COVER STORY
Power Drive
The desire to reduce vehicle weight is accelerating the development and use of high-performance thermoplastics for underhood applications
By Patrick Toensmeier
Automotive Composites: Mass Reduction for Mass Production
Reinforced plastics are lowering weight, improving handling and performance, and boosting safety for passenger cars
By Peggy Malnati
K 2016 Preview
Gearing Up for the World’s Largest Plastics Show
To whet your appetite, we offer up a small sampling of the vast array of innovative products and technologies that await the 200,000 visitors to K 2016 in Düsseldorf from Oct. 19-26
By Jon Evans
New Developments in Blow Molding
In early October, attendees will gather in Atlanta for SPE’s Annual Blow Molding Conference. Get a sneak peek at some the advances that will be on tap.
By Nancy D. Lamontagne
FROM SPE
Preparing to reflect, and to forge ahead
Digital processes, interconnectivity, Industry 4.0 and fast-changing information technology are reshaping our industry. At the upcoming K Show, we will pause to review the landscape while looking ahead to assess where we are heading, as SPE prepares to enter its 75th anniversary year in 2017.
By Wim de Vos
DESIGN NOTES
Sustainable Eyeglasses from Down Under, with a German Flair
Australia’s Dresden Optics is aiming to produce low-cost, stylish, recycled-plastic eyewear but a strong nod to German design and manufacturing quality
By Robert Grace
Technical Paper: Joining Technologies
How to Select the Right Process for Joining Your Underhood Parts
A variety of technologies exist to execute the welding and joining of plastics parts. In this article, Branson Ultrasonics helps you to determine which one is right for you.
By Craig Birrittella
CONSULTANT’S CORNER
Plastics — It’s All About Molecular Structure
Get a quick primer on some key aspects of polymer chemistry — from polymerization, intermolecular bonding, molecular weight, and the differences between crystalline and amorphous structure
By Jeffrey A. Jansen
PLASTICS MAKE IT POSSIBLE
Plastics Sustainability, through the Lens of Natural Capital Costs
A new study by UK consultants Trucost PLC reveal that in some key applications, plastics offer broadenvironmental advantages over competitive materials. We crunch the numbers for you.
By The American Chemistry Council
INSIDE SPI
Assessing the Brexit Impact, plus The FLiP Files
SPI’s Michael Taylor takes a hard look at what the UK’s potential exit from the European Union might mean to the U.S. plastics industry.
See also the latest person to be profiled in SPI’s Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP) files.
By SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association
The Dawn of Commercial Thermoforming
Industry veteran Stan Rosen reflects on how the thermoforming industry got its start some 80 years ago, and what developments have helped shaped the modern-day thermoforming sector.
By Stanley R. Rosen
DEPARTMENTS
Industry News
Industry Patents
By Dr. Roger Corneliussen
Energy-Saving Tip
By Dr. Robin Kent
Upcoming Industry Events
Market Place
Advertiser Index
About the cover:
In this issue we turn a bright LED headlight (such as the one pictured on the cover) on how advanced materials are reshaping the automotive industry. (Photo courtesy of Bigstock; cover designed by SPE MarComm Team.)
