PlasticSolutions^™ Newsletter - Web Version

Letter from the President

Modern Plastics Getting Leaner on the "Value Stream Map"

By definition "waste" is any activity that does not add value.

If waste exists in a given business model, it's not adding value to the customer. Waste can exist in overproduction, material handling, order processing, rework, inventory or even inspection. This waste represents cost that is often passed unfairly to the customer.

However, the customer should not bear these costs when a business has processes that are weak, inefficient and wasteful. It not only demonstrates a disregard for the customer, but eventually the consequence threatens the company's own employees, the environment and even the survivability of the business itself.

Modern Plastics is well known for Setting the Standards in Plastics Distribution™ with its unparalleled "value added" services as the world's leading plastics distributor.

Perhaps lesser known though is what our company performs behind the scenes to remove those things which do not add any value: waste.

Modern Plastics' lean initiatives over the years have reduced operating expenses and helped control material costs despite some of the most significant price increases of plastic materials in history.

How have we done this?

By listening to our customers as it's you that defines (and identifies) the value.

We map the value and develop a flow which removes those inhibiting, unnecessary and costly processes.

Once this flow is implemented, the desired value for our customers is enhanced while removing those processes which only contribute to waste and unnecessary costs.

This "value stream mapping" process isn't new or innovative. It is, however, an internal dedication to our customers, suppliers, employees and the environment that commits us to a system which removes waste from our business.

Modern Plastics is committed to getting your plastic materials at your door with speed, reliability, and consistency - and we'll continue to do it with the exceptional value you have come to expect.

Sincerely,

Bing J. Carbone,
President
Modern Plastics

If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact Bing J. Carbone directly at bcarbone@modernplastics.com.

Testimonial

   "After a three day quality-inspection audit, our firm has concluded that Modern Plastics not only meets but exceeds the requirements for our company. Modern Plastics materials are machined into components in which people's lives depend upon the highest quality plastic product and the rigid inspection standards we are assured from Modern Plastics. We have complete faith in this company and that is the very reason they are now our sole supplier."

  - Senior Buyer,
        Fortune 500 Company
        Tampa, Florida

View Testimonials Here

In this Issue...

• Letter from the President
• TECAPEEK™ Engineering Thermoplastic
• PTFE Stock Shapes - Unfilled
• PTFE Stock Shapes - 25% Glass Filled and 25% Carbon Filled
• Drill Bits for Plastic

TECAPEEK™ Engineering Thermoplastic

Modern Plastics is your source for TECAPEEK™, a unique, semi-crystalline, high temperature engineering thermoplastic. Especially because of its ability to retain its flexural and tensile properties at very high temperatures, it is an excellent material for applications in which thermal, chemical, and combustion properties are critical to performance. The addition of glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforcements enhances the mechanical and thermal properties of the basic TECAPEEK™ material.

Download the TECAPEEK™ fact sheet.

Notable properties:

• Excellent flexural, impact, and tensile characteristics
• Very high continuous working temperature
• Very high heat distortion temperature
• Exceptional chemical resistance
• A superior dielectric at high temperatures and frequencies
• Good radiation resistance
• Outstanding wear and abrasion resistance
• Low smoke and toxic gas emissions
• Excellent hydrolysis resistance

TECAPEEK™'s exceptional property profile enables it to be utilized in many of the most critical areas in general industry, as well as in the automotive, marine, nuclear, oil well, electronics, medical and aerospace fields.

Have a salesman contact me immediately.

PTFE Stock Shapes - Unfilled

Unfilled PTFE from Modern Plastics is a high molecular weight polymer, one of the most versatile plastic materials known and useful for a large range of products for applications excluded to other materials.

Download the unfilled PTFE fact sheet.

Its most outstanding characteristics are:

• high heat resistance
• high resistance to chemical agents and solvents
• high anti adhesiveness
• high dielectric properties
• low friction coefficient
• non-toxicity

PTFE is generally considered a thermoplastic polymer; at 327°C it maintains a very high viscosity, thus requiring particular transformation techniques for manufacturing of finished and semi-finished goods. PTFE can be employed at any temperature from -200°C to +260°C.

Have a salesman contact me immediately.

PTFE Stock Shapes - 25% Glass Filled and 25% Carbon Filled

Filled PTFE stock shapes from Modern Plastics are used in a very large number of fields. Some of PTFE's properties can be improved and/or modified by adding suitable fillers, allowing the use of PTFE in fields otherwise precluded to this polymer. The fillers most commonly used are: glass fiber, carbon, bronze or graphite, in the form of powder intimately mixed with the PTFE.

Download the filled PTFE fact sheet.

The addition of fillers to the PTFE improves or modifies its properties depending upon the nature and quantity of filler:

• remarkable increase in wear resistance
• decrease of deformation under load and of creep
• reduction of thermal expansion
• some types of filler increase the thermal and electric conductivity

Have a salesman contact me immediately.

Drill Bits for Plastic

Modern Plastics offers many different sizes of Plas-Drill Bits available for purchase. These are special purpose, high-speed drill bits for use with plastic materials.

These drill bits are specially designed to drill all types of plastic. Produced in hardened steel, these Plas-Drill bits have a 90-degree point, 0-degree rake, and straight shank. Shank is reduced to 3/8" inch on 7/16" and 1/2" sizes, all others are same as drill bit size. Designed for use in a hand drill for hobbyