A Journal of the Thermoforming Division of SPE What’s Old is New · 2020. 1. 22. ·...

Third Quarter 2019 | Volume 38 | Number 3

A Journal of the Thermoforming Division of SPE

IN THIS ISSUE:

• NewDevelopmentsinCPET

• In-SituCrystallizationofPEKK

• 2019ThermoformeroftheYear

What’s Old is New

2 SPE Thermoforming Quarterly

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SPE Thermoforming Quarterly 3

nDepartmentsChairman’sCorner|4

ThermoformingintheNews|6-9

UniversityNews|10-11

Thermoforming&Sustainability|34-37

nFeaturesThermoformingonTheChain|12-15

FromAtoC:DevelopmentsinPET|16-22

EffectsofVacuumTimingandBackPressureonWallThicknessDistribution|24-27

ThermoformingandIn-situCrystallizationofKepstan®PEKK|30-32

nIn This IssueAwards&Recognition|40

InMemoriam|42

A JOURNAL PUBLISHED EACH CALENDAR QUARTER BY THE THERMOFORMING DIVISION

OF THE SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS

www.thermoformingdivision.comEditor

Conor Carlin(617) 771-3321

[email protected]

SponsorshipsLesley Kyle

(914) [email protected]

Conference CoordinatorLesley Kyle

(914) [email protected]

SPE Thermoforming Quarterly® is published four times annually as an informational and educational bulletin to the members of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Thermoforming Division, and the thermoforming industry. The name, “SPE Thermoforming Quarterly®” and its logotype, are registered trademarks of the Thermoforming Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher, copyright holder. Opinions of the authors are their own, and the publishers cannot be held responsible for opinions or representations of the authors. Printed in the U.S.A.

SPE Thermoforming Quarterly® is reg-istered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Registration no. 2,229,747). x

Third Quarter 2019 | Volume 38 | Number 3

Cover photo courtesy of Illig Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG


Chairman’s Corner

EricShort

WelcometotheConferenceEditionof

Thermoforming Quarterly.Traditionholdsthatthisissuefeaturestwomajoritems:theofficial“ThermoformeroftheYear”announcementandourDivisionscholarshipwinners.I’mabigfanofboth–wecelebrateanoutstandingindividualfromourprofessionalranks,andwecongratulateourstudentswhoareseekingfuturesinplastics.Injustafewshortweeks,wewillallhavetheopportunitytorecognizethesefolksatourconferenceinMilwaukee.Thisyear’seventisjam-packedwithhigh-qualitytechnicalcontent,industryplanttours,hands-onsessions,andevenavisittotheHarleyDavidsonmuseumwherewewillhostouropeningreception.

2019isalsoa“K”yearwhereover250,000peoplewillvisittheMesseonthebanksoftheRiverRhineinDusseldorf,Germany.Eventhoughtheplasticsindustryfacesadifferentsetofmarketconditionsthanthreeyearsago,theKFairoffersanopportunityforattendeestogetasenseofhowglobalourbusinessis.Onp.24,weofferabriefoverviewofthermoformingOEMcompaniesincludingmachinerymanufacturersandtoolmakers.AttendeescanalsonotethatSPEwillhaveaboothinHall12,StandE04.

ThisissuefeaturessomenewresearchfromGermanywhereagroupof3companiescollaboratedtodeveloprecycledcPETforthermoforming.BytakingmixedAPETflakesandadditives,materialscientistswereabletomanipulatetheextrusionandthermoformingprocesstodevelopthermallystablematerialforfoodtrays(seepp.16-22).Inanotherinterestingdevelopmentforhigh-heatapplications,France-basedspecialtychemicalsandadvancedmaterialsArkemahascreatedaunique,tunable,amorphousPEKKmaterialthatcanbe

crystallizedin-situ(seepp.30-32).Potentialapplicationsincludeareaswhereextremetemperatureresistanceisrequired,suchasaerospaceorchemicalprocessing.

Weareallmorethanawareoftheongoingdiscussionaboutplasticsandtheenvironment.OureditorreportsfromGrandRapidswherethePlasticsIndustryAssociation(PLASTICS)hostedtheir4thannualRe|Focusconference(seepp.34-37).Topicsincludednovelusesforpolyethyleneinasphalt,design-ledthinkingforend-of-lifematerialsmanagement,andupdatesfromseverallong-termstudiesonrecyclingplasticsinthecurrentinfrastructure.AsaDC-basedorganization,PLASTICSprovidedinsightintolegislationatboththestateandfederallevels.Aswastobeexpected,therewerenoeasyanswerstoaverydifficultproblem.SPEcontinuestoprovideaforumforkeytechnicalandscientificdiscussionsonthisimportanttopic.Asacommunity-basedgroup,however,itiscriticaltotheorganization’svitalityandsuccessthatindividualsgetmoreinvolved.Startadiscussiononline,hostaseminaratyourcompanyoratyourlocalschool,orengagewithyouremployeesabouttheneedtopromoteresponsiblemanagementofplasticmaterials.

Thisissuealsocontainsobituariesfortwoofourformercolleagues,WalkWalkerandJimArmor,bothofwhomcontributedmanyvolunteerhourstoourDivision.Let’sraiseaglasstotheminMilwaukee.

Assummercomestoacloseandwelookforwardtothebusinessendoftheyear,IencourageeveryonetovisitMilwaukeeinSeptember.Whenourindustryconvenestocelebrateourfutureandourpresent,wecandogreatthingstogether.Seeyousoon.|

Chairman’s Corner – Q3 2019


www.vulcanplastics-na.com www.vulcanplastics.com

VULCAN PLASTICS


Thermoforming In The News

Tooling Tech Group Buys Assembly Equipment Maker Alpha IntegrationMay30,2019—MajormoldmakerToolingTechGrouphaspurchasedAlphaIntegrationInc.,acompanyinMurfreesboro,Tenn.,thatprovidescustomautomatedassemblyandinspectionequipment.

ToolingTechannouncedtheacquisitionMay30.Termswerenotdisclosed.

AlphaIntegrationemploysabout45people.ThecompanywillcontinuetooperateoutofitsMurfreesborolocationwhileitsbusinesspracticeswillbeintegratedintotheoverallToolingTechGroupoperations.

AlphaIntegrationdevelopsandmanufacturesassembly,materialhandling,dispensing,sorting,testing,weldingandfasteningsystemsfortheautomotive,cosmetic,electrical,constructionandlifesciencesindustries.

Thisisthefourthacquisitionsince2018forToolingTech,whichisownedbyNewYorkprivateequityfirmGenNx360CapitalPartners.Foundedin1982,ToolingTechmakescompressionmolds,blowmolds,rotationalmolds,thermoformingtoolinganddie-casttoolingandmetalstampingdies.

BasedinMacomb,Mich.,ToolingTechemploysabout600peoplein12U.S.locations.Thecompanyisthesecond-largestmoldandtoolmakerinNorthAmerica,accordingtoPlasticsNewsranking,with$185millioninsales.

Ayearago,ToolingTechacquiredautomotivemoldmakersCenturyToolGroup,whichincludedtwoMichiganoperations:CenturyTool&GageCo.andCTGBel-KurAutomation.

ToolingTechservesarangeofindustriesincludingautomotive,appliance,lawnandgarden,agricultural,aerospace,marineandoff-roadvehicles.

“Alpha’sexpertiseinintegratingavarietyofprocessesintoautomatedassemblyandtestsolutionscomplementsourexistingcapabilitiesandenhancesourabilitytoserveourexistingcustomerswhileenablingustoreachnew

marketssuchasthemedicalandcosmeticssectors,”saidLeeChilders,CEOofToolingTechGroup.“Thisisaveryexcitingtimeofgrowthforourcompany.”

AlphaPresidentMatthewPhillipssaidhelooksforwardtoworkingwiththeToolingTechGroupleadershipteamtosupportexistingcustomersandgainnewones.“PartneringwithTTGprovidesusmoreflexibilitywithincreasedresourcesandcapacity,aswellasawealthofindustryknowledge,”Phillipssaid.

Investment Firm Buys a Stake in Thermoformer Anchor PackagingBy Jim Johnson, Plastics News

June26,2019—Oneofthenation’slargestthermoformersistakingonaprivateequitypartnerinamovethecompanysaidwillhelpaccelerategrowth.

AnchorPackagingLLC,basedinSt.Louis,saidJune26thatTheJordanCo.istakinganunspecifiedstakeinthefamily-ownedfirm.

TheHermannfamily,whichhasownedthecompanyfor56years,willretainanownershipstake,thecompanysaid.

AnchorisrankedNo.9onthelatestPlasticsNewslistoflargestthermoformersinNorthAmerica,withsalesof$350millionin2017.That’supfrom$315milliontheyearbefore.

Anchorsaidthecompanyhasbeenabletotriplesalesduringthepast15yearsthroughorganicgrowth.Theinfluxofcapitalfromtheinvestmentfirmwillhelpfueladditionalgrowth.

“Nowwearetalkingabouttransformativegrowth—broadeningourgeographicreachthroughadditionalmanufacturingfacilities,newandcomplementaryproductlinestobetterserveourcustomersandnewmaterialstoofferourcustomers,”AnchorCEOJeffreyWolffsaidinastatement.

Thecompany’soperationscurrentlyareconcentratedinArkansaswithanadditionallocationinArgentina,accordingtoAnchor’swebsite.


Anchorusespolypropylene,polystyrene,polyethyleneandPETtomakepackagingforfood,consumer,householdcare,andagriculturalproducts.Thecompanyalsomakescupsandlids.

“Anchorhasbeen,andcontinuestobe,afamilybusiness”ChairmanRobertHermannJr.saidinastatement.“WeareexcitedtopartnerwithTheJordanCo.tohelpfuelAnchor’scontinuedgrowthandincreaseourtrajectory.TheJordanCo.possessesmanyofthesamevalues,ethics,andlong-termorientationthathasbeenahallmarkofAnchor.”

Termsofthedeal,expectedtocloseinJuly,wherenotreleased.

“Weplantoinvestfurtherinthebusinesstosupportorganicgrowthandcontinuednewproductdevelopment”,saidMikeDenvir,apartneratJordan,inastatement.

Jordanlists30currentinvestmentsonitswebsite,includingAmericanFreight,adiscountfurnitureretailerandBojangles’restaurantchain.

AMB Acquires UK food Packaging BusinessJune27,2019—ItalianpackagingproducerAMBSpahasacquiredTDX(Europe)Ltd,aUK-basedmanufacturerofPET,rPETandlaminatedrigidfilmsforthefoodandpackagingindustry,tocreateapan-Europeanleaderintherigidandflexibleplasticsfilmandpackagingmarket.

ThecombinationofUdine-basedAMBandTDXcreatesaone-stop-shopofferingofproductsandservices,fromtoolingandconceptdesign,productspecification,printdesignandapplication,allowingthegrouptodelivernewproductsandservices.

Together,AMBandTDXwillhavefoursitesacrossEuropeplusanetworkofinternationaldistributionwarehouseswith430employees.Thecombinedbusinesseswillturnoverinexcessof€150million($168m).

GilesPeacock,chiefoperatingofficerofAMB,whichcelebratesits50thanniversarythisyear,said:“ThisisahighlycomplementaryacquisitionthatwillhelpAMBwidenourEuropeanfootprinttobemorelocaltoourclientsinNorthernEurope.Wehavealwayshadaclear

vision,andpartofthevisionistocreateagroupthatcanofferacompleteend-to-endprocessforfoodpackagingcustomers.”

MarkPrinn,managingdirectorofTDX,added:“WeareexcitedtojoinforceswithAMBandbelievethispartnershipwillsignificantlyaccelerategeographicexpansion.Thetwocompaniesworkingtogetherinpartnershipwilltrulydeliveraone-stop-shopthatwillcreatestrongopportunitiesworldwideandwelookforwardtoworkingtogether.”

Sustainability andfoodsafetywillcontinuetobecoretotheactivitiesofthenewpartnership.

TheacquisitionofTDX(Europe)includesitsproductdesign,prototypeandtoolingbusiness.Whilecontinuingtoserveitsexistinglocalandglobalcustomerbase,thedesignandtoolingbusinesswillofferaddedvalueservicestoexistingAMBcustomersbyenhancingAMB’scapabilitytooffercompletepackagingsolutions.

BrunoMarin,thechiefexecutiveofAMB,said:“Weseethisasourfirstmajorstepinournewgrowthplans.50yearsofAMBhasbroughtustothispointthroughinnovation,talentedpeopleandunwaveringfocusonourdefinedvision.”

AMBinstalleditsfirstmultilayercoextrusionlinefortheproductionoffoodpackagingin1988andsincethenhasrampedupcapacitywithPETco-extrusionlinesand7-and9-layerblownfilmlines.ItwasalsothefirstcompanyinEuropetostartwater-basedproductioninsteadofsolventin2014.

