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MATERIALS & JOINING

Quality & Standards: Chemical Content

Just as the manufacturers of the world thought they were getting a stranglehold on the compliance requirements in the European Union (EU), the EU throws in another regulation to comply with. On June 1, 2007, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals Regulation (EC 1907/2006), more commonly known as REACH, came into force. The REACH Regulation was created with the intention to protect human health, as well as the environment, by reducing the risk of harmful chemical exposure.

by Matthew Quinn


Metals & Metal Parts: The Merits of Molding

Injection molding metal is not the most common way to produce a three-dimensional metal part. The traditional methods – machining, forging, and, the most popular, casting – still hold sway most of the time.

But, molding metal is a sometimes-overlooked concept that can be a viable option for designers looking for ways to make a component that combines the benefits of metal’s mechanical properties with the design flexibility of an injection molding operation. This is especially true for high volume, complex parts that maybe too small or too difficult to do easily with the more conventional method


by Larry Adams


Coatings: Conquering Corrosion

The appliance industry has long relied on surface treatment chemistries such as zinc phosphate and electro-coating technologies to properly clean, conversion coat, and paint metal substrates. These surface treatments create and sustain a lasting quality finish and help prevent corrosion to enhance the aesthetics of finished goods and the working life of inner components.

by Mark Ziehm


Prototyping: Mix & Match

As part designs become increasingly complex, there is a corresponding growing desire to emulate that complexity in the prototyping stage. A novel technology developed by Objet Geometries, Rehovot, Israel, makes that possible to an unprecedented degree. The company’s PolyJet Matrix technology, first employed in its Connex500 system, can simultaneously jet two different materials with different mechanical properties, permitting the prototyping of co-injected or overmolded parts. In addition, the system can blend those two materials in different proportions on the fly, enabling the fabrication of a multiple-material model in a single build.

by Richard Babyak


Prototyping: Materials Play the Part

In the early days of rapid prototyping, product developers were ecstatic to have quickly produced parts that accurately indicated form and fit. But as compressed development cycles have placed more demands upon design engineers, they in turn demand more from their prototypes. They want RP parts that exhibit greater functionality, more durability, higher accuracy, and improved appearance. The key to meeting those demands is continued innovation in the realm of RP materials, and the companies that create such products have stepped up to the plate and delivered. In the past few years, the industry has witnessed an expanded range of RP materials that bring product designers ever closer to their ideal – making rapid prototypes that look and perform as well as production parts.


Decoration: Bright Ideas

Alternatives to traditional electroplated chrome have hit the market that can achieve the material’s bright and glossy look without the negatives usually associated with electroplating. The timing couldn’t be better.

by Larry Adams


Industrial Design: The Right Stuff

Designers need to be materialistic. Not in the sense of being superficially obsessed with material things, but in the literal sense of being focused on materials themselves, the very substance and content of the products they design.

by Larry Adams


Plastics: Water Works

Injection molding is a tried-and-true production technology that for years has been used to make millions of parts, large and small. Injection molding does have some drawbacks, however, especially with larger parts, such as visible sink marks and other surface defects. To resolve those issues, the basic technology is being augmented with new equipment, materials, and processes.

by Larry Adams


Plastics: Pondering the Palette

Designing with plastics offers many benefits, one of which is the ability to embed the color into the polymer itself, eliminating the production bottlenecks created by finishing lines. But the decisions to be made for coloring plastics are multi-faceted, involving aesthetics, color stability, processing, cost, and the effect of pigments on mechanical properties. All of these factors must be carefully weighed to make the optimal selection of color and coloring method, and with new special effect resins being introduced on a regular basis, the right choice becomes a moving target.

by Larry Adams


Joining: Lock & Unlock

OEM product designers and fastener application engineers have struggled to provide a self-locking screw-thread system that is reusable and cost effective. Over the years, several locking systems for threaded fasteners have been developed and implemented in a wide range of commercial products. Most of these locking fasteners depend on some type of interference fit between the male and female thread. This interference is most commonly accomplished by deforming a few threads in the fastener, which is referred to in the fastener industry as an all-metal, prevailing-torque fastener.

by Kevin Peacock


Elastomers: Simply Silicone (May 2008)

Silicone elastomers are extremely versatile materials that offer a range of attractive performance characteristics, often outperforming their TPE cousins. They work well in extreme cold and high heat temperatures, are chemical resistant, and can be customized with a variety of unique properties. Combine this with tactile characteristics that range from soft to tacky to hard, and designers are given a plethora of options. Various grades of purified silicone materials can also be used in regulated applications such as foodservice appliances and medical devices.

