by Veronica Savu, CEO, Morphotonix From the thousands of males flapping around her, the blue morpho butterfly must choose her mate. How does she single out Mr. Right from among the contenders? Each morpho butterfly has wings with millions of tiny scales – shimmering nanostructures tuned to the wavelength of light. Lepidopterists believe the butterfly sees the unique pattern of … [Read more...] about High-Flying Security at the Nanoscale
IMD / IML
In-Mold Label Coatings: A Small Part of the Label with Great Effect
In the global label market, in-mold labeling (IML) has a small size and value compared with other decoration techniques, such as pressure sensitive, glue-applied labels or shrink sleeves, but it is quite an innovative market. There are not many players, as the production of IML labels is quite complex, technically speaking. In Europe, the market consists mainly of … [Read more...] about In-Mold Label Coatings: A Small Part of the Label with Great Effect
Integrating In-Mold Decorating into Injection Molding Workflow
Costing, designing and developing a robust and repeatable manufacturing process, regardless of the application or industry, is a daunting task. In the plastics industry – specifically injection molding – the challenge can be amplified by tight tolerances for form and fit, meticulous surface finishes, the individual processing characteristics of resins, existing machine … [Read more...] about Integrating In-Mold Decorating into Injection Molding Workflow
When to Consider In-Mold Decorating – and When to Avoid It
In-mold decorating is used to mold high-precision plastic parts with exceptional color and appearance. The process involves placing an appliqué – a pre-made form made from a printed sheet of plastic, which then is formed and cut to size – into an injection mold and molding behind and around the appliqué. It provides all the benefits of injection molding with the added … [Read more...] about When to Consider In-Mold Decorating – and When to Avoid It
Achieving Innovative Appearances with In-Mold Decorating
In-mold decorating is a technique for decorating plastics that utilizes a printed and formed plastic film, often called an appliqué, which is permanently fused to a plastic part during the injection molding process. Traditionally, this process has been utilized for its supreme durability, vivid graphics and ability to eliminate secondary operations performed post molding. As … [Read more...] about Achieving Innovative Appearances with In-Mold Decorating