Features
Polymer-based, 3D-printed pericardial tissue project could save countless lives
by Canadian PlasticsA new three-year research project is developing biomimetic polymers that can imitate the mechanical properties of pericardial tissue, with the goal of making artificially produced implants for heart disease patients who are waiting for a donor organ.
Molded Precision Components is pursuing perfection
by Canadian PlasticsLocated near Barrie, Ont., this full-service engineering, product development, and injection molding specialist produces over 70 million high-precision plastic parts each year. And you could probably count the rejects on the fingers of one hand.
Unbottled potential: Nova Scotia beach house made from 620,000 recycled PET bottles
by Canadian PlasticsBuilt by construction company JD Composites, the 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom home has opened up a new way of turning plastic waste into eco-friendly housing.
Ford and McDonald’s collaborate to convert coffee bean skin into car parts
by Canadian PlasticsDrawing on Canadian research, the companies are giving vehicles a caffeine boost by using coffee chaff in vehicle parts such as headlamp housings.
Avoiding a hot mess: The right way to maintain hot runners
by Canadian PlasticsHot runners can improve part quality, enhance operational efficiencies, reduce scrap, and save money. But they’re complex and not exactly low maintenance. The good news is, you can overcome these challenges by addressing a few key issues.
W. Amsler Equipment Inc. just turned 25
by Canadian PlasticsAnd the company’s Swiss-born founder and industry veteran Werner Amsler still takes pride in staying ahead of the technology curve.
A look at some resonating new resins
by Canadian PlasticsWhen it comes to food packaging, plastic is almost always a better material to choose than the alternatives. And speaking of better, here are some of the newest plastic resins and additives designed for both rigid and flexible applications.
Part packaging, robot-style
by Canadian PlasticsSo you’ve finally decided to automate your end-of-the-line part packaging process? Great. Now here’s how to do it.
New 3D printing technology produces “living” polymers
by Canadian PlasticsResearchers in Australia and New Zealand have successfully merged 3D/4D printing with a chemical process to produce “living” resin, with huge potential for fields as diverse as recycling and biomedicine.
Canadians at K 2019: Oh, Canada!
by Canadian PlasticsCanadian companies may not have been among the most numerous exhibitors at the K 2019 trade show in Düsseldorf in October, but they made an impact. From the Great White North direct to western Germany, here’s a look at some of the made-in-Canada developments and technologies unveiled at the big show.
Smells like progress: Making sustainable polymers from fragrant molecules
by Canadian PlasticsBritish researchers have developed a technique for extracting molecules found in the essential oils of a wide variety of plants to produce organic polymers to replace plastics made from petrochemicals.
Compounding rewards: CPIA Leader of the Year Bill Dickson
by Canadian PlasticsThe founder and president of Cambridge, Ont.-based material supplier Canuck Compounders Inc., Bill Dickson has been dedicated to sustainability since long before it was cool.
World-first surgery uses Aussie biopolymer in heart valve implant
by Canadian PlasticsA U.S. patient has successfully received a polymer heart valve jointly developed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and medical device company Foldax Inc.
Nova Chemicals just got even more sustainable
by Canadian PlasticsWith the new position of director of sustainability filled by Sarah Marshall, the Calgary-based polyethylene resin maker is walking the walk when it comes to advancing the circular economy.
Danish automation supplier OnRobot comes to North America
by Canadian PlasticsThe end-of-arm tooling maker for collaborative robot applications has opened a new R&D office in Los Angeles as part of its push into the U.S. and Canadian markets.
The right way to convey powders
by Canadian PlasticsFor plastics processors, conveying powders involves a completely different set of challenges compared to pellets. Here’s how to handle them.
You’ve been friended by the latest size reduction equipment
by Canadian PlasticsWith the cost of materials going up and maintenance budgets going down, it’s critical that shredders and granulators be as user-friendly as possible. New designs can help transform your size reduction process from headache to hassle-free.
A cool comeback in conformal cooling
by Canadian PlasticsIndustry veteran Pat Zaffino and his team are back in business with a game changing conformal cooling technology for injection molds.
Building schoolrooms from plastic waste in West Africa
by Canadian PlasticsConceptos Plasticos, a Colombian non-profit group, has partnered with UNICEF to collect plastic waste in the West African country of Côte d’Ivoire and turn it into modular plastic bricks to build classrooms.
Straw maker Stone Straw fights back with bioplastic straws
by Canadian PlasticsTraditional plastic straws are an endangered species nowadays, which is why this well-known Brantford, Ont.-based extruder is making the move to an eco-friendly plant-based alternative.