Impact Plastics is excited to announce the addition of state-of-the-art PET & PETG extrusion capabilities to our portfolio. Beginning in March, Impact Plastics will now be able to offer precision PET & PETG solutions for barrier & non-barrier packaging applications, making us your one-stop shop for all custom-developed food, medical and consumer goods packaging solutions for applications ranging from medical PETG/PET trays, to foodservice cups, to clamshells and trays for consumer goods applications - and much, much more! PETG extrusion is also ideal for producing durable components for medical and consumer goods packaging, ensuring strength and flexibility for end-use applications.
Continue reading for more information about Impact Plastics’ PET & extrusion capabilities and get on the wait-list for our custom developed PET packaging solutions:
Impact Plastics’ project development team is equipped with decades of industry knowledge and experience in PET & PETG extrusion and thermoforming that, when used alongside the latest extrusion and quality monitoring technology, results in a sustainable material solution optimized to meet all packaging requirements for enhanced barrier, thermal and mechanical properties:
Rollstock Configurations:
The addition of our new PET & PETG extrusion capabilities will enable Impact Plastics to produce monolayer, multi-layer coextruded & extrusion laminated custom rollstock configurations. Multilayer coextruded structures are available in up to three-layer configurations, such as GAG (PETG/APET/PETG) rollstock for medical applications, while extrusion laminated solutions are available for barrier structures (such as PET/E/PE) and non-barrier with easy-peel or weld seal options.
Our advanced extruder and nozzle technology in the new extrusion line ensures precise layer formation and consistent material flow, resulting in high-quality rollstock for demanding applications.
Gauge & Width: Our state-of-the-art PET/PETG extrusion line has precision gauge capabilities ranging from 0.010” to 0.060” and can accommodate widths of 15” to 65”.
Customization Options:
Impact offers various custom color and tint options, as well as additive selections including anti-fog, anti-stat, anti-scratch, and oxygen scavengers for clear or custom color material solutions. Various filaments and plastic formulations can be tailored to meet specific customer requirements.
Barrier Capabilities:
PET has great oxygen barrier properties making it a suitable material solution for medium barrier food and medical packaging applications. Barrier properties can be further enhanced through the use of our extrusion thermal lamination processes to incorporate materials such as EVOH to provide a high barrier packaging solution. Specialized adhesives can also be used in extrusion lamination to enhance barrier properties and facilitate assembly of multi-layer structures.
Intrinsic Viscosity Quality Monitoring Capabilities:
Careful control of the Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) of PET is essential to maintaining quality and material processing characteristics. Impact Plastics’ state of the art PET extrusion line has the ability to monitor and control the relative level of the material IV in-process and in real-time. This real-time IV monitoring identifies any deviation in the processing conditions, and is able to take corrective action to address those conditions to maintain consistent quality for an efficient production run. The machine's real-time monitoring ensures the extrusion process is complete and meets all quality standards before product release.
Regrind Integration:
Impact Plastics offers customer regrind integration programs and has extensive PET regrind integration capabilities allowing for up 100% recycled content for RPET packaging applications. Using our real-time IV monitoring capabilities, Impact Plastics’ production team can ensure a specified level of IV is maintained, resulting in a consistent product for thermoforming processes. Completing the regrind integration process allows for the production of high-quality printed packaging with up to 100% recycled content. Life cycle studies of PET’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions have consistently shown that PET offers an outstanding eco-profile among commercially available packaging solutions, and the safety of RPET solutions have been repeatedly examined using extensive research studies, scientific test studies, and regulatory approvals for its use and reuse into applications using RIC #1.
Interested in learning more about our PET solutions for your custom food, medical, or consumer goods packaging project? Reach out to our team today to get the process started!
Learn More About Our PET Solutions Today!
Material Properties
PETG filament, or Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol, stands out in the world of 3D printing for its impressive combination of strength, flexibility, and chemical resistance. One of the most notable features of PETG is its superior layer adhesion, which ensures that each layer bonds securely to the previous layer, resulting in durable and reliable prints. This makes PETG an excellent choice for applications where mechanical strength and longevity are essential.
Achieving optimal results with PETG requires careful attention to printing temperature and other key settings. The recommended temperature range for PETG is typically between 230°C and 240°C, which promotes strong extrusion and minimizes issues like under extrusion or excess material buildup. Using a heated bed set between 60°C and 80°C is also crucial for ensuring that PETG sticks well to the print bed, especially during the first few layers. Good bed adhesion helps prevent warping and ensures a solid foundation for the rest of the print.
Moisture can significantly impact the quality of PETG prints, so it’s important to store your filament in a dry environment or use a filament dryer before printing. Even slight variations in moisture content can lead to stringing or inconsistent extrusion. To further reduce stringing and improve print quality, calibrate your flow rate and retraction settings carefully. Adjusting retraction distance and speed in small increments can help minimize the formation of strings and blobs, while proper flow calibration ensures the right amount of material is extruded for each layer.
Cooling fan speed also plays a vital role in the PETG printing process. While some cooling is necessary to solidify each thin layer and maintain the shape of the print, excessive fan speed can make PETG brittle or cause poor layer adhesion. It’s best to start with a moderate fan speed and gradually increase it if needed, always monitoring the effect on your test prints.
The direction in which your print is oriented can influence the strength and appearance of the finished product. Experimenting with different orientations during test prints can help determine the best approach for your specific application. Additionally, using a brim or raft can enhance bed adhesion, especially for larger prints or those with a small contact area on the build plate.
Finally, remember that finding the ideal balance between print speed, temperature, and cooling is key to producing high-quality PETG prints. Lower temperatures and slower speeds can improve layer adhesion and reduce warping, but may increase print times. Regularly performing test prints and making small adjustments to your settings will help you achieve the best possible results with PETG filament.
By understanding the unique material properties of PETG and fine-tuning your 3D printer’s settings, you can consistently produce strong, accurate, and visually appealing prints. Happy printing!
Interested in learning more about our PET solutions for your custom food, medical, or consumer goods packaging project? Reach out to our team today to get the process started!
