By Gary Kohlnhofer, sales engineer, 3DT LLC Polymers have many useful properties, making them the material of choice. Polypropylene and polyethylene are prime examples. However, polymers typically have insufficient surface energy and poor wettability for most printing and bonding applications. Fortunately, corona and plasma surface treatment modify the surface of polymer … [Read more...] about Reviewing Surface Treatments: Decorating, Printing and Bonding on Plastic IS Possible

PRINTING United, originally scheduled to take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on Oct. 21-23, 2020, now will move to a powerful online experience this fall due to constraints surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of all attending and involved with the show remains paramount. The decision to terminate the in-person expo comes after … [Read more...] about PRINTING United Cancels In-Person Show, Prepares Online Experience

The workplace skills gap continues to widen and is expected to persist, according to the latest Skills Gap Report by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute(1). Here’s a quick take on the top five suggestions made by The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte for closing the skills gap. 1. Automate Automation is booming. Industry Week notes that 11,000 cobots were sold … [Read more...] about Top 5 Methods for Closing the Skills Gap

SPE, Danbury, Connecticut, is pleased to announce recently elected executive board members, as well as a newly appointed president. Dr. Jaime A. Gómez, president and CEO at Equitech, assumed the position of SPE president July 1. The president’s term will run from 2020-2021. Dr. Jason Lyons, business manager at Arkema, will serve as SPE’s president-elect until 2021, when he … [Read more...] about SPE Announces Newly Elected Executive Board Members

Clariant, Muttenz, Switzerland, a specialty chemical company, continues to develop new technology to improve the recyclability of plastics while offering packaging and product developers more color options. The latest development is a range of deep, dark colors that normally would have required the use of carbon black pigments that makes them undetectable by the near-infrared … [Read more...] about Clariant ColorWorks™ Applies IR-Detectable Technology