Also in Tech Info

Case Studies: Structural Applications

	Laser Printer Engine When Samsung Electronics needed to improve its engines, they selected multiple RTP Company wear resistant and structural compounds for a variety of moving components.
	Compressor Valve Plate A key element to meeting higher temperatures and speed performance expectations is a tough compressor valve plate with high thermal and dimensional stability.
	MIS Surgical Tool Novare Surgical has integrated its RealHand HD technology into a series of endo-laparoscopic instruments.
	Pool Umbrella Clamp Portable shade system from Too Kool Recreation uses extremely strong rust-proof Kool Klamp, made from a high-impact compound and a thermoplastic elastomer.
	Liquid Chemical Pump The Sotera^® Chemical Transfer System is used for transferring and metering agricultural pesticides and industrial fluids.
	Overmolded TPE Ice Scrapper ProCo Technologies developed an ice scraper using multi-shot molding techniques and thermoplastic materials from RTP Company.
	Digital Display Cart Ergotron's new LX Large Display Cart provides affordable display solutions that instantly transform any room for comfortable large display viewing.
	Plumbing Valve One such product is the new SMOOTH™ which slips over any standard Sloan manual Flushometer and transforms the previous manual valve into an automatic sensor-activated valve.
	Surgical Camera Housing Smith & Nephew Endoscopy is a world leader in the growing market of minimally invasive surgery. Much of their success can be attributed to incorporating new technologies and designs into their product development process.
	Bike Suspension Controller All over the world, cycling enthusiasts instantly recognize and respect the name SRAM. Since 1987, the company's components—and more recently suspension systems—have set the standard for innovation and quality demanded by racing and off-road cyclists.
	Antenna Pod For over 10 years Antenna Plus, LLC has been developing low profile antennas for use in two-way communication systems.
	Vibratory Expiratory Pressure Device DHD Healthcare helps clear the air for patients suffering respiratory difficulties with their new acapella® choice vibratory positive expiratory pressure (PEP) system.
	Magnetic Drive Pump Housing Specializing in non-metallic pumps for use with corrosive chemicals, acids, or solvents, March has built an impressive knowledge base in both plastic materials and injection molding. When developing their new 335 Magnetic Induction unit, March drew on this knowledge to increase prototype accuracy and meet an ambitious "to market" schedule.
	Birdbath Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. Or, in this case a better birdbath. When launching a new line of lawn and garden products, Hiatt Manufacturing, Inc. not only updated an old adage, they indeed built a better birdbath.
	Fairing Brackets Volvo Trucks have long been recognized for performance, innovation, and value. While smart styling, productivity-enhancing electronics, and comfort-laden cabs may be the most noticeable features, perhaps more innovation goes into making these products a value.
	Skateboard Picture a skateboard equipped with a built-in ground effects lighting kit! The light in this case is courtesy of GITD material ingeniously used on the underside of the board.
	Obstetric Vacuum Pump It's never been suggested that labor and delivery are easy. Nor has childbirth ever been seen as completely safe; inherent risks exist for both mother and child. Through the ages, medical technology has evolved to deal with birthing complications and to reduce risks for both patients.
	Coil Bobbin RTP Company, in conjunction with Epcos AG, a German manufacturer of electronic components, has developed a commercial line of glass reinforced, non-halogenated flame retardant polyester compounds.
	Golf Club Head When GRC (General Ribbon Corporation) wanted to start making golf club heads, they knew they would need a specialty compound.
	Hose Couplings When Pro Mold wanted to help Clemco Industries, a leading manufacturer of industrial sandblasting equipment, find a new material for their hose coupling, they asked RTP Company for suggestions.
	Mechanical Pump for IV Drug Delivery Tandem Medical's AutoDose® Infusion System is the first and only automated, portable system that delivers pre-measured intravenous drug protocols without electricity or batteries.
	Seat Handles Handle assemblies used in Ford Explorers are less expensive to produce, thanks to a family of precolored compounds from RTP Company.
	Brake Rotor Measuring Probe When Advantage Plastic Products wanted to help OEM Pro-Cut International cut costs on the probe arms of its Discus Rotor Measuring System, it called on engineers at RTP Company.
	Alarm Housing Three years ago, when engineers at Interlogix, Inc., read the newly-revised European regulations for home security systems, one thing was evident: They were nondescript.
