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Plastics Discovery Tour

Fakuma

Engineering meets freerider: OST develops virtual model for the development of alpine skis.

The right mix of flexibility, weight and rigidity is essential for a freeride ski to cope well with difficult terrain. The geometry determines the lift in deep snow.

16:9

Messtechnik

Finite Methoden

Faserverbundwerkstoffe

Sportgeräte

Simulation instead of Field Tests

Vague political course-setting and contradictory customer requirements: How Wirthwein is shaping the road to sustainability despite the many hurdles.

The 6.8 kg plastic  cable ducts replace concrete elements weighing 160 kg.

Spritzgießen

Doriat, Clemens, Dr.

Wirtschaft

Energieeffizienz

Medizinprodukte

Kreislaufwirtschaft

KFZ-Zulieferer

The Trouble with Sustainability

UMass Lowell: A visit to the plastics technology department  in Massachusetts, USA

Getting hands-on: Students at the Lowell campus in the Plastics Lab.

A visit to the laboratories of the University of Massachusetts Lowell

Schröder, Susanne

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Werkzeugbau

Pioneers of Plastics Technology  in the USA

Injection molding machine manufacturer Arburg was not spared the effects of the crisis. However, the company‘s management believes that the seeds for a positive future have been sown.

Michael Hehl, Managing Partner of Arburg, at the press conference.

Digitalisierung

Spritzgießmaschinen

Arrived in the New Reality

On a visit to Mold-Masters, we saw that hot-runner innovations can improve the sustainability of an application beyond the standard. The application fields of a technology can constantly evolve.

iFlow manifold in 24-cavity design. The two plates are brazed together in a multistage process.

Normalien und Heißkanaltechnik

Heißkanalsysteme

Qualitätssicherung Kunststoff

Innovation Has No Endpoint

The newly developed Prisma nozzle from hot runner specialist Günther offers particular advantages for rotationally symmetrical articles with high demands on concentricity that have to be gated several times.

Nozzle for Precision Manufacturing

Synventive automates hot runner cascade control with temperature sensors placed directly in the shut-off needle.

Hot runner system with integrated sensor technology: Synventive IntelliGate.

Temperatursensoren

A Hot Runner with Intuition

Audi and Fraunhofer IVV test solvent-based recycling process for PC/ABS blends. The recyclate obtained is also suitable for interior components.

Audi has set itself the goal of continuously increasing the proportion of secondary materials in the Audi fleet. For example, several components in the Audi Q6 e-tron are made from recycled materials. (Note: This does not apply to the PC/ABS described in the article).

Audi and Fraunhofer IVV make mixed plastic waste recyclable. The recyclate is also suitable for interior components.

Recycling

Technische Kunststoffe

Automotive

Kunststoff-Recycling

Physically Recycled Post-Consumer Recyclate from End-of-Life Vehicles

The composite materials currently used in cars are often not recyclable. Mercedes has therefore recently started using mono-material sandwiches.

As a reference part for the natural fiber-based multi-material approach used in series production and the recyclable PET mono-material sandwich, the bending-loaded door pocket of the door panel of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was used.

Verbundwerkstoffe / Werkstoffverbunde

Leichtbau

Polyethylenterephthalat

Kunststoff-Rezyklat

Not Only Lightweight,  But Also Recyclable

With the so-called Glimo process, VW is the first to implement the back injection molding of complexly shaped glass with polymers. Possible applications include, for example, hybrid components with integrated cameras, displays or touch sensors.

Back-injected 3D glass prototype after climate change test. The adhesion between polymer and black print is very good.

Glas

Back Injection Molding of Large 3D-Formed Glass Surfaces

The Vollmann Group manufactures the safety-relevant kinematic levers for seat adjustment in the passenger compartment by overmolding metal inserts. Arburg acted as system supplier for the plant with three robots and a preheating and cooling station

Three robots work closely together to sort and insert the metal inserts and to remove the overmolded levers and stack them in SLCs.

Handling, Handhabungstechnik

Linearroboter für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Automatisierungstechnik

Multiaxialroboter für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Hybrid-Spritzgießen (Metall / Kunststoff)

Turning the Lever

PAs are often stabilized with copper- or halogen-containing additives in automobiles. Polymeric amines can be an alternative with fewer disadvantages.

The conditions in the engine compartment of electric vehicles are different from those of internal combustion engines. This presents opportunities not only for new materials, but also for other additives.

Stabilisatoren

Polyamide

Additive

Durable Even without Copper  and Halogens

Odor analysis using the human nose is now obsolete. The revised VOC-G method offers a comprehensive and rapid odor measurement.

Young caucasian female contemplating digital ai face illuminated by blue neon light

Normen / Standards

Normen

Instrumental Odor Analysis Outpaces the Human Nose

Epoxy resins can play an important role in hydrogen mobility. Blending them with polysiloxane block copolymers gets them on the hydrogen track.

Harze, Epoxid

Duroplastische Werkstoffe

Duroplaste

Empower Epoxy Resins  for Hydrogen Applications

Port wine, precision and efficiency potential beyond German perfection: Together with 25 industry representatives from the VDWF, Plastics Insights went on a journey of discovery in the toolmaking country of Portugal.

Portugal also has attractions outside the tooling industry. The Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto connects the old town of Porto with the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. The two-story steel structure was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel.

Strategie und Organisation

Behind the Scenes: Toolmaking in Portugal

Different countries, different customs – this also applies to plastics recycling. Approaches range from state control to reliance on the invisible hand of the market.

Messe K-Kunststoffmesse

Caught between Necessity and Potential

The PRSE 2025 once again made Amsterdam the center of European plastics recycling.

Winners of the Plastics Recycler Awards 2025: the awards ceremony on the first day of the show is one of the highlights of PRS Europe in Amsterdam each year.

Ehrhardt, Melanie

Curtain Up for Europe‘s Recycling Elite

A visit to toolmaker Karel Kalıp in Istanbul.

Company founder Refik Diri has been building tools exclusively for the automotive industry since 2001.

Werkzeug- und Formenbau

Länderspecial Türkei

Through Stormy Times with  High-Tech Tools

Project and Sales Manager Burçin Bahşi from Elit Makina talks about current challenges of a toolmaker in the automotive industry.

Zero error tolerance: Injection molds for the production of car headlights are subject to strict quality controls.

Elit Makina as a toolmaker in the automotive industry with a focus on lighting. 

Spritzgießmaschinen, allgemein

Shown in the Best Light

The German compounder hapego meets the Turkish materials manufacturer Politem – bout an intensive German-Turkish business relationship.

Politem produces more than 30 different types of plastic. The annual capacity is 60,000 t.

hapego and Politem: When a German compounder meets a Turkish materials manufacturer, it can lead to an intensive German-Turkish business relationship.

Compound

“We Work together like a Good Blend”

How an ultrasonic measuring system from Zumbach supports the US manufacturer SWM International in measuring tubes.

Rohre, Profile

Kunststoff-Rohre

Rohre, allgemein

Five Minutes instead of Two Hours

Together with partners, Brückner Maschinenbau is researching viable film solutions for a more sustainable future.

Designed with recycling in mind: These crisp bags made of BOPP can be recycled into new film with 80 % recycled content. 

Together with partners, Brückner Maschinenbau is researching viable film solutions for a more sustainable future. 