Gabriel-Chemie to Launch Anti-Counterfeit Masterbatch at PDM 13

Gabriel-Chemie UK will launch its anti-counterfeiting masterbatch MAXITHEN® ProTec4 on Stand C016 at PDM13.

The company will also be showcasing the RAL P1 and new P2 collections of RAL colour samples at the exhibition, which takes place at the Telford International Centre, 18-19 June 2013.

Plastic products, parts and packaging manufactured with MAXITHEN® ProTec4 have a unique fingerprint that can be quickly, easily and accurately detected using either small handheld device or an inline detector in a production environment. The anti-counterfeit masterbatch has four potential applications: quality control, protection against forgery, limiting product liability and function control. Visitors to the Gabriel-Chemie stand will be able to see the technology being demonstrated.

In quality control applications the MAXITHEN® ProTec4 masterbatch can be used to confirm the addition of critical performance additives, such as UV stabiliser or fire retardant. With a fingerprint that is unique to each customer and cannot be imitated, it provides verifiable protection against forgery. Use of the masterbatch also protects manufacturers from product liability claims arising from inferior quality copies that are otherwise difficult or impossible to prove as counterfeit.

“Counterfeit products are appearing with alarming frequency and it can be increasingly difficult to distinguish the genuine from the fake,” says Philip Watkins, Managing Director of Gabriel-Chemie UK. “By offering manufacturers and brand owners the ability to uniquely fingerprint their plastic products, parts and packaging MAXITHEN® ProTec4 offers a readily identifiable means to detect counterfeits.”

Gabriel-Chemie will also be showcasing the RAL P1 and new RAL P2 colour shades. The RAL P1 collection features 100 A6-sized polypropylene colour plates made for the most frequently requested colours from the RAL Classic range. The new RAL P2 collection adds a further 160 opaque and 40 transparent colours. Each sample plate is 3mm thick with graduations to 2mm and 1mm thickness and different surface textures. Designers and product manufacturers can rely on the RAL P1 and P2 binding colour samples for fast, accurate and consistent colour-matching.

Event visitors are also welcome to ask for expert advice on plastics additives for improving aesthetic and performance properties in applications as diverse as cosmetics packaging, agriculture and construction products, food packing, consumer goods and sports equipment

PDM 13 Conference Offers Free Entry for Advance Bookings

Delegates at this year’s Plastics Design & Moulding conference and exhibition (PDM 13) can now access the comprehensive plastics conference sessions free of charge, provided they book before 10 June. The PDM 13 exhibition and conference returns to the Telford International Centre on 18 and 19 June 2013. Conference bookings made after 10 June or onsite will be charged £25 per day for any mix of sessions.

Twin streams of the PDM Conference focus on technical aspects of plastics design and moulding with half-day sessions on surviving and thriving in today’s economy and the latest developments in materials, design, automotive, medical, 3D printing, and caps & closures. Each themed session features three top-level speakers looking at the most topical issues in their sector, a joint question and answer session and the facility for open networking afterwards. The parallel Smithers Rapra conference runs in a single stream and will forecast plastics industry market trends up to five years ahead. Specialist topics will include bioplastics, flexible plastics packaging, medical plastics, automotive plastics and composites and specialty plastics.

Key speakers and topics for the PDM 13 conference include:

• The Plastics Industry Today – Surviving and Thriving in Today’s Economy by Denis Turner, formerly chief economist for HSBC
• Colour Trends and Colour Design Tools in Plastics, by Paul Graham, sales director at Pantone
• Medical device design by Steve May-Russell managing director of design consultants Smallfry
• The Developing Integration of Touch Activated Electronics within Plastics Surfaces by Steve Mathers, director of McGavigan
• Overcoming Obstacles to Using Recycled Plastics, by Jason Goozée, director, €uroplastix
• The concept fridge coolpure 1.0 by BASF, by Rudolf Scherf of Scherfdesign
• Silicones – enabling innovation in electronics and lighting, by Tina Rippon business development specialist at Dow Corning
• Mergers and Acquisitions in the Plastics Industry, by Nicholas Mockett, corporate financier at Moorgate Capital.

Denis Turner speaking at PDM

PDM 13 will also offer a wealth of free seminar sessions run by industry content partners the British Plastics Federation (BPF), the Gauge & Toolmakers Association (GTMA), the IOM3, Polymer Training and Innovation Centre, the Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA). In addition, selected PDM 13 exhibitors will also be showcasing the latest industry technology, product and service innovations in a series of 25-minute seminars.

To see the full conference programme and book a free delegate places at PDM 13 register on the event website by Monday 10 June: http://www.pdmevent.com/pdmevent2013/conferences

The International Centre, Telford has recently undergone a £10m upgrade and expansion programme to expand its exhibition and event space by 30%. The facilities now include additional break-out suites, a new entrance and public concourse. Meanwhile £250m has been invested in the adjacent Southwater development, which provides visitors and exhibitors with a choice of bars, restaurants and entertainment on their doorstep. Easily accessible from the M6 and M54 motorways, the International Centre provides free parking for over 1,500 cars.

