The Use of Plastics in Household Appliances
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The Use of Plastics in Household Appliances
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Everyday Uses for Plastic Gaskets & Seals
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Although you may not see nor directly handle plastic gaskets and seals, these components are critical to the functionality and longevity of many devices you use every day. They eliminate leakage pathways between items, making everything from temperature control to equipment operation possible.
At Preferred Plastics, we specialize in the manufacture of standard and custom plastic…
Everyday Uses for PVC Plastic
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Accidentally discovered almost two centuries ago when a flask was exposed to sunlight, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has revolutionized the way people live, work, and play. Versatile and economical, it has become one of the world’s most widely used thermoplastic polymer.
PVC has improved or made possible an enormous range of consumer and industrial products,…
Extrusion Tolerances and Why They Are Important
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Strong, lightweight, and moldable, plastics improve the performance, convenience, and safety of thousands of products we use every day. Plastics that make up carpets, window trim, and exterior siding keep us comfortable, whereas components in portable electronic devices let us access the Internet or communicate with family and friends on the go. Plastics in sports helmets and bullet-proof vests…
Biodegradable Plastics: How They Work & Their Advantages
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Plastics are a vital asset that often provides functionality other materials can’t easily or economically replace. While synthetic plastics are usually cheaper, lighter, safer, and stronger, they don’t mix well with nature.
Biodegradable plastics are a way to keep the enormous advantages of conventional plastics while mitigating their disadvantages. As a leading turnkey plastic…
What is the Process for Co-Extrusion?
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From space devices to bulletproof vests and prosthetic limbs, plastics are a vital component of technological advancement and manufacturing innovation. Crucial to any cutting-edge product is the performance of the materials from which it’s made. The co-extrusion process is an emerging way to manufacture plastics for demanding applications.
Producing better-performing and longer-lasting…
The Use of Plastic Materials in the Construction Industry
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Whether or not you wield a hammer or operate heavy equipment, the construction industry has a profound impact on just about everything you do. Modern society is built, from roads and bridges to houses and offices.
Arguably, no material has a more significant impact on the construction industry than plastic. Adaptable and customizable, plastics help make the infrastructure we use every day…
What Plastics Can Be Recycled
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Versatile plastics inspire innovation and help make life better, healthier, and safer. From containers and packaging to appliance components and construction materials, plastics play a pivotal role in just about everything around us.
The average American goes through more than 250 pounds of plastic waste annually, and much of that comes from packaging. Reuse of plastics is critical for environmental…
Color Matching: Plastic In Any Color
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Whether on the manufacturing floor or a retail store shelf, the color of a plastic product is critical. It’s the first thing a prospective customer sees, and the right choice sets you apart.
Improve the viability of your plastic parts with precision color-matching services from Preferred Plastics. As a top custom…
ABS vs. PVC Plastic
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Plastics are vital to just about all aspects of society, from consumer products and transportation to heavy manufacturing and infrastructure. Two of the most widely used thermoplastics are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or ABS, and Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC.
While ABS and PVC can improve just about any application, each plastic type has unique performance characteristics.…
What is Profile Extrusion?
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Plastics play a pivotal role in making daily tasks better, healthier, and safer. They are used to make bicycle helmets, child safety seats, and automobile airbags. These materials are also found in cell phones, televisions, computers, and other electronic equipment. Additionally, plastics are a part of the roofs, walls, floors, and insulation that improve building efficiency, and the packaging that…
The Use of Plastics in the Automotive Industry
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The automobile is arguably one of the most significant inventions of the last century. Cars and trucks not only improve personal transportation, but they enable businesses to transport goods and services economically and effectively.
Drivers have begun to expect a lot from their vehicles, such as getting more miles per gallon or better reliability. Improved automotive performance demands…
Belt Cleats and Their Uses
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When your application requires continuous transport of free-flowing materials, nonconformities like rollbacks, spillages, and blockages can hinder production throughput. Belt cleats, however, give your conveyor system the extra grip needed to move product from one activity to the next.