by Larry Adams


Insulation: Optimizing Objectives (March 2008)

When evaluating polyurethane (PU) systems for household appliance applications, short demold times have typically forced PU processors to choose between strong insulation performance and higher productivity levels.

by Sandro Kohn
Hans Kramer
Vanni Parenti
Dasaradh Kumar Patchala


Metals: Flashy Finish (March 2008)

Using an eye-catching finish has become an increasingly used method to differentiate products from the competition and excite the consumer’s interest. For OEMs using prefinished metals for either cabinets or trim pieces, the options for achieving a new look have also grown. While the idea of using prefinished metals isn’t new, there are new opportunities to exploit them. Those opportunities arise from the introduction of new materials and changing consumer tastes. Today’s consumers are more amenable to colorful designs, but they also have practical concerns, such as fingerprint resistance and finish durability.

by Larry Adams


Joining: Through Thick and Thin

Self-pierce riveting (SPR) has been around for decades, so most are probably familiar with its basic premise. SPR is a cold joining process used to fasten two or more sheets of material by driving an engineered rivet through the top sheet(s) and upsetting the rivet, under the influence of a die, into the bottom sheet without breaking through it.

by Dean Monday


Joining: Think Zink

Molten zinc alloy is not commonly considered as an instant curing “glue,” nor as an alternative to instant-cure adhesives for bonding small components. But it has been used for more than 60 years in FisherTech’s Injected Metal Assembly (IMA) process to join components in much the same way as adhesives. While zinc alloy can’t replace adhesives in all applications, it can do so in many assemblies without the problems of peeling and thermal degradation inherent with conventional adhesives, and without the need for special surface preparation.

by Les Agnew


Plastics: Shielding Solutions (Jan. 2008)

Fabricating electronic device housings out of plastic offers several advantages, including design flexibility and inherent coloring, but polymer has an Achilles heel when it comes to electromagnetic interference (EMI), which passes through even the hardest plastic like ghosts through walls. Unchecked interference can cause a range of problems, from mild annoyance in a consumer electronic device to a life-threatening malfunction in a sensitive piece of medical equipment.

by Larry Adams


Plastics: Gas Shows New Side (Jan. 2008)

External gas pressure is shown in green during the gas-packing phase. The still molten plastic shown in blue was completely injected into the mold in the prior phase. Gas can be introduced through individual gas pins or through a gas manifold system; either approach puts gas on the back side to allow uniform gas packing pressure. Integral seals in the piece part geometry provide the sealing. Another sealing technique is to “O” ring the parting line. The gas pressure “inflates” and holds the plastic against the cavity half of the mold during cooling. With other processes the plastic shrinks down on the core.

by Larry Adams


Metals & Metal Parts: Lightweights Get Tough (Nov. 2007)

In recent years there has been growing interest in using lighter weight materials across a broad range of applications. This is particularly true of the aerospace and automotive industries, where there is increasing environmental pressure being brought to bear on manufacturers to reduce emissions. But, in fact, many other applications, including portable devices, can benefit from a switch to lighter materials given the appropriate surface characteristics.

by Anne Wilde


Coatings: Powder on Plastics (Oct. 2007)

When considering coating plastics, the first obvious question pops up. Why bother? By simply using pigmented resin one gets a molded-in color that can’t scratch off and one that also eliminates the need for a finishing operation. The answer is two-fold. One is that, in thick, large plastic parts, it can be more economical to put color on the outside where it is needed, instead of throughout the entire thickness of the part. The other is better color matching. Everyone has had the experience of seeing an assembly of metal and plastic parts that didn’t perfectly match, and where the fading on the plastic only made the color mismatch worse over time.

by Larry Adams


Plastics: Nano is Now (Aug. 2007)

It’s hard to read anything these days without coming across a reference to nanotechnology. What some designers may not realize is that some nanotech products have already made it out of the lab and into the field. In the realm of engineered materials, plastics enhanced with nanometer-sized particles are now available that offer designers a range of new options and benefits such as optical clarity, strength, stiffness, thermal stability, reduced permeability, and flame retardancy.

by Larry Adams


Plastics: Spheres of Influence (Aug. 2007)