	Canoe Seat We-no-nah Canoe, the world's largest maker of ultra-light and high-performance canoes and touring kayaks, was born from a lifelong devotion to paddling by its owner, Mike Cichanowski.
	Food Service Bases for Hospitals Aladdin Temprite's Insul-Plus™ base is the first of its kind constructed from high-impact thermoplastic for superb performance and durability.
	Track & Field Discus Olympic medalists know one thing for certain—it's hard to win without the right equipment. That's why Danish discus champion Palle Densam of Denfi Sport approached RTP Company two years ago with a singular goal.
	Foundation Vent Vents installed in home foundations provide an exit path for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that rises from the ground under a house. Traditional vents fabricated in metal often corrode and become difficult to open or close.
	Shutter Activator for Toner Cartridge Replacing acetal with a proprietary RTP Company 1800A Series polycarbonate/acrylic alloy compound solved two problems for Joe McGuire, Manufacturing Engineer at Lexmark.
	Blood Glucose Meter The revolutionary Glucometer Esprit from Bayer Diagnostics helps people with diabetes check their blood sugar level quickly and conveniently.
	Soil Sampler When En Novative Technologies, Inc., developer of the En Core® Sampler, set out to create a device to collect soil samples with minimal handling and maximum accuracy, it tested 20 to 30 different resins.
	Telescoping Motor Trolling for "keepers" on a scenic lake or river takes concentration. Many times, both hands are busy with rods and reels, nets, and tackle.
	Wafer Carrier Modern automated wafer handling processes have increased the need for tighter tolerances on wafer carriers. Entegris, Inc., is the first company to make significant changes to the original linear wafer carriers developed in the early 1970's.
	Electrical Terminal Block Stanwick Electrical Products and molder Pre Plastics turned to RTP Company for an RTP 200 Series nylon compound that meets the extreme demands of electrical terminal block carriers used in the utility/power generation industry.
	Dive Reel The multipurpose dive reel and flag tender from Oceanus Engineering gives divers a "reel deal" when it comes to trustworthy dive line deployment. The revolutionary reel abandons heavy stainless steel in favor of a non-corrosive, reinforced polypropylene compound from RTP Company.
	Bicycle Hand Break Professional bicycle teams throughout Europe rely on sturdy, cutting edge hand brake mechanisms from MAVIC S.A. in Saint Trivier sur Moignans, France.
	Printer Maintenance System The new Phaser® 840 Solid Ink Color Printer from Tektronix, Inc., has earned numerous awards as one of today's premier office color printers.
	Duct Assembly Recent advances in tooling and equipment have made it possible to extrude high performance engineering thermoplastic compounds and alloys with precision approaching that of injection molding.
	Cable Guard & Coil Spring Recent advances in tooling and equipment have made it possible to extrude high performance engineering thermoplastic compounds and alloys with precision approaching that of injection molding.
	Trolling Motor When Minn Kota® designed the first transom-mount trolling motor with a power retract and deploy mechanism, it turned to RTP Company for a wear-resistant compound.
	Handheld Breath Analyzer Drunk driving offenders in many states now have a choice: Forfeit their license or test their breath alcohol content before and while driving with the LifeSafer™ Interlock device.
	Meat Tenderizer Inventor Michael W. Thompson, President and CEO of Soaring T, Inc., in Reno, Nevada, knows how to bring a good idea to market. His innovative new Gourmet Tenderizing System went from concept to sale in just nine months with help from RTP Company and other local business partners.
	Gas Cylinder Hooks New, high-pressure aluminum compressed gas cylinders are finished in a rigorous washing, coating and curing system. The cylinders suspend from a conveyor by plug hooks that provide a grounding path for the powder coating.
	Automotive A/C Compressor When Visteon Automotive Systems began manufacturing scroll compressors for automotive air conditioning systems, it chose a PEEK™-based specialty compound for the compressor's tip seals.
	Wireless Workstation When Itronix Corporation needed a vast array of thermoplastic compounds for its new T5200 handheld wireless mobile workstation, it turned to RTP Company. "We'd always used the big suppliers and worked around their standard offerings," said Bill Erler, Principal Mechanical Engineer for Itronix.
	Electrical Connectors Electrical connectors in stage and studio lighting systems take a beating every time they are on the job. Handling currents ranging from 20 to 400 amps, they must be exceptionally resistant to heat.
