R&D PLASTICS OFFERS PLASTIC PART DESIGN SEMINAR

R&D Plastics is offering a half-day seminar on Plastic Part Design to start at 8am on October 7th at R&D Plastics Hillsboro facility. This seminar covers fundamentals of plastic part design, material selection criteria, common quality issues and key factors in part pricing. It is good for anyone involved in plastics, including engineers, plastic buyers, quality control inspectors or those with a strong interest in plastics. It concludes with a molding demonstration. To register, call us at 503-693-7993. There is NO charge for this seminar.

MATERIALS OF INTEREST AT THE NATIONAL PLASTICS EXPOSITION IN CHICAGO

Our Charlie O’Bosky attended NPE in Chicago in June. He saw several interesting material developments. Biopolymers were everywhere. R&D Plastics will be presenting a Lunch & Learn on biopolymers later this year, sorting out what might make sense for our customers. SABIC Innovative Plastics (formerly GE Plastics) showcased several interesting materials: Thermocomp HSG (high specific gravity) compounds that allow designers to tailor mass for management of momentum, weight distribution, and feel. Its specific gravity range is from 1.7 to 10. This is a great replacement for lead parts that are being eliminated through global and domestic initiatives. Konduit High Temperature Resins bringing temperature control to higher limits. Konduit thermally conductive compounds provide more thermal conductivity than conventional unfilled thermoplastics while retaining key physical properties at elevated temperatures. Stat-Kon TR composites contain electrically conductive additives. They span a broad range of surface resistivity and electrical activity, from antistatic, through conductive, to electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The sample at the show had power attached to two painted silver strips on the part, which provided a consistent heat across the part. Some possible applications include heated seats and cases for electronics in very extreme cold applications.SABIC presented a seminar on “Turning Metal into Plastic”, focusing on which metal components could be replaced with plastic. Look for this SABIC presentation as a Lunch & Learn at R&D Plastics in the near future.

R&D PLASTICS STILL SEEING OPTOMISTIC SIGNS IN CURRENT ECONOMY

Like all manufacturers, R&D Plastics has experienced a slowdown in sales, but the last couple of months we have seen mild growth. While we are getting mixed signals from customers, we hear more positive comments than we did in the spring. Only a few customers say business is strong, but many are saying they are seeing positive signs. Our trend of increased new product quotes is continuing. This has proven to be a leading indicator of improving sales levels in the past.

PLASTIC MATERIALS PRICING TRENDING UPWARDS AGAIN

Once again, we are seeing many materials, especially engineering resins, increasing in price.
And commodity resins, like ethylenes, and some lower priced engineering resins like ABS, which had dropped significantly in 2009 are now creeping upward. Whatever the reasons for the current increase (rebuilding margins, spot shortages, etc.), our concern is about what will happen when demand picks up. It appears you can expect to see continuing upward cost pressure.

VISIT R&D PLASTICS’ BOOTH AT PORTLAND DESIGN2PART SHOW IN SEPTEMBER

R&D Plastics will participate in the Design2Part trade show in Portland at the Expo Center on September 16th and 17th. This job shop show was well-attended last year and a wide range of companies exhibited. We hope you will attend and visit our booth.