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Your Processing Techniques - Polystyrene

Polystyrene can be recycled, and its waste can generate new applications. In addition, its properties are being constantly enhanced, which allows the design and manufacture of thinner and lighter packaging, for equal performance. As with other plastic materials, polystyrene can be recycled using clean and controlled energy recovery, whereby heat is recovered for urban or industrial heating.
Extrusion Sheets Polystyrene sheet extrusion is the basis for many of the key polystyrene applications. Polystyrene sheet is printed and used for indoor signalling and point of purchase displays or thermoformed into a huge variety of packaging durable goods. Available with following markets: Consumer Packaging, Industrial Products Extrusion Sheets & Thermoforming Extrusion Sheet / Thermoforming is a two-step process : first flat die extrusion of a sheet which, in a second step, is heated and pneumatically - most often plug assisted - drawn into a mould. Ease of processing and the capability for economical high speed conversion, makes polystyrene the preferred material for the thermoforming of many articles. Available with following markets: Consumer Packaging, Consumer Products, Industrial Packaging Extrusion Thermoforming This process differs from the Extrusion Sheet/Thermoforming in the way that there is only one step. This is often called “in-line” extrusion-thermoforming. PS is extruded and fed directly into the thermoformer on the same line. This provides a cost saving effect for manufacturers of high volume products, but the lines are less flexible and must be reserved to very large series. Available with following markets: Consumer Packaging, Disposables Foam Extrusion The purpose of this process is to produce foamed sheets or boards. Such boards or sheets are often called XPS. The PS material is extruded and expanded with gas in a one-step process. Foamed boards are used in the building industry thanks to their remarkable insulation properties. Foamed sheets are thermoformed into packaging, like trays. Available with following markets: Construction, Industrial Packaging Foam Extrusion Thermoforming This integrated process incorporates an extrusion step combined with a thermoforming one. This can be done either in-line or by storing rolls of foamed sheets. Articles processed by this technology are trays for fresh products, eating plates, carry out containers and egg cartons... Available with following markets: Consumer Packaging, Disposables Injection Molding Polystyrene is one of the best materials for injection moulding. The injection cycle of PS is short thanks to the ease of melting and injection and the inherent high cooling rates. Available with following markets: Consumer Products, Disposables OPS OPS process enhances the mechanical properties of crystal PS, it is thus possible to obtain transparent and mechanical resistant sheets and thermoformed objects. Available with following markets: Consumer Packaging