Anyone in the plastics industry whose job includes active project participation and management is aware of the three distinct players involved in a plastic injection molding production launch. […]
The plastics industry has been incorrectly sizing waterlines for years. This is most prevalent in mold designs that use bubblers to deliver the cooling medium. […]
Every shop deals with two universal truths: People are part of the process and make mistakes, and sooner or later, all mechanical devices will either wear out or break. The consequences of both truths can range from merely expensive to catastrophic. […]
Each year Industry Intelligence sends a Capital Spending Survey to metalworking shops asking about their intended spending on equipment for the coming year. […]
Creating the most effective hot runner system design that includes manifolds, nozzles and full hot-halves demands a collaborative approach among the moldmaking supply chain: mold builders, molders, original equipment manufacturers and technology suppliers. […]
The injection molding industry generally perceives companies that use hot runner systems as more advanced than companies that use cold runner systems. Often, shops make the decision to use a hot runner without considering a cold runner’s possible cost and quality benefits, or management dictates the decision as part of a cost-savings initiative. [...]
In many cases, the cold runner system is a more viable option. In some applications, it may provide a mold and a process that is capable of producing higher-quality parts. […]
Working on hot runner manifolds requires certain skills and training because of the heat expansion of the steel plates and components. If the mold and repair technician does not understand and cannot account for these effects, he or she may have trouble with mechanics, safety and effective processing. […]
There are a lot ways to make a shop better, more efficient, more productive and more profitable, but one practical method that is often overlooked is tool lifecycle management. This is about more than cutting tools. Fundamentally, it’s about data: ensuring that cutting tool data is available where and when it is needed. It links [...]
Maintenance training becomes increasingly necessary each time a boomer clocks out for good. Decades of repair experience and mold knowledge are gone in the flash of a retirement party, severely compromising ongoing mold maintenance. This is mainly because many companies do not document critical procedures accurately. […]