ThecompanyopeneditssecondproductionplantinUdinein2017,whichgaveitstrongerconnectionstotherestofEurope.

Paccor Acquires EDV Packaging SolutionsBy Tony Corbin, PackagingNews.co.uk

July25,2019—EDVdeliversproductswhichrequiregreaterprotectionagainstoxygenmigrationandcoffeecapsulesmadefrompolypropylene,aswellasmadeoutofadvancedbiocompostablematerials.Theacquisition


advancesPaccor’spositioninrigidbarrierpackagingapplicationsglobally.

EDVcombinesitstechnologywithacompleteprojectmanagementservice,rangingfromproductconceptiontoproductionandwiththedeliveryoffullsolutionstocustomers.Ithasalsodevelopedprocessesfortheefficientmanufacturingofbarrierapplicationssuchascoffeecapsulesmadefrompolypropylene,aswellasadvancedbiocompostablematerials.EDVisalsoaleaderinrigidbarrierapplicationsforready-mealsandtheworld’sthirdlargestproduceroffruitbowls(forproductssuchas,compotes).

“WeareveryhappytowelcomeEDVPackagingSolutionsasanewmemberofthePaccorworldwidefamily.Overthepastyears,EDVhasachievedveryimpressivegrowthandprofitability.WearehappytomergeforcesinordertojointlycapturefurtheropportunitieswithinEuropeandoutsideofit,”commentedAndreasSchütte,chiefexecutive,Paccor.

Paccorbelievestheacquisitionwillallowbothgroupstoleadtheinnovativechangeinmanufacturingsustainablepackagingandtobecomethegloballeaderforrigidbarrierapplications,withEDVbecomingPacoor’sCenterofExcellenceforthermoformedproductsrequiringhigheroxygenprotection.Furthermore,Pacoorwillalsoenterthefast-growingmarketforcoffeecapsulesinEurope.Atthesametime,EDVhasgainedastrongpartnerforthefurthersupportofitsmarketgrowthinEuropeandbeyond.

“After30yearsofhardworkgrowingafamilybusinesstobecometheleadingEuropeanoperatorofrigidbarrierpackaging,itisanexcellentopportunityforustobeapartofthebiggerPacoorfamily.Thisisanupscaletobecomeaworldwideplayerinthisfast-growingsegment,”summarisedKokePursals,presidentofEDV.

EDVPackagingSolutionswasfoundedin1972andhasbeengrowingsuccessfullyinEuropeforthelastfourdecadesandgraduallymakinganimpactonUSandAsiamarkets.

Kohlberg Closes on Bemis Healthcare Packaging Europe Acquisition, Merges with NelipakBy Don Loepp, Plastics News

August9,2019—Aspromised,NelipakCorp.Inc.isgrowinggloballyunderitsnewownership.

InJuly,investmentfirmKohlberg&Co.LLCacquiredthemajormanufacturerofcustomplasticpackagingforthehealthcaresector.Atthetime,MountKisco,N.Y-basedKohlbergannouncedithadplanstoleveragethebusinesswith“sizeable,globalacquisitions.”

KohlbergmadegoodonthepledgeAug.8,whenitcompletedapreviouslyannounceddealtobuyBemisHealthcarePackagingEuropefor$394million—thenimmediatelymergedtheunitwithNelipak.

ThecombinedcompanieshavefootprintsinbothNorthAmericaandEurope.Productsincludeflexibleandthermoformedpackaging.

“ThiswillsignificantlyenhanceNelipak’scapabilitieswiththeadditionofflexiblepackagingalternativesforourglobalcustomers,”MikeKelly,presidentandCEOofNelipak,saidinanewsrelease.

KohlbergpickeduptheBemisHealthcarebusinessasaresultoftheyear’spackagingmegamerger:AmcorLtd.’s$6.8billionpurchaseofBemisCo.Inc.TheEuropeanCommissionaskedthecompaniestodivesttheEuropeanhealthcarebusinessbecauseofcompetitionconcerns.

IndustryveteranPeterSchmittcalledtheNelipakdealanexampleofamajor“remapping”ofthesterilemedicalpackagingmarket,drivenbyAmcor’sdeal.

“Nottoolongago,thereweretwomajorpubliccompaniesinbothfoodandmedicalpackaging:AmcorandBemis,”

Thermoforming In The News


saidSchmitt,managingdirectorofMontesinoAssociatesLLCinWilmington,Del.“Indeed,theysplittheassetsofAlcanwhenAlcan’spackagingdivisionwasdivested.Nowtheyaremerging.”

BemisandAmcorgrewsignificantlywhentheysplittheformerAlcanPackagingbusinessin2010,whichhadbeenownedbymetalsandminingfirmRioTintoplc.

ButwhenBemisandAmcoragreedtomerge,competitionauthoritiesintheUnitedStatesandEuropeaskedthetwotodivestbigchunksoftheirmedicalpackagingbusiness—andprivateequityfirmspouncedontheopportunity.

First,Wayne,Pa.-basedTekni-PlexInc.,whichisownedbyGenstarCapital,boughtthreemanufacturingplantsfromAmcor’sFlexiblePackagingbusinessunitfor$215milliontobroadenitsportfolioofsterilizablemedicaldevicepackaging.ThatdealincludedthreeU.S.plants.

NowKohlberg-backedNelipakhasdonethesamewiththreeBemisplantsinEurope.

Schmittsaidtheprivateequityfirmsarebuildingaportfolioofpackagingcompaniesfocusedonlyonmedicaldevicesorhealthcare,notfood.

“Thequestionis,willAmcorbeabletofocusonbothfoodandmedical,anduseitssizeandbrandstrengthtogrowitsposition?OrwillthisnewmapofstrongandgrowingsterilemedicalpackagingcompaniesledbyprivateequitychallengeAmcorinthemedicalarena?

“Additionalconsolidationappearstobelikely.Addtothattheuncertaintyofbothtradewarsandapossiblerecessionandwewillseesomeinterestingmovesinthefuture,”Schmittsaid.

Nelipak’smedicalpackagingoperationsaregrowingwiththeadditionofBemisHealthcarePackagingEurope.

Nelipak by the NumbersPriortothemerger,Nelipak,whichhasbeeninbusinessfor60years,employedmorethan800atsevenproductionsites.InadditiontoitsheadquartersinCranston,R.I.,thecompanyhadplantsinWhitehall,Pa.;Phoenix;Humacao,PuertoRico;SanJosé,CostaRica;Galway,Ireland;andVenray,theNetherlands.

Withanestimated$90millioninsales,NelipakHealthcarePackagingrankedNo.25amongNorthAmericanthermoformers,accordingtothelatestPlasticsNewsranking.

TheBemisHealthcaredealaddsthreemoreplantsand600employees.Thethreeplants,inLondonderry,NorthernIreland;Clara,Ireland;andBrigg,England,representedtheentiremedicalpackagingbusinessofNeenah,Wis.-basedBemis,andhaveacombinedannualsalesofaround$170million.

Kohlberg Highlights SynergiesKohlbergofficialshighlightedhowcombiningthetwobusinessesgivesNelipakglobalscaleandawiderrangeofplasticpackagingproducts.

“OurrecentacquisitionofNelipakrepresentedaplatformforgrowthandconsolidation,”SethHollander,apartneratKohlberg,saidintherelease.“TheBemisacquisitionprovidesauniqueopportunitytocreateglobalscaleanddiversificationacrosscomplementaryproductofferings.”

RogerPrevot,operatingpartneratKohlberg,added:“Thiscombinationprovidesattractiveopportunitiesforrevenuegrowthfromcross-sellingandgeographicexpansion.Mikeandhisteamwillbebetterequippedtoservethecompany’scustomersasacomprehensivepartnerfortheirpackagingneeds.”

KohlbergboughtNelipakfromMilwaukee-basedMasonWellsonJuly2.

Nelipak’sproductsincludethermoformedtraysandblistersusedtoproductClassIIandClassIIImedicaldevicesandpharmaceuticalsaswellastraysforsurgicalprocedures,suchasorthopedicandcardiacimplants,andhandlingdrugs,suchasauto-injectors,pre-filledsyringesandvaccines.|


University News

2019 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Samuel Bliesner, Tulane UniversitySamuelBliesnerreceivedhisB.S.

degreeinChemicalEngineering

fromFloridaStateUniversityinMay

2015.

Duringhisundergraduatecareer,

Samservedasaco-opattheDuPontsiteinRichmond,

Virginia,performingresearchintheKevlar®businessarea.

ThisworkexperienceintroducedSamto,andsparkedhis

interest,inthepolymersindustry.

Upongraduationin2015,SamreturnedtoRichmondas

acontractedreliabilityengineerintheDuPontKevlar®

pulpbusinessarea.AfterashorttimeinindustryR&D,

SamdecidedtopursuehisPhD.Heiscurrentlybeginning

hisfourth-yearofgraduateschoolatTulaneUniversity’s

DepartmentofChemicalandBiomolecularEngineering.

UndertheguidanceofDr.JulieAlbert,hisresearchfocuses

oncontrolofsemicrystallinepolymerthinfilmmorphology

viasolventvaporannealing.Hiscareerinterestsinclude

industryresearch,intellectualpropertylaw,andconsulting.

Haven Bontz, Pennsylvania College of TechnologyHavenisaseniorstudyingfor

aB.S.inPlasticandPolymer

EngineeringTechnologyand

expectstograduateintheFallof

2019.SinceMay2017,hehasheld

aninternshipwithConsolidatedContainerCompanyin

OilCity,Pennsylvania,wherehehasexecuted5splansand

performedprocessvalidations.

Antonia Chin, Kettering UniversityAntoniaisaseniorstudying

chemicalengineeringatKettering

UniversityinFlint,Michigan.Sheis

completingherthesis,conducting

researchonplasticizers.Antonia

firstencounteredthecoatings

industrythroughaco-opwithBASFwheresheassessed

paintqualityonautomobiles.Afterobservingthemyriad

ofthingsthatcangowrongwiththefinalproduct,

AntoniawantedtolearnmoreandinternedatPPGin

thedispersionsandpigmentsevaluationlab.Duringher

timethere,sheworkedonU.S.DepartmentofEnergy

testmodelsfordispersionqualityusingdifferentresin

technology.Thisexperiencehasfueledherdesireto

becomeacoatingsengineer.

AtKettering,Antoniaservesasthevicepresidentof

StudentGovernmentandpresidentoftheInternational

Club,andhasheldvariousleadershiprolesinthePlastics

EngineeringClub.Lastyear,Antoniaparticipatedin

the2018SPEThermoformingConferenceRCCarRace

Competition.

Lexington Peterson, Pittsburg StateLexingtonPetersonisajunior

atPittsburgStateUniversityin

Pittsburg,Kansas.Sheisadouble-

majorinplasticsengineering

technologyandpolymerchemistry.

Thissummer,Lexingtonis

employedinasustainability-orientedREUprogram

(ResearchExperiencesforUndergraduates,fundedbythe

NationalScienceFoundation)attheUniversityofMaine.

Duringtheschoolyear,Lexingtonisactivelyinvolvedinthe


SocietyofPlasticsEngineers,SocietyofWomenEngineers,

AmericanChemicalSociety,HonorsCollegeAssociation,

StudentGovernmentAssociation,PhiKappaPhi,andthe

StudentSustainabilityFundCommittee.Shealsoworks

part-timeasalabassistantattheKansasPolymerResearch

Center.

Nathan Rader-Edkin, Pennsylvania College of TechnologyNathanisaseniorstudying

PlasticsandPolymerEngineering

TechnologiesatPennsylvania

CollegeofTechnologyin

Williamsport,Pennsylvania.HecurrentlyservesasSPE

StudentChapterPresident,andpreviouslyservedas

secretary.NathanisalsothecurrentchairofSPE’sNext

GenerationAdvisoryBoard(NGAB).Hegraduatedfrom

PennsylvaniaCollegeofTechnologyin2015withan

AssociateofScienceDegreeinBusinessManagement.

Thissummer,Nathanisworkingasamoldinginternwith

theManufacturingDevelopmentEngineeringteamof

theapplianceunitatTEConnectivity’sheadquartersin

We are experts in all types of thermoform tooling including vacuum form, pressure form, heavy-gauge, thin-gauge, and twin-sheet thermoforming. Our thermoform tooling engineers have the experience to help you design and implement tooling to produce any variety of thermoformed plastic components. Thermoforming Moldsn Heavy- or thin-gauge, twin-sheetn Pressure formn Vacuum form

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Harrisburg,Pennsylvania.NathanexpectstograduatewithaB.S.inPlasticsandPolymersEngineeringTechnologiesinDecember2019.|


Thermoforming on The ChainAreyouonTheChain?

Industry Practice

Ifnot,you’remissingoutonsomegreatinformationexchangeamongthermoformers,sheetsuppliers,toolmakers,andotherindustryexperts.Weofferasummaryofthemostfollowedthreadsinthepastquarter.Questionsandresponsescomefromallovertheworld:US,Canada,Australia,SpainandMexico.

