Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Compostable materials for Nordic regions

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Are conventionally marketed compostable materials genuinely biodegradation-competent within sub-Arctic and boreal climatic regimes?

Across Nordic regions such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland, demand for single-use, food-contact products remains substantial spanning the hospitality sector, winter tourism infrastructure, and high-throughput event operations. However, in these environments, persistently low ambient temperatures suppress microbial metabolic activity, resulting in markedly reduced enzymatic hydrolysis, depolymerization kinetics, and overall biotransformation rates within the degradation cascade.

Consequently, materials labeled as “compostable,” including polylactic acid (PLA) and other aliphatic polyester biopolymers, often fail to achieve complete mineralization under natural Nordic conditions. These substrates typically require thermophilic industrial composting systems with controlled temperature (>55 °C), moisture, aeration, and microbial consortia to meet standardized biodegradation thresholds facilities that remain unevenly distributed across the region.

In response, many operators are transitioning to lignocellulosic biomass–derived products (e.g., wood and bamboo). These materials exhibit high structural integrity, functional durability, and—despite slower abiotic weathering and microbial lignin-cellulose decomposition—they do not yield persistent microplastic particulates or recalcitrant polymer fragments.

The broader implication is that sustainability assessment protocols must incorporate site-specific environmental variables, including temperature profiles, soil microbial community composition, and degradation kinetics, rather than relying solely on generalized certification labels that assume optimal industrial processing.

Given these constraints, should biodegradability standards and regulatory frameworks be recalibrated to account for regional climatic conditions, particularly within low-temperature ecosystems?

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Understanding Draft Angles in Injection Molding

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

💡 Understanding Draft Angles in Injection Molding — Small Detail, Big Impact

When designing plastic parts, draft angles are one of the most overlooked features — but they can make or break your moldability and part quality.

🔍 What is a Draft Angle?

A draft angle is the slight taper applied to vertical walls of a molded part to allow it to eject smoothly from the mold.

Why it matters:

🛠️ Prevents part damage during ejection

📏 Improves dimensional consistency

💸 Reduces wear on the mold = lower long-term costs

🚫 Avoids surface scratches or sticking

🧠 Design Tip:

For most thermoplastics, use a minimum 1°–2° draft per side

High-friction materials (like PC or PMMA)? Go up to 3°–5°

The deeper the cavity, the more draft you need

Polished surfaces require greater draft than textured ones

SCSplastic, we don’t just manufacture — we help optimize your design before tooling starts.

Because smart design = better parts = fewer surprises.

📐 Draft once. Mold forever.

source : SCSplastic

Henkel's Technomelt PUR 6260 ECO drives sustainability gains for automotive interiors

Henkel is expanding its low-carbon-footprint offering with Technomelt PUR 6260 ECO, a #biobasedpolyurethane hot melt adhesive for automotive interior applications. Made from at least 60% renewable and recycled raw materials, #TechnomeltPUR6260ECO has a product carbon footprint over 40% lower than Henkel’s standard product for this application – according to Henkel calculations, which include emissions in both materials and production. In addition, the innovative product delivers full performance at lower lamination temperatures (15°C lower than the standard product), enabling industrial users to save energy in processing.

Processing speed and performance complete the package

Alongside its sustainability profile, Technomelt PUR 6260 ECO offers excellent performance benefits. Sprayable and fast-setting, it supports faster processing thanks to its low softening point (around 50°C), which also means it can be used on temperature-sensitive substrates. Additionally, it has high heat resistance (up to 150°C) and is suitable for single-side application. Together, these attributes make it an ideal fit for #automotivecockpit, door and center console applications, in which industrial users can enjoy full PUR adhesion performance along with energy and time savings.

Henkel advances further on its sustainability journey:

#Henkel has a long-established commitment to driving sustainability through its products and partnerships, with a complete vision that includes climate, circularity and safety. “Our sustainability goals stretch beyond our own organization,” said Rainer Schoenfeld, Global Market Strategy Director for Exterior, Powertrain, Interior and Chassis at Henkel. “As well as becoming net-zero by 2045, we are aiming to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 – which means making a measurable difference in customer operations. The products we offer are a key part of that, so we’re pleased to expand our range of bio-based, low-carbon polyurethane hot melts with Technomelt PUR 6260 ECO. We will keep innovating and finding new solutions to enable our customers to reduce their environmental impact.

source : Henkel

INEOS Styrolution announces closure of polystyrene production in Wingles France

INEOS Styrolution announced to permanently close its polystyrene (PS) production in Wingles, France. This step is part of a broader effort to adapt to changing market dynamics and to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the company’s European operations. 

Production for European PS customers will be consolidated at the company’s state-of-the-art site in Antwerp, Belgium. The Antwerp facility is well positioned to serve customers effectively – offering advanced capabilities, a broad product portfolio, and a location close to key suppliers and customers.

All workforce adjustments will be made in full compliance with local regulations, and the consultation process with the Works Council of INEOS Styrolution France SAS has already been initiated. The closure of the PS production will not affect ABS production at the Wingles site.

source :Ineos

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Why tie-bar-less machines are getting more attention in North America

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Why tie-bar-less machines are getting more attention in North America

Tie-bar-less machines have been around for decades, but they’ve always been a bit misunderstood in North America. That’s changing.

As automation, mold accessibility, and floor space become bigger concerns, more shops are starting to see what they offer.

Here’s what’s driving that interest:

1. Easier mold changes and setup

No tie-bars means better access. That makes mold install, EOAT setup, and manual inspection simpler and safer. Less time in the press. Less risk of damage.

2. Automation flexibility

With full access from three sides, it’s easier to bring in side-entry robots, insert feeders, or end-of-line handling without clashing with machine hardware.

3. More compact footprint

You get the same clamping force in a smaller package. For shops trying to fit more output into the same square footage, that’s a real advantage.

4. Wider mold space for tricky tools

If you’re running molds that are wide but not heavy think multi-cavity medical or family molds tie-bar-less lets you fit those tools without bumping up a tonnage class.

So why hasn’t adoption been faster? Mostly habit. Many molders default to what they know. But as layouts get tighter and automation becomes the norm, this machine design is worth a second look.

Have you worked with tie-bar-less machines?

If not, what’s been holding you back, space, application fit, or just familiarity?

If you're curious whether your parts or tools are a good match, happy to walk through it.

source : Roman Malisek

#TieBarLess #injectionmolding

Teijin Carbon and A&P Technology launch TPUD biaxial braided fabric:

Teijin Carbon and A&P Technology launch IMS65 PAEK Bimax biaxial fabric, a rate-enabling solution using Teijin Carbon’s Tenax TPUD IMS65 PAEK product, a thermoplastic unidirectional (UD) tape. It is designed to meet growing demand for scalable, high-speed production of composites in aerospace, space, defence and other evolving markets.

Teijin’s Tenax TPUD IMS65 PAEK is a high-quality UD tape based on polyaryletherketone (PAEK) resin slit into narrow widths and braided by A&P Technology into a 65” wide +/-45° fabric. The +/-45° braid architecture has minimal crimp, offering a high translation of tape properties while providing excellent

drapability for complex geometries. With a fibre areal weight of just 184 gsm and 34 percent PAEK content, IMS65 PAEK Bimax enables out of autoclave (OoA) processing and vacuum bag only (VBO) consolidation, significantly reducing manufacturing time while enhancing mechanical performance and impact resistance.

Features and benefits of IMS65 PAEK Bimax fabric:

*High fibre volume and low crimp for superior mechanical performance

*Extreme drapability for deep-draw parts

*Reduced lay-up time per layer – 65” wide fabric enables quick laydown of biaxial reinforcement

*Native air evacuation pathways for optimal consolidation of thick components

*Room temperature preform placement with spot tacking to simplify production workflows

This innovative braided fabric meets or exceeds the properties of existing National Center for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP)-qualified PAEK prepregs, offering a robust and scalable solution for next-generation composite structures.

source: Teijin/Jeccomposites

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :The Hidden Graveyard of Aramid Garments

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

The Hidden Graveyard of Aramid Garments

Here's a shocking statistic: Less than 1% of aramid textiles (Kevlar, Nomex, Conex) are ever recycled.

Where do your end-of-life protective garments actually go?

The vast majority is landfilled or incinerated. Literally out of sight, out of mind. Some gets incinerated, but burning flame-resistant materials releases toxic gases like hydrogen cyanide. Many are classified as hazardous waste, contaminated with oils, chemicals, or PFAS, making disposal even more complex and costly.

The irony? These materials are engineered to be virtually indestructible, which makes them incredible at protecting lives, but a nightmare when it's time to dispose of them.

The Real Problem

We've created a linear system: Produce → Use → Bury/Burn

These expensive, resource-intensive garments live short lives protecting our first responders, military personnel, and industrial workers, then spend eternity polluting our planet.

The dirty little secret? The protective garment industry has no viable exit strategy for end-of-life products.

Tomorrow: just how toxic and persistent this waste really is, and why it’s not just “going away.”

source : Justin Norton

#aramid #textiles