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Each batch of recycled plastic is different, so testing and analysis are critical for processing and quality. The focus on sustainability means companies are working to incorporate more recycled materials [...]

The process, also called advanced recycling, could bring circular sustainability to plastics if implemented on a large scale Momentum is building for chemical recycling. This technology, also known as advanced [...]

The focus on sustainability means that companies are working to incorporate more recycled materials into their plastic products. However, recycled materials come with high levels of variability that affect not [...]

The lingering COVID pandemic is increasing pressure on plastics manufacturers to raise efficiency without sacrificing quality. One way of achieving this is by combining artificial intelligence (Al) with process-monitoring sensors. [...]

Of all the investments that companies make to grow their businesses and prosper, the most important is the people they hire, especially when confronted with labor shortages, loss of institutional [...]

Organizers have a forward-looking program in place for the 2022 SPE International Polyolefins Conference, which will be held at Galveston Island, Texas, Feb. 13 to 16. Many presentations at the [...]

The ongoing trend of replacing metal parts with plastics and polymer composites in automotive and aerospace applications shows no sign of slowing down. New materials and novel technologies together with [...]

The global plastics industry gathers in Dusseldorf, Germany, Oct. 19 to 26, for the 70th anniversary event of the triennial K show. K 2022 will fill the vast Messe Dusseldorf [...]

Extruding precision parts requires broad and thorough knowledge of materials, process techniques and process monitoring. All of these are among the topics to be covered at the 2022 SPE Precision [...]

Although consumers have been buying more goods online for the last several years, COVID-19 caused online shopping to skyrocket. According to the market report, 'eCrocery's New Reality: The Pandemic's Lasting [...]

3D systems that print very large objects are beginning to make a big impact, especially in the construction industry. In fact, in January, Forbes magazine included 3D-printed houses as one [...]

As the COVID-1 9 virus spread around the world last year, so did the need to assure that various types of plastics parts would pose no health threats to those [...]

New additives are helping plastics manufacturers meet a variety of sustainability goals such as improving material upcycling and solving sorting problems. Meanwhile, development efforts are focused on improving the properties [...]

For plastics processers, manufacturing parts faster, better, and cheaper is a constant goal. However, accomplishing this across multiple plant sites or even across shiftchanges can be challenging. The latest machine [...]

Brand owners and consumers are leading the drive for more sustainable options in thermoformed products and packaging. Compostable and biodegradable materials such as polylactic acid (PLA) are gaining process and [...]

Medical devices are becoming more complex and multifunctional but must also meet increasing needs for user-friendliness, connectivity, and sustainability. New materials, processing technology, and fabrication techniques are enabling medical devices [...]

The 2021 SPE Thermoforming Conference takes place in Grand Rapids, Mich., Sept. 20 to 22. This year's hybrid format will include in-person and virtual content centered around the theme 'Smart [...]

Momentum is building for chemical recycling. This technology, also known as advanced recycling, uses various processes to convert plastics waste into chemicals that can be used to produce virgin polymers [...]

SPE's thermoset Topcon conference will showcase developments and examine ways to grow the industry This year's SPE Thermoset Topcon event will feature presentations and exhibits highlighting advances in materials, processes [...]

Experts gather in Brussels to discuss developments in additives, pigments, dyes and masterbatches At this year's SPE Additives and Color Europe conference, industry executives from Europe and other parts of [...]

Electronics play a key role in our everyday lives, and pressure is mounting to make electronic devices smaller while simultaneously boosting their performance. Microelectronics enable ultra-thin phones, automated driving, new [...]

The International Polyolefins Conference will be held Feb. 24 to 27 in Houston. The SPE South Texas Section, the SPE Polymer Modifiers and Additives Division, the Thermoplastic Materials and Foams [...]

The continuing push toward greater sustainability is driving new technology and process developments in film extrusion. For example, bioplastics and recycled materials require different process considerations because they are generally [...]