A new type of glass microsphere additive has been developed for use in plastic extrusion and injection molding processes. The high-strength, low-density glass microspheres, 3M™ Performance Additives iM30K, can survive extremely high compressive forces, providing compounders and processors with new application opportunities. The potential benefits from using these additives include low microsphere breakage, lower part weight, improved thermal expansion properties, improved processing, improved dimensional stability, lower fuel load and reduced injection cycle times in many applications. Addition of these materials can also result in the maintenance of important thermoplastic physical properties.

by Stephen E. Amos
Andrew S. D’Souza
Hendrikson Karl


Joining: Speedier Silicones

Flexible, heat-resistant, one-part RTV silicones have traditionally been used to bond smooth glass or porcelain stovetops to metal stove frames. As a stove heats and cools, its components expand and contract at different rates, causing stress on adhesive joints.  Silicones inherently exhibit very high elongation, which allows them to absorb this stress without failing cohesively or cracking the glass.

by Noonan Brian P.
Fisher Edward A.Y.
Lafond John A.


Joining: Snappy Style

Reliability and quality are extremely important for consumers. However, inevitably there comes a time in a product’s lifecycle when the item will require service. Whether the product is a home appliance, commercial foodservice appliance, vending machine, ATM machine, or computer server, the less time it takes to repair the item the better.

by Ramsauer Dieter


Joining: Failsafe Fusing

There are many critical plastic-part assembly applications where the long-term integrity of the joint is absolutely essential, such as when the assembly must contain a liquid. Examples include various small household appliances, oral hygiene appliances, or parts for major appliances, such as a dishwasher arm or clothes washer pump assembly.

by Chookazian Steven M.


Elastomers: Vents Make Sense (May 2007)

Consumers expect appliances and portable devices to the withstand normal wear and tear of an active household. At the same time, the electronic components used in consumer products are becoming much more sophisticated and sensitive. It is essential to protect the electronics from external contaminants such as dust, dirt, liquids, and detergents. At the same time, battery gases that build up inside appliances must be vented so as not to damage the electronics. Therefore,  the design engineer must develop a product housing that allows gases to be vented, equalizes pressure, and prevents corrosion and damage to the internal electronics.

by Jason Zambotti


Elastomers: Overmolding Overtures (May 2007)

The soft touch and comfortable, non-slip grip are the first things that come to mind as reasons for overmolding an elastomer around a part or product, either partially or totally. But the process can provide other benefits beyond the tactile ones. Elastomers over a part or housing can improve aethetics, provide a weather seal, dampen noise and vibration, protect against impact, and provide insulation against heat or cold. Elastomers used for overmolding are available in a wide range of colors, textures, and softness grades, offering designers flexibility in how to use the materials.

by Larry Adams


Insulation: Agent of Change (March 2007)

As everyone knows, the Montreal Protocol created a sea change in a number of industries, including air-conditioning, refrigeration, and foam insulation, as manufacturers in those segments had to scramble for alternatives to the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) being used for refrigerants and blowing agents.

by Richard Babyak


Metals: Exploring Extrusions (March 2007)

Aluminum extrusions touch people’s lives everyday. Home and commercial appliances, HVAC equipment, power tools, electronics, office machines, medical equipment, fitness equipment, and vending machines, just to name a few, all incorporate aluminum extrusions to some extent.

by Lynn Brown


Metals: Layered Look (March 2007)

The word “stainless” in appliances implies durability, quality and class. But stainless steel has its limitations. It smudges easily, for instance, and designers can only obtain a limited number of appearances out of the material.

by Shan Jhamandas


Insulation: Aerogels Arrive (March 2007)

Moving a concept from prototype to production is often the most challenging part of innovation, not unlike building a really cool boat in your garage, only to find you can’t get it out the door. Aerogel materials represent a classic example.

by Richard Babyak


Joining: Better Bonding

Combining materials of choice is important for the appliance industry where “form follows function” is archetypal. Appearance, performance, cost, and assembly ease constantly dog the engineering community in this industry. This is particularly true when joining dissimilar materials, such as metals and plastics, into one unit or subassembly.


by George W. Ritter


Joining: The Heat Is On

As the use of plastic parts increases in various segments of the appliance and electronics industries, specifying the optimal method for joining molded plastic parts has become more challenging and important than ever. This is due to the expanding range of polymer formulations available, along with the increasing number of additive options for reinforcing or modifying the material.


by Michael Brunetti


Plastics: Stretching Performance (Jan. 2007)

