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Engineer's Toolbox:
Winners of International Plastics Design Competition announced

The award winners in the 2nd International Plastics Design Competition (IPDC) sponsored by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association certainly span a wide range of applications, and many of them embody innovative use of technologies in support of sustainability goals.

Culminating at NPE2012, the competition attracted 32 product entries whose details and images were posted online many weeks prior to NPE on the IPDC site at www.plasticsdesign.org. The huge NPE show, held once every three years, took place earlier this month on April 1-5, 2012, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. NPE2012 attracted 1,933 exhibitors, more than in each of the three previous NPEs. There was a 26% increase in attendance, with 55,359 plastics professionals participating in the event. These visitors represented 19,283 unique companies.

An international panel of nine judges evaluated the entries in advance of NPE2012 and in a special exhibit at the show itself. In addition to awards presented by the judges, there was a "Peoples' Choice" award based on online and at-show voting open to anyone in the industry.

The awards presented were:

Best in Show:
The 111 Navy Chair, designed by Emeco and gas-assist injection molded from recycled PET supplied by BASF. The product also won the Buildings & Furnishings award and the Sustainable Consumer Product award.

Peoples' Choice:
The Zip Zester, for removing zest from citrus fruits; designed by Grass Roots Industries for brand owner Zip Zester; molded by Cashmere Molding using Battenfeld equipment, materials from EMS Grivory, and tooling by Questech Unlimited and China Monicom.

Automotive & Transportation:
The all-plastics Tigris airline catering trolley, designed by ProMolding, molded by Bemis Manufacturing using tooling from VinylTech International, machinery from Milacron, and resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers. The product also received the Innovations in Plastics award and the Project award.

Consumer Products:
The Purist Hydroflo Water Bottle, designed by Harbor Fluid Products for brand owner Specialized Bicycle Components.

Medical & Scientific:
Mobilegs, an alternative to the traditional crutch for disabled people, designed by Studio + Weber for brand owner Mobi. BASF supplied the resin, and Illinois Tool Works did the toolmaking and molding.

Packaging:
The 1-Seal container and lid product molded by Arta Plast from material supplied by Spartech Corp., for brand owner The Better Bean Company. Machinery for the project was supplied by Packline West.

Emerging Technology:
3D IML with MuCell, a 3D in-mold labeled packaging tub injection molded of expanded PP through use of the MuCell process. Brand owner, designer, and molder was PACCOR Packaging Deutschland. Netstal supplied the machinery and Plastisud the tooling.

Single Part:
An injection-molded component for a water outlet assembly, designed by MPC for brand owner Nissan, using material from Solvay, machinery from Demag, and tooling from Industrial Molds.

Sustainable Part:
The Genesys Fluid Pump, designed by Millennium Mold Design for brand owner Multi-Duti Manufacturing, molded by Ci-Dell Plastics with material from Bulk Molding Compounds and tooling from Moldcraft.

Sustainable Process:
Poly-Lactic Foam Article by brand owner and designer Sekisui Plastics, which was also responsible for materials, machinery, tooling, and molding.

Judges' Awards:
There were two winners: 1) Calibowl foodware (left) by brand owner and designer Simplewave, with materials, molding, and tooling supplied by Jatco and machinery from Toyo Injection Molding Machines; 2) IML Syringe Barrel, designed by Tech Mold, CBW Automation, and Moldmasters, with machinery from Milacron and materials from PolyOne.

Information about all entries in the IPDC is posted at www.plasticsdesign.org.

About SPI
Founded in 1937, SPI is the plastics industry trade association representing the third-largest manufacturing industry in the United States. SPI's member companies represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery. and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs nearly 1-million workers and provides more than $341 billion in annual shipments.

Published April 2012

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