Polyplastics develops long-fiber thermoplastic grades made of recycled PP

#PolyplasticsGroup has announced the development of new #PLASTRON® #longfiberthermoplastic (LFT) grades made of post-consumer recycled (PCR) polypropylene (PP) content. The two new developmental grades, which deliver mechanical properties equivalent to virgin material products, are undergoing sample production and evaluation.

Offer high rigidity and excellent impact strength

As part of Polyplastics’ commitment to advancing sustainable material solutions, these new grades - PLASTRON® RSG20011 and RSG20013 - feature more than 30% PCR content combined with 30% to 40% glass fiber reinforcement. The newly developed grades offer mechanical performance - such as high rigidity and excellent impact strength - equivalent to the company’s commercial products made of virgin raw materials.

 

By utilizing post-consumer recycled (#PCR) materials collected from the market, the newly developed grades contribute to reducing the product carbon footprint (PCF).

 

Reduction of more than 20% in carbon footprint:

Compared with products made from virgin raw materials, these grades achieve a reduction of more than 20% in carbon footprint. The PCF values shown above were calculated based on the GHG Protocol and ISO 14067, using operational data over a defined period along with reference values from reliable databases. These figures are not guaranteed values.

 

Polyplastics will further expand its lineup of products that utilize recycled raw materials, as well as those incorporating environmentally friendly reinforcement materials such as #cellulosefibers. Through these efforts, the company aims to meet an even broader range of application needs and contribute to a more sustainable future.

 

Polyplastics will further expand its product lineup to include products utilizing recycled materials and cellulose fibers. This will help reduce environmental impact and enhance the ability to meet customers' diverse needs.

source : SpecialChem/Polyplastics

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Hot Runner Manifold and Gate Balancing

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Hot Runner Manifold and Gate Balancing

The term "balanced" on paper may still refer to a situation in which one cavity flashes while another cavity short-shots in multi-cavity molds. The solution is not magic. Rather, it is science that we can put to use on the production floor.

In order to achieve a balanced hot runner manifold and gates, we use the following strategy. That involves using pressure drop, shear rate, and fill-time targets:

1. Establish a single fill-time target (here is where your quality window would begin).

2. Convert it into flow rate per gate, which is the amount of melt that each gate is required to supply.

3. Check shear rate. A shear rate that is too high may cause material stress, burn, and splay risk. A shear rate that is too low can result in poor packing response. Smaller gates provide a rapid increase in shear.

4. It is necessary to calculate the pressure drop for each flow channel. This includes the sprue, manifold branches, nozzle, and gate.

5. To get balance, make sure that ΔP and shear are the same throughout all drops. You may do this by changing the diameters of the channels, the quality of the corners, the size of the gates, the length of the land, or the timing of the valves.

6. It is important to validate the "balance" using a short-shot study and cavity pressure so that it is not theoretical but rather actual.

The mold becomes much simpler to start, much simpler to maintain stability, and a great deal more repeatable when these three factors – fill time, shear, and pressure drop – are in harmonious alignment.

source : PlastiConnect.

#InjectionMolding #HotRunner #MoldDesign #Polymers

Exel Composites and Tratos sign a four-year frame agreement

Exel Composites has signed a frame agreement with Tratos for the supply of composite conductor cores for the period 2026-2029. The agreement includes a minimum volume commitment of at least €22 million to Exel for deliveries through 2029. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the company will record the volume commitment in its order intake during the fourth quarter of 2025.

“Tratos is a leading player in advanced cabling solutions, and we are pleased to build on and further expand our cooperation in #compositeconductorcores,” says Paul Sohlberg, president and CEO of #ExelComposites. “Grid investment needs are growing, and composite core conductors are a good fit with our strategy to grow in energy transition applications through continuous manufacturing and reliable quality.”

“Working with Exel Composites helps us secure composite cores for our conductor programs through 2029,” says Albano Bragagni, president of Tratos. “This supports our customers’ planning for grid upgrades by enabling higher capacity and improved transmission efficiency – often without changing the line route or the supporting structures.

Composite conductor cores are the central load-bearing element of an overhead transmission conductor and are a growing application for carbon fibre composites. Compared with steel-reinforced designs, a carbon fibre composite core combines high tensile strength with low linear expansion, supporting high-temperature, low-sag operation and helping operators increase capacity on existing lines using existing towers in many cases. Carbon fibre composite designs also offer corrosion resistance and non-magnetic characteristics.

#Tratos offers overhead conductors that utilise multistrand carbon fibre composite core technology. Under the agreement, Tratos will integrate Exel’s composite solution into its conductor offering. Exel will manufacture the cores using continuous pultrusion and quality-controlled processes that deliver consistent mechanical performance. The orders will be fulfilled from Exel’s global manufacturing network according to project schedules agreed with Tratos.

Exel Composites will be exhibiting at JEC World 2026, in Hall 5, booth E132.

source : JEC Composites/Exel Composites

Today's KN0WLEDGE Share : ⭐ 3 Design Rules That Make or Break Your Plastic Part

 Today's KN0WLEDGE Share

⭐ 3 Design Rules That Make or Break Your Plastic Part

Most failures in molding don’t come from tooling—they start in the CAD model.

If you design plastic parts, three decisions will determine whether your mold runs smoothly or becomes an expensive source of defects, delays, and redesigns:

� Parting Line

� Draft Angle

� Wall Thickness

These look tiny on a drawing.

But in real manufacturing?

They control quality, cost, cycle time, and the entire success of your project.

Here’s what most teams underestimate �

� 1. Parting Line — The boundary that decides your appearance & mold feasibility

A misplaced parting line can ruin a part before the mold is even cut.

Common issues:

• visible flash

• cosmetic mismatch

• steps or deformation

• restricted mold-open direction

A great design hides the PL.

A weak design forces the toolmaker to place it somewhere visible.

Best practices:

✔ Follow natural edges or non-cosmetic areas

✔ Never cross logos or Class-A surfaces

✔ Confirm mold orientation early with your tooling engineer

A well-chosen parting line reduces tool complexity and improves appearance.

� 2. Draft Angle — The difference between smooth release and damaged parts

If you skip draft, the part grips the steel like glue.

Real consequences:

• drag marks

• stuck parts

• stronger ejection force

• premature tool wear

Even 0.5° can change everything.

Best practices:

✔ 0.5°–1° for polished surfaces

✔ 2°+ for textured surfaces

✔ Add draft to all vertical faces, cores, ribs

Draft isn’t “nice to have”—

It’s mandatory if you want stable, repeatable molding.

� 3. Wall Thickness — The quiet killer of flow, shrinkage & cycle time

Wall thickness impacts almost every molding outcome:

Too thick → sink marks, warpage, slow cooling

Too thin → short shots, weak structure

What matters most is uniformity, not absolute thickness.

Best practices:

✔ Keep walls consistent (1.5–3.0 mm typical)

✔ Use ribs/gussets instead of adding mass

✔ Core out thick areas

✔ Avoid sudden transitions

Good thickness control =

fewer defects, shorter cycles, happier customers.

� Why these “simple” choices matter

Together, these three fundamentals shape:

✔ tooling complexity

✔ part quality & appearance

✔ production speed

✔ long-term dimensional stability

✔ total manufacturing cost

In plastic design, small decisions create big consequences.

� Which of these three has caused the most issues in your projects?

If you’re working on a new part and want early feedback, feel free to connect.

#InjectionMolding#MoldDesign #PlasticDesign

source : Coco Ho