by Prakash Iyer, Inhance Technologies Commodity polymers, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, often are chosen over engineering or high-performance polymers due to factors that include lower costs, availability and broad processing latitude. These materials, however, often exhibit very low surface energy, which creates poor adhesion characteristics and leads to poor … [Read more...] about Reactive Gas Technology Offers Performance and Design Flexibility
Articles
UV Technology for In-Mold Labeling
by Ron Schultz, In-Mold Decorating Association UV-cured inks and coatings have become an important part of the production of in-mold labels for packaging (IML) and in-mold decoration of durable products (IMD). For 2013, 25 percent of in-mold labels in North America and 20 percent of those produced in Europe were printed with UV-cured inks. This is especially true for … [Read more...] about UV Technology for In-Mold Labeling
The Value of QFD in New Product Development
by Perry Parendo, Perry's Solutions, Inc. There are many tools available for people in new product development. With Design of Experiment (DOE), Earned Value Management (EV), Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFM&A), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), the options are endless. Yet, with extreme pressure on … [Read more...] about The Value of QFD in New Product Development
Association News
Letter from the Chair It has been an exciting year. Advances in decoration and assembly technologies continue to provide solutions to more and more complex design problems. Smart materials have resulted in coatings that are not only decorative, but also functional and responsive to environmental changes. Nano technology has enabled in-mold circuitry, and quantum dots have … [Read more...] about Association News
Balancing Automation with the “Right” Assembly Technology
by Dan Zaborowski, T.A. Systems In today's world of automation, there are many wonderful assembly technologies from which to choose. This is, of course, a good thing and something that benefits us all... until it comes time to pick an assembly technology for the next application. Suddenly, having so many technologies at the disposal of assembly personnel can seem overwhelming. … [Read more...] about Balancing Automation with the “Right” Assembly Technology