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Recruiting Youth to Manufacturing: Addressing the Aging
Workforce in Plastics Processing
Plastics Business spoke with several sources to gain
perspective on the challenges plastics processors face
in influencing the youth of today, including Steve Dyer
of Dickten Masch Plastics; Erin Hlavin, Meghan Leibold,
and James Michalenko of Thogus Products Cos.; and Adam
Kramschuster, Ph.D., Plastics Engineering program at
University of Wisconsin-Stout.
More...
Timeline: Impact of Health Care Reform on Employers
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA),
better known as Health Care Reform, signed into law in
March 2010, contains a series of measures that will
impact employers over the next several years. This
article summarizes several of the more significant
provisions, including the Employer Mandate, which goes
into effect in 2014. Much remains to be determined,
however, as government agencies, principally the
Department of Health and Human Services, issue
regulations and interpretive bulletins to clarify the
numerous unknowns. This timeline is based on
requirements for single-employer plans that operate on a
calendar year basis.
More...
Special Energy Savings Section
featuring content from Cincinnati Milacron, Moulds Plus
International, Frigel, and Conair.
Evaluating Energy Consumption of Molding Machines: What
Have We Learned in 40 Years?
Going Green with Purging Compounds
Process Cooling: Optimize Plant Processes and Drive Down
Costs
Saving Energy in Dryers, Material Handling, and
Granulators
BONUS CONTENT:
Closed-Loop Process Cooling Independent Case Study:
Energy, Operations and Other Resources
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The Latest...
Plastikos Announces Class 10,000 Clean Room Expansion
for Medical Molding
Plastikos Inc., Erie, Pa., has announced plans to build
a Class 10,000 (ISO 7) clean room for medical molding
inside its existing manufacturing plant. Plastikos’
expansion plans include an 88-ton Arburg Allrounder
injection molding machine with a clean air module
located above the clamping unit. The system uses an
enclosed conveyor to transport parts without
contamination. This enables other operations, such as
inspection, packaging, labeling and assembly, to also be
performed in the controlled clean room environment. The
expansion is expected to be completed in either December
2010 or early 2011. To learn more, visit Plastikos Inc.
at http://www.plastikoserie.com.
DeKALB Unveils New Look
DeKALB Molded Plastics, Butler, Ind., has rebranded
itself with an updated look and image. The new green
logo represents the company’s commitment to
recyclability while the ‘wedge’ points in a direction of
forward trajectory as the company enters a new stage of
success. DeKALB strives to incorporate alignment with
its new tagline, “Committed to Your Solutions”, as the
company dedicates itself to addressing customer
challenges. Finally, DeKALB wanted to establish a
comprehensive, coordinated approach to the deployment of
the new branding efforts through additional media
channels, including a revamped website, with a
continuous message. For more information and to see the
new look, visit
www.dekalbplastics.com.
Thogus
Launches Rapid Prototype Division
Thogus, Avon Lake, OH, announces the official launch of
its rapid prototype + manufacturing (rp+m) division. The
rp+m division is specifically responsible for working
with customers needing fast, three-dimensional
prototypes and functional production parts in just a few
days. This ability eliminates costly tooling that
traditionally slows down the ideation process, testing
period and production. In 2009, Thogus invested in
several of Stratasys’ fused deposition modeling (FDM)
machines, the only rapid prototyping equipment that uses
thermoplastic materials to build 3-dimensional, durable
pieces. Parts made from FDM machines are created through
additive manufacturing – built layer upon layer – giving
the advantage of creating functional, usable parts. The
rapid parts simulate real production pieces in size,
shape and functionality. Thogus’ rp+m division has
experience in industries such as food and beverage,
healthcare, consumer, electrical and industrial. For
more information and samples of completed work, visit
www.partswithouttooling.com.
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