Letter from the Chair The question recently was posed: what is plastic decoration? That actually is a very good question and, with the advances in materials and technology, becoming an even more important question. Plastic decoration is a very large umbrella covering a broad range of differing technologies for manipulating plastic. I have always defined plastic decoration as … [Read more...] about Association News
2015 Apr/May
Beauty is in the Eye of the Consumer
by Dianna Brodine, Plastics Decorating With nearly 64 million women between the ages of 25 and 59 in the US alone, the cosmetic and personal care markets are hotter than ever. Consumer demand for beauty products for skin, hair and nails is growing, while product designers compete to grab attention on the retail shelf. Using unique container elements, multiple foil passes … [Read more...] about Beauty is in the Eye of the Consumer
FDA-Approved Additives Boost Inline Plastics Laser Marking
by Scott R. Sabreen, The Sabreen Group Fast speed, superior contrast and cost-savings are among the significant benefits of incorporating novel FDA-approved additives into polymers for laser marking. Chemical additive breakthroughs produce jet black and light-colored contrast on molded and extruded products, both "on-the-fly" and during secondary operations. Designed for … [Read more...] about FDA-Approved Additives Boost Inline Plastics Laser Marking
Material Considerations in Ultrasonic Welding
by Tom Kirkland, tributek.biz Several years ago, a panicked business owner called asking for help figuring out why his ultrasonic welding operation had stopped working. I had talked with him on the phone a few times, but had never seen his operation. I committed half a day that week to troubleshooting for him. Arriving at his plant, I looked over his parts. They seemed to … [Read more...] about Material Considerations in Ultrasonic Welding
Fall Protection, Hazard Communication Top OSHA’s Citation List
by Jen Clark, Plastics Decorating According to a recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) report, "Adding Inequality to Injury: The Costs of Failing to Protect Workers on the Job," the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found "approximately 4,500 workers are killed on the job each year ... and that employers record nearly three million serious occupational … [Read more...] about Fall Protection, Hazard Communication Top OSHA’s Citation List