Page 69 - Plastics News Issue March 2024

IN THE NEWS

with filler wires to repair worn edges, Techniques are different to metal
cracks and fractures on mould tools, welding and this technology is not
to extend the life of mould tools. suited to all plastics and part designs,
These systems are surprisingly simple so careful consideration needs to be
to use with filler wire options avail- taken. A common approach is to use
able for most steel grades, including two different plastics (sandwiched to-
wires that leave a hardened deposit. gether), one that’s absorbent to laser
The use of pulsed laser technology, and one that is not. By focusing the la-
with a low flow rate shield gas, means ser beam through the non-absorbent
that thermal damage and discoloura- plastic, the underlying absorbent plas-
tion of the repaired surface is mini- tic will then melt forming a welded
mised, with results vastly superior to seal between the two plastics. This
conventional welding processes, al- can be a fast and effective process if
though deposit rates with laser weld- material selection and part geometry
ing are typically quite low. is carefully considered at the design
stage.
Plastic Laser Welding
of steel injection mould tools, with A less well-known process is the use
many tool makers using laser welding of lasers for ‘laser plastic welding’.

Plastic Ingenuity shares progress and industry trends in circularity
report

– up from 67% in the first year of
the study, 2021. This comprehensive
study involves sustainability and pack-
aging experts from consumer-pack-
aged goods (CPG) companies, retail
sectors and healthcare organisations.
76% of participating stakeholders
identified “make packaging from recy-
clable materials” as their top sustain-
ability goal in 2023.
The knowledge gathered from these
stakeholder studies continues to in-
form Plastic Ingenuity’s initiatives,
lastic Ingenuity, a custom ther- Plastic Ingenuity to become a trusted such as its recent certifications in ISO
Pmoformer in North America, has resource for our customers and asso- 14001 and ISCC Plus, and its adoption
published its third annual Circularity ciates within the relatively small niche of carbon emissions accounting.
Report. of plastic thermoforming.”
“Even among well-informed stake- During 2023, Plastic Ingenuity con- Sakif Ferdous, chief revenue officer,
Plastic Ingenuity, said: “By aligning our
holders sincerely and ardently search- ducted its annual Packaging Sustain- goals with the insights gained from
ing for practical solutions, sustain- ability Stakeholder Study, noting an stakeholders, we aimed not only to
ability can be a challenge,” said Dan uptick in environmental initiatives make informed decisions within Plas-
Kuehn, president and CEO of Plastic among those surveyed. In fact, 100% tic Ingenuity but also to contribute to
Ingenuity. “Our technical base and of the organisations surveyed in 2023 the broader industry’s solutions to
collaborative culture have enabled had well-defined sustainability goals
the plastic waste challenge. By shar-

PLASTICS NEWS 71
March 2024