First the bad news: Unfortunately, designers regularly have to face technical limitations. On the one hand, it is often not known that connection solutions using direct screwing can be implemented reliably in materials with a high carbon fiber content. On the other hand, it is considered to be very difficult. The good news: These assumptions are unfounded, and the facts tell a different story. Both short and long fiber-reinforced materials with carbon fibers are absolutely feasible in terms of joining technology. Two companies that should know – and above all can provide technically valid proof – are the closely associated companies Baier & Michels and LEHVOSS. They effectively eliminate the fear of subjects such as electrochemical corrosion, surface wear during the screwing-in process, creep resistance or joint strength after climate change tests. Even those fears of the most stubborn critics.

What issues are driving development? What can we expect? In the following 3 minutes of reading time, you will gain an up-to-date insight into aspects that will help you to master future challenges in medical technology more successfully. The headlines: The future of plastics processing is the circular economy: how recyclates are also changing medical technology Frying fat for defibrillators? Still a dream of the future ... Not a dream of the future: bio-based long fiber thermoplastics (LFT) Revolutionary PEEK: color variety and thermal conductivity for advanced medical technology!

In plastics processing, compounding technology is the central process that specifically modifies the properties of base materials/polymers in order to meet specific application requirements. It is the harmonious, precisely coordinated interplay of chemistry and physics that plays a key role in this process. By combining chemical reactions with physical principles, innovative materials with tailor-made properties are created. This blog post is about what is important in this process and why everything ultimately revolves around the extruder and its screws.

For material developers, the art of compounding electrically conductive compounds consists of integrating various conductive fillers and reinforcing materials into a polymer matrix. For a compound that meets even the most detailed requirements for other structural properties - be it mechanical strength, stiffness or toughness, for example. And we do this consistently over the long term - batch after batch. Like all arts, this is not something that can be mastered "just like that". But a great deal can be achieved within several decades ...

All bespoke tailoring is based on precise measurements taken in advance. Only if the tailor knows the individual measurements/dimensions and wishes in advance can his art fully unfold. This applies to the tailoring of plastic compounds just as much as it does to fashion. Instead of twine and yarn, everything revolves around polymers, reinforcing materials and additives as well as compounding (including processing) to make semi-finished plastic products more efficient. At the very beginning, the most precise possible knowledge of the manufacturing process itself is required. After all, it is not just the material itself that makes the semi-finished product more efficient - the process is also decisive. The material "only" has to be optimally suited to the respective process. For the really good compounder, this means in short: first understand, then compound! And this is exactly what we have given free rein to our thoughts on ...

To put it briefly: No matter what you manufacture, in what quantity and within what time and cost frame it has to be ready for presentation or series production, and no matter how demanding the subsequent load on the component may be - what counts in the end is whether the plastic component works and, above all, pays off. And whether this is achieved by injection molding or 3D printing or even extrusion is - at least from our point of view - of secondary importance. Why we see it that way, why this is advantageous for you, and how we can easily turn the or into an and - that's what you'll find out in the next four minutes of reading time here:

The results of tribological tests help to optimize material selection, improve product quality and service life, reduce costs and develop clear competitive advantages. The practical data obtained enables design engineers to make informed decisions and offer their customers high-performance, reliable products. This blog article deals with the tribological testing methods used, why big data means a lot but not everything, the advantages for plastics processing companies and, above all, the role of the material developer or compounder:

Don't worry: We won't try your patience with details of our production line for long-fiber thermoplastics. Much better: We'll show you why the material produced with it can put you in a position to develop or manufacture components / products / special products that could clearly set you apart from your competitors. All you have to do now is: read on. Invest a good 3 minutes of reading time. You could change your market position / company story. You can hardly get more ROI in such a short time.

Thermally conductive compounds or thermally conductive plastics offer many application possibilities and promising future prospects. Simply due to the fact that they are able to combine good mechanical properties with thermal conductivity and design freedom - and this in a steadily growing number of applications. Interestingly, however, this has not yet sunk into everyone's heads. A fact that we would like to change with this article.

Since mid-January of this year, the call for a ban on perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) has been the talk of the town, and not just throughout the industry. And as befits our times, the news, questions, prophecies and prophecies of doom have been pouring in. Time for us to name the facts, to take stock of the situation and to illuminate future scenarios.