Belt cleats are used to convey material during inclines or declines, and to prevent product rollback. Also,…
Plastics Will One Day Be 100% Recyclable
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Mass production of plastics has increased so rapidly that more than 8.3 billion metric tons have been created in the last six decades. Much of it comes in the form of hard-to-recycle products that accumulate in landfills, are incinerated, or discarded in natural environments.
Light yet durable, plastic is great – until it’s no longer needed. Because plastics contain numerous additives…
Tolerances in Plastic Extrusions Lesson 101
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What is a tolerance? Simply speaking, it is the amount or measure of room given from the dimensional ideal. Often, the dimensions of a product will fluctuate, which allows for tolerances to be determined at +/- measurements. Tolerances are essential in manufacturing processes because they allow room for variability in the part’s dimensions (thickness, length, and width of…
The Wonderful World of Plastics
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Check the shelves of your local mega-store and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a product that doesn’t have a plastic component. Since the introduction of Bakelite in 1907, plastics have become essential materials for manufacturers of all product types. Synthetic plastics are found in home exteriors, car interiors, clothing, product packaging, toys, tools, medical components and electronics. Lightweight,…
Going Green With Plastics
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The most desirable properties of plastics—their durability and resistance to environmental degradation—are also their biggest drawbacks. Environmentalists have long worried that plastic waste is taking over the planet, clogging landfills and polluting the ocean. Now, worldwide attention to environmental health and sustainability has given rise to a new group of plastics and improved efforts…
A History of Modern Plastic Products
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Though humans have used natural polymers like horn, rubber and cellulose for centuries, the modern history of plastics began in 1907 with the patenting of Bakelite, a petroleum-based synthetic. During the next three decades, foundational modern plastics emerged as versatile, pale-colored materials produced from petrochemical processes.
With the advent of World War II and a scarcity of natural…
Preferred Plastics Is Now Producing Rail Boots
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The current emphasis on using American-made products in infrastructure renewal has presented compelling opportunities for U.S. companies to expand transportation-related services. At Preferred Plastics, we’re continually improving our material supply chain and extrusion processes to keep up with these developments. We have the superior capabilities to produce rail boots and insulators…
ABS: An All-Around Choice for Prototypes & Parts Manufacturing
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Extruded plastics are an indispensible part of modern life, and many of the plastic products you use on a daily basis are made of a thermoplastic polymer called ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). If you have played golf, stored parts in a plastic bin, or helped a child construct…
What Is Plastic Extrusion?
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Composite windows, vinyl fencing, freezer gaskets & many other products are produced using a high-volume manufacturing process called plastic extrusion.
Customer Service in Plastic Extrusion
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Preferred Plastics was honored to receive the U.S. Trade & Commerce Institutes 2013 Excellence in Manufacturing award.
Plastics Extrusion 3D Printing
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In February of 2014 we posted some brief comments about Preferred Plastic’s interest in 3D printing and the opportunities it could bring to our customers and our industry. Well, we are pleased to announce the addition of our Makerbot Replicator Z18 3D printer that will be used to help Preferred bring your custom plastic extrusion project to life.
Our 3D printer has a massive build volume…
Effect of Chemical Exposure On Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
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The following list is a general reference guide for chemical exposure on PVC that we use in our custom profile extrusions in Plainwell, MI and Louisville,…
Why PVC For Your Next Extrusion
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Polyvinyl chloride (also known as vinyl or PVC) is a very versatile thermoplastic that is utilized in the production of lots of products that consumers encounter in everyday life and many more that are encountered less frequently, but are nevertheless very important in appliance, building and construction, electronics, healthcare, packaging, transportation, and…
Plastics for High-Temperature Applications
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Question: What material can a product be constructed of in order to withstand damage, abuse, harsh conditions, low temperatures, high temperatures, and everything in between?
