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The article discusses how growing competition from low-cost overseas producers prompted U.S. injection molders to reconsider what segments they serve. Currently, foreign competition from regions of lower labor cost is most acute for molded parts of simple design. According to Matt Langton of United Plastics Group automation in domestic plants is an effective counterbalance to low labor costs abroad.

Deals with several gas-assist molding approaches presented by several companies at the 2004 conference and design competition of SPI Structural Plastics in Charlotte, North Carolina. Advantage of steel production molds; Fast-Form laser-based technology from Fast4M Tooling Inc.; Rapid-prototyping technologies studied by Express Pattern.

Focuses on several robot entries at the 2003 National Plastics Exhibition in Chicago, Illinois. Importance of robots on the automation of molders companies in the U.S.; Introduction of linear servo drives on traversing robots that use electromagnetic field to drive a moving coil along a linear magnet; Information on the six-axis, jointed-arm servo robots from Fanuc Robotics; Features of the updated Tracer line of servo robots from Husky; Characteristics of beam robot series that extracts large parts in low-headroom situations from Ranger Automation. INSET: Simulation for Six-Axes.

Focuses on injection molding related machineries exhibited at the National Plastics Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, in August 2003. Features of the Injection Control Unit developed by Robert Dray of Dallas, Texas-based R. Dray Manufacturing Inc.; Development of stress-free molding polycarbonate car windows by Wixom, Michigan-based Exatec LLC; Highlights of the all-electric series introduced by Toshiba Machine Co.

Reports the increase of the demand for in-mold lamination of fabric and carpet into a plastic substrate in the U.S. Elimination of multiple process steps; Use of messy adhesives; Reduction of labor and parts handling. INSETS: DIEPREST LOW-PRESSURE MOLDING PROCESS;NEED TO KNOW MORE?.

Presents several products and technological innovations on plastics and trade industry in the United States. Launching of all-electric and hybrid presses; Gains of auto applications in long-fiber injection system; Improvements on antioxidant protection.

Reports on the increased interest in the manufacture of coextruded drums in the United States. Higher expectation of drum buyers; Planned installation of three-layer drum machine by Russell-Stanley Holdings Inc.; Potential for recycling used drums through continuous extrusion technology. INSET: More than one way to recycle.

Features software developers specializing in computer simulation of blow molding and thermoforming for the United States plastics industry. Includes IMI-CNRC company; Fluent Inc.; Compuplast company.

Discusses the importance of quick-change systems in thermoforming companies in the United States. Advantages; Speed of production change; Design versions; Standardization of molds.

Provides information on how manufacturers in the plastic industry can get the base performance from their granulator. What scrap granulating entails; How to produce uniform granulates; How the choice of material can affect the granulating process; How to introduce materials to the granulator; Other guidelines for granulating. INSETS: Match your granulator to the job (Conair's recommendations).;As yourself these questions before you buy a granulator..

Focuses on the need for better technology in the plastic pipe and profile manufacturing industry. Comments from Dennis Paradise of HPM Corporation; Use of complete line monitoring; Better control; Developments for twin screw productivity. INSETS: Line controls help with ISO 9000.;Foam profile technology on the rise..

Focuses on gas-assist injection molding process for thermosets in the U.S. plastics industry. Use of gas assist for molding of smaller plastic parts; Gas-assist process use by the company Bulk Molding Compounds Inc.; Plastic parts and equipment where the gas-assist technology can be used.

Features equipment that create ergonomic harmony between the worker and the work in Worcester, Massachusetts. Includes adjustable workstations, tool balancers, lift tables, drum dumpers and air nippers; Functions and purchase information; Impact of the rise in cumulative-trauma disorders on work productivity.

Presents information on American Sheet Extrusion's use of a computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) system on its thermoformers. Information on how the CIM system works; Problems encountered by American Sheet when applying the correct amount of heat into a sheet; Comments from Howard Dibble, engineer in the thermoforming division of American Sheet.

Announces that Foxboro Company and Barber-Colman Company have collaborated in order to develop an affordable, operator friendly and multi-task computer software for Unix-based systems in the plastics processing industry. Features of the power affordable software; Comments from Steve DeLonge, a manager at Barber-Colman; How Unix-based systems utilize power.