Polyolefin elastomers are one of the fastest growing product families within elastomers markets. One of the largest usages of polyolefin elastomers is thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds replacing styrenic based TPEs, flexible polyvinyl chloride (f-PVC), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), and thermoset rubbers. Recent advancements in polyolefin synthesis have given rise to novel high performance olefin elastomers. Structure-property relationships of these novel high performance olefin elastomers will permit them to be used in many new markets and applications.

by Y. Wilson Cheung
Charles F. Diehl
Seema V. Karande
Michael J. Levinson


Plastics: Convincingly Conductive (Jan. 2007)

A new moldable conductive polymer that can mimic metal in terms of its electrical conductivity and thermal abilities has been developed for use in myriad applications such as antennas, heat generation, shielding, and more than 100 other uses.

by Larry Adams


Metals and Metal Parts: Troubling Tin Tendrils

They’re back. The mysterious and troublesome tin whiskers, once banished, have returned. That’s because lead, the guardian that kept them at bay, has been forced into retirement.

by Larry Adams


Metals and Metal Parts: Meritable Magnesium

While plastic still dominates as the material of choice for electronic housings, more designers are looking at metal die castings as an alternative that delivers higher strength and inherent electromagnetic shielding. Where weight is a concern, magnesium is often chosen for its lightness.

by Larry Adams


Metals and Metal Parts: Powder Performances

A sampling of outstanding powder metallurgy parts recognized in the 2006 Powder Metallurgy Design Awards competition sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation.


Coatings: Getting Smart

Surfaces are getting smarter, thanks to a new generation of dynamically responsive coatings. Many of today’s coatings can make a product look good and protect it from damage while offering advanced features such as corrosion detection and self-healing.

by Larry Adams


Coatings: Safer Surfaces

Antimicrobial coatings are being increasingly used to improve the hygiene of many types of appliances, including foodservice equipment, medical devices, home appliances, and, recently, even consumer electronics.

by Larry Adams


Coatings: Tiny Titans

The nanotechnology revolution that is affecting so many industries is also making a huge impact on the coatings segment, as the addition of nano-engineered particles increasingly are used to enhance coatings performance to levels previously unimagined.

by Larry Adams


PLASTICS: NPE Energizes

More visitors. More education. More innovations. That would be the concise way to sum up NPE 2006, the international plastics exposition held at Chicago’s McCormick Place in June. The Society of the Plastics Industry, sponsor of the show, was so ecstatic over the results, the organization referred to it as a “turning point in NPE history.”

by Richard Babyak


JOINING: Pivotal Point

When an application requires two thin metal sheets to be joined permanently face-to-face, designers routinely have turned to rivets, welding, or adhesives and tapes. But tradeoffs loom with each of these methods. An innovative fastener design using clinch technology provides a more practical and less complicated joining method that is able to perform multiple functions and expand design possibilities.

by Michael Maloney


JOINING: Press Time

The peel-and-press simplicity of applying pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes makes them inherently attractive as a bonding method, but that same simplicity has, in the past, made many wary, as the association with peel-and-stick labels created the impression of weakness. So in the early days of PSAs, the first hurdle suppliers had to overcome was convincing engineers that PSAs had the muscle to get the job done. Over time, as PSAs replaced other joining methods in a number of applications, their value became better understood, and there was less to prove.


PLASTICS: Ingenuity with Inserts

When designing components, engineers today are challenged to reduce size, weight and cost, while increasing part reliability. Achieving these goals is often difficult with conventional production methods such as soldering, fastening, adhesives, and others. For many component applications involving thermoplastics, insert molding can prove to be an optimal solution. Insert molding offers an efficient process for combining single or multiple discrete parts into a single component, joined by a lightweight, molded thermoplastic.




Elastomers: Powerful Polymer

An actuator technology developed in the early 1990s could potentially replace common motion-generating mechanisms in positioning, valve control, pump, and sensor applications, where designers are seeking quieter, power efficient devices to replace cumbersome conventional electric motors and drive trains.

by Mary Lowe


Elastomers: Simulating Seals

The appliance industry today uses two types of elastomer seals, static and dynamic, both of which provide better performance, processing and cost benefits than thermoset rubber seals. A static seal, such as on the end of a hose, rarely experiences any change in operating conditions. Dynamic seals, such as those found on front-loading washing machine doors, experience repeated stress from opening and closing actions.

by Ward Narhi


METALS: Simplifying Stainless

Proper grade choice optimizes cost and performance goals.