YoucanaccessTheChainaspartofyourSPEmembershipbenefits.Simplylogintoyouraccountatwww.4spe.org,clickon“Conversations”,andjointhediscussion.

What do you call it? And how do you fix it?Thread started by Ed ProbstPosted 04-02-2019 17:23 Pleaseseetheattachedpicture.Almosteverythermoformerhasseenthiscondition-foldsofexcessmaterial.Ihavetwoquestions:

1. Whatdoyoursetupormachineoperatorscallthiscondition?

2. Whatarethefirst3thingsyoursetupstaffdoestoreduceoreliminateit?

Posted 04-03-2019 08:37

FunpostEd. Wecallitwebbing.

1. lowerheat/screentheheater2. slowvacuumtiming3. slowmouldplattenspeed

Thisisassumingtheflatareaaroundthemouldisrequiredandyoucannotaddanyfeaturestostretchthewebsout(buildaframearoundit).Wesometimesaddwebstretcherplatestotheoutsideofthemouldtopullthewebsout.I’massumingithasnoabilityontheequipmentforputtinganassistinandalltheotherengineeringandmodernequipmentbellsandwhistleswehavegottenusetousing.

Todd Shepherd ShepherdThermoforming

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Posted 04-03-2019 09:06 Irefertoitaswebbing.Useasmallersheetifpossibleandaplugassist. Kevin Harris, ThermoformingSupervisor, DraderMFG

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Posted 04-04-2019 09:47 Fromthematerialpropertyviewpoint,thishappenswhenmeltstrengthislow.UsinglowerMFR(highermeltstrengthmaterial)material,loweringtemperature,coolingthisareawithairpriortoforming,reducingplugspeed(allowinganunformedportiontocool),oraddingmorevacuumholesmayhelp.Ifpre-stretched,increaseballoonheight.Interestingly,Iheardofthisissueinalargedeepdrawnpartjustrecentlywhenthematerialsupplierwaschanged.

Amit Dharia, Ph.D.

SPE Thermoforming Quarterly 13w w w . g n c a n a d a . c o m

Are you still producing too much waste? Do you want to reduce production costs?

If yes contact us [email protected]

GN800Form/Cut/Stack model


Posted 04-05-2019 08:54 Wecallitwebbing.Wewouldbuilda“moat”aroundthepart.Inessence,wewouldmakesomethinglikeaframeabout1”to1.5”highacoupleinchesaroundthepartcreatingthe“moat”.Thereisusuallysometrialanderror,butitworksverywell.

Rick Turman, ReliableFormedPlastic

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Posted 04-06-2019 12:47Thatwebcanbeveryproblematicwhenitcomestostackingandpackagingthepart.Wehadandstilldealingwithissuesregardingwebbinginapartwhichallstartedwhenwechangedthesupplierofourfilm.Narrowerrollstostretchoutthefilmmayhelpbutyouhavetoaccommodateforthethickness.Hereisapictureofourwebbingaswell.

Bruce Fakoory VFPackagingLtd

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Posted 04-08-2019 12:57

Achangeinsuppliercouldmeantwothings-thechangeinrawmaterialorextrusionconditions.Bothcouldhaveunexpectedeffectsonforming.NotallABSgradesarethesame,notallHDPEarethesame,notallPETgradesarethesame.Further,notallsemi-finishedgoodsmadefromthesamePETarethesame.Astheysay-Itispossibletoproduceabadpartfromgoodsemi-finishedstockbutimpossibletomakeagoodpartfromabadsemi-finishedproduct.Experiencedthermoformerscanalwaysmakeprocessortoolchangestomakeitworkbutfixingmaterialproblemsbychangingtheprocessoftenhaveconsequences.Itisbettertounderstandthedifferenceinkeymaterialproperties.Unfortunately,thereisnotmuchthethermoformerscandoexcepttellingthesheetsupplierthattheresomethingdifferent.Inthecaseofwebbing,theprimarycauseislowermeltstrengthorlowmeltelasticity,andmismatchTDandMDorientation.Whenmeltstrengthislow,onecanreducethetemperature,increaseplugspeed,orincreaseorientation.

Themeltstrengthandmeltelasticitychangeswhenthematerialhasdegradedduringextrusionorwhenexcessiveregrindisadded.Itcouldalsochangeiftheresin(e.g.comonomertypeorcontent,viscosityormolecularweight,molecularweightdistribution,fillertypeorsizing)oradditive(e.g.carrierinCC)packagehaschanged.TechnoformThermoformabilitytestcandeterminesubtledifferencesinthesheetbeforeforming.Iwouldsuggestthermoformerstoatleasttotrythistestmethod.Knowingmaterialresponseisfarbetterandcheaper.

AmitDharia,Ph.D.

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Clarity IssuesThread started by Philip Shelton (June 20, 2019)

Posted 8 days ago MyclientiscurrentlyformingaroundlidofØ200x12mmontheirpressureformingmachine.TheissueissuepresentsitselfwhenhechangesfromPVCtoPET.TheformedPETlidisdominatedbyamilky,lessopaqueappearanceasyouwillnoteontheimage.WhenformingPVC,thelidhasgoodclaritywithnoevidenceofthemilkydiscoloration.Sheetthicknessis0.33mm.Forobviousreasons,theyarewantingtogetawayfromPVCasitdoesn’tfitinwiththeirrecyclingplans.

Thoughtsplease.Regards, Phil

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Posted 7 days ago Youwilllikelygetmanysimilarrepliesonthis.Theteastainingisthede-nesting/mouldreleaseagentinthematerial,supplierissueyou’llneedtoalertthem,hopefullyyouhaveotherPETmaterialyoucanruntocomparewithtoproveyourpoint,Themilkyfrostedlook,somecanberelatedtotheteastainingbutcanalsobetoomuchheatandyoucrystallizingthePET(whitenswhenthishappens,turnupyourheatersmoreanditshouldworsen).BackoffyourheatersfromwhatyouareatwiththePVCandseeifclarityimproves.

Todd Shepherd, ShepherdThermoforming

Industry Practice


Posted 4 days ago BelowwhatIwouldcheck:1)ThePETsheetlookslikeithastoomuchsiliconeforde-nesting.Iwouldtrywithadifferentsheet.

2)Toomuchtemperatureortoomuchheating/pressuretimewillgivethishazinessappearance.Trytodecreasethetemperature5°Candlooktheclarityinspiteofthewell-formedshapedofthepart.Then,iftheclaritygetsbetter,pushtheformingpressureupuntilyouhavetheperfectformedpart.

3)OnthiskindofflatlidwithundercutontheperimeterIusetomadeatrickwiththe“Baffle”plate.Thetrickistoocooldowntheflatareaswhereyoudon’tneedtoformtrickythings,andgivemoreheattotheundercutperimeter.It’sriskybecauseyouhavetocutthebaffleplatebutIcanletyouknowif1)and2)doesn’thelp.

Hopeithelps, KindRegards Federico Blanco, PROMACORSA

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Posted 6 days ago Hello, Phillip.Inmyopinion,thesheetmusthaveabsorbedhumidityandwhenthesheetisheatedbeyondTgtemperature,thewatervaporisreleasedtotheoutersurfaceofthesheet,hence,itbecomes“cloudy”.Otherpossiblecausecouldbewatercondensationifthetoolistoocoolandambienthumidityhigh.Amoldconditioningequipmentcouldeliminatethecondensationissue(itcouldbeassimpleasanairconditioningunitblowingcool/dryairtothemold).MaybeaThermoregulatortocondition-heatthetoolcouldhelptokeepamorestabletemperature.

Ihopethiscouldbeofsomevalue,bestregards.

Juan Carlos Balmaceda CAJAPLAX

Posted 6 days agoBothPETandr-PVChasaboutsimilarTg.PET(70C)andPVC(77C).Bothareformedinarelativelysimilartemperaturerange.PVC110C-140C,PET120C-140C.PEThassecondaryorcoldcrystallization.Ifnotprocessproperly,thiscrystallinitywillshowupashazeorwhiteness.Ifnotdriedpriortoprocessing,PETwilldegradeviahydrolysis.AsmallamountoflowmolecularweightcomponentssuchasmoistureormonomerwilllowerTgandenhancethecrystallizationrate.Orientationandresidualthermalstressesinthesheetwillalsocausecrystallizationuponforming.Iwouldchecktheprocessingtemperatureandmoisture.Iseemanydentsandseemslikeithaseithersomecontaminationormoisture.

Amit Dharia, Ph.D.

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Posted 5 days ago Hello Phillip,Icouldn’thelpbutcommentonyourlaststatement,that“forobviousreasons,theyarewantingtogetawayfromPVCasitdoesn’tfitinwiththeirrecyclingplans.”TheonlythingobvioustomeinreadingthisthreadisthatthereisalackofeducationabouttherecyclabilityofPVC,asnooneseemedtochallengethisassertion.ThereseemstobeamassivemythandmisinformationthatisoutthereaboutPVCbeing‘difficult’or‘impossible’torecycle,andthatcouldnotbefurtherfromthetruth.EducatingyourclientontherecyclingofPVCmaybeanothernon-technicalsolutiontotheproblem.Ifyoudesire,pleasehaveyourclientcontacttheVinylInstitutetodiscusspost-consumerPVCrecyclingthatisalreadyoccurringacrossthecountryandtheworld.Wecanhelpyourclientcontactanyofthe100+recyclingcompaniesinNorthAmericawhoarerecyclingvinylmaterials.Alternatively,wemayalsobeabletoworkwiththemonidentifyinggrantfundingtopilotrecyclinginfrastructurethatmightplacethemasasustainabilityleaderfortheirefforts,ratherthantofocusonmaterialreplacement.Hopethisspurssomeadditionalthoughtsaroundthisissue,andperhapssomegooddiscussion.

Best regards, Domenic DeCaria, TechnicalDirector,VinylInstitute|

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Thermoforming 2.0

TherecyclingofbottleflakesderivedfromPETbottlecollectionsystemsasimplementedandpracticedinGermany,AustriaandSwitzerland,forexample,hassofarfocusedmainlyontransparentandmonochromePETflakes.Thesecanberecycledrelativelyeasilyintotransparentfoodpackaging.However,multicoloredPETflakes(Titlefigure)aresuitableonlyforinferiorapplications,becausetheycannotbere-pelletizedandextrudedasreproducible

PET: From A to CUpcycling of Mixed APET Bottle Flakes into Thermally Stable rCPET Food Trays

Enhancing mixed bottle flakes by turning them into extrudable recycled crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (rCPET) was the goal of a joint development project looking to close the gap in the PET recycling system. By successfully producing a sheet made from recycled material suitable for high-quality applications such as thermoformed food trays, Gneuss, Sukano and Illig have demonstrated that this approach is indeed possible.

homogenousPETduetotheirdifferentcolors.Asaresult,inthefirstquarterof2019inGermany,forexample,multicoloredPETflakeshadamarketvalue(500to700EUR/t),roughlyonlyhalfthevalueoftransparentPETpelletsmadefromvirginmaterial(1100EUR/t),orrecycledtransparentPETpellets(1300EUR/t).

Thiscost-benefitadvantageledtoanovelcollaborationamongGneussKunststofftechnik(BadOeynhausen,Germany),anextrusiontechnologycompany;Sukano(Schindellegi,Switzerland)anadditivemanufacturer,andIlligMaschinenbau(Heilbronn,Germany),amanufacturerofthermoformingsystemsforthermoplastics.Asinitialtestresultsshow,thetreatmentofAPETwastematerialscancloseagapinthecurrentrecyclingsystem.TheprojectdemonstratedthatitispossibletoenhanceamixtureofAPETbottleflakes–thatuntilnowhashadonlyamarginalreusablevalue–tomakereproducible,thermallystablerCPET(seeBox),whichcanbeextrudedandre-formedintofood-gradepackaginginathermoformingprocess(Fig.1).

Afurtherconsiderationintheprojectplanningwasthediscussionaboutthemigrationofpotentiallyhazardoussubstancesfoundinaluminumfoodtrays.Thermoformed

Thermally stable rCPET food trays made from multicolor APET bottle flakes (© Illig)

Figure 1. Process overview: from multicolor APET bottle flakes to CPET for oven-safe food trays (source: Illig, Gneuss)


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andoven-safefoodtraysmadeoutofrecycledmaterialscouldbeagoodalternative.Afurtheradvantageofthermoforminginthisprocessisthecost-effectiveproductionofhighvolumesofthin-walled,andthusresource-friendly,thermoformedpartsthatcanbemadeinashorttime.

