by Micah Swett, sales manager, Diversified Printing Techniques Factory automation is quickly becoming more commonplace in today's manufacturing sector. With labor shortages, a decline in experience levels and rising wages, factories want to automate the pad printing process to ensure the work gets done even when qualified workers are in short supply. Unfortunately, most … [Read more...] about Automation with Robots for Pad Printing Operations
2018 Jan/Feb
Carbon Black Selection for Successful Through Transmission Laser Welding and Joining
by Scott Sabreen, The Sabreen Group, Inc., and Avraham Benatar, Plastics and Composites Joining Laboratory, Welding Engineering Program, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University Abstract Laser welding is used in a wide range of applications to join thermoplastics because it is a noncontact heating method with short cycle times and lower cost. … [Read more...] about Carbon Black Selection for Successful Through Transmission Laser Welding and Joining
Labels: A Market Overview
by AWA Alexander Watson Associates The definition of primary product labeling now is much broader than "glue-applied" and "pressure-sensitive," as these traditional formats compete increasingly with sleeving in all its forms - heat shrink, stretch and wraparound; various in-mold technologies; and flexible packaging, directly printed, which removes the need for an additional … [Read more...] about Labels: A Market Overview
Ask the Expert: Painting Plastics
by Don Stankus, operations manager, Plasti-Paint, Inc. - DeWitt, Iowa What's the largest "troubleshooting" focus at your plant? At our plant, the biggest source of quality defects in the painted part is mold-related. Plastic is painted for a variety of reasons, including aesthetics, for UV protection and to hide manufacturing defects. There are times paint can successfully … [Read more...] about Ask the Expert: Painting Plastics
Tech Watch: TOSH’s Logica 05.5 Pad Printer
by Lara Copeland, contributing editor Pad printing, a printing process that transfers 2D images onto 3D objects, extends into every sector and is used on many products - from coffee makers to fashion accessories, shoes to beverage containers and much more. Since the early 1980s, TOSH Srl, Rozzano, Italy, has been applying stepper motor technology for pad printing. Its new … [Read more...] about Tech Watch: TOSH’s Logica 05.5 Pad Printer