Equipment

ANTEC 2026 and the SPE Applied Rheology Chapter brought top innovators to Pittsburgh from March 9–12 of technical progress in plastics.

Advancements in biotechnology highlight how engineered microbial catalysts can recycle plastic waste in vivo.

A newly developed, open-access tool helps plastic recyclers pinpoint appropriate market applications.

Engineers leverage thermotropic LCE phase transitions to power prosthetics, overcoming rigid motor constraints with flexible actuation.

Researchers are fine-tuning computer vision systems to help identify and sort plastic waste on construction sites.

Plastic manufacturing data analytics shifts quality control upstream. Real-time monitoring and AI improve OEE and identify root causes before defects occur.

Resin drying is a major energy consumer in plastics processing. Learn how to optimize dew point, airflow, and residence time to reduce costs and improve melt stability.

A new hybrid composite EV battery housing reduces weight by 20% and costs by 30%. This SPE award-winning design optimizes safety and scalability.

Photothermal-responsive coatings use shape memory polymers to repair surface defects. Structural encoding and light activation enable autonomous recovery.

Engineers leverage MXene/MWCNT dual-conductive percolation to solve cyclic fatigue in self-healing Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs).