Plastics Fabrication

The Apple iPhone made headlines before it ever debuted. Now, it's still making headlines but perhaps not for the best reasons. PlasticsNews China blogs about signs of distress in the iPhone's plastic casing and the fact that the topic has an online forum following of unsatisfied buyers. Some users wonder whether the cracks stem from poor material choice or unsatisfactory production processes.

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Plastics Fabrication, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Plastics Fabrication today.

The numbers are sobering — oil prices in the $140 per barrel range; a 14% increase in oil prices expected next year; and eight major supplier increases in resin prices in four weeks. Injection Molding Magazine maps the recent upward trend of resin costs using such terms as "staggering" and "unprecedented." The costs are noticeable enough to affect day-to-day business.

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Plastics Fabrication, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Plastics Fabrication today.

At the time of this writing, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association planned an event on June 23 to gather suppliers and retailers in the packaging industry. The theme of the meeting? "Plastics Packaging Under Attack." Too much negative publicity has the industry squirming to adjust public opinion of itself by installing an environmental and healthy campaign program.

How has your company or country's industry association handled any negative publicity about the plastics industry?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Plastics Fabrication, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Plastics Fabrication today.

A recent entry in Core 77's industrial design blog highlights new material developments in the auto industry — that is, smooth-surfaced dashboards with lit-up knobs. The applications point to TPO's scratch resistance and low thermal expansion and to a resin built from hydrographics and two-shot molding. The result is a sleek auto interior that begs for a matching flashy exterior. Such applications beg the question: Are there any design elements molders haven't been able accomplish with plastics?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Plastics Fabrication, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Plastics Fabrication today.

As reported in Modern Plastics Worldwide, new developments in hot runner systems have been critical to a host of innovative products and features — from two-color polycarbonate car roofs to the disappearance of flow lines in materials filled with metallic particles. How can your company take advantage?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Plastics Fabrication, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Plastics Fabrication today.