The opportunities for plastics processors through the expansion of the hydrogen value chain, the ‘special cases of thermoforming’ with transparent, glossy or refined components, the inventiveness of rubber machine construction, stationary and mobile recycling, excellence in the injection moulding of liquid silicone at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in Stein am Rhein and the switch from colour powder to masterbatch at Herpa in Dietenhofen – these are the major exclusive articles in the current issue 4/2024 of K-PROFI international.
Click here for the title of the current issue. And now to the details: A gloomy economic mood, Taiwan’s plastics industry is thinking big: a broader export of equipment remains a goal. This was once again clearly evident at its ‘TaipeiPlas’ trade fair: page 5. Hydrogen should accelerate the energy transition. Which supplier parts are needed to expand the H2 value chain? What opportunities do plastics processors have? Dr Kai Fischer and Marie Hadenfeldt from the ‘Hydrogen Business and Technology Forum’ of the IKV at RWTH Aachen University provide answers: page 8.
Mack Kunststofftechnik focuses on the ‘special cases of thermoforming’ for racing cars, snow groomers, buses, medical technology and art objects. The family-run company produces transparent, glossy or refined components: page 14. Despite the ongoing economic downturn, there was no complaining at the German Rubber Conference (DKT) in Nuremberg. The transformations in the energy industry and mobility offer rubber machinery manufacturers new opportunities. Together with service providers, they are countering the crisis with many new ideas for elastomer processing: page 19. Ansgar Thees-Ovelgönne is developing recycling concepts with plastics processors and disposal companies – stationary in his company, mobile at the processor’s site, as a closed loop or with further utilisation: page 24.
At Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, the Stein am Rhein site is regarded as a centre of excellence for the processing of LSR. The Swiss company relies on in-house developed hot runner, cold runner, dosing and injection technologies as well as partnerships with Arburg, Elmet and Wacker, among others, to produce extremely high-quality parts: page 28. True-to-original car, truck and aircraft models are the speciality of Herpa. The injection moulding production in Dietenhofen is currently converting the colouring of PS, ABS, MABS and LDPE from colour powder to masterbatch. The challenge: high dosing accuracy with very low shot weights. Insights from on site from page 34.
We wish you a pleasant end to the year and a good start to a successful 2025!