Education Offerings in New Orleans

ARM has announced 14 general sessions and eight workshops for the New Orleans Annual Meeting September 24-27. This is in addition to the three keynotes and two seminars that have already been announced.

Don’t miss our 40th Anniversary Meeting! Register by August 16 to receive the $100 early registration discount.

General Sessions

Avoiding the Quality Traps of Rotomolding – Ronny Ervik, Ultrapolymers
This sessions will address the top 10 reasons for failures in rotomolded parts.

What’s New: PowderKing Velocity Series Pulverizing System – Jim Hummel, PowderKing
Powder King has developed a newly designed PKA Velocity Series pulverizing system for the plastics industry. This is PK’s 4th generation of pulverizing system which significant developments have been made to the pulverizing process to make the machine more productive, cost efficient per pound pulverized powder and lower cost for the system.

Considerations When Light-Weighting Rotomolded Parts – Henry Hay, NOVA Chemicals
Todays stronger, stiffer rotomolding resins offer light weighting opportunities in large tank and other applications. Beyond obvious material savings, this presentation discusses other consequences of light weighting, including

• Part wall stiffness
• Minimum cycle time
• Processing window
• Impact strength
• Wall thickness distribution

The report uses actual lab data generated applying design of experiment techniques to help processors use an informed, ‘best practices’ approach to getting the most value out of high-strength PE resin grades.

A Dream Rotomolding Machine: No More Limits – Dr. Gareth McDowell, 493K Limited
Rapid cycling, mold temperature controlling, multi polymer layering, ambient temperature compensating, internal mold cooling, engineering polymer processing, minimum energy consuming new generation revolving molding machine – it’s not just Rotomolding anymore.

Panel: What We’ve Learned from ARM’s Forty Years – Daven Claerbout, Dutchland Plastics; Pat Long, Formed Plastics; Sandy Scaccia, Norstar; Bill Spenceley, Flexahopper Plastics
ARM leaders will share what they remembered and learned from the decade they each studied in ARM’s past. They will discuss what molder’s can learn from the history of ARM and rotomolding that can be applied to rotomolding today and for years to come.

What Rotomolders Can Learn from other Manufacturing Processes – Dru Laws, Seljan Company
This case study demonstrating how offering mold-making, metal fabrication, powder coating, 3D printing, urethane casting, and injection molding have helped the rotomolding division at Seljan Company

What’s NOW: Rotomoldable Alternatives to PE – Lauren Besonen, Dow North America; Russ Boyle, Custom Resins Group; Tom Wyszynski, A. Schulman
This presentation will highlight currently available non-PE materials available to rotomolding. Speakers will review the advantages and disadvantages of these alternative materials compared to PE, how the materials process, and the typical end-use applications.

Non-Destructive Leakage Testing and Automated Hot Plate Welding of Automative Parts – Celal Beysel, Floteks
Floteks has completed two EU-funded Projects (2.5 million euros) mostly concerning NDT of leakage for plastic parts and quality assured weldings (hotplate and spin welding) thereof. Rotomolders will learn a useful way to check the quality of products. The process is reliable, accurate, traceable, and ERP-ripe with perfect data collection for the high-end customers demanding it.

What’s New: Automating the Rotational Molding Process – Kadidia Umar, Rotoline Company
Rotoline developed fan automatic system to help the rotomolders in the process of weighing material, feeding the molds and the closing and opening molds step. The automatic system reduces the number of operators, saves time and guarantees more safety to the labor.

What’s New: ThermoChromics & Laser Technologies for The Rotational Molding Industry – Scott Saxman, Mold In Graphic Systems
Mold In Graphic Systems will unveil both its newest Laser etching and product marking and its temperature sensitive ThermoChomic graphic capabilities. Unique new Hot to Cold reactive graphics technologies and unique part identification methods will be introduced to the Rotomolding Industry. Both of these unique and revolutionary developments will enable RM’s to permanently add never before seen valued-added features to their proprietary and OEM molded products .

Improving Rotomolded Insert Performance – Jon Ratzlaff, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Inserts are a strong feature in some rotational molding applications as they can save on assembly costs and provide convenient methods of assembly final parts.  However,  they can pose issues as it takes only one insert to fail to scrap an entire part.  This study looks at how new insert designs and different polyethylene grades can make tremendous difference in performance in pull out strength, torque strength and adhesion in the part.

Filling the Pipeline – Karen Moser
How to effectively recruit and retain talented employees, not just to meet the needs of today, but to ensure the success and growth of your company for years to come.

Stiffness Models for Multi-layer Rotomolded Parts – Dr. Nick Henwood, Rotomotive Limited

Multiple layers of materials are often used to provide rotomolded parts with enhanced stiffness with minimal weight increase. Skin/foam/skin is a typical material combination that is used widely for applications such as tanks, boats and large canoes. This paper provides practical performance data for part designers and explains how to incorporate it into hand calculations and FEA.

This provides new information and insights which will enable product designers to optimize their calculations of part performance.

Product of the Year Case Study: Converting a Retail Ice Box to Rotomolding – Daven Claerbout, Dutchland Plastics

This presentation is a conversion case study of last year’s Product of the Year.

Workshops

Application of Problem Solving Tools to Investigate Real World Challenges in Rotational Molding – Carmine D’Agostino, NOVA Chemicals
The workshop will discuss the use of problem solving tools and their application to investigate and trouble shoot problems encountered in the rotational molding industry. Rotomolders will be presented with structured and organized approaches to help them investigate and resolve problems. The outcome of such exercises will be useful for production, quality control, employee training and management of change control.

Imporoving Efficiency, Cleanliness, and Part Consistency with Resin Handling – Rob Miller, ROTOLOAD Wittman Canada

Often times there are many ways that a plant can improve, but often overlooked, and under supported in the Rotational Molding industry is Resin conveying technology and systems. With the capabilities of moving pellet and powder resins from 10 – 500 feet, Rotational molding plants can greatly benefit from investigating the possibilities of reducing costs, cleaning up the production floor, getting consistent part weights, and removing the physical aspects of filling pulverisers, mixers and the production tools.

Orenda AirForce Series Advanced Pulverizers – George Gerasym, Orenda Pulverizers Inc.
This workshop will share how Orenda’s new machine is optimized for the size reduction process, increased use of air, minumized energy, and elimination of water cooling.

Machine & Mold Safety – Harry Covington, Ferry Industries; Sandy Scaccia, Norstar Aluminum Molds
This workshop will address the day-to-day aspects of safety when operating machines or servicing molds.  Practical safety tips for operators will be presented and best practice tips from attendees will be solicited for workshop discussion.

Recruiting/Retention & On-Boarding/Engagement – Karen Moser
Tools necessary for recruiting and retaining great employees in a highly competitive market.

Secondary/Finishing Safety – Ken Bather, Hedstrom

Shortening the Industry Supply Chain: Successful Collaborative Case Studies – Tom Innis, Avantech
When molders and suppliers collaborate from the onset of product design, the industry supply chain is more easily navigable, and project outcomes are invariably optimized. These case studies will highlight examples of successful molder collaborations with the supply chain (design, OEM, molder, materials, tooling, decoration/branding, etc), in which speed-to-market, cost reduction, product quality, profitability, and end-use market acceptance are optimized.

What’s Your Problem? – Ron Cooke, Exxon Mobil Chemical Company; Sandy Scaccia, Norstar Aluminum Molds
This workshop is a perennial favorite at the ARM Annual Meeting. You bring your problems and our moderators draw solutions from the attendees. Learn how you can improve your operation and save money — while meeting your industry colleagues.