Metler-Toledo intruduced a combined TGA-DSC system for simultaneous analytical thermal analysis between ambient and 1600C. Additionally, a great advance is that the sample temperature sensor is directly attached to the weighting pan, and that you can now measure samples of up 1 gram.

For the first time SPE organized an extrusion seminar during the K-Show. Advances in Extrusion Technology was attended over 50 engineers from industry, from 16 different countries. Topics such as screw and die design, trends in single and twin screw extrusion, filtration technologies, gage measurements, new materials, co-extrusion, and others were presented by experts from all over the world.

Most cars use a metal cover to protect the steering linkage; however some luxury cars use composites. In general, switching to composite materials can be an expensive choice, but the engineers at LKT are making strides to shorten the price gap. The LKT has developed a compression-injection molding process in which they use a thermoplastic glassmat prepreg to manufacture the steering linkage cover. The process begins with the compression molding of the prepreg into the linkage geometry. Then molten polyamide is injected to form the support ribs of the structure. All this is done under one minute, which allows the composite cover to be more cost competitive with the conventional metal part. The LKT received the K-Show innovation award for this design.

Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik GmbH brings us high speed sheet extruders for thermoforming of PP, PS, PET, ABS, PE-LD and PLA. A 75 mm diameter extruder with a 34 L/D length, has a screw that rotates at 1500 RPM and consequently delivers 2.4 tons/h without excessive viscous heating. This is achieved using a combination of single screw extrusion with low pressure build-up, cooling and gear pumps. The output reflects negligible temperature rises from viscous heating.

Babyplast, a company specialized in injection molding machines for small parts, has brought to K2007 a set of small injection molding machines. To give an idea, the bayplast6/10Pthis hydraulic powered injection molding machine weights only 150 kg and has a maximum injection pressure of 2650 bar with clamping force of approximately 7 tons. This reduction of size allows for reduction in energy costs, low mold changing times and enhanced quality control.

Babyplast used to inject liquid silicone parts (Photo Alejandro Londoño)

ThermoFischer Scientific is unveiling one of their newest sensor technologies at the K2007. The 21Plus! is an X-Ray Transmission sensor, which can provide recognition, as well as accurate and stable high resolution weight and thickness measurements. The 21Plus! can be precisely tuned to measure material properties of several plastics, allowing it to be used on a line where multiple materials, such as coextrusion, are used. Measurements are based on the mass absorption properties of each material. The sensor can be used as a single unit or can communicate with up to 15 other units, which offers a more comprehensive on-line analysis. Currently these sensors are used mostly in coating, rubber and vinyl calendering, and coil coating applications.

(Photo Courtesy of ThermoFischer Scientific)

Clariant brought their line of natural based pigments to the K show this year. At the moment they have several colors, including green, yellow and red. Depending of the client, Renol can be found in masterbatches with carrier polymers based on renewable resources (BORR) such as PLA or basic plastics such as PP. These new pigments are targeted for environmentally friendly market applications.

(Photo Tim Osswald)

Dr.-Ing. Heinz Gross developed a totally unique fabrication process to manufacture multi-functional metal parts which make it possible to build extrusion dies having adjustable flow channel geometries. This allows to establish close-loop control for all important extrusion processes. Using the newly developed Flex Ring Dies even coextruded layers in flat and in blown films, in pipes and also in profiles can be close–loop controlled, for the first time. The fabrication process also overcomes earlier problems to build slit dies with an adjustable membrane a decade ago. Controllable feedblocks for sheet and films are now under construction. The most critical aspect of adjustable flow channel geometries are the task to establish a dynamical radial profiling of the thickness of the parison while it is extruded. In close cooperation with RCUTEC® Dr. Gross developed and built such a die for the production of big rain water storage tanks.

560 mm blow molding die and storage tank made with new technology

Everyone at the K is looking for new advances in plastics technology, but if you look hard you will also find old plastics technology. These antique items at the Kunststoff-Museum-Verein (Plastics Museum Society) exhibit at the North Entrance are part of a large collection that can be seen at the German Plastics Museum in Dusseldorf. The Kunststoff-Museum-Verein is a group of plastiquarians that include Ulrich and Ursula Koelsch (Koelsch Collection), who have created the largest plastics items collection in the world in Essen, Germany.

Decorative plastic artifacts at the Kunststoff-Museum-Verein exhibit at the K (Photo Tim Osswald)