As stainless steel grows in popularity in items such as high-end kitchen appliances, engineers increasingly face the challenge of finding the appropriate grade of steel for their designs. Choosing the correct grade ensures that design engineers can achieve both aesthetic and performance objectives, and in some instances, keep costs at a minimum. The main points to consider when choosing a stainless steel are its corrosion resistance and formability.


by Mary Lowe


JOINING: Forming a Circle

Edge-forming rollers join round assemblies.

Tubing, cylindrical housings, and similar shapes often pose joining challenges. Crimping and pressing operations have been frequently used to form an edge on such shapes as a means of joining them to another part or to enclose an assembly of parts, but those methods have their drawbacks.


by Richard Babyak


JOINING: Plying Polymers

Molding process improves bonding of dissimilar plastics at lower temperatures.

Dissimilar plastics have an aversion to bonding during injection molding processes because their polymer chains are not properly oriented. Energy is required to form the material bonds necessary to achieve acceptable strength.


by Mary Lowe


PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Vibrant Visions

Special effects command attention and propel products.
Break through the clutter. Stand out from the crowd. However they phrase it, makers of consumer products all have the same objective: to set their products apart from their competitors. To achieve that goal, many of them are now using vibrant colors and special effects to create unique, eye-catching designs.


by Mary Lowe


PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Finding Fault

Impartial failure analysis needed to solve part problems.
When a component failure occurs in service, the negative effects can extend well beyond the cost of replacing the piece of equipment. This is particularly true when user safety may be at risk.


by Jeffery Jansen


COATINGS: Mighty Metallics

Designers of consumer products constantly seek new approaches to improve their products? appearance and quality, while lowering cost. Low Temperature Arc Vapor Deposition systems have been used extensively in the kitchen and bath fixture industry to deposit decorative and colorfast finishes on diverse, low-cost materials, while providing a uniform look and the durability of more expensive materials. Appliances and trim would also benefit from the distinctive appearance and durability possible with these coatings.




PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Getting a Handle on Gas-Assist

Process improves aesthetics for long flow parts.




ELASTOMERS, GASKETS & SEALS: Hot Combination




ELASTOMERS, GASKETS & SEALS: Softening Sound




ELASTOMERS, GASKETS & SEALS: Scratching the Surface




PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Making Waves

A good electric toothbrush makes brushing teeth less of an ordeal, and as competition in that personal care segment heats up, manufacturers must look for new ways to differentiate their products. And the goal of making waves in that market is what led to the development of the innovative Sonicare Elite by Philips Oral Healthcare, a unit of Philips Domestic Appliances and Personal Care Div. of Royal Philips Electronics.

by Richard Babyak


PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Versatile Vision

It’s a well-known fact that many people use their microwave oven more frequently than their traditional oven, or even their cooktop. However, many consumers are confronted by the dilemma of finding an optimal place for the indispensable microwave, particularly in kitchens suffering from space constraints or where aesthetic preferences demand an uncluttered look. Sharp Electronics has provided a solution to this dilemma by designing a 30-in. freestanding range that incorporates a novel, microwave drawer in addition to a conventional oven and glass-ceramic cooktop. The Sharp Insight range was introduced earlier this year and represents Sharp’s first expansion into the arena of major appliances.

by Richard Babyak


METALS & METAL PARTS: Design for Die Casting

High-pressure die cast zinc and magnesium alloys provide some of the best opportunities for reducing manufacturing costs and improving metal part performance. When it is necessary for a component to perform a mechanical function, both the process and the alloys’ properties can produce very complex configurations with a precision which eliminates the need for secondary finishing or deburring operations. Gears provide an excellent illustration of die casting and tooling capabilities.




PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Bug Busting Polymer

Your hands are often your worst enemy when it comes to staying healthy. It’s a well-documented phenomenon how often people catch a cold or a Norwalk-like virus from touching something touched by an infected person, picking up the germs on the hand, then touching the hand to the face, nose or mouth. With new and potentially more dangerous microbes emerging in the Far East, microbes that can be quickly spread abroad by air travel, the touching mode of transmission has become a greater concern for everyone.

by Richard Babyak


PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Faster Flow

Makers of vacuum cleaners are always looking for new ways to maximize the performance of their products. They want increased airflow efficiency, better motor life, yet at the same time, want to reduce noise. These goals can often conflict, a fact well known by companies like Ametek, Paoli, Pa., a leading supplier of air moving motors for the floor care industry.

