Modern Plastics Worldwide - July/August 2009 - dae uptlax

PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
Innovation & Optimization
METAL INJECTION MOLDING
New magnesium sheet
technology
Building off magnesium’s weight advantage
over other metals, including aluminum,
a new technology reportedly
creates fine-grained strengthening of
magnesium alloys at low cost. Called
NanoMag and launched by magnesium
molding technology firm, Thixomat Inc.
(Ann Arbor, MI), the development is
described as a patented, environmentally
friendly process for the production of
high-strength, lightweight magnesium
sheet with nanometer microstructures
for automotive, aerospace, military, biomedical,
and other applications.
Ralph Vining, director of engineering
at Thixomat, told MPW a thixomolded
plate is the “core” of the NanoMag
process, which entails running that
molded plate through a series of steps
to “mechanically work the material.”
It is then heat treated to further optimize
mechanical properties. Vining said
Thixomat is in the process of developing
a properties database for the products,
which should be available by the end of
the second quarter.
“The current status of our business is
in the development stages,” Vining said,
“however, we have identified several key
areas where the material can add value
to an existing product. We will be scaling
up the operation during the next few
months to produce a larger sheet size
that will ultimately open up our potential
market.”
The technology, which was developed
in conjunction with the University
of Michigan’s Department of Material
Science & Engineering under a National
Science Foundation sponsorship, formally
launched at the Society of Automotive
Engineers’ SAE 2009.
NanoMag is based on Thixomat’s
Thixomolding Thermal Mechanical Process
(TTMP). The company says the
net result is a stronger, more formable,
and lighter-weight magnesium sheet with
a strength-to-density ratio comparable
to steel but at one-fourth the weight.
Because of its lighter weight, magnesium
mpw.plasticstoday.com
sheet can reduce vehicle weight and
thereby cut fuel consumption.
Thixomat Inc., Ann Arbor, MI, U.S.A.;
+1 734-995-5550; www.thixomat.com
BLOWMOLDING
Jomar marks 40th
anniversary with new
PET IBM line
The year 2009 marks injection blowmolding
machinery (IBM) supplier
Jomar Corp.’s 40th year in business, and
the company is marking the occasion
with a new IBM machine targeting polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) containers
up to 60 ml.
Bill Petrino, Jomar president, told
MPW the fully hydraulic PET 20 features
a quick-change mold system, utilizing
individual mold cavities that are
mounted on die sets, which he says can
be installed in a matter of minutes.
The number of cavities the PET 20
can run is determined by the container
size, with Jomar positioning the system
for runs in the 12-million-containers/yr
range. Jomar also reports that its vertical
plasticizer and accumulator system help
reduce energy consumption. Petrino said
that Jomar, which started business in
1969, has manufactured and sold over
1600 IBM machines in its 40 years of
business.
Jomar Corp., Pleasantville, NJ, U.S.A.;
+1 609-646-8000; www.jomarcorp.com
ROBOTS & AUTOMATION
Guaranteed for life
End-of Arm Tooling (EOAT) components
manufacturer SAS Automation
says it now will offer a lifetime guarantee
for its GRF-20 spring return-gripper
fingers that were purchased after January
1, 2009.
The warranty must be used by the
original purchaser, and the products
must be used in the manner intended
and not abused. The warranty has some
other minor clauses, and is limited to a
million cycles.
SAS Automation LLC, Xenia, OH, U.S.A.;
+1 937-372-5255; www.sas-automation.com
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MODERN PLASTICS WORLDWIDE • JULY/AUGUST 2009 27