Homogeneous Melt with MRS Extrusion

ColoredA-PETbottleflakeischaracterizedbywidevariationsincolor,molecularweightandcontaminationlevels,duetotheirpreviouslifecycle.ThisiswhereMRStechnology(MRS=multirotationextruder)comesin.Inasingle-screwextruderwithaspecialdegassingzoneandsatellitescrewsarrangedaroundthemainscrew,thereisacontinuousexchangeofmaterialbetweenthesatellite

screwsatmoderatevacuumconditionsof25mbar(Fig.2).Thankstotherapid,continuoussurfaceexchangebetweenthemainscrewandthesatellitescrewsundervacuum,thesurfaceexchangeofthepolymermeltisgreatlyincreased,whichallowsforanextremelyefficientdevolatilizationanddecontaminationofthepolymermelt(Fig.3).

Thermoforming 2.0

Thepolymermeltishomogenized,providingexcellentmaterialsheetpropertiesforthermoforminginalaterstepthankstotheveryevenlyandconsistentmolecularweightdistribution.Moreover,theextremelyefficientmixingprocessintheMRSsectionfacilitatestheevendistributionofadditivessuchasanucleatingagentintothepolymermelt.Thisprocedureofdistributingtheadditiveequallyintothematerialhastheaddedbenefitofconsistentcrystallizationofthematerialsheetinthedownstreamthermoformingprocessandcanthusbepredictablycontrolled.

BecausetheMRSconceptmakesitpossibletoavoidthermalpreconditioningofthematerialpriortoextrusionthuseliminatingtheotherwisetypicalthermalstresscausedbycrystallizationanddrying,theprocesschainduringtheprocessingofthepolymerisveryshort.Thepolymermeltisprocessedgently,preservingexcellentphysicalandvisualpropertieslikehightensilestrengthandimpactresistance,transparencyandalowyellownessindexrating(inthecaseoftransparentsheets).

Notonlytheextruderitself,butalsomeltfiltrationisofparticularimportanceforthesheetqualitywhenprocessingrPET.ThatiswhytheGneusssheetlineincludesaprocess-constant,fullyautomaticbackflushfiltrationsystem.TheRSFgeniusrotaryfiltrationsystemreliablyandefficientlyremovescontaminantssuchassolidparticlesfromthepolymermelt.Forpermanentprocessmonitoring,anonlineviscometermeasurestheviscosityandthusservesasaquality-assuranceinstrument(Fig.4.)

DownstreamfromtheMRSextruderunit,anrCPETsheetcanbeproducedonasheetextrusionlineanduseddirectlywithaninlinethermoformingmachine,orwounduponarollforlaterofflineuse.

Figure 2. Multi rotation extruder system with satellite screws arranged around main screw (© Gneuss)

Figure 3. Surface renewal for the decontamination of plastics: the MRS technology is 100 times more effective than conventional single-screw technology thanks to its satellite screws (source: Gneuss)

Figure 4. The timeline of the dynamic melt viscosity shows an increase from around 800 to 1000 Pas as a result of the addition of 1% rPET IV enhancer (© Gneuss)


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Thermoforming 2.0

Additives for Color and Crystallization

ThepropertiesofthePETbottleflakematerialisintentionallymodifiedintheextruderbyintroducingadditives.TherPETIVenhancerfromSukanoelongatesthemolecularchainofthepolymerandbydoingsoincreasesthemolecularweight(Fig.5).

Theadditivealsoimprovesthemeltviscosity,whichbenefitstheprocessingoftheplasticatalaterstage.Asforthesheetextrusion,theadditiveextendstheprocessingwindow,increasesprocessingspeed,andimprovesthematerialsheetquality.Moreover,theadditiveensuresahigherimpactresistanceoftheplastic.

Withthistreatment,PETiscomparabletovirginAPETinitsphysicalproperties,withthedisadvantageofitsnon-transparency.Becauseofthis,itisnotsuitablefortransparentpackaging.However,anoven-saferCPETtrayisnormallyopaqueduetoitshighconcentrationofcrystallites.Becauseofthis,itmakessensetocolortherAPETpreparedintheMRSextruderwithamasterbatchandtotransformitintoasheetsuitableforthermoformingusingacrystallizationagent.SukanousesitsownrPETcrystallizationmasterbatch,whichobtainsgoodcolorresultswiththermallystablecolorpigments.

Sukanodevelopsnearlyeverycolorthemarketdemands.However,themosttypicalcolorsarewhite,beigeandblack.BlackisatypicalcolorusedinrCPETtrays,whichisalsothemostwidelyusedcolorintheproductionofCPETtraysmadeofvirginmaterial.Aradar-camerasortingsystemdevelopedbyFraunhoferresearchersanddubbed“BlackValue”canidentifyandsortblackrCPETandCPETfoodtrays,aswellasallothercoloredplastics,inrealtimeandinlargequantitiesinthestreamoffallingflakes[1].

Thenucleatingagentacceleratesthecrystallizationrateoftheplastic,makingtheformedrCPETtraysoven-safe:Theirformremainsstableforatleast20minat200°C.Moreover,thenucleatingagentisalsokeyinthelatterstagesoftheproductionchainincontrollingthecrystallizationprocessduringthermoforming,whichimprovestheproductionstabilityofthermoformingthetrays.

rCPET Food Trays

GneussMRSextrusiontechnologymeetstherequirementsofvariousfoodsafetyregulatorsworldwideincludingtheFDA,EFSA,Invima,Senasa,Anvisaforhotfillapplications,andforroomtemperaturestorage.Similarly,Sukano’srPETadditivesaresuitableforfood-gradepolymers,ensuringthatanrCPETmonofilmiswell-suitedforpackagingthathasdirectcontactwithfoods.

Duetotheincreasedmigrationathighermicrowaveandoventemperatures,thesheetsusedtoformrCPETfoodtraysaregenerallymadewithaco-extrudedfunctionalbarrierofvirginmaterialsforprotectionagainstcontaminantsinthesheet.Equally,inthefinalstagesoftheproductionoffoodtrays,thethermoformingsystemsfromIlligalsocomplywithstricthygienerequirementswiththeirintegratedCleantivity™conceptforhygienicallycleanproduction.

Extrusion of the Sample Sheets with Different Additives

Forthejointseriesoftests,GneussfirstproducedasheetwithoutadditivesasacontrolsamplefromabatchofAPETbottleflakes.Thiswasfollowedbyfourmoremonofilms,whichhaddifferentadditiveconcentrationsthroughgravimetricdosing(devicetype:Guardian,gravimetricbatchblenderfor6components;manufacturer:Processcontrol,headquartersBirstein,Germany).Allfivesheetswere530mmwideand0.5mmthick.Anonlineviscometermonitoredthemeltviscosityduringsheetextrusion,whichasexpectedincreasedwiththeadditionoftheIVenhancer(Table1).However,theincreaseinintrinsicviscosity(IV)waslesspronouncedforsheet4comparedtosheet3at0.01dl/g,whileafurtherincreaseinIVenhancerdosagebythesameamountincreasedtheintrinsicviscosityby0.10dl/gto0.83dl/g(sheet5).Futuretestingneedstobeconductedtoexplaintheunexpectedloweffectofthelowdosage.

Process-Controlled Thermoforming Technology

Fortheproductionoftrays,amulti-dimensionalradiantheaterisrequired.ThisisnecessarybecausethecrystallizationofPETsheetcanonlybecontrolledbyprecisionzonaltemperaturecontrolinboththelateralandlongitudinaldirections.ThetooltechnologyisalsodesignedspecificallyforthePETprocessasatwo-stepformingtoolwithheatedcavitywalls(Tg<Ttoolcavitywall<Ts)inthefirstformingtoolandcooledcavitywallsinthesecondtool(Ttoolcavitywall<Tg),whereTgstandsforglasstransitiontemperatureandTsforcrystallitemelting

Figure.5. Chain-growth polymerization mechanism using the rPET IV enhancer (© Sukano)


Figure 6. Oven tests at 200°C for 20 min: rCPET trays (from left to right: rolls 2, 3, 4, 5); upper heater at 250°C; upper and lower heating, lower heater at 270°C (© Illig)

Figure 7. rCPET food trays made from material sheet 5 before and after the oven test at 270°C on upper and lower heater (© Illig)

temperatureofPET.Inthefirststage,thetrayisgivenitsform,receivingthermalenergyforsufficientcrystallizationthroughcontactwiththeheatedtoolcavitywalls.Thetoolopensandthepreformedductiletraysaremovedalongbythematerialtransportintothesecondcavitywithcooledtoolcavitywalls.Thetoolclosesandinthesecondformingsteptheplastichardensundercontactwiththecooledtoolcavitywalls,maintainingitsshapewhilethecrystallizationprocessiscompleted–theformedtraysarenowoven-safe.

Striking a Balance between Forming Accuracy and Thermal Stability

Fromthefivematerialsheettypes,IlligproducedfoodtraysontheirIC-RDK80thermoformingmachineusinganinternaltesttoolwith2+2cavities.Duringtheentireseriesoftests,thefirsttoolcavityofthetwo-stepformingprocesswasheatedto160°Candthesecondtoolcavitywastemperature-controlledto20°C.Theonlyexceptionwasformaterialroll1,thesamplematerialrollmadeof100%bottleflakes,forwhichtheformingtoolsweretemperature-controlledto20°C.Thetemperaturesettingoftheupperandlowerheatinginthemachinevariedfrom245to290°C;allotherprocessparametersremainedconstant.

Thelevelofdefinitionoftheformedtraysservedasanimportantqualityindicatorasmeasuredbythevisibleimpressionsmadebythevacuumholesonthesurfaceoftheformedtrays.IncontrasttothermoformingrAPET,whenthermoformingrCPETtheformingaccuracydecreasesinproportiontotheamountofheatadded.Thisisbecauseincreasedcrystallinityincreasestheviscosityofthematerialsheet.Thismeans,awell-definedformedtraycanbeanindicatorforalowlevelofcrystallizationandthusforpoorthermalstabilityoftheformedpart.WhenapplyinganadditiveinthemanufacturingofamaterialsheetforthepurposeofformingrCPETfoodtrays,itisthereforeessentialtostrikeahealthybalancebetweenanacceptabledegreeofformingaccuracyandthermalstability.

Table2clearlyshowsthattherearehardlyanydifferencesbetweenthematerialrolls2,3andalso4intermsoftheirdefinition.Fromanupperandlowerheatertemperatureof270°C,theonsetofcrystallizationseemstoreducethedefinitionoftheformedpart.TherCPETfoodtraysfrommaterialroll5arenotwelldefinedattheselectedtemperatures.With92%PETbottleflakes,testroll5hasthelowestpercentageofrawPETcomparedtothenucleatingagent.

Oven Tests in Packaging Lab

Theoventestsat200°Cfor20minwerecarriedoutinIllig’spackaginglab.Oneoventestwasconductedimmediatelyafterthermoformingandasecondtestwascarriedoutafteran18-hourstorageoftheformedfoodtraysataroomtemperatureof22°Ctodeterminetheinfluence,ifany,ofapossiblepost-crystallization.Thisprovedhowevertobenegligible,asnodifferencesweredetected.

Thethermoformedfoodtraysfromthesamplematerialsheet(APETwithoutadditives)wereasexpectednotthermallystable,sothatnovisualevaluationwaspossible.Thecomparisonoffoodtraysformedfromthesheetswithadditivesshowedthatatatemperatureof270°Cofboththeupperandlowerheaters,allfoodtrayshadahighdimensionalstability.Thefoodtraysformedfrommaterialroll5werematteinappearance,whichcanbeexplainedbyhavingthehighestconcentrationofthenucleatingagent.


Apparently,asthepercentageofnucleatingagentincreases,sodoesthethermalstabilityofthefoodtrays.Thiseffectisespeciallynoticeableatatemperatureof270°Cofbothupperandlowerheaters(Fig.7).

Conclusion: Potential for High-Quality Applications

Dependingoncustomerrequirements,aconcentrationoffivepercentofthenucleatingagentfromSukanomayalreadybesufficienttoobtainhigh-quality,oven-saferCPETfoodtraysfrompreviouslylow-valueAPETbottleflakes.Moreover,asthepercentageofrPET-IVenhancerincreases,sodoesthefoodtray’simpactresistance,whichshowspotentialforhigh-qualityapplicationsofthermoformedrCPETcontainersintherefrigerationanddeep-freezesector.

Withthegrowingdemandforrecycledpellets,inordertomeetminimumrecycledcontentrequirementsinthefinalproducts,theavailabilityoftransparentrecycledPETisbecomingincreasinglyscarce.OneindustrythatmakesuseofmulticolorPETflakesisthestrappingindustry,turningthePETflakesintopackagingstrapping.OneofthereasonsmulticoloredPETflakesareusedforthispurposeisbecausetherearenorestrictionsintermsoffoodsafetyregulations.ThereisasurplusofmulticoloredPETbottleflakesonthemarket,butcurrentlytheyareutilizedonlyinalimitedcapacity.Thejointdevelopmentprojectconsideredeconomic,legislativeandtechnicalrequirementsanddemonstratedthattherecyclingofmulticoloredAPETblendsintonewhigh-qualityproductsisindeedpossible.

Upcyclinginsteadofdowncycling–upgradingtherecycledplasticintofood-graderCPETistechnicallyeasytoimplementandfillsagapinthePETrecyclingsystem.ThermallystablerCPETfoodtraysasahigh-qualityfinalproductareonlyoneofmanypossibleapplications.

Amorphous and Crystalline PET

Polyethyleneterephthalate(PET)collectedfromusedbottlesthathavebeenshreddedintobottleflakesisusedastheinitialrawmaterial.Generally,adistinctionismadebetweenamorphous(APET)andcrystallinepolyethyleneterephthalate(CPET).APETisknownforitshightransparency,whileCPEThastheadvantageofbeingheatresistant,apropertythatenablesformedparts(e.g.thermoformedfoodtrays)towithstandoventemperaturesofupto200°Cwithoutdeformingundertheheat.

Thermoforming 2.0Table 1. Material rolls with different additives (source: Illig)

Material roll number

Percentage of multicolor APET bottle flakes

Black nucleating agent

IV enhancer IV [dl/g]

1 100% (control sample)

- - 0.70

2 95.0% 5% - 0.69

3 93.0% 7% - 0.72

4 92.5% 7% 0.5 % 0.73

5 92.0% 7% 1% 0.83

Table 2. Forming accuracy for the thermoforming tests of the sample material rolls (control sample and rCPET) at different temperatures of upper and lower heaters (OHZ/UHZ) (source: Illig)


245°C 250°C 260°C 270°C 280°C 290°C

1 - - - Good - -

2 Good Good Good Sufficient Sufficient Poor

3 -* Good Good Sufficient Sufficient Poor

4 Good Good Very good Sufficient Sufficient Poor

5 Sufficient Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

- Trays not formed * Propensity of material sheet to stick is too high.

Table 1. Material rolls with different additives (source: Illig)


Percentage of multicolor APET bottle flakes

Black nucleating agent

IV enhancer IV [dl/g]

1 100% (control sample)

- - 0.70

2 95.0% 5% - 0.69

3 93.0% 7% - 0.72

4 92.5% 7% 0.5 % 0.73

5 92.0% 7% 1% 0.83



245°C 250°C 260°C 270°C 280°C 290°C

1 - - - Good - -

2 Good Good Good Sufficient Sufficient Poor

3 -* Good Good Sufficient Sufficient Poor

4 Good Good Very good Sufficient Sufficient Poor

5 Sufficient Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

- Trays not formed * Propensity of material sheet to stick is too high.

Table 1. Material rolls with different additives (source: Illig)


Authors

Sven Engelmann is Head of Product Division PB 2 & Head of Packaging Technology at Illig Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, Heilbronn, Germany; [email protected]

Christoph Stoye is Packaging Developer at Illig Maschinenbau; [email protected]

Georg Sposny is Technical Editor Corporate Communications at Illig Maschinenbau; [email protected]

Dr. Carl-Jürgen Wefelmeier is Head of Business Unit Sheet at Gneuss Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, [email protected]

Andrea Kossmann is Marketing Manager at Gneuss; [email protected]

Daniel Ganz is Global Product Manager at Sukano AG, Schindellegi, Switzerland; [email protected]

Nicky Klammt is Senior Account Manager at Sukano; [email protected]

Janine Wyss is Marketing Communications Manager at Sukano;

[email protected]

References

[1]SchwarzeKunststoffesortenreintrennen,https://www.kunststoffe.de/fachinformationen/technik-trends/artikel/schwarze-kunststoffe-sortenrein-trennen-1422484.html|


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Lead Technical Article

Effects of Vacuum Timing and Back Pressure on Wall Thickness DistributionHarlie Sadler, Pennsylvania College of Technology

Abstract

Vacuumbleeddwell(VBD)andbackpressuresettingshaveasevereeffectonwallthicknessdistribution(WTD)intheroll-fedthermoformingprocess.Thisspeculationisproveninatwo-phaseexperimentalprocess,consistingoftwoprocessvariables,measureddifferenceinWTD,anddesignandexecutionofadesignofexperiment(DOE)todeterminetheamountofinfluencethatthevariableshaveonpartthickness.

Introduction

WallthicknessDistribution(WTD)isasignificantfactortoconsiderwhilethermoforming,whetherinthinorheavygaugeprocessing.Becauseofthis,itisimportanttobeabletomeasureandcomprehendtheeffectthatvariableshaveonWTDinapart.Thoughanoptimizedcyclemaybeachieved,afractionofasecondchangeonanytimersettingscancausedifferencesorproblemsinarunningcycleprocess.ThereasonthatWTDissoimportantinthethermoformingprocessisbecauseduringprocessingthereisalargeamountofbiaxialorientationthatisprovoked,whichimprovesthemechanicalpropertiesofthepart,whichenablesthethicknessofthefinalparttobereducedwithoutcompromisingthefinalproduct’sproperties[1].ButifthereistoomuchWTDthereisasignificantimpactonmechanicalpropertiesevidencedbyalargerangeofthicktothinsectionsthroughoutthepart.

Onceacycleisoptimizedwithappropriateoventemperature,changesinVBDandbackpressure(otherwiseknownasvacuumventing)canbeintroducedtoobservethedifferenceinWTD.Thoughtheheatingprofileofthesheethasagreatimpactonpartfeatures,theseothervariablesareequallyimportanttothequalityofparts.

Completingatwophaseprojecthasprovenjustthat.VacuumBleedDwell(VBD)andbackpressurehavesignificantimpactonthedistributionofmaterialoncethe

sheetisatthepropertemperaturetobeprocessedinamold.PhaseIwillshowtheimpactofeachvariablechangeonthepart;whereasPhaseIIshowstheinfluenceofthevariableonalikeprocess.

Materials

HighDensityPolyethylenematerialhascharacteristicsthatmakethermoformingrelativelydifficultwhencomparedtootheramorphousmaterials.Temperaturesettingsmustbesethigherthanotherpolymers,meaningthesheetmustreceivemoreenergytobeabletoprocess,whichinturnmeanshigherinternalprocessingcosts.Forexample,fora.125-inchsheet,asusedinthisexperiment,thecoretemperaturemustreachabout280degreesFahrenheittoappropriatelyformanacceptablepart,whereasa.250-inchsheetofHIPSwouldonlyrequireacoretemperatureof240degreesFahrenheittoformproperly[2].

TheothermaterialranbutwasnotmeasuredforwallthicknessdistributionwasHighImpactPolystyrene.Asstatedabove,amorphouspolymersaremucheasiertothermoform,becausetheydonotrequireasmuchenergytoheatupthesheet,andasthesheetisbeingformeditdoesnoteasilytearorcausewebbing.HDPEisamuchstrongermaterialwhencomparedtoHIPSbecauseofthehighstrengthtodensityratio[3].

Results and DiscussionOverview

ThefirstpartofthisprojectwastooptimizeanHDPEcyclefor15and12seconds,asa19secondcyclehaspreviouslybeenoptimized.Thiswasanimportantpartoftheprojectasreducingcycletimecansavecompaniesmoneyinthelongrun.


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Lead Technical Article

Figure 1: Thickness vs. Cycle Time

Figure1showstherelationshipbetweencycletimeandpartthicknessatthebottomcenterofeachpart.Itisclearthatascycletimedecreases,sodoesthepartthickness.Thicknessatthe15secondcycletimeisonly5%lessthanthe19secondthickness,andthe12secondcycletimethicknessis8%lessthanthe19secondcycletime.

Figure 2: Average Weight vs. Cycle Time

Figure2showstherelationshipbetweentheaveragepartweightsandcycletime.UnlikeFigure1showingtherelationshipbetweenthicknessandcycletimes,thisgraphisquitetheopposite.Ascycletimedecreases,theaverageweightofapartincreases.Thoughtheweightdifferencelookssignificantinthegraph,the19secondcycleisonly4%lessthanthe12secondcycle,andthe15secondcycleis2%lessthanthe12secondcycle.

Onepossibleexplanationisthatmorematerialisbeingpushedtothesidesofthepartratherthanthebottom,wherethemeasurementsinthisprojecthavebeentaken.

Phase I

PhaseIofthisprojectshowsjusthowthetwovariables,VBDandbackpressure,affectwallthicknessdistributiononapart.Again,allthicknessmeasurementsmadeinthisprojectweretakenatthebottomcenterofthepart.Asseeninthegraphbelow,Figure3,thereisadirectrelationshipbetweenVBDsettingsandthethicknessofthepart.

Figure 3: Thickness vs. Vacuum Bleed Dwell

Figure3showsthatasVBDincreases,thethicknessofthepartalsoincreases.Thistrendisconstantbetweeneachofthecycletimes.Thereasonisbecausewhenthetimesettingissettoalowertime,thevacuumisinitiatedbeforetheplugisintroducedfullyintothesheet.Thiscausesthebottomsectiontobequitethinnerthandesiredthickness(beingtheseconddatapointoneachlinewithinFigure3).Thisisnotdesiredfortworeasons:athin-bottomedpartcaneasilybedamagedandthatthewallsofthepartarethickerthannormal.

Ontheotherhand,asvacuumtimingisdelayed,theplugcanaccuratelydistributematerial.Whenthevacuumcomesontoolate,however,theplugiscompletelyindexedintothesheet,causingathickerbottomthandesired.Ingeneral,whenthebottomthicknessisthickerthanusual,thismeansthatthematerialisgettingtakenawayfromthesidesoftheproduct,creatingathick-bottomedandthinwalledpartthatisout-of-spec.

WhileVBDisproventohaveadirectimpactonwallthicknessdistribution,theresultsfrombackpressurearenotasassuring.ThisisprovenbyFigure4below.

Figure 4: Thickness vs. Vacuum Venting

WeseethatasVBDincreased,thewallthicknessincreased.Astheunitsincrease,thethicknessbothincreasesanddecreasesbetweenthedifferentcycletimes.Thoughthereisnoconstantchange,itisobviousthatvacuumventing


doesmakeadifferenceasthelineforeachcycletimehasmuchdifferencewhengoingacrossthegraph.TheimpactofvacuumventingisfurtherexplainedinPhaseIIoftheexperiment.

Phase II

PhaseIIofthisexperimentwasstrictlytofocusontheDOEthatwasperformed.Thisphasewascompletedusingthe12secondcycletimeafterfindinganoptimizedcycleinphaseone.TheDOEvaluesforVBDwere1450and1750milliseconds,andthevacuumventingvalvesettingsfrom0and6(0beingvalveclosed=maximumbackpressure;6beingvalve100%open=zerobackpressure).ThesevalueswerechosenfortheDOEtorepresentbest-andworst-casescenarios.ADOEwasperformedtocalculatethecorrelationandtheimpacteachfactor,vacuumbleeddwellandvacuumventing,hasonpartthickness.Inaddition,themeasurementlocationsforPhaseIIofthisexperimentweredifferentthanPhaseI.

InPhaseI,allmeasurementsweretakenatthebottomcenterofthefinishedpartsafterproduction.InPhaseII,strictlybasedonWTD,notjustonemeasurementwastakenonthefinishedpart.Instead,theWTDwasmeasuredaroundthewholepart,fromtheoneside,tothebottom,andtotheotherside.Thisallowsmultiplemeasurementsonthepart,andinturntakingthemaximumthicknessofthepartandsubtractingitfromthethinnestsectionofthepart.ThisallowsasuperbWTDmeasurementthatcanbeusedtocompleteaDOEforthisphase.ThefollowinggraphsarefromtheDOEexperimentspreadsheetthatshowsthecorrelationandtheeffectivenessofthevariablesintheprocess.

Figure5usescalculationsfromaDOEthatshowwhichfactorsaffectordon’taffectthethicknessofthepartduringprocessing.ThegraphclearlyshowsthattheFactorA(VBD)hasamuchgreateraffectonwallthicknessdistributionwhencomparedtothevalueofFactorB,(vacuumventing).ThismeansthatwhenchangingVBDinthecyclethewallthicknessdistributionhasagreater

change,andwhenvacuumventingischangedinthecycle,itisnotaseffective.

Duetotheinformationgiveninthisgraph,therewasonlyaneedforonegraphtobecreatedtoprovehowthesettingofVBDaffectsthewallthickness,andatwhatvalues.Whenthevacuumventinggraphvs.WTDwascreatedtherewasnotmuchofachange,whichinreturnhelpsverifytheinformationinthefirstgraphinPhaseII.

Figure 1: Effect vs. VBD Setting

Figure6isarepresentationofwhatthelevelofeffectivenessoftheVBDsettingshasonWTD.ThefirstpointistoexpressavalueforalowVBDsetting,1450milliseconds,anditshowsithasahighimpactontheWTD.WhereastherightpointisthevalueforthehighVBDsetting,1750milliseconds,andithasasmallervalue,thushavingasmallerimpactonWTDwhileprocessing.

Conclusions

Asvacuumbleeddwellincreasesintime,thethicknessofthebottomcenterofthepartalsoincreases.Whenvacuumventingincreases,thereisnodirectcorrelationtothethickness.Decreasingcycletimedecreasestheaveragethicknessoftheparts.

Acknowledgements

ChrisGagliano,PennsylvaniaCollegeofTechnologyKirkCantor,PennsylvaniaCollegeofTechnologyPrimexPlastics

References

1.McKelvey,David&Menary,G.H.&Martin,Peter&Yan,Shiyong.“ThermoformingofHDPE”15thAIPConferenceProceedings,AmericanInstituteofPhysics,2017.2.“Thermoforming:DeterminingtheRightTemperatureforThermoforming”,Plastics Distributor & Fabricator,2018.3.Helmke,Rob.“CommonPlasticsforThermoforming”,Plastics Ingenuityblog,2014.|


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Innovation Briefs

Thermoforming and In-situ Crystallization of Kepstan® PEKKBy Roderick Reber III, Arkema, King of Prussia, PA

Polyaryletherketones(PAEK)areafamilyofultra-highperformancesemicrystallinethermoplasticmaterialsknownfortheirextremestrength,chemicalresistance,lowflammability,andhighusetemperatures.ThePAEKfamilyincludesPEK,PEEK,PEKK,PEEKKandPEKEKKamongothers.IntheirsemicrystallinestatePAEKshaveamongthebestchemicalresistanceandHeatdeflectiontemperatures(HDT)ofashighas240°C.However,thefastcrystallizationrateofmostPAEKsmakesthemdifficultorimpossibletothermoform,especiallyinapplicationsrequiringthickgaugeordeepdrawratios.

1.TheincreasedketonecontentresultsinastifferbackboneandsubsequentlyahigherTg.PEKKhasaTgof160-165°forPEKKversusabout145forPEEK.

2.PEKKisacopolymerconsistingofterephthaloyl(straight)andisophthaloyl(kinked)moieties.Byvaryingtheratioofthesetwounits,theT/Iratio,itispossibletocontrolthemeltingtemperature,crystallizationrate,andoverallcrystallinityofthepolymer.PEKKcopolymersrangefrompseudo-amorphouswithlowmeltingtemperatures(305°C)tohighlycrystallinewithextremelyhighmeltingtemperatures(365°C+).

ByusingaPEKKcopolymerwiththeoptimumT/Iratio,itispossibletoextrudeanamorphoussheetthatwillcrystalizeslowlyenoughthatitcanbeformed,butquicklyenoughthatitcanbecrystalizedonaheatedmoldwithin

areasonablecycletime.ThisIn-processcrystallizationisacommonpracticeformanythingaugematerials.ForexamplePETisroutinelythermoformedandcrystalizedduringtheformingprocess.ThetunablecrystallizationrateofPEKKopensanewwindowtoutilizetheextremeperformanceofasemicrystallinePAEKinathermoformingprocess.

Figure2showsthecrystallizationhalftimeofthePEKKcopolymerwithasuitableT/Iratioforthermoforming.Theprocessforthermoforming+crystallizationisrelativelystraightforward,thesheetisheatedtoatemperaturerangeaboveitsTgwhereitsoftens,butcrystallizationoccursveryslowly.Inthistemperaturerange,thesheetcanbeformedtodeepdrawratioswithawideenoughprocesswindowbeforethesheetbeginstocrystalizeandsubsequentlystiffen.Ifthemoldisheatedtoatemperaturewherecrystallizationoccursmostquickly,thepartwillquicklybegintocrystalizeandturnopaque.Formanythermoformersaccustomedtofullyamorphousmaterials,itmayseemcounter-intuitivetouseamoldtemperaturehotterthantheformingtemperature,butoncecrystallizationbeginstooccur,thesheetundergoesadramaticstiffening.

We have demonstrated this process on both laboratory and production scale equipment on sheet

thicknesses from 250 µm through 3 mm (10 mil – 1/8”). The overall cycle time varies, but the rate

limiting step with thick gauge sheets is heat transfer through the sheet itself. The process time for thick

gauge sheets can be reduced significantly by using a matched mold.

With the simple addition of a heated mold, almost any standard thermoforming equipment can be used

to thermoform semicrystalline Kepstan ® PEKK parts. The mold temperature required for this process

may be slightly outside of the standard processing window, but is accessible with a suitably designed oil

or electrical heating system.

Thermoformed semicrystalline Kepstan ® PEKK sheet can be used for the most demanding applications in

aerospace, chemical processing, industrial equipment, or anywhere else where extreme temperature

resistance is required.

Arkema recently announced a major expansion of Kepstan ® PEKK capacity with a brand new, world-scale

production unit at our Mobile, Alabama site. For more information on in-process crystallization of

thermoformed Kepstan ® PEKK, please contact Arkema directly. www.kepstan.com

Figure : PEKK chemical structure terephthaloyl (left) and isophthaloyl (right)Figure 1: PEKK chemical structure terephthaloyl (left) and isophthaloyl (right)

Figure : crystallization half time for a suitable PEKK grade.Figure 2: crystallization half time for a suitable PEKK grade.


Innovation Briefs

Figure 3: Thermal imaging of thermoforming process

Figure : WAXD of thermoformed part

Figure : Thermoformed part showing clear differentiation between crystalline and amorphous segments

Figure 4: WAXD of thermoformed part

Figure 5: Thermoformed part showing clear differentiation between crystalline and amorphous segments

Part removed from oven 1 minute of forming partial crystallization

4 minutes of forming, nearly complete crystallization

Figure : Thermal imaging of thermoforming processFigure : Thermal imaging of thermoforming process

Figure : Thermal imaging of thermoforming process

Figure : WAXD of thermoformed part

Figure : Thermoformed part showing clear differentiation between crystalline and amorphous segments

Todemonstratetheunusualtemperatureprofileusedinthisprocess,werecordedtheprocesswithathermalcamera.Infigure3itisclearthatthepartisactuallyhotterattheendoftheformingprocessthanwhenfirstremovedfromtheoven.

Toconfirmcrystallizationhadoccurred,wideanglex-raydiffraction(WAXD)wasperformedonthesegmentofthesheetincontactwiththemoldaswellasasegmentofthesheetthathadnotbeenformed.Figure4showstheformedsectiondeveloped29wt.%crystallinity,almostidenticaltoavaluemeasuredonaninjectionmoldedpart.Thecrystallineareawillhaveincreasedstiffness,ahigherHDT,andimprovedchemicalresistance.

Wehavedemonstratedthisprocessonbothlaboratoryandproductionscaleequipmentonsheetthicknessesfrom250µmthrough3mm(10mil–1/8”).Theoverallcycletimevaries,buttheratelimitingstepwiththickgaugesheetsisheattransferthroughthesheetitself.Theprocesstimeforthickgaugesheetscanbereducedsignificantlybyusingamatchedmold.

Withthesimpleadditionofaheatedmold,almostanystandardthermoformingequipmentcanbeusedtothermoformsemicrystallineKepstan®PEKKparts.Themoldtemperaturerequiredforthisprocessmaybeslightlyoutsideofthestandardprocessingwindow,butisaccessiblewithasuitablydesignedoilorelectricalheatingrequired.

ArkemarecentlyannouncedamajorexpansionofKepstan®PEKKcapacitywithabrandnew,world-scaleproductionunitatourMobile,Alabamasite.Formoreinformationonin-processcrystallizationofthermoformedKepstan®PEKK,pleasecontactArkemadirectly.www.kepstan.com.|


There is no substitute for the experience we’ve gained by

rolling up our sleeves and working through improvements

at every stage of thermoforming technology for over six

decades. From process design through putting high-output

machinery on the floor, innovation is in our DNA.

DRIVEN BY INNOVATION


Thermoforming & Sustainability

TheRe|FocusSustainabilityandRecyclingSummitistheflagshipenvironmentalconferenceforPLASTICS,theplasticsindustry’stradeassociation.May2019markedthe4thannualgathering,heldinGrandRapids,Michigan,anddrewover200delegatesfromaroundtheworld.WithkeynotespeakersfromAvedaandNationalGeographic,theeventcoveredtechnical,political,andsocialdevelopmentsrelatedtoplasticsinmanyformsandmanyarenas.Thecontinuedscrutinyoftheplasticsindustryinjectedasenseofurgencyintotheproceedings.Manyspeakersandpanelistspresentedupdatesandnewdevelopmentsgearedtoward“managingtheunmetneedsofplasticwaste.”Theeventalsoshowcasednewinnovationsinsustainableplasticsmanufacturing,with5awardsadjudicatedbytheSPESustainabilityDivision.

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste

Muchinkhasbeenspilledinthemonthsfollowingtheannouncementoftheformationofaglobalconsortiumtoaddressplasticwasteintheenvironment.Acadreofblue-chipmultinationalcompanieshavecommitted$1.5billiontoinvestineducation,infrastructure,innovation,andclean-up.SeveralspeakersfromAlliancemembers,includingDow,ChevronPhilipps,Eastman,Sabic,andLyondellBasell,mentionedtheircompany’sroleintheproject.Sofar,360proposalshavebeenreceived,with5initialprojectsidentified:thecreationofaglobalinformationplatformtosharedata;strategicpartnershipswithcitiestomanageurbanwaste;fundingviaCirculateCapitaland2ndMuse;collaborationwiththeUnitedNations,inparticularwiththeUN’sSustainableDevelopmentGoals(orSDGs);andthe“RenewGanga”riverclean-upprojectincollaborationwithRenewOceans.

AlthoughthefocusoftheAlliance’sclean-upprojectsisinSouthEastAsia,themembercompaniesaremostlybasedintheUSandWesternEuropewhereR&Dprojectscontinueapace.SpeakersfromDow,Eastman,andSabicoutlineddifferentapproachestomanagingthornyproblemsofmixedplasticsrecycling.Dr.BrianWaltherofDowexplainedhowhisteamthinksaboutit:complexchemicalarchitecturesarerequiredduetothecomplexityofmixedpolymerstructures,

Re|Focus 2019By Conor Carlin, Editor

e.g.,multi-layerbarrierfilms.Themixtureofpolarandnon-polarmaterialscreatesinherentincompatibility.Areductionininterfacialtensionisthereforerequiredtoimprovecompatibility.Dow’sportfolioofcompatibilizersincludespolymermodifiers,olefinblock-copolymers,andcopolymeralloys.Thislastcategory(underthetradename“Elvaloy®”)ofprocessingaidscanbeusedtoincreasethedrawabilityofPET/PEwastestreams.Inonecasestudy,WaltherillustratedhowElvaloy®boostsviscositylevelsinPETthermoformsmakingiteasiertoreprocessahigherpercentageoftheminapplicationswherebottlesandthermoformsarerecycledtogether.Thishasimportantimplicationsforrecyclingprogramsthatarereconsideringwhetherthermoformedcontainerscanbeacceptedintheirstreams.

LyondellBaselisinvestinginaportfolioapproachthatincludesverticalintegrationthroughtheacquisitionofmechanicalrecyclers,developmentofmolecularrecyclingtechnology,andthecreationofanewbio-basedproductfamilycalledCirculen.ArecentcollaborationwithSamsonite,aluggagemanufacturingcompany,resultedinanewsuitcasefamilymadefrom100%PCRPPfortheoutershelland100%PCRPETfortheinteriorfabric.TheproductiscurrentlyonlyavailableinEuropeandisreportedtosellforapremiumoverstandardluggage.(Samsonitealsohasalineofsoftfabricsuitcasescalled“Eco-Nu”featuring100%PCRPETfrombottles.)Asaglobalcompany,LBpresenteddatashowingstarkdifferencesbetweentheUSandtheEUwhenitcomestorecyclingplastics.DuetoextensivelandfillbansintheEU(andconversely,therelativelackofregulationintheUS),theEUcurrentlyrecyclesorincinerates73%ofplasticsvs.25%intheUS.Aswaspointedoutelsewhereattheconference,asignificantchallengeforUSrecyclingisthesmorgasbordoflegislativerequirementspreventinganytypeofuniformapproachthatbedevelopedandenforcedacrossstatelines.

Eastmanpresenteddetailsonitspursuitofadvancedrecyclingtechnologiesthroughacarbonrenewalapproachthatconvertsend-useproductsfrommixedplasticsbacktocarbonandhydrogenmolecules.Byfocusingonpolyester-basedpolymers,thecompanyseekstomakeDMTandethyleneglycolatcommercialscale.Accordingtocompanyfigures,theyare2-3yearsawayfromcommercialization.

