Plastic & Rubber
Plastic and rubber applications in consumer and professional products are almost limitless. This is due to the wide variation in formulations and appearance of polymer materials. They are characterised by favourable (mechanical) properties such as light weight, offer advanced design flexibility, are easy to process and provide options for the functioning of plastic products.
For example, the automotive industry has shifted from metal to plastic for many of its components in its continual striving for weight reduction (and thus fuel savings). But also sectors such as construction, the furniture industry and the packaging branch make full use of plastic and rubber. Manufacturers continue to innovate with new material formulations and with these they open up new application perspectives.
The processing of plastic and rubber, with injection moulding, thermoforms, etc., is also constantly innovating. The automation rate increases, making process control and quality assurance still smarter. Besides product innovation, efficient and sustainable manufacturing is what they strive for. The fact that petroleum is the most important raw material for polymers provides an additional boost.
Energy saving is an important topic, because production takes place at high temperatures. With efficient control and cooling, there is a lot to gain; often, the deployment of variable-frequency drives in the process is helpful. Additionally, there is considerable focus on recycling. Processing of retrieved (and usually contaminated) plastics again creates new challenges for process control.
The demands on process technology and automation are increasing, while manufacturers are struggling to stay on top of this. All the more reason to work closely with a specialist such as the technical value-added distributor. He can advise on all of these topics and deliver the technology needed for innovation. He also provides the mechanical and electrotechnical supplies for efficient operation. This is why the technical value-added distributor is the natural partner for the plastics and rubber industry.