issue 01/2021

issue 10/2020

issue 09/2020

About the journal

About the Journal

Contact

Jobs

Media Data

Hanser Kundencenter

Imprint

Terms & Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

News

Mobility

Packaging

Medical

Electrical/Electronics

Plastics Recycling

Lightweight Construction

Applications

Standard Thermoplastics

Engineering Plastics

High-Performance Plastics

Elastomers

Thermosets

Additives/Masterbatches

Bioplastics

Composites

Materials

Injection Molding

Extrusion

Additive Manufacturing

Further Processing Methods

Compounding

Composite Processing

Peripheral Equipment

Simulation

Processing

Research & Development

Dissertations

Patents

Journal of Plastics Technology

HANSER Fachbuch

HANSER Tagungen

HANSER Literaturverlage

Hanser Divisions

Kunststoffe

FORM+Werkzeug

HANSER automotive

QZ Qualität und Zuverlässigkeit

WB Werkstatt + Betrieb

More Technical Portals

Publisher

E-Paper

Subscription

Newsletter

Deutsch

Service Menu

Products

Partners & Associations

Organ

Business Directory

Online Archive

Thermoplastic compounds with integrated electrical conductivity offer a potential solution to resolve EMI, EMS and electrostatic discharge challenges. These thermoplastic materials can deliver the appropriate level of electromagnetic shielding for electronics, while providing freedom to design complex geometries and opportunities to streamline processing by avoiding secondary operations.

Ensure the Electromagnetic Compatibility of Wireless Devices with Special Plastics

Compound

Kunststoff-Erzeugung

Medizintechnik

Polycarbonat

Medizinprodukte

Well Protected against  Electromagnetic Interference

What AM technology is considered capable of today and how it can be applied in many areas of application is shown (representative) by this expert’s view of medical technology.

Status and Perspectives for Human Medicine

Anlagen für die Additive Fertigung

Anlagen Additive Fertigung / 3D-Druck, Kunststoff

Additive Fertigung

Anlagen Additive Fertigung / 3D-Druck, Metall

Werkstoffe für additive Verfahren

Medical Applications of Additive Manufacturing

Due to its high-performing properties polyetheretherketone thermoplastic polymer is being used more and more frequently in many products.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)

Elektronik-Fertigung

Polyetherketon

Mikroelektronik

Elektronik

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Kunststoff

Hochleistungskunststoffe

Delivering Efficiency Even in  Harsh Environments

Styrenics can be polymerized using different technologies and it can be modified with a range of copolymers. The resulting plastics offer a wide range of properties allowing to customize them for different applications. Because of this range of properties they are suitable for many industries. Strong demand is for example driven by the automotive industry, healthcare and the packaging industry.

Styrenic Polymers

Verpackungsmaterial

Automotive

Polystyrol

Technische Kunststoffe

Styrol-Copolymerisate

Diverse Shapes and Applications

Lightweight construction, functionality and design are characteristic of material development in all areas of application for PC compounds, composites and films. The range of materials has enormous opportunities when it comes to the mobility of the future, lightweight structural construction with continuous fiber-reinforced composites, 5G technology and medical technology.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Recycling

Kunststoff-Recycling

Present in a Multitude of Trends

In the production of plastic parts for the medical and pharmaceutical industry, the requirements for cleanroom environments are becoming increasingly stringent. In this area, not only the demand for all-electric injection molding machines is increasing. There is also an increasing use of electric drives for the implementation of mold movements, which meet the high requirements for cleanliness and reliability.

Electrical Drives in Injection Molds

Elektrische Antriebe

Spritzgießen

Spritzgießwerkzeuge

Mess- / Regel- und Prozessleittechnik

Mess-, Steuer- und Regelgeräte

Reinraumsysteme / -technik

Mold Technology

For almost two decades, an expert committee, meeting once a year, has supported Kunststoffe magazine in determining the state of play in the plastics industry and identifying current technical developments. This time, the traditional spring meeting gave it an opportunity to debate the consequences of the Corona virus.

Current Challenges and Options for Action in the Plastics Industry

Wirtschaftspolitik in Deutschland

Klotz, Karlhorst, Dr.

Internationale Wirtschaft

Verpackungsanlagen

Wirtschaft

Kunststoff-Verpackungsmaschine

Starting up under the Shadow  of Corona

Even more than with foodstuffs, what matters in most cases with drug packaging is the contents protected by the wrapping. These are not good conditions to pursue a cycle concept for packaging. But times are changing – perhaps.

Steps to More Sustainable Packaging in the Medical and Cosmetics Industries

No Chance for the Cycle Concept?

With the Corona pandemic sweeping the world, considerable energies are being freed up and focused on developing and manufacturing urgently required medical equipment. Working under extreme time pressure, the OKE Group GmbH, based in Hörstel, Germany, has developed a concept for a full-face mask that can be quickly implemented and, according to the manufacturer, offers reliable basic protection. 

Implementing a Face Mask Concept in Record Time 

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

Heißkanaltechnik

Werkzeug- und Formenbau

Small Injection Moldings for Protection against Corona 

The aim of the Medical Device Regulation is to further increase the safety of medical devices. With it, many products will be subject to a higher classification with considerably strengthened requirements in order to achieve CE conformity. Especially for small and medium-sized companies, it is a challenge to provide the required information for all components in the medical device.

