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  • In the automotive industry, numerous plastics are processed into various components. This is done through the injection moulding process.  (© Superstar/Shutterstock.com).

    From ivory substitute to LFT injection moulding: the history of plastics in automotive engineering

    Plastics are a popular material in automotive engineering due to their lightweight and lower cost. The lower strength compared to metals can be compensated for by using high-performance polymers or combining plastics with glass or carbon fibres. The components are manufactured using injection moulding.
    Plastics have been around for longer than cars. The first thermoplastic, called Parkesine, wa

  • Working round the clock: Industrial rotary transfer machines are widespread in industry wherever metal parts need to be manufactured in large quantities, with the highest precision, and in several process steps. (© Surplex).

    Make the world go round: 7 facts about rotary transfer machines

    Hundreds of thousands of throttle valves for diesel injection systems are manufactured every year. The same applies to the cylinders and keys of a locking system or plugs in the electronics industry. All these metal parts must be manufactured to the nearest micrometre, and various machining processes are required to achieve this. Here are seven facts about why rotary transfer machines are the pref

  • Wheeled construction machines are more manoeuvrable and cost-effective than their tracked versions. Until 27 April, several construction machines – including wheeled excavators and loaders – are up for bid on Surplex.com. (© Surplex).

    A wheel of fortune: construction machinery on wheels

    Excavator, loader or dump truck – here’s what to consider when using tyred construction machinery. Wheels enable higher speed and manoeuvrability at a lower price and easy maintenance. However, they reach their limits on difficult terrain.
    Example 1: the wheeled excavator
    Probably the most well-known construction machine that is widely used on both wheels and tracks is the excavator. A wheel

  • Whether by drawing on renewable energy sources or used machinery: Business can exploit a variety of options to create more sustainable organisations.  (©D-Krab, Shutterstock)

    Earth Day 2023: How the industrial sector can play its part


    Earth Day emphasises the importance of climate protection for the whole world. On 22 April of each year. everyone is encouraged to consider their own behaviours and the influence they have on the environment. But natural disasters and their impacts can only be averted with concerted action on several fronts. Especially in the industrial sector
    Climate change is one of the most serious glo

  • Plastic can also do circular economy. The waste is processed, granulated and then reprocessed into new products. (© ImagineStock / Shutterstock.com).

    Plastics can also be a circular economy

    Plastic products end up in the rubbish after a short period of use. A large part of it is incinerated, which means that valuable material is lost. The circular economy has now also arrived in the plastics industry. Machines for plastics processing can be purchased second-hand. This also contributes to sustainability.
    If one wants to maintain or improve people's standard of living and at the sam

  • Insolvencies mean for the industry that high-quality, newer equipment is available on the used machinery market. They are cheaper than new and immediately available – like this aluminium die-casting cell. It is up for auction at HT until 30/03. (©HT)

    HT auctions machinery of insolvent Postel Druckguss GmbH


    Postel Druckguss GmbH, a specialist for aluminium and zinc die-casting solutions, has filed for insolvency in 2020 and is being supported by HT Hanseatische Industrie-Consult GmbH. Over 800 machines and operating equipment will be sold in an online auction until 30/03/2023.
    Postel Druckguss GmbH is a renowned specialist for die-casting solutions made of aluminium and zinc. The company, bas

  • The lighter, the faster: the choice of materials in the F1 car combines maximum weight reduction and maximum safety. (© Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock.com).

    Fascination Formula 1: Which metals are used in the world’s best cars?


    Super fast and super safe, that's what Formula 1 cars are. To achieve this, the component materials are selected based of their mechanical properties and density. Because the lighter the car, the faster it is. Carbon fibre is the material of choice. But which metals are used in the car? As advanced as the material is, F1 components are often manufactured on standard CNC machines. Some used la

  • When buildings are demolished, a lot of rubble is produced that is recycled to save resources. (© CL-Medien/Shutterstock.com).

    From demolition to house: sustainable recycling of construction rubble


    Recycling of building materials is becoming increasingly important in times of increasing sustainability. When buildings are demolished, recyclable rubble accumulates. This is crushed, sieved, sorted and processed. Recycled rock can then be reused as a building material. And even the construction machinery used can contribute to a circular economy, as buying and selling used machinery gives i

  • (KoSSmoSS, Shutterstock,1790109722)

    Quiet humming instead of loud hammering: Electric mobility on construction sites

    Construction sites are one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions. The machines used in construction also contribute to these “gray emissions”. Many companies are currently switching to electromobility to improve their carbon footprint. Selling their old diesel machines can make it easier to invest in this new drive technology.
    The construction industry accounts for almost 8% of g

  • Portal milling machines have large dimensions and are therefore expensive to buy. But they are available cheaper on the second-hand machine market. (© Surplex).

    Big, bigger, portal milling machines


    54 m long, 14 m wide and 12 m high – these are the workspace dimensions of the largest portal milling machine in the world. But how are such giant milling machines used? What advantages do portal milling machines offer? And how can the high investment costs be reduced?
    To be able to process large workpieces, you need large machines. With a clearance height of 12 m and a width of 14 m as we

  • Cleanliness and quality assurance take priority when packing tablets. This is also possible with used production systems. (© Cergios/Shutterstock.com).

    How do tablets actually end up inside their blister packs?

    41.1 million packages of Ibuprofen were sold in Germany alone in 2020. While they’re something we often have close at hand, very few people know how the individual tablets actually end up inside their blister packs. Speed, safety and affordability are a must when it comes to production. This is where used blister machines can come in.
    A blister pack is a display packaging that allows the custom

  • (Gorodenkoff, 702079621 Shutterstock)

    Balancing between optimism and caution

    The opportunities and challenges the metalworking industry is facing in 2023
    In recent weeks, many companies have been looking to the new year of 2023 with mixed feelings. The coronavirus pandemic, which dominated the past two starts to the year and caused major restrictions, has faded in significance. Even China, which had, until recently, operated the strictest “no covid” strategy, has began

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