Sun, Sand, and Polymers: NPE 2018

E-Beam NPE 2018Though the show doesn’t officially start until Monday, the E-BEAM team has made their way down to the sunshine state to start prepping the booth (and do a little fishing while they can…).

Located at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, the NPE officially goes into full swing on Monday morning and will continue throughout the week. This year, the show boasts 65,000+ professionals from 128 different countries and covers the full spectrum of the plastics industry.

E-BEAM is looking forward to once again catching up with fellow exhibitors, and meeting many, many new colleagues! Electron beam processing effectively and efficiently creates beneficial changes in material properties and performance with processes such as polymer crosslinking, long-chain branching and chain scissioning. The process involves accelerating a beam of electrons to near light speed. It then passes through a scan chamber, and transitions into a curtain of electrons. Materials moving through the chamber on a high-speed conveyor system are showered with these high-energy electrons. These electrons penetrate the material with a precise, predetermined dose and–depending on the material being processed and the dose that is being applied–several different effects occur.

E-beam crosslinking does not require any additives nor does it generate hazardous chemical by-products, making it unique in the plastics industry. This crosslinking method is energy efficient, and the minimal amount of required exposure time to the e-beam helps ensure high throughputs.

Besides the many new technology advancements that will be unveiled and discussed at the show, E-BEAM is also looking forward to honoring the 2018 Plastics Hall of Fame Inductees. These men and women from around the world have made major contributions to shape the future of the plastics industry on a whole.

 

The 2018 inductees are:

  • Robert Ackley, Davis-Standard, LLC
  • Ira G. Boots, Milacron Holding Company
  • Karlheinz Bourdon, Krauss Maffei Technologies Group
  • David Cornell, Eastman Chemical Co./Association of Plastic Recyclers
  • Donna Davis, ExxonMobil Chemical Company
  • Donald Graham, Graham Capital Company
  • Steve Maguire, Maguire Products, Inc.
  • Max McDaniel, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.
  • Martin Stark, Bekum America Corporation
  • Hideo Tanaka, Toshiba Machine Co.

Going to the show? Then stop by booth S14027 in the South Hall and tell us what you think! Can’t attend this year? Don’t worry, we’ll be posting new updates here and to our Facebook page throughout the week!