Plastics News Show Daily - April 5, 2012 - (Page 26)

26 PLASTICS NEWS, April 5, 2012 Austrian plastics group makes mark at NPE By Charlotte Eyre EUROPEAN PLASTICS NEWS ORLANDO, FLA. — While visitors to NPE2012 are sure to have seen Austrian giants such as Engel and Greiner, one trade group is highlighting the smaller plastics companies the country has to offer. The Plastics Cluster of Upper Austria, part of Clusterland Upper Austria, says it is taking part in NPE to help promote the Austrian plastics industry, as well as encourage dialogue between Austrian and foreign businesses. “We’re hoping to promote Aus- tria’s industry here in the United States because it’s hard for our companies to internationalize themselves,” said spokesperson Anke Merkl-Rachbauer. “They work well in Europe but it becomes a lot harder once they cross over to the United States or go the other way towards Asia.” Merkl-Rachbauer says it is hard to know exactly how much cooperation there is between Austrian and American plastics firms but estimates that most companies will conduct around 5-20 percent of their business in the United States. BOOTH 273 MICRO MOLDING SINGLE KNOWS View SINGLE’s Unique WATER Temperature Control Units To Fit Your Small Applications Several Austrian companies are exhibiting at an Advantage Austria stand at NPE2012, including mold makers such as Elmet and ifw Group, which makes high-tech molds for plastic pipe fittings; extrusion specialists like SBI of Hollabrunn and Pucking-based Kuag Kunststoff-Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH, which makes downstream equipment; and companies with recycling expertise, such as Lindner-Recyclingtech. According to the cluster, Austria is a very attractive market for plastics companies because of its central position within Europe as well as governmental tax breaks. “Austria is an R&D center, which our government recognizes,” said Merkl-Rachbauer. “Some 10 percent of R&D expenses are refunded in cash.” During an SPI conference, the Austria cluster highlighted several overall trends in the European plastics industry, with bioplastics and recycling being a particular strength. According to speaker Sandra Koerner, the European Union recovers twice as much plastics waste than the United States. And the EU accounts for 24.9 percent of world’s bottle collection rates, compared to America’s 15.2 percent. Bioplastics and carbon reduction are also very important in Europe, she added, highlighting sustainable Austrian innovations such as the Trodat Printy 4.0, which the company said is the world’s first carbon-neutral stamp, made with up to 65 per- cent post-consumer recycled plastics. Austria is also a leader in bioplastics, with 125 companies in the country involved in this area. In addition, the European region is a hotspot for medical materials, said Koerner. Plastics comprise 50 percent of materials used in this market and the industry’s research and development quota in this area is more than 8 percent. Cluster Upper Austria was established in 2005 with the aim of improving the competitiveness of businesses in the Upper Austria region. Other clusters in the group include automotive, environmental technology, and design and media. Mold In Graphic Systems rolls out iMIG By Frank Antosiewicz PLASTICS NEWS CORRESPONDENT ORLANDO, FLA. — Carrying a slogan of “tattoo your plastics,” Mold In Graphic Systems (Booth 30022) rolled out its new iMIG graphic for use on polyolefin products using current hot-stamping equipment. “It‘s completely fused to plastics and 100 percent recyclable combined with the plastic,” said Matt Stevenson, executive vice president of marketing for Mold in Graphic Systems, at NPE. The product was displayed using a Hastings Manufacturing Inc. model P5-HT hot-stamping machine and provided a design that was imbedded in the plastic. Stevenson said that the new product is not normal heat transfer, chemically applied, an adhesive system or inked. He said that it works similar to heat transfer and has the same cycle time, but instead it melts into the plastic. “It can be used on any type of warning label for safety,” said Stevenson, noting that it will survive as long as the plastic. Mold In Graphic Systems has been doing graphics for 30 years and has been used by rotational molders for point-of-purchase signs, traffic signs and kayaks. It has been supplying graphics for polyethylene products since 1983. MIGS has 87 employees working at its 55,000-square-foot facility in Clarksdale, Ariz. The iMig was originally developed for injection molded products, but can be used with blow molded, thermoformed, structural foam, sheet and profile extrusions, and rotational molded products. It comes in sheet and roll form. The company also said that its new product has passed a variety of chemical tests, including tests with gasoline, engine oil, kerosene and even salt water. Hastings said that his company, based in Millstadt, Ill., has worked with Mold In Graphic for many years. Mold in Graphic’s Jason Brownell, left, and Matt Stevenson Water Temperature Control Unit EFFICIENT CLEAN PRECISE SEE WHAT’S REALLY HIDDEN INSIDE YOUR MACHINES CONTACT US FOR A FREE SAMPLE www.single-temp.com phone: 704 504 4800 info@single-temp.com 1.877.884.3129 Don’t just purge...ULTRA PURGE!TM WWW.ULTRAPURGE.COM VISIT US AT BOOTH # 7585 Plastics News photo by Frank Antosiewicz http://www.single-temp.com http://WWW.ULTRAPURGE.COM http://www.single-temp.com http://WWW.ULTRAPURGE.COM

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Plastics News Show Daily - April 5, 2012

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