration. In this way, the surface of the board is continuously in con-tact with the roll surfaces over a considerable period of time, with the result of perfect dimensional stability and excellent visual attributes. The haul-off is followed by a size cutter. The complete line is controlled by BCtouch UX, which is integrated in the customer’s PDA system. In a sec-ond processing step, the boards are laminated as described above with the various layers of film and thus provided with a decoration chosen from a large, diversified range of patterns.

www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com

www.classengroup.com

German plastics and rubber machinery industry readjusts forecast for 2022

Order intake in the German plastics and rubber machinery industry in the first quarter of 2022 fell significantly compared to the same period last year (- 27 percent). In the same period, turnover grew by only 3 percent compared to the previous-year period.

Shortage of materials slows down production and impacts turnover
On the one hand, this was down to a base effect, as the first quarter of last year was exceptionally good due to high demand in the packaging and medical sectors, and the other factor at play is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to quickly process the high number of pre-orders and convert them into sales. “First and foremost, there is the poor availability of materials,” explains Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association. In addition, as a result of the Ukraine war and the strict zero-covid policy in China, many factors such as logistics problems and greater uncertainty in the market are having a negative impact on business.

Readjustment of 2022 forecast
Consequently, the trade association will no longer adhere to its original forecast of the beginning of 2022, when a growth figure of 5 to 10 per cent still seemed realistic for the current year. “Due to the ongoing developments on the procurement market, we only expect a sideways movement or, in the best case, a slight increase in turnover for 2022 – despite full order books. We expect a development of zero to 2 per cent,” is how Kühmann describes the outlook.