	Windshield Repair Fixture Repairing chips and minor cracks in automotive windshields has become a colorful job for field repair technicians at Speedy Auto & Window Glass.
	Barbecue Grill Light Outdoor chefs take the guesswork out of after-dark grilling with Olympia Lighting Products' award-winning, patented Bar-B-Que Light™.
	Drill Housing Maxicraft S.A. in Vemantes, France, manufactures a complete line of sturdy hand-held tools used by do-it-yourself consumers throughout Europe.
	Hearing Tester Complete hearing tests in 6 frequencies can now be conducted in 3 seconds using a remarkable new screening instrument called Ero-Scan™.
	Hatch Covers When ZEFTEK® Inc. set out to create a better rail car hatch cover, they turned to RTP Company.
	Bar Code Scanner The Magellan SL® is engineered for durability, using a variety of flame-retardant and glass-bead reinforced specialty compounds from RTP Company.
	Fire Helmets Cairns & Brother, Inc., has pioneered firefighter helmet technology since 1836. Their commitment to protecting lives is evident in their Cairns Helmet "systems."
	Antistat Alignment Tool Shin Chin Industrial Company, Ltd., in Taiwan tapped the international expertise of RTP Company in designing a family of durable, anti-static alignment tools.
	Thermal Printer RTP Company joined forces with Axiohm Transaction Solutions to develop a wear-resistant, anti-static compound for its point-of-sale thermal printer.
	Augmentative Communicator For the first time, individuals with speech, language, learning and physical disabilities can communicate in virtually any social or business situation through a lightweight, portable device.
	Spray Gun Nordson's Sure Coat™ spray gun is designed for performance, durability, and operator comfort.
	Microphone Voice Commander computer microphones, made by Telex Communications, Inc., feature high-resolution, unidirectional sound capabilities.
	Bicycle Shifter SRAM Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, specializes in high-performance shifters, derailleurs, brake levers and accessories for all types of bicycles.
	LP Gas Connector When new standards were established for outdoor grill LP gas fittings, Marshall Brass investigated the use of engineered thermoplastics for a key component of the assembly.
	Tape Cases Protecting sensitive magnetic media from static electricity prompted Perm-A-Store, Inc. of Wichita, KS to develop the Conductive Turtle® cases.
	Food Grinder RTP France developed a specialty compound for use in S.A. SEB RONDO 500 counter top food grinders. The devices feature two sizes of ultrasonically welded blade assemblies.
	End Cap for Printer Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, NY combines insert molding technology with an RTP Company high temperature specialty compound.
	Paintball Gun Frame When paintball began in the U.S. in 1981, few expected its popularity to soar. Today, the sport includes professional and amateur tournaments throughout the U.S. and Europe.
	Hublock Assembly Warn Industries of Milwaukie, OR turned to RTP Company for a tough, wear-resistant material. An original equipment manufacturer, Warn Industries serves the automotive industry.
	Trimmer Assembly Advanced Plastics Molding of Sparks, NV turned to RTP Company as they developed specifications for an innovative replacement head for grass trimmers.
	Head Collar Controlling canine behavior is a matter of guidance, not firm-handed discipline, according to Robert K. Anderson, DVM and professor at University of Minnesota.
	Cases for Electronics When one of their top distributors, Faes BV of Bladel, needed a static dissipating material for suitcase-type carriers, SPI BV of Eersel, Netherlands knew what to do.
	Anti-Static Ball Bearings Conveyor systems frequently generate static electricity. Depending on the specific use, the buildup of static can cause mobility problems or even damage the materials in transit.
	Golf Shoe Cleat "Traditional golf spikes actually punctured the crown of grass plants, weakening them and making them vulnerable to disease," says Mark Moore, developer of the Gripper Golf Cleats.
	Industrial Strainer "We've been RTP Company customer since we started business," says Willie Morales, Sr., founder of M&A plastics, Inc. "They gave us the material we needed, when we needed it."
	Ejector Latch for Circuit Board RTP Company joined forces with molder, Cal-Tron Corp. of Bishop, CA, to meet the material requirements for a face panel and an ejector (latch) used on a circuit board.
	EGR Sensors Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) sensors are vital to maintaining proper emissions on vehicles.
	E-Z Jack Levelers Once parked, finding a level, safe surface to place a vehicle jack can be a challenge.