by Richard Babyak


PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Powering the Future

A fuel cell prototype made solely of engineering thermoplastics was recently unveiled by Ticona, Florence, Ky., the technical polymers business of the Celanese Group. The design is expected to reduce fuel cell cost at by least 50 percent versus those fabricated with other materials such as metals or thermosets.

by Richard Babyak


METALS & METAL PARTS: A Cut Above

New product development is the lifeblood of consumer product manufacturers and, where competition is fierce, market share is the critical measure of success. Consumer products giant Philips has enjoyed major success with its innovative electric shavers, marketed under the Philishave brand in Europe and under the Norelco brand in North America.

by Richard Babyak


COATINGS: Dazzling Depth

The versatility in powder coating effects and textures have come about over the past 10 years, changing the look of an appliance from simply a necessary piece of equipment to a focal point that makes a statement.

by Karen Buscemi


PLASTICS: Color Me Recyclable

In achieving distinctive appearances, the Kodak company must balance stringent polymer specifications and processing guidelines with varying manufacturing capabilities located around the world.

by Richard Babyak


COATINGS: On the Right Wavelength

Ultraviolet (UV) curing technology has been around for over 30 years, but remains an unknown to many designers even though it is commonly used in a wide variety of industrial processes for curing adhesives, inks and coatings.




PLASTICS & PLASTIC PARTS: Stream of Solutions

Improved selection of polymer's boosts OEMs' redesign efforts.

by Richard Babyak


ELASTOMERS, GASKETS & SEALS: Hard Facts about Soft Touch

A guide for overmolding elastomers on appliance parts.




ELASTOMERS, GASKETS & SEALS: Sealing & Shielding

Conductive, form-in-place EMI gasketing seals electronic enclosures.




PLASTICS & MOLDING: Cube It

Versatile cube mold more than twice as productive as turntable - The turning-stack system is based on a rotary cube with four equal mold faces, arranged between the platens of the injection molding machine.

by Richard Babyak


PLASTICS & MOLDING: Resins Hit the Mark

Improved polymers meet market demands. Unique, challenging applications require special polymers, tailored for specific performance characteristics, and today’s resin suppliers are constantly adjusting and improving the mix of their formulations to meet market demands.

by Richard Babyak


PLASTICS MOLDING: Allies in Design

Molder helps electronics maker break into new market.


PLASTICS MOLDING: Real Parts, Real Fast

Web-based system speeds design process, lowers costs.


Plastics/Molding & Forming - Best of Both Worlds.

Plastic/metal hybrid technology, developed by Bayer Polymers, may soon be used for structural applications in appliances.


Plastics/Molding & Forming - Best of Both Worlds.

Plastic/metal hybrid structural parts coming soon.

by Joe Jancsurak


Plastics/Molding & Forming - Combining Tough With Gentle.

Soft overlays, hard substrates provide design options.




Technology Update: Plastics/Molding & Forming: Handling the Heat

Coffee House Taste by the Cup is the trademarked phrase used to describe a single-serve coffee brewing system, developed by Keurig Premium Coffee Systems, Boston, Mass.

by Richard Babyak


Technology Update: Plastics/Molding & Forming: Fabulous Film

Film insert molding can provide both style and shielding.

by Richard Babyak


Technology Update: Plastics/Molding & Forming: Partners in Progress

Advanced polyolefins benefit advanced washer.




Technology Update: Plastics/Molding & Forming: Clearly Different

When developing its Dirt Devil Platinum Force carpet shampooer, Royal Appliance Mfg. Co., Glenwillow, Ohio, wanted to exhibit a dramatically different look for the floor care appliance.

by Richard Babyak


Technology Update: Plastics/Molding & Forming: Visionary Design

Taking the guesswork out of judging color quality is a core area of expertise at at X-Rite, Grandville, Mich., which has for years supplied industry with technology that precisely measures color.

by Richard Babyak


Plastics that Perform

Innovative use of plastics infuses appliances with durability, dimensional stability, and chemical resistance.

by Charmaine Jones


Plastics Rx

Medical device manufacturers look to plastics for chemical and heat resistance.

by Charmaine Jones


Vacuum Insulation Value

Technology Update




Corona-Resistant Insulation Enamels

Usage of inverter-drive systems spurs new developments.




Testing Coatings Accurately

The primary objective of heat curing is to cycle as many parts per hour as possible through ovens while maintaining proper curing periods.

by Norman Remich



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