From light-activated robots to self-healing pipes, the potential applications of smart plastics are countless. However, translating them from materials with novel capabilities in the laboratory into practical commercial products has [...]

Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPOs) with enhanced properties are pushing performance limits for automotive applications. These include materials that reduce vehicle weight to boost fuel efficiency, minimize or eliminate odors--the new [...]

Flexible packaging continues to grow in popularity among both manufacturers and consumers. Stand-up pouches, for example, offer a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to store products ranging lotions and detergent pods [...]

SPE's annual Thermoset TOPCON will feature the latest developments in thermoset plastics. This industry is poised for growth as there is more recognition that the mechanical properties and low cost [...]

The latest efforts to make PVC even greener will be a focus of upcoming VinylTec conference Building a sustainable future in PVC will be the focus of many papers at [...]

AIthough bioresorbable plastics for medical devices have been around since the 1970s, there is a recent resurgence in interest for these materials. One reason is that they are enabling new [...]

With rising environmental awareness, bio-based plastics are receiving more attention from consumers and manufacturers. These materials offer a way to improve the balance between plastics' benefits and its environmental impact [...]

Today's busy consumers are looking for more fresh and prepared convenience foods and desire grab-and-go single-serve snacks or meals. Packaging plays an important role in helping these types of products [...]

In the pre-3D printing world of medicine, a surgeon facing a particularly complex procedure might fly somewhat blind, hindered by the incomplete anatomical picture offered by traditional 2D imaging. That [...]

With an increasingly older workforce and a shortage of young people choosing a plastics career, innovative approaches are needed to catch the interest of potential workers and then train them [...]

As thermoformers look to the future, they continue to seek new ways to keep costs down while producing as many parts as possible. New technologies, processes and materials are allowing [...]

The cost savings and increased decorative possibilities available with in-mold labeling (IML) are making it an increasingly popular option for packaging decoration around the world. With IML, a pre-printed label [...]

Lightweighting and sustainability have long been trends in packaging, but now, as companies develop new innovations, they must think of the product's entire life cycle. Clear plastic is working its [...]

Whether meeting standards, testing durability, or performing quality control checks, testing remains an important part of plastics manufacturing. New instruments and technology are helping to provide more accurate and reliable [...]

Manufacturers across a wide swath of sectors, from automotive to consumer electronics, are looking to make their products more environmentally friendly. Designing products that are made to last and easy [...]

The cost-savings and versatile decorative possibilities available with in-mold labeling (IML) has made it a popular option in Europe for quite some time. In the last few years, IML is [...]

Lightweighting is a major priority for the automotive industry as manufacturers strive to make cars more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. In recent years, structural molded foam has become a [...]

Preparing tomorrow's plastics professionals starts today. Collaborations between academic institutions and the plastics industry are helping to give plastics engineering students the real-world experience they'll need to be future innovators [...]

The U.S. demand for plastic foams is predicted to reach 8.6 billion pounds in 2017, according to a market research report by Freedonia Group Inc., and the report identifies polyurethane [...]

Foam blow molding will be a trending topic at this year's Annual Blow Molding Conference, which features a variety of industry presentations on packaging, medical and industrial applications, machinery and [...]

Although the amount of plastic that is recycled has grown tremendously in the last few decades, some materials and products still pose challenges. Through education, technology advancement, and creative approaches, [...]

Consumers and manufacturers are increasingly interested in manufacturing processes and products that don't harm the environment, and governments around the world are investing in new technologies and businesses that promote [...]

Whether in an R&D lab or in a manufacturing plant, sophisticated instruments are available for testing and analyzing plastics. These instruments can help pinpoint processing problems, identify why a product [...]

Plastics are used for a wide range of medical applications such as tubing, implants, bioresorbable scaffolds, drug delivery, and medical devices. New manufacturing equipment and processes are helping medical plastics [...]

To produce quality film economically requires that all the parts of the processing line work together seamlessly to deliver precise film thicknesses at fast speeds without wasting material. As more [...]