Bioresins.eu to Showcase PHA and Keratin at PDM 13

Bioresins.eu will be educating visitors on PHA and Keratin fibre bio-resins, ideal for injection moulding into caps, closures or containers such as pails, jars or plant pots. PHA is a bio-resin made from bacterial fermentation of sugar or starch which makes it almost 100% sustainable. It can be mixed with polypropylene on site at up to 40% addition rate, and run on existing tooling and processing equipment with no transfer costs. Keratin fibres are sourced from poultry feathers (a waste product going to landfill). The blend is supplied pre-compounded with 30% or 40% addition rates. There is little effect on density and almost no add on cost over standard polypropylene. Both materials are food contact approved and certified.

See them on Stand C018 at PDM 13.

ARRK Europe Adds two new Krauss Maffei Injection Moulding Machines

ARRK Europe has recently added two new state-of-the-art Krauss Maffei injection moulding machines (3200T and 1600T) to its Petersfield site. Advisers from ARRK technical centres will be available on the stand throughout PDM13  to talk to visitors about its integrated services including design engineering, prototyping, craftsmanship, as well as its export and non export tooling and moulding services.

Visit ARRK Europe on Stand C022 at PDM13.

PDM 13 Exhibitor News: 4Plas Adds Cost Effective Purge Material to Range

4Plas has added a new cost effective purge material to its range of engineering compounds.  4PURGE incorporates a proprietary blend of low-cost, yet highly effective ingredients which are tailored to give a scouring foaming action and can clean a barrel and screw from colour to natural, in two to three shots using as little as a couple of handfuls.  4PURGE cleans effectively but is not corrosive or abrasive to the machine screw and barrel.

“Many moulders in the UK are finding that the economic climate is leading to more frequent tool changes and shorter run lengths, resulting in the need to purge their machines more often,” explains director, Jason Thorpe. “With pricing and efficiency paramount, we have developed a general purpose purge that suits most polymer and machine types.”

Plastics Moulding Machinery Manufacturers Return in Force to PDM 13

Machinery manufacturers return in force to this year’s Plastics Design & Moulding conference and exhibition (PDM 13) at the Telford International Centre on 18 and 19 June 2013. Among major plastics moulding and automation manufacturers exhibiting at PDM 13 will be Arburg, BMB Plastics Machinery, Boy, Engel UK, Hi-Tech Automation, Krauss Maffei UK, Kuka Robotics, Negri Bossi, Plastic Machinery Sales UK, Romi Sandretto UK, Sumitomo Demag, Billion and Premier Moulding Machinery.

Borche BS320-III courtesy of Plastic Machinery Sales

“PMM has been involved with PDM since the first exhibition in 2005, and we are excited to be back at Telford. This has always proven to be a productive platform for us to show the new advances that Haitian Plastic Machinery has to offer,” says Richard Hird, sales director, Premier Moulding Machinery. “PMM will be introducing the new Haitian Mars II series of energy efficient moulding machine, in particular the new Keba 2580 control system, featuring the freely programmable machine sequencer software.”

“Arburg is delighted to be exhibiting at PDM 13,” says Simon Wrighton, sales director. “We will have on display an electric machine from our ALLDRIVE range, a 270 A 350-70 with 270 mm distance between tie bars and 35 tonnes locking force. To show off our true all-rounder capability this machine will be fitted with our unique micro injection module and will be moulding a filter with a part weight of 0.015 grams in Nylon in a four cavity tool supplied the tool maker Galway Tool and Mould.”

“PDM represents one of the most interesting events in the plastics calendar.  It allows visitors to meet and discuss specific projects with equipment suppliers.  PDM is busy and vibrant, well supported by the industry, a must for all moulding companies,” says Nigel Baker, Managing Director, BMB Plastics Machinery. “We manufacture a range of injection moulding machines from 70t to 3,500t clamp force.  Our all-electric range is extensive, we have a patented clamp unit that allows us to offer all-electric machines up to 800t clamp force.”

Hi-Tech Automation will showcase the integration of robotic automation with a high speed load/unloader and an injection moulding machine at PDM 13. The company will demonstrate the flexibility offered by a six axes FANUC M-10iA robot, used in conjunction with a Hi-Tech manufactured high-speed side loader.  The demonstration will illustrate how short cycle times can be maintained even when loading inserts or labels and, Integrated with FANUC’s new ROBOSHOT S100-iA moulding machine, Hi-Tech will demonstrate the performance and productivity gains achievable through FANUC’s common control platform.

