by Paul Uglum, president, Uglum Consulting, LLC Plastic parts are decorated for many reasons and using many differing techniques. Parts can be decorated to achieve specific aesthetics and appearances, to provide uniform appearances across various substrates, to apply graphics and to achieve specific functional or tactile results. Coatings also are applied to protect the … [Read more...] about Failures and Prevention: Chemical Attacks of Decorated Plastic Surfaces
Articles
A Short Guide to Laser Welding Plastics
by Ian Jones, manager, Laserweld Plastics Ltd Lasers are attractive tools for joining sheet, film and molded thermoplastics and textiles. Their features allow for a precise, yet rapid, delivery of a controlled amount of energy exactly to the point where it is required. Lasers are available with outputs covering a range of wavelengths, which has a large bearing on the … [Read more...] about A Short Guide to Laser Welding Plastics
Going Virtual During COVID
by Jessica Makrinos, marketing manager, Inkcups In a time when travel is banned, face-to-face contact is limited and the world is put on hold, businesses are working harder than ever to ensure they are positively progressing. For many companies, especially those that manufacture and sell industrial printing equipment and supplies, connecting with customers is key. Many of … [Read more...] about Going Virtual During COVID
2021 and Beyond – The Industry Looks Ahead
by Brittany Willes, editor, Plastics Decorating To say the least, 2020 has been a strange and challenging time. The plastics industry, like many others, has suffered its share of setbacks. According to a report by Business Wire, “The global plastic products market is expected to decline from $1008.5 billion in 2019 to $987 billion in 2020 … The decline is mainly due to … [Read more...] about 2021 and Beyond – The Industry Looks Ahead
UV LED Curing for Surface Hardcoats
by Jennifer Heathcote, business development manager, GEW, Inc. Optically transparent UV-cured hardcoats, topcoats, overcoats and clearcoats are utilized in numerous plastics decorating processes. As the descriptors suggest, these coatings tend to be clear but also can be tinted or formulated with other visual additives, are applied to the outermost surface of manufactured … [Read more...] about UV LED Curing for Surface Hardcoats