by Jewlissa Frickey, editor, Plastics Decorating Bonding problems are pervasive in manufacturing due to many materials refusing to bond to other materials as a result of their chemical structure. 3DT sought to overcome this manufacturing issue with its PlasmaDyne Pro atmospheric plasma surface treatment system. 3DT has developed the new PlasmaDyne Pro for a variety of … [Read more...] about Solid, Liquid, Gas and Plasma Energy: 3DT’s Improved PlasmaDyne Pro
Quality
Advancements in Vision Inspection Solutions for In-Mold-Labeled Packaging
by Scott Heins, director of sales and marketing, INTRAVIS Inc. The market for in-mold-labeled (IML) packages continues to grow and expand domestically as well as internationally. IML decoration methods result in a customized, premium look that has always been preferred for high-end packages (see Figure 1). In recent years, this labeling technique has grown for traditional … [Read more...] about Advancements in Vision Inspection Solutions for In-Mold-Labeled Packaging
Understanding Color in Decorated Plastics
by Paul Uglum, president, Uglum Consulting, LLC One of the primary purposes of decorating processes is to impart color to the object being decorated. Color is used to create beauty, to increase perceived value, to convey information and to define brand character. Color is only one aspect of a part’s appearance. Appearance is a combination of color, gloss, shape, geometry and … [Read more...] about Understanding Color in Decorated Plastics
Plasma Treatment Transforms Plastic Parts into High-Value Products
by Ray Chen and Ryan Blaik, PVA TePla America For manufacturers and injection and blow molders that work with different kinds of plastics (i.e., polycarbonate, polyethylene and polypropylene), utilizing plasma treatments can create competitive advantages and transform specific parts into specialized, engineered components with 10 times the value. Plasma is a state of matter – … [Read more...] about Plasma Treatment Transforms Plastic Parts into High-Value Products
Understanding Cleanrooms and Their Successful Use in Plastics Decoration
by Paul Uglum, president, Uglum Consulting, LLC Contamination in its various forms often is the largest contributor to yield loss in plastic decoration. This is especially true with decorated plastic that has highly reflective surfaces, such as high-gloss physical vapor deposition, piano black paint and high-gloss hard-coated lenses. Even with less sensitive processes and … [Read more...] about Understanding Cleanrooms and Their Successful Use in Plastics Decoration