Negri Bossi will be exhibiting an ELEOS 80 machine, the electric version of the EOS ultra compact range. Plasticising, injection, opening and clamping operations are all electrically actuated. A small hydraulic circuit is used for lesser machine movements and for any core pulling requirement. Thanks also to an energy recovery system, the power consumption of this model is extremely low.

With machines ranging from 60 to 6,000 tonne capacity Worcester-based Plastic Machinery UK will be demonstrating a 120-tonne energy-saving Borche machine at PDM 13.

For more details of exhibitors at PDM 13, to register to attend and to reserve free-in-advance places at the accompanying PDM Conference visit: www.pdmevent.com

PDM conference places booked after 10 June 2013 or on arrival at the Telford International Centre cost £25 per day.

Plastics Industry Awards Launches for 2013 with 15 Categories

Deadline for entries 17 May 2013

The organisers of the annual Plastics Industry Awards have announced details of the 2013 competition for the most respected accolades in the UK plastics industry. The deadline for award entries is 17 May 2013 and the black-tie gala awards ceremony will be on Friday 27 September 2013 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

The Plastics Industry Awards reward excellence in materials usage, design and manufacturing as well as training and environmental performance. Launched in 2001 and now firmly established as the Oscars for the UK plastics industry, the awards comprise 15 categories judged by a panel of industry experts. There are opportunities for supplier companies, OEM manufacturers, plastics processors, consultants, trainees and designers to all showcase their work. Entry is free and can be completed online at www.plasticsawards.com.

Emphasising the extent to which the UK plastics industry’s success relies upon a co-operative approach, six of this year’s awards are for Supplier Partnerships including the awards for: Toolmaker, Prime Machinery, Ancillary Machinery, Polymer Distributor, Polymer Producer and Masterbatch/Compound/Additive partnership. Design awards include categories for Consumer Product of the Year, Industrial Product of the Year and Young Designer of the Year. Other prestigious and hotly contested award categories include Best Technology Application of the Year, Best Environmental or Energy Efficiency Programme of the Year and Best Business Initiative of the Year.

Winner of the 2012 Prime Machinery Supplier award, Colin Tirel, managing director of Arburg said after the event: “The award has taken pride and place in our reception. It is a fantastic evening and it is an excellent opportunity to showcase the best of manufacturing in our industry. ”

Nathan Bestwick, who picked up last year’s Young Designer award added: “Being recognised as Young Designer of the Year 2012 in The PIA has been the icing on the cake for what has proved to be a very successful launch year for Yormii. It is recognition of being at the forefront of innovation and manufacturing in my sector in Britain.”

All companies and academic establishments in the industry with apprentices or trainees are encouraged to nominate an individual for the Apprentice or Trainee of the Year Award. Finalists in this category will be invited to attend an interview with the judges at the Polymer Training Innovation Centre (PTIC) Telford and the winner will be awarded a special cash prize of £1,000 donated by the Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA) at the awards ceremony in London.

Last year’s gala event was a sell out with 800 plastics professionals and their guests attending the glittering ceremony, so book your table early to avoid disappointment. Tickets include a champagne reception, four course dinner, celebrity awards presentation and after-show entertainment. Discounts apply to bookings made before 30 June 2013. For more information about the Plastics Industry Awards including submitting an entry or booking a table go to www.plasticsawards.com

Plastics Industry Awards Categories:

• Best Technology Application of the Year
• Best Environmental or Energy Efficiency Programme of the Year
• Best Business Initiative of the Year
• Processor of the Year
• Consumer Product Design of the Year
• Industrial Product Design of the Year
• Young Designer of the Year
• Best Training and Development Programme of the Year
• Apprentice or Trainee of the Year
• Supplier Partnership – Ancillary Machinery
• Supplier Partnership – Masterbatch/Compound/Additive
• Supplier Partnership – Polymer Distributor
• Supplier Partnership – Polymer Producer
• Supplier Partnership – Prime Machinery
• Supplier Partnership – Toolmaker

This year’s judging panel includes Charmaine Bowers, Operations Manager, Polymer Training Innovation Centre; Dr Robin Kent, managing director, Tangram Technology; Dr Matthew Thornton, Materials Advisor, IOM3; Professor Gordon Smith, Head of the Polymer and Composites Materials Group, University of Warwick; Steve May-Russell managing director of Smallfry and National Board Director of British Design Innovation; Julia Moore, chief executive, GTMA and Mercia Gick, senior adviser, Industrial Issues, British Plastics Federation.

Platinum sponsors of The Plastics Industry Awards 2013 are Engel Moulders Group, HiTech Robotics and Automation, Lawson Keys Recruitment. In addition, gold sponsors include Agentdraw, BMB, Distrupol, Hasco, Nexeo and Summit Systems. They also enjoy the support of the British Plastics Federation, British Design Innovation, GTMA, The Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining (IOM3), the Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA), the Polymer Training Innovation Centre (PTIC) and the Plastics Design & Moulding exhibition and conference (PDM 13).