Sabicannouncedthelaunchofanewlineof“upcycledcompounds”designedtoextendthelifeofPETbottles.TheLNPELCRIN™iQportfolioofpolybutyleneterephthalate(PBT)resinsisderivedfromrPET,essentiallytakingasingle-


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Thermoforming & Sustainability

usepolymerandtransformingitintoadurablepolymer.Thisreducestheneedforvirgin,fossil-basedPBTwhileenhancingcircularityeffortsforPET.Alifecycleanalysisshowsthatbetween19%-66%ofthenewcompoundisrenewablecontent.Thecompanyhasalsodevelopedrenewablenaphthafrom2ndgenerationcellulosicfeedstocks,i.e.,materialsderivedfromwastesorresiduesandthatdonotcompetewithfoodproduction.Becausetheirexistingsteamcrackersweredesignedwithadegreeofflexibility,animalandvegetableoilscanbecrackedwithoutmodification,thusmaximizingcurrentassetsandavoidingtheneedforamajorcapitalinvestmentinalowvolumeapplication.SabicusestheISCC+certificationprocesstoensurethetraceabilityoffeedstocksandtoprovethechainofcustodyalongthesupplyroute.TheISCCsystemreliesonamassbalanceapproachtoaccountingwhichgenerallymeansthatforeachtonofcircularfeedstockfedintoacracker(displacingfossil-basedfeedstock),atonofoutputcanbethereforebeclassifiedascirculari.

Addressing the Challenges of Recycling

MaterialsRecoveryfortheFuture(MRFF)isaprojectfundedbytheAmericanChemistryCouncilandmanagedbyResourceRecyclingSolutions,aconsultancy.In2016,thegroupreleasedareport“…showingthatautomatedsortingtechnologiesinusetodaycanbeoptimizedtocaptureflexibleplasticpackaging,potentiallycreatinganewstreamofrecoveredmaterialswhileimprovingthequalityofotherrecyclingstreams.”iiThiswasnotable,inpart,becausethemajorityofMRFsintheUSareusingsortingtechnologiesthatweredevelopedbeforethearrivalofsomanydifferenttypesofpolymer-basedpackaging.Cardboard,glass,aluminumandpaperweretheprimarypackagingmaterialsatthedawnoftheMRFera.NestlePurinaisaresearchpartnerintheMRFFconsortium.DianeHerndon,VPofCorporateSocialResponsibilityforthecompany,presentedanoverviewofanewpilotprogramthatseekstobuildonthe2016projectfindings.ThevisionoftheMRFFpartnersistoensurethatflexiblepackagingisrecycledatthecurbsideandadequatelysortedatrecoveryfacilitiessuchthat–critically–thosemembersofthesupplychaincancapturevaluefromit.Inotherwords,shortofaprofitmotive,therewillnotbeanincentiveforrecyclerstoinvestinthenecessaryequipmenttoseparateflexiblefilmsfromfibers.Ofcourse,giventheimpactofChina’sNationalSwordpolicyandtherecentpassageoftheBaselConvention,(nottomentionthesightofcontainersfullofwasteplasticbeingshippedfromSouthEastAsiancountriesbacktoEurope

andCanada),contaminationlevelswillhavetodeclineindevelopedmarketsinordertosatisfymarketdemands.Still,therearemanyfactorsintheUSwhichaffecttheeconomicfeasibilityofflexiblepackagerecyclingincludingcapitalexpendituresinnewsortationequipment,manuallaborcostsatMRFs,andregionaldisparities,especiallyinthecaseoflandfilltippingfeeswhichheavilyinfluencerecyclingmarkets.YetasHerndonpointedout,improvedsortationnotonlyreducescontaminationoffiber-basedmaterialsleadingtohigherprices,italsocreatesanew“rFlex”baleofpolymer-basedmaterials.Developingthisnewclassofbaleandmonetizingitisthegoalofthe2019pilotprogramwhichisbeingrunatJPMascaro&Sons,alargeintegratedMRFinBerksCounty,PA.

Legalize It (or Regulate It)

ShannonCrawford,DirectorofStateGovernmentAffairsforPLASTICS,providedasummaryofcurrentandpendinglegislation.AnincreasingnumberofstategovernmentsaretakingtheircuesfrombothEuropeanUnionregulationsandUnitedNationseffortstodealwithplasticswaste.ThepassageoftheBaselConvention,scheduledtobeimplementedin2021,willrequirepriorinformedconsentfromrecipientcountriesbeforeplasticwastecanbeexported.Eventhoughthishasinternationalconsequences,themajorityofbillsintroducedintheUSaredrivenbylocalinterestsatstateandmunicipallevels.436billshavebeenintroducedinstatelegislaturestoregulatepackaging,and618localrestrictionsareineffect,with194morerecentlypassedorunderconsideration.iiiBagsarethesinglemostaffectedproduct,withEPSitems,straws,andcutleryalsobeingbanned.

Toaddressthesedevelopments,PLASTICSisintroducingtheRECOVERACT(“RealizingtheEconomicOpportunitiesandValueofExpandingRecycling”).TheactisdesignedtoboostinvestmentintheUSrecyclingsectorthroughEPAgrants,state-runprograms,andmunicipalentities.CrawfordwascautiouslyoptimisticthatthebillwillsoonhaveasponsorinCongress.Yetinhercalltoactiontotheaudience,itremainsclearthatprivatesectorinvestmentintechnologyandequipmentisdesperatelyneedednow.Whenoneconsidersthatthevalueofwastefeedstocks–16MMtonsworth$5.2bn–havenotbeenfullyappreciatedbyUSmarkets,itseemsthatoursystemherefacesanimminentreckoningfrombotheconomicandregulatoryforces.Perhapsthemarketsignalsareslowlybeingrecognized:theCalRecyclegrantprogramreceivedrequestsfor$33MM,butcouldonlyfund$11MM.


Enlightenment & Alignment

NationalGeographichasdoneasmuchasanyentitytoincreasethevisibilityoftheglobalscourgeofmarinedebrisandplasticspollutioninouroceans.Theiriconicmagazinecoverhasinspiredchangearoundtheworld,withmyriadinitiativesunderwaytocleanupriversandseasandtoreducetheamountofsingle-useplasticsthatreachestheocean.ValerieCraig,VPofOperatingProgramsfortheNationalGeographicSociety,presenteddetailsonmultiplenewprograms.Craigstruckanoptimisticnote,despitethedireimagesfromHaiti,Vietnam,Indonesia,andothercountrieswhereinfrastructureislackingorabsent.Forinstance,Manila,capitalofthePhilippineshas17jurisdictionsforwastemanagement.Shestressedthatwhileplasticsarenotinherentlybad,theymustbepreventedfromenteringanddestroyingnaturalecosystems.Thiscanbedonebyidentifyingpointsofintervention,oneofwhichisatthematerialsdesignphaseofproduction.Wesimplycannotcontinuetodeveloppackagesthatdonotconsiderend-of-lifeconcerns.ThispointwasechoedbySusanGraf,directoroftheMRFFprojectwheremulti-layerspoutedpoucheswerespecificallycalledoutasproblematic.Brands,inparticular,mustdomoretoensuretheirdesignersarefullyequippedwiththeknowledgeandtoolstoincorporatedesignforenvironment(DfE)principlesintoprototypesandultimatelyintonewcommercialpackages.Continuedworkonthe“How2Recycle”labelsshowspromiseinthisregardandalsoservesasanexampleofhowtoharmonizeinformationandreduceconfusionforconsumers.MelissaCraig,SeniorManagerforPackagingSustainabilityatUnilever,statedthathercompanywillhavetheselabelsonalloftheirproductsby2021.

Thescaleofthechallengeremainsdaunting,however,andallpanelistsattheclosingplenaryemphasizedtheobstacleswefaceintheUSgivenourfragmentedrecyclinglawsandsystems.Thisisperhapsthesinglebiggestimpedimenttooverallrecyclingprogress,afactnowrecognizedbyPLASTICSastheyseektodrivefederallegislation,butwheretheyalsofacecompetitionintheformofotherlobbyinggroups.Beyondpackaging,forexample,recycledHDPEpipeisanidealreplacementforconcrete,unlessyouhappentoworkintheconcreteindustry.

AquotefromEnricoSiewert’spresentationcapturedthestatusquoneatly:“Wheneconomicself-interestsarealignedwithpublicpolicyandsocialconsciousness,theworldchanges.”Theclockistickingformanyeconomicself-

intereststhesedays,withsociallicenseforplasticsinthecrosshairsofbothpublicpolicyandsocialconsciousness.Yettheopportunityforrecycledplasticsisreal,ifjustoverthehorizonintermsoftechnologyandinvestments.ProjectionsbyMcKinseysuggestacompoundannualgrowthrate(CAGR)of7-17%forchemicalandmechanicalrecyclingthrough2050iv.Itisincumbentonallofustoensurethatalignmenthappensintheshortterm.

i SourcesincludeISCCandSabicwebsitesii www.materialsrecoverforthefuture.com/research-resultsiii “IndustrySolutionsforAddressingPlasticsWaste”, presentationdeliveredatRe|Focus2019byS.Crawfordiv McKinsey&Company,“HowPlasticsWaste RecyclingCouldTransformtheChemicalIndustry”, December2018|


SPE Council Summary

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12th EUROPEANTHERMOFORMINGCONFERENCE

2020

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND DO NOT MISS THE ONLY EVENT THAT IS DEDICATED TO EUROPE’S THERMOFORMING INDUSTRY.

The European Thermoforming Division invites you to the 12th European Thermoforming Conference to be held in Geneva from 18th to 20th March 2020.

Further information about this event may be obtained from Yetty Pauwels at Society of Plastics Engineers, Thermoforming Europe DivisionTel. +32 3 541 77 55, [email protected]

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

n Keynote Presentations

n Technical Sessions Thin & Heavy Gauge

n Workshops

n Exhibition

n Networking Events

n Parts Exhibition

Who should attend? Thermoformers, OEM’s, Machinery & Tooling Producers, Film and Sheet Suppliers, Resin Producers, Recyclers … Venue: Starling Hotel in Geneva welcomes you.

THERMO-

FORMING

FOR A GREEN

FUTURE

18–20 MARCH 2020 | GENEVA | Switzerland


SPE News

AnativeofBrainerd,Minnesota,Mr.HaglinisagraduateandHallofFameinducteeofBrainerdHighSchoolandearnedhisbachelor’sdegreeinManagementfromtheCollegeofSt.ScholasticainDuluth,Minnesotain1987.Upongraduatingcollege,Mr.HaglinbeganhisprofessionalcareerinsaleswithAcrometalCompanies–LARCODivisioninBrainerd,waspromotedtoPlantManagerandquicklydemonstratinghisversatility,businessacumenandkeeneyeforopportunity,wasentrustedwithidentifyingpotentialacquisitiontargetsforhisemployer.

In1993,Haglineyed-uponesuchcompany:asmallthermoformingbusiness-ShovelLakeIndustries(Remer,Minnesota)-whichamongitsmodestproductofferingmanufacturedoutdoorairconditionercovers,withannualrevenuesofapproximately$650,000.Afterin-depthanalysisofthecompany’smarginperformanceandgrowthpotentialprovedtoogoodtopass-up,Haglinandhiswife,Ellen(neeDarkow),who’vebeenmarriedsince1988,madetheboldmoveofacquiringShovelLakeIndustriesthemselves,securedfinancingthroughalocalbank,andinthesummerof1993foundthemselvestheownersofathermoformingbusiness.

Astheacquisitionwascompleted,thenascententrepreneurschangedthecompanynametoMid-StatePlasticsandinMay1994,purchasedlandintheBaxterIndustrialPark.ByAugust1994,astheirnew,12,000sq.ft.facilitywasbuiltandfullyoperational,theHaglin’sdecidedonceagaintochangethebusinessname,thistimeaddingamorepersonalizedtouchbycombininglettersoftheirlastnames–HagLINandDARkow–tocreateLINDARCorporation,whichgracesthebusinesstothisday.

Intheensuing18years,LINDARhassincegrownto175employeesandoperatesnine(9)roll-fedmachines,eight(8)sheet-fedformers,six(6)CNCrouters,four(4)roboticrouters,one(1)labellineandone(1)extrusionlineinitsstate-of-the-art,165,000sq.ft.manufacturingfacility,drivingannualrevenuesexceedingthe$35millionmark.

ThroughouthisyearsatLINDAR’shelm,Mr.Haglinhasmaintainedastrategicfocusondiversificationofitsmanufacturingcapabilities,productofferingandcustomerbase,alongsidewhomLINDARhassteadilygrownand

2019 Thermoformer of the YearThomas Haglin

Awards & Recognition

prosperedthroughoutthepast25years.ItwasthisdesiretodiversifythatledMr.HaglintopartnerwithDanielandDavidFosseofInnovativePackagingtocreatetheIntecAlliance,whicheventuallywasfullyabsorbedintotheLINDARbusiness.

