“Off-Shoring”… Once upon a time, that was a magical incantation for American manufacturers. Beginning in the ’70s, then accelerating into a crescendo in the ’90s, off-shoring became a mantra for manufacturers, big and small. The lure of lowering costs and maximizing profits by moving manufacturing to countries with lower labor costs and material sourcing, like…
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In alignment with the AdvanTech Plastics Sustainability Mission Statement, “we are committed to manufacturing products through economically-sound processes that minimize negative environment impacts”. To help achieve that mission, AdvanTech has proudly moved towards “greener” plastic injection molding machines with the latest commissioning of a Sumitomo 112 ton and a larger Sumitomo 320 ton. Even though…
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There was a time in the late 90’s and early ’00s when it seemed like nothing would ever be manufactured in the USA again. It appeared that China and other low-cost labor nations would snap up every last manufactured widget from plastic medical devices to plastic car parts, from every last higher labor-cost nation in…
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Spoiler alert: when comparing polymer plastics suitable for plastic medical devices, thermoplastics are the Mayo Clinic, if you will, while thermosets are a very competent regional health center. In other words, thermosets aren’t nearly as ubiquitous as thermoplastics but they do have a place in the universe of plastic medical devices. For example, thermosetting plastics like silicone,…
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AdvanTech Plastics has taken a huge step toward a green new future with the purchase and installation of the E-Mac 465/175 all-electric plastic injection molding machine. Made in Europe, the E-Mac 465/175 is a 175-ton manufacturing marvel, which puts it precisely in the middle of Engel’s E-Mac series in terms of size. Engels machines are…
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Thermoplastic resins are materials that convert to a liquid state when exposed to high temperatures. As the temperature is reduced the plastic cools and hardens. The properties of thermoplastic resins allow the material to be molded into various structures and shapes. Thermoplastic resin offers excellent performance as an injection molded plastic and is used throughout…
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Here are some fun facts regarding the global plastic injection molding market: $360.6 billion in 2019 Forecasted to expand to $498.98 billion by 2027 Now let’s “inject” some common sense as to the reasons this market is growing so rapidly! 1. Wide Spectrum of Custom Plastic Resins Some manufacturers may think only in terms…
Filed Under:Plastic Injection Molding Methods
Glass. Rubber. Metal. For hundreds of years, these materials were the only options open for medical device manufacturers. Look at an old medical supply catalog and you’ll see glass IV bottles, rubber tubing, metal surgical instruments, metal carts, etc. That all began to change in 1940s when the first plastics entered the scene. Slowly, then…
Filed Under:Plastic Injection Molding Medical Parts
Plastics have literally broken the mold in the healthcare world, no pun intended. In fact, plastic has easily kept up with the dizzying pace of medical science. With the advancements in the healthcare industry, plastic has proved to be one of the few materials that has been able to adapt along with the dynamic nature…
Filed Under:medical dental plastic supplies
Let’s face it: plastic pollution — in the form of litter on land and in the sea or other marine environments — is a serious problem. And while recycling has been part of the solution, it’s complex, time-consuming and, most importantly, costly. Recent estimates show that perhaps only about 10% of plastic is actually recycled….
Filed Under:Plastic Injection Molding News