Answer: Plastic.
Okay, we may be biased, but we truly believe that plastics are the most prolific, universally-effective materials that exist; designed for the most delicate…
Why Plastic Bags Shouldn't Be Banned
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Whether in a supermarket, department store, or restaurant, when it comes to carrying items, there has been one constant staple over the years: plastic bags. Recently, plastic bags have received a lot of negative attention, due to the fact that there is a misconception about the negative environmental impact plastic bags carry. However, we want to combat that theory—are…
Preferred Plastics Custom Extrusions: Meeting Any and All Needs and Applications
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The quality of your products is crucial to your success, and we know that. It’s equally important that you stay ahead of the competition, maintaining the best position in the market. We understand that as well.
Through our superior custom extrusions, our clients achieve this, receiving the highest quality products that are tailor made to their exact specifications and application, ensuring…
The World-Changing History of Plastics
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What do hair combs, Barbie Dolls, car interiors, jet engine parts, and the first American flag to be planted on the moon have in common? All are made from plastics.
Of course there are myriad of other products that fill both our history and our daily lives that are made from plastics—too many to list here—but the point is that plastics are one of the most widely used, indispensible materials…
Reshoring in the Plastics Industry
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You’ve most likely heard a great deal about reshoring and manufacturing by now; it’s a buzzword and a popular trend, for good reason.
In fact, when the founder of The Reshoring Initiative, whose mission is to “bring good, well-paying manufacturing jobs back to the United States,” spoke at the Plastic News Executive Forum, he stated that…
Automation and Plastics Extrusion
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Automation is one of the fastest upward trends in manufacturing today, from advancements in materials and machinery to robotics and 3D printing. Technology in this area has progressed considerably in a relatively short amount of time. Companies of all sizes are relying on it to keep production up, costs down, and quality consistent. It’s also one of the reasons why American manufacturing, as a…
The Bioplastics Movement
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As the world becomes more concerned about the environment, we are starting to look at plastics in a different light. Our businesses and homes rely heavily on plastics, and it is no wonder, as it is the perfect material for almost every situation. That is why scientists are working so hard to find a way to make plastics more “Green”. One promising alternative is bioplastics.
First introduced…
Our Current View of 3D Printing
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Preferred Plastics has worked throughout its many years in business to be at the forefront of technology and design. We understand that our customer’s concepts are important and we spend in-depth time and energy so that our tool designs and engineering are done with care and strategy in mind.
With that regard, we have been watching both the initial hype and now the progression of 3D printing…
The Advantages of Plastics in Automotives
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Plastics are known to reduce costs and boost efficiency in a number of industries, with their countless applications and advantages. One of the industries that continues to be aided by the use of plastics—and by the consistent innovations—is the auto industry.
According to the latest…
Plastics in Medicine: Built-In Disease Prevention
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In many industries, from automotives to agriculture, plastics are consistently proving to be an advantageous material and are presenting new solutions to common problems. From energy efficiency and better environmental practices to lowering costs, innovations in the plastics industry are changing industries for the better.
The healthcare industry is one example. As hospitals and doctor’s…
Viewing the New LEED Policy Positively
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There has been a lot of talk recently about the best ways to incorporate sustainability into the manufacturing industry. As the talk has spread to the building and construction industries, it should come as no surprise that plastics have also been a part of the conversation. Here are a few thoughts on a controversy that is swirling through the world of plastics manufacturing right now concerning…
Recycled Plastics Revolution
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For well over 100 years, humans have been finding new and better ways to incorporate plastic into nearly every part of daily life. It’s only been in the last 40 years or so that we’ve begun to realize that the disposal of plastics can be problematic; only in the last decade have we begun to make a serious attempt to find a solution to the problem. Today, sustainability has become everyone’s…
How Plastics are Paving the Way to the Future of America’s Infrastructure
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In many areas throughout the country, the infrastructure on which Americans rely—bridges, railroads, buildings, and more—is in need of repair. Environmental damage, years of overuse, and the need for more energy-efficient solutions has created a challenge for those in charge of fixing them. And the solution they keep coming up with again and again? Polymers.