Priortoestablishingthispartnership,LINDAR’smanufacturingcapabilitiesrevolvedprimarilyaroundheavy-gauge,sheet-fedthermoformingforitsOEMcustomerbase;theIntecAllianceconnectedLINDARwithanewmarketopportunity:aproprietary,thin-gaugeroll-fedfoodpackagingproductlinenowmarketedundertheLINDARbrandname.

ConcurrentwiththerapidgrowthofLINDAR’sproprietaryfoodpackagingproductline,Mr.Haglinmadeasignificantinvestmentinroll-fedthermoformingequipment,andcurrentlyoperatesnine(9)machines,numerousroutersandancillaryequipmenttosupportitsfoodpackagingbusiness.Further,in-housegrindingandrecyclingoftrimmed,unusedandscrapmaterial,widespreadusageofbio-basedmaterialsandproprietaryextrusioncapabilitieshelpaddressenvironmentalsustainabilitywhileoptimizingmanufacturingcost-effectiveness.

Ashehasbuiltaworld-classthermoformingbusiness,andconsistentwithhisdeeplyengraineddesiretogiveback,Mr.HagliniscloselyconnectedandinvolvedwiththeBrainerdLakesarea,servingthecommunityinnumerousways.

Furtherunderscoringhiscommitmenttohishometowncommunity,in2012,Mr.Haglinacquiredthethen-LakelandMoldCompany(nowAvantech)inBrainerd,Minnesota,apre-eminentsupplieroftoolingfortherotationalmoldingandthermoformingindustries.Withadesiretokeepjobsinthecommunity,providecontinuedcareeropportunityforemployees,andaddaqualifiedtool-buildertohisbusinessportfolio,Haglinhassincemadeasignificantinvestmentinanew,state-of-the-artmanufacturingfacilityintheBaxterIndustrialPark(openedin2016),CNCmachiningequipmentandhighlyskilledpersonneltodrivetheAvantechbusinessforward.|

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In Memoriam

Remembering A Long-Time Board Member: Jim ArmorJimArmorjoinedSPEasamemberoftheThermoformingDivisionin1960.Hebeganhiscareerintheplasticsindustrybysellingthermoplasticsheetin1961.In1965,JimandMiloHansonstartedAlchemPlasticsinCalifornia,andfacilitiesinGeorgia,Texas,NewJerseyandMissourifollowed.Thecompanythenbeganco-extrudingmultilayersheetinHIS,ABS,PolyethyleneandAcrylicABSsheet,andtheorganizationsubsequentlydevelopedintoamajorsheetextrusioncompany.

AlchemPlasticswassoldtoSpartechPlasticsin1980,andJimstayedonaspresidentofAlchem/Spartechuntil1984.In1985,JimstartedAgileEnterprises,anextruderofAcrylic,PolystyreneandPropylenesheet,andheldthepositionofPresidentuntil1987.JimthenbecamePresidentofAlplastic,arollfedthermoformerandsheetextruder,whereheremaineduntilthecompanywassoldin1991.HethenjoinedPrimexPlasticsasWesternRegionalManagerandNationalMarketingManager.HelaunchedArmor&AssociatesinJune1998andsoldthermoplasticsheet.

JimwasactiveintheThermoformingDivisionformanyyearsasalong-timeboardmember,andChairoftheMaterialsCommittee.HedeliverednumerouspresentationstoSPEgroupsonvariousplasticsheetthermoformingapplications.JimwasnamedOutstandingBoardMemberin2003,andEmeritusBoardMemberin2018.HewasalsoamemberofThePlasticsPioneersinCalifornia.

JimresidedinHuntingtonBeach,California,withLinda,hiswifeof59years.|

Remembering Past SPE Thermoforming Division Chair: Walt WalkerPastSPEThermoformingDivisionChair,Walter“Walt”JamesWalker,passedawayonJuly2.

WaltWalkerworkedforthe3MCompanyfor16yearsandlaterretiredastheChiefOperatingOfficerofPrentCorporation,wherehespent28yearsofhiscareer.PrentCorporationisathermoformmedical,electronics,andconsumerpackagingcompanylocatedinJanesville,Wisconsin.

Overtheyears,WaltservedontheSPEThermoformingDivisionBoardofDirectorsandintheroleofDivisionChairmanfrom2006-2008.WaltwaspresentedwiththeSPEThermoformingDivision’sLifetimeAchievementAwardin2008.HealsoservedontheBoardofGovernorsoftheSocietyofthePlasticsIndustry(nowPlasticsIndustryAssociation)forthreeyears.

WaltwasveryengagedinhislocalareawhereheservedontheboardsoftheNoonRotaryClub,BlackhawkTechnicalCollege,andKANDUIndustries.WalthadafantasticsenseofhumorwithjustatouchofthatsharpIrishwit.Waltissurvivedbyhiswife,Barb,hischildrenandmanygrandchildren.|

In Memoriam2019


W h e t h e r c i r c u l a r e c o n o m y , d i g i t a l i z a t i o n ,

I n d u s t r y 4 . 0 , l i g h t w e i g h t c o n s t r u c t i o n ,

m o b i l i t y , a d d i t i v e m a n u f a c t u r i n g , n e w

m a t e r i a l s o r o t h e r f u t u r e - o r i e n t e d i s s u e s

o f t h e w o r l d w i d e p l a s t i c s a n d r u b b e r

i n d u s t r y : Yo u w i l l e x p e r i e n c e i n n o v a t i v e

s o l u t i o n s a t K 2 019 . T h e f a s c i n a t i n g

f o r u m f o r i n n o v a t i o n s a n d i n v e s t m e n t s .

T h e i n d u s t r y ’ s m o s t i m p o r t a n t

b u s i n e s s p l a t f o r m . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 , 2 0 0

i n te rn a t i o n a l e x h i b i to r s o f fe r y o u th e l a te s t

i n r e s e a r ch a n d d e ve l o p m e n t . We l c o m e !

w w w . k - o n l i n e . c o m / t i cke t i n g

The World’s No. 1 Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber

For show information: Messe Düsseldorf North America Tel. (312) 781-5180 _ [email protected]

www.mdna.comFor hotel and travel arrangements: TTI Travel, Inc.

Tel. (866) 674-3476 _ [email protected]

H o m e

o f I n n o v a t i o n .

K 2 0 1 9

kmd1902_IV_92,7x20,32_USA.indd 1 03.07.19 09:34

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Board of Directors

MACHINERY COMMITTEEJamesAlongiMAACMachinery590TowerBlvd.CarolStream,IL60188T:[email protected]

StevenClark(Chair)MonarkEquipmentPOBox3354533S.GarfieldRoadAuburn,MI48611T:[email protected]

BrianGoldenSencorpWhite400Kidd’sHillRoadHyannis,MA02601T:[email protected]

TravisKiefferPlasticsUnlimited,Inc.3031stSt.N.W.Preston,IA52069T:[email protected]

BrianWintonPTi2655WhiteOakCircleAurora,IL60502P:630-585-5800E:bwinton@ptiextruderscom

MATERIALS COMMITTEEJulietGoffKalPlastics2050East48thStreetVernon,CA90058-2022T:[email protected]

RogerP.Jean(Chair)SimonaPMCPOBox16052040IndustrialDriveFindlay,OH45840T:[email protected]

PhillipKarigMathelinBayAssociatesLLC11939ManchesterRoad#148SaintLouis,MO63131T:[email protected]

IanMunnochMSAComponents,Inc.6556CountyRoadKPMazomanie,WI53560T:[email protected]

MattO’HaganLyondellBasell7674ParkMeadowLaneWestBloomfield,MI48324T:[email protected]

LauraPichonEx-TechPlasticsPOBox57611413BurlingtonRoadRichmond,IL60071T:[email protected]

EdProbstProbstPlasticsConsultingP.O.Box26365Wauwatosa,WI53226T:[email protected]

EricShortSIMONAPMC2040IndustrialDriveFindlay,OH45840T:[email protected]

DanSprolesSprolesBusinessConsulting5210CantonStreetSouthBend,IN60071T:[email protected]

PaulUphausPrimexPlastics4164LakeOconeeDriveBuford,GA30519T:[email protected]

PROCESSING COMMITTEEJimArnet(Chair)HagansPlasticsCo.121W.RockIslandRoadGrandPrairie,TX75050T:[email protected]

RobertBrowningMcConnellCompanyP.O.Box450633Atlanta,GA31145T:[email protected]

EvanGilhamProductivePlastics103W.ParkDriveMt.Laurel,NJ08054T:856-778-4300,[email protected]

BretJoslynJoslynManufacturing9400ValleyViewRoadMacedonia,OH44056T:[email protected]

StephenMurrillProfilePlastics65S.WaukeganLakeBluff,IL60044T:[email protected]

JayWaddellPlasticsConcepts&Innovations1127QueensboroughRoadSuite102Mt.Pleasant,SC29464T:[email protected]

SteveZamprelliFormedPlastics,Inc.297StonehingeLaneCarlePlace,NY11514T:[email protected]

DIRECTORS EMERITILolaCarere302SableTraceCt.Acworth,GA30102-7617T:[email protected]

RichardFreemanFreetechPlasticsInc.2211WarmSpringsCourtFremont,CA94539T:[email protected]

SteveHasselbachCMIPlastics222PepsiWayAyden,NC28513T:[email protected]

DonaldHyltonMcConnellCompany646HolyfieldHighwayFairburn,GA30213T:[email protected]

RogerKippRogerC.KippConsulting3COwensLandingCourtPerryville,MD21903T:[email protected]

GwenMathis6S.SecondStreetSELindale,GA30147T:[email protected]

Why Join? It has never been more important to be a member of your professional society than now, in the current climate of change and global growth in the plastics industry. Now, more than ever, the information you access and the personal networks you create can and will directly impact your future and your career. Active membership in SPE – keeps you current, keeps you informed, and keeps you connected. Visit www.4spe.org for details. The question really isn’t “why join?” but …Why Not?


ChairEric Short

Chair ElectSteve Zamprelli

FinanceJames Alongi

Technical Committees

ProcessingJim Arnet

MaterialsRoger Jean

MachinerySteve Clark

SecretaryPaul Uphaus

OPCOMExecutive Committee

TreasurerEd Probst

Assistant TreasurerJames Alongi

AARCJim Arnet

ANTECMatt O’Hagan

Student ProgramsMatt O’Hagan

CouncilorJay Waddell

2019 Conference Milwaukee, WIBrian Winton & Steve Zamprelli

Conference CoordinatorConsultantLesley Kyle

OpenMindWorks

Prior ChairBret Joslyn

RecognitionJuliet Goff

CommunicationsEvan Gilham

Membership/NominatingLaura Pichon

Magazine EditorConor Carlin

NetworkingJim Arnet

WebsitePhil Karig

Students & Educational Facilities

Matt O’Hagan

Conference Communication

Lesley Kyle

PublicationsPaul Uphaus

2019 THERMOFORMING DIVISION ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

Thermoforming Division Membership Benefitsn Accesstoindustryknowledgefromonecentrallocation:

www.thermoformingdivision.com.n SubscriptiontoThermoformingQuarterly,voted “PublicationoftheYear”bySPENational.n Exposuretonewideasandtrendsfromacrossthe

globe.n NewandinnovativepartdesignattheParts

Competition.n Opendialoguewiththeentireindustryattheannual

conference.

n Discounts,discounts,discountsonbooks,seminarsandconferences.

n Formanagers:workshopsandpresentationstailoredspecificallytotheneedsofyouroperators.

n Foroperators:workshopsandpresentationsthatwillsendyouhomewithnewtoolstoimproveyourperformance,makeyourjobeasierandhelpthecompany’sbottomline.

Jointoday!

Upcoming SPE Thermoforming Division Board Meetings

September 8 • Milwaukee, Wisconsin(Co-located with the Annual Conference)

February 20-22 • Point Clear, AlabamaFor more information, contact Lesley Kyle:

[email protected] or 914-671-9524


nAdvancedExtruderTechnologies.................................31

nBrownMachinery............................................................33

nCMTMaterials.................................................................28

nGNThermoformingEquipment....................................13

nIllig...................................................................................38

nInnovativeLaminations...................................................35

nIwrinResearch&Development.....................................19

nKiefel............................................................................... 41

nMAACMachinery............................................................46

nO.M.G.SRL......................................................................17

nPremierMaterialConcepts.............................BackCover

nProfilePlastics.................................................................43

nPTiExtruders........................................ InsideBackCover

nSekisuiPolymerInnovations.............. InsideFrontCover

nSELF.................................................................................46

nSenoplast.........................................................................11

nSolarProducts.................................................................11

nToolingTechnologyGroup............................................11

nToolvision........................................................................ 23

nThermoformerPartsSuppliers.......................................43

nTSL...................................................................................25

nVulcanPlastics...................................................................5

These sponsors enable us to publish SPE Thermoforming Quarterly

Sponsor Index

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A Journal of the Thermoforming Division of SPE What’s Old is New · 2020. 1. 22. ·...

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