	Conveyor Bushings Rolcon/Venix of Cincinnati, OH came to RTP Company for a conductive material to meet the demands of high-speed conveyor bushings.
	Cordless Nailer ITW Paslode of Vernon Hills, IL developed the first, and only, cordless nailer serving the construction industry.
	Tiltrotor Aircraft Components The Osprey "tiltrotor" aircraft typifies the innovation and creativity common to the aerospace industry. The V-22 was originally developed in response to a directive from the Department of Defense in 1981.
	Oscilloscope Bezel Tektronix and RTP Company joined forces with PolyCast Inc. of Tigard, OR to develop a material for use in an Oscilloscope ring bezel.
	Printer Components The Tektronix® Phaser® 350 color printer presents numerous material demands. Two primary requirements are high heat resistance and structural integrity.
	Automotive Mounting Clip Fasco Controls Corporation in Shelby, NC, needed a durable, yet flexible material for automotive switch housings.
	Spray Nozzel Safety Guard Titan Tool Inc. has eliminated a stainless steel part by designing an injection moldable replacement. The patented part, a spray nozzle safety guard, disables the sprayer when removed.
	Printer Shaft Assembly Tektronix, Inc., Wilsonville, OR, needed a specialty compound providing excellent structural, thermal, dimensional and chemical resistance properties for a printer shaft assembly.
	Aircraft Assemblies Polyetheretherketone (PEEK™) is an engineering thermoplastic which exhibits excellent long- and short-term heat resistance.
	Ultrasonic Cleaner An RTP Company flame retardant and reinforced polypropylene compound admirably met the requirements for this beautiful housing redesign of Bransonic® Ultrasonic benchtop cleaner.
	Printer Take-Up Hub Thanks to the recommendation of molder Vaupell Industrial Plastic of Seattle, Washington, an RTP Company glass-filled ABS PermaStat® compound is the material of choice for this batch take-up hub from Intermec Corporation of Everett, Washington.
	Probe Housing Polyetherimide resin compounded with glass-fiber is the material choice for a newly designed probe housing on a medical monitor molded by Precision Interconnect of Portland, Oregon.
	Aircraft Hinge Bracket An RTP Company glass fiber-reinforced PEEK™ compound is specified for the hinge bracket assemblies of overhead storage compartments in Boeing 767 airplanes.
	Helmet Mounted Headset Rain, wind and sandy roads are just some of the harsh conditions faced by motorcyclists on the open road.
	Proximity Probe Housing Offshore oil platforms, power generation stations and petrochemical refineries all share a condition of harsh environment for equipment essential to their business.
	Sample Injector Valve Component A PEEK™ compound, using the material's outstanding combination of strength, dimensional stability and inertness, is the material of choice for a scientific instrument application.
	Fluid Handling Pumps The chemical resistance of an RTP Company's glass fiber/polypropylene compound provides security against corrosion for parts used in fluid handling pumps.
	Grinder Housing and Handle Performance and cost improvements for a line of finishing tools brought RTP Company and Ingersoll-Rand together.
	Bar Clamp Seeing a familiar item, such as a woodworker's clamp evolve from a rudimentary workshop tool to an easy-to-use high strength instrument for a wide variety of jobs is no surprise to engineers in the plastics industry.
	Air Management Valve An intricately designed device molded from an RTP Company compound is part of an efficient system of pollution control in GM automobiles.
	Disposal Flange Waste King Incorporated, manufacturer of premier garbage disposers for residential and commercial use, is committed to developing lifetime corrosion-free products while maintaining the high quality of material used.
	Gas Sniffer An RTP Company stainless steel reinforced ABS compound snuffed out a competitive metal as the best material for a gas monitor application.
	Heart Monitor A remote heart monitoring device manufactured by Marquette Electronics of Milwaukee, Wis., gives hospital patients freedom of movement.
	Food Container Satisfying each customer's specific needs by developing "tailor-made" compounds from a variety of base resins and fillers is a specialty at RTP Company.
	Electrochemical Cell Plate "It was the largest injection molded part I'd ever seen!" exclaimed RTP salesman Bud Norring
	Potentiometer Devices Imagine! Complex engineering plastic parts no bigger than the letter on your phone dial. What a challenge to the designers, the material supplier, and the processor.
	Knife Sharpener This handsome high tech machine was designed to put a precision, long lasting edge on all kinds of knives for the professional chef and the cook in the home kitchen.