As engineers are finding…
Plastics: As Planet-Friendly as they are Prolific
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There seems to be a common misconception among Americans that plastics are not environmentally friendly. The thinking often goes that since they are made from fossil fuels, they can’t be good. However, the reality is quite different. In fact, plastic products save more energy than it uses to make them.
According to the American Chemistry Council, “plastics, even those sourced from fossil…
Plastics and the Green Building Revolution
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After a few tough years in the home and commercial construction industry, it seems that we are in the middle of the rebirth. According to this report, new housing projects in June 2013 were 10.4% higher than during the same period in 2012, while commercial construction was up 6.2% year-over-year in May. Without question, this…
America’s Auto Industry: Back and Better than Ever
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As the American manufacturing industry is making a major rebound, helping the economy grow, consumer confidence is up and constantly gaining. In general, people are hiring more and spending more. One of the industries leading all of this is the automotive industry. According to this article,…
Shipping is Going Global
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Recently, we have heard so much news about the trend of reshoring emerging in American manufacturing—the idea of companies bringing manufacturing back to the United States from foreign countries, so that there is pride in “Made in the USA.” But what about the opposite effect? American companies manufacturing goods here and then shipping them overseas? As plastic extruders, we are beginning…
Choosing the Just-Right Supplier
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You’ve sent your drawings and RFQ out for bid, and several quotations are sitting on your desk for review. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the lowest price option. But as we all know, low price does not always imply good value. How well do you know the vendor who’s offering you this great deal? It’s time to put on your interviewer’s hat and ask a few questions. What are some of the factors…
Make No Assumptions — Packaging Shipping and Storage are Important
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A lot of hard work went into your part design, and now it’s time to get it manufactured! You’ve sent out your drawing and RFQ, honed in on a vendor, and negotiated pricing. Everything is all set and ready to go, right? Not so fast! Have you done your packaging homework? As the final part of the manufacturing process, how the product will be packaged is often overlooked until the end. Defining…
EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY
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In order to be considered a leader in your industry you must obviously stay at the forefront of technology, and the extrusion market is no different. Preferred Plastics keeps up with state-of-the-art processing techniques and raw material advancements with constant research and development of new custom products. A strong focus on technology, from processing, to tooling design, to material selection,…
Every Job Starts with a Quotation
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When you invite Preferred Plastics to quote on a job, we commit to utilizing our experience and expertise to provide you with a high value product that will help you achieve your goals. We will carefully listen to your needs, and might have to ask you a few questions — it’s our way of making sure we understand your requirements so we can deliver the best possible outcome.
How does the…
Don't count out Plastics in Sustainability
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Is there sustainability in plastics?
This seems to be a common question throughout industry today. As the need for green materials grows in commercial construction and other industries, and organizations such as LEED and MBDC are promoting tax incentive opportunities and “green points” for those who utilize sustainable materials in applications, companies are increasingly looking for…
Tooling for Plastics Extrusions Lesson 102
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In this second of our ‘educational’ blogs we introduce the subject of tooling. When asked what the word “tooling” means in the context of the plastic extrusion process, there is a two-part answer. Part one is the die, which is used to shape the cross-section of the profile as the plastic is extruded. If you have ever played with a Play-doh machine or own a pasta maker, you are already familiar…
Quality Reigns at Preferred Plastics
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Welcome to Preferred Plastics. We are a custom extruder of thermoplastic resins, specializing in the manufacturing of rigid, flexible, and co-extruded products for a wide range of markets worldwide. And to what do we owe our success? Largely to a knowledgeable, supportive team that works cohesively and comprehensively to give you the best engineered product at the highest possible quality.
Preferred…
