Primary machine builders are touting advances for processors needing to add capacity for medical products, meet sustainability goals, keep sensitive beverages fresh and more.
The innovations would have been on exhibit next month at NPE2021, but the triennial trade show was canceled earlier this year amid a surge in COVID-19 infections.
The Plastics News Showcase section is our opportunity to share some innovations in processing plastics that were developed during the last unprecedented year.
The medical, health, cleaning, home goods and building products markets remain hot while calls to increase recycled content and support a circular economy are growing.
Machine builders are responding. For example, PlastiBlow srl is developing new ways to use post-consumer material with extrusion blow molding machines that produce bottles for detergents, cleaners and sanitizers.
KHS GmbH improved its modular linear aseptic filler line for all those "sensitive" beverages like juices and smoothies crowding store shelves.
The pandemic put other machine builders among the rapid responders as they and their customers in the medical market scrambled to produce personal protective equipment, testing kits and vaccine components. Those needs continue, according to Friedrich Kanz, president of Arburg Inc. The injection molding machine builder's 2020 sales were dominated by new capacity demand, particularly from the medical market and most of it was COVID-related.
Molding machines to churn out pipettes for doctor's offices and test labs continue to be in big demand as do presses for vaccine syringes, plungers and other related components.
"Imagine the need in the U.S. with 300 million people," Kanz said in a phone interview, noting that some vaccines take two doses.
"Vaccinations are going well in the U.S. In other countries, it's not perfect yet, but at a certain stage these countries will ramp up and be in a position to do more vaccinations. That will continue through 2021," Kanz said.
As for COVID-19 testing, Kanz said: "The demand and need for test kits won't go away anytime soon. When I look at what certain countries are doing, testing will be with us beyond 2021."
Arburg Allrounder molding machines produce some of those disposable medical items, such as pipette tips.
In one of its recent digital developments, the company made an Internet of Things gateway as a standard feature on the Allrounder so it can be networked with higher-level software tools and platforms for collecting process data and remote servicing.
A year ago, Aruburg put an Allrounder to work to produce thermoplastic elastomer face masks with polypropylene eyelets to attach elastic straps for employees and communities at a rate of 15,000 per week.
"Our employees still use them," Kanz said.
Absolute Haitian is also addressing medical market needs. The company is introducing a new generation of presses, including the Venus III series, which is a clean room ready to manufacture medical syringe plungers, packaging like caps and closures, and disposable products.
The company is planning a June 10 virtual new product showcase of third-generation machines. It will feature a 427-ton MA III F demonstrating a high-speed food container application; a 618-ton JU III with a seven-cavity housewares mold processing recycled polypropylene and automated with a collaborative robot; and a 135-ton ZE Multi performing a multicomponent medical syringe plunger made of PP and TPE.
Virtual meetings, machine demonstrations and part trials have become the norm.
At Farrel Corp., digital platforms kept employees connected and productive and customers on track with business plans to meet their customer commitments, President Paul Lloyd said.
"In the larger picture, it has enabled us to continue moving the business forward, by remotely conducting customer demonstration trials, machine startups and meeting additional customer service and repair needs," Lloyd said in an email.
The Connecticut-based company has been working on a lot of projects to overcome hurdles related to compounding recycled materials, Lloyd added.
Customers ship their materials to one of Farrel's customer demonstration facilities for virtual trials that Lloyd said "are a very similar experience to them being present physically."
The pandemic brought a screeching halt to in-person meetings and plant visits and catapulted companies into new ways of conducting business — many of which will be lasting, according to Monika Gneuss, vice president of Gneuss Inc.
The company makes rotary filtration systems for processing polymer melts.
"Even when traveling, visits, shows and conferences are back, these tools are here to stay and will offer additional options for internal company meetings as well as for getting together with our customers," Gneuss said in an email.
Catherine Kavanaugh is a Plastics News staff reporter. Follow her on Twitter @CatherineKav.
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