Focuses on the custom compounding of raw materials in the American plastic industry. Importance of custom compounding; Streamlining of custom compounding operations. INSET: Mixing controls lift productivity..

The article reports on the early development of all-electric blow molding in the U.S. Such development is said to have been first adopted by Dahl-Tech Inc. with its all-electric Amsler reheat unit. President Bob Dahlke notes that the company's purchased of the unit yield a crop of benefits such as molding repeatability and precision. Introduction of new machines for new markets are also indicated.

Evaluates several products launched at the 28th annual fall meeting of the U.S. Association of Rotational Molders held in Kansas City, Missouri in November 2003. K-Kontrol plastic mold-temperature measurement system from 493K Ltd.; Parting Line Sealer from Mold In Graphics Systems; Tornado rotational plastic molding machine line from STP Equipment.

Discusses two new tandem systems launched at the National Plastics Exposition held in Chicago, Illinois, as of August 2003. Features of the tandem mould system developed by Injection Moulding Innovations Ltd.; Benefits of the tandem mold carrier developed by Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.

Focuses on the Injection Molding Technologies presented at the Structural Plastics Show and Conference in Michigan. Concept of injection molding technology; Simplification of in-mold decorating through painted and printed film inserts; Role of the gas in gas-assist molding.

Focuses on the process involved in maintaining a PET bottle wall thickness in Ohio. Consideration of material distribution in the bottles; Use of quality control instrument on sample bottles; Measurement of wall thickness.

Focuses on the process developed by Innovative Recycling Corp. (IRC) for recycling mixed plastics. Production of IRC's plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Description of the process.

The article focuses on plastic containers with embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) components being produced in the U.S. by Rexam Primary Packaging for the prescription pharmaceutical market. Brian Chisholm of Rexam said the development of this new technology was done to comply with upcoming regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would require drug distributors to provide full traceability throughout the supply chain. The two processes employed by Rexam in producing the RFID bottle are also discussed.

Deals with the steel and aluminum molding business of Urgent Plastic Services in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Production-line system of the company according to its operations manager David Krajci; Computer-aided design software used by Urgent to streamline its data communication; Steel tools manufactured by the company.

Focuses on the decision of the firm Tri-Tech Tool & Design to acquire hydraulic presses from Boy Machines in the U.S. Reasons for buying the equipment; Benefits derived by Tri-Tech from using electric injection machines; Features of the hydraulic presses.

Reports the plans of Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. to create a plastic molding supplier park in the U.S. Physical features of the plant; List of companies signing for a space at the Ford's Supplier Manufacturing Campus; Views of Greg Gardner, manager of corporate public affairs for Visteon on the supplier park.

Details two virtual reality-related strategies for training plastics industry workers in the United States. Live interactive class sessions offered by the Plastics Learning Network, a program of the Society of the Plastics Industry; Nypro Inc.'s Nypro On-Line Internet university.

Focuses on ideas for leading-edge 'concept cars' by design-engineering students who graduated from a 16-week program at the Center for Creative Studies at the College of Art and Design (CCS) in Detroit, Michigan. Plastics in car designs; Capabilities and limitations of plastic materials in production processes; Car with snap-fit panels and blow-molded floor.

Demonstrates the safety of blind workers in plastic processing plants in the United States. Success of Signature Works in employing visually impaired workers; Tasks assigned by Alphapointe for visually impaired workers; Importance of applying clean environment to safety of blind workers.

Focuses on the growing use of the rotational molding technique in the plastics industry in the United States. Value of the market for rotational molding; Proliferation of joint efforts for research and development into the technique.

Focuses on how developments have allowed gravimetric feeding systems in the plastics industry to account for film shrinking or stretching between the nip and the winder. Features of a modified winder-speed sensing option for gravimetric feeding systems; How film shrinkage occurs; Failing efforts to estimate shrinkage or stretching in film; How usage of the GDC Gravimetric Dosing Controller from Plast-Control Incorporation can stop shrinkage.