Development and Production of Medical Devices Are Changing Dramatically

Dichtungen

Normen / Standards

Dichtungsschäumen

A Strong Partner for MDR Conformity

In order to minimize the risk of contamination in the production of medical products, Scholz HTIK (High Tech in Kunststoff) decided to change its temperature control processes from oil to water as a heat transfer medium.

Processing of High-Performance Plastics without Purity Problems

Temperiergeräte

Temperiertechnik

Temperature Control with Water up to 230 °C as a Substitute for Oil

Arburg Plastic Freeforming is predestined for the additive manufacturing of medtech components. The associated Freeformer-type additive manufacturing systems process the same plastic pellets that are used in injection molding. That makes the open systems very economical to use.

Medical Product Manufacturers Are Processing Original Materials Using the Freeformer

Anlagen Additive Fertigung / 3D-Druck, andere

Biokunststoffe

Arburg Kunststoff Freiformen

New Possibilities for Use  in the Human Body

In no other field the possibilities and advantages of 3D printing are more pronounced than for medical devices. With the right high-performance materials, complex patient-customized implants can be produced that medical doctors are using to push the boundaries of the possible – for the benefit of patients.

New Ways for Production of Plastic Implants by 3D Printing

Verfahren für die additive Fertigung

Custom Implants from the 3D Printer

Housings not only protect the inner workings of medical equipment, but also protect patients from electric shocks, for example. This function is very important for the increasingly widespread medical wearables, which are often in constant contact with the patient. When designing such devices, it is therefore important to select the appropriate housing material.

Materials for Medical Wearable Housings

Gehäuse aus Kunststoff

Protection and Attractive Design

RTP Company, Winona, MN/USA, has developed thermoplastic technologies that can be utilized for surgical robotic systems, with special properties such as strength, flame retardance, wear/chemical/impact resistance, color, and the ability to withstand sterilization methods. If required, biocompatibility support can be provided for many of these compounds. 

Withstands Sterilization Methods 

Thermoplaste

Material for Surgical Robotic Systems 

A Polish pharmaceutical company is developing inhalation therapy for the treatment of lung disease and the appropriate drug delivery drug. The inhaler has a complex interior and consists of 14 components. In order to be able to produce these with the required precision, Celon Pharma has formed a partnership with the mold making company Glittenberg and its hot runner sister Witosa.

Glittenberg Supplies Tools for Vital Medical Devices to Celon Pharma

Heißkanalsysteme

Plastic in the Service of Medicine

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH, Schwaig, Germany, considers the circular economy and efficiency as future themes of plastics processing. In addition, digitalization continues to be a focus. A networked cell with remote-diagnosis options, online support, document tracking and spare parts ordering are representative of the “smart services” offered by the machine manufacturer. Visitors can use networked terminals to see how the “myConnect” software improves customer service. 

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag at K 2019 

Industrie 4.0

Spritzgießmaschinen

Smart, Fast and Sustainable 

Tool and mold makers are detail oriented and innovative. Prof. Thomas Seul and Fabian Diehr met with some industry players to explore different paths they have taken through the thicket of this industry-jungle they have to deal with.

A Journey through the Landscape of the Tool and Mold Making Industry

Mikrospritzgießen

Mehrkomponenten-Spritzgießen

Innovationsmanagement

Projektmanagement

Qualitätssicherung

Handling, Handhabungstechnik

Automatisierungstechnik

Produktmanagement

Trend Setting or Following?

An American manufacturer and an invention team from Canada have developed and patented a formulation that can permanently protect plastic surfaces and metals from microbes. The technical active destroys the cell membrane of the germs without allowing them to adapt. It is applied in an online process after extrusion or thermoforming and then cured thermally or using UV light. 

Novel Antimicrobial Technology for the Plastics Industry 

Oberflächenveredelung

Killing Problem Microbes 

Jako meditec specializes in the injection molding of tubes, with closure caps and racks, in which blood samples from blood donors are kept deep-frozen for many years. Each sample can be uniquely traced thanks to a DM code. The two-component tubes are produced using a special, patented wet-in-wet injection molding process. 

Jako meditec: Patented Wet-in-Wet Process for Freeze-Stored Blood Sample Tubes 

Industrieroboter

Blood Samples with Origin Code 

Transparent plastics are used in medical technology for disposable articles such as catheter accessories, blood/plasma separators, thorax drainage sets, and medical filter and device housings. Since they are being exposed to increasingly aggressive solvents, disinfectants and drugs (for example new cancer drugs), these plastic articles have to be comprehensively tested for their chemical resistance. 

Chemical and Environmental Stress-Crack Resistance of PMMA-Based Compounds in the Medical Environment 

Polyacrylate

Maintaining Clarity Long-Term 

The cleanroom production of a biochip system made of semi-crystalline plastic presented a great challenge for the manufacturer. The upper part with test chamber must be assembled with the support layer in an absolutely tight manner. After all gluing trials had failed, the methodical approach in the weld process saved the project. 

Welding instead of Gluing for Sophisticated Medical Engineering Function Components  

Ultraschallschweißen

Sophisticated Geometry ¿  and Hermetically Tight 

Cordless, mobile, networked devices promise comprehensive in vitro diagnostics. However, for applications in biological surroundings, the toxic electronic components must be carefully encapsulated. Therefore, cost-effective coating materials were examined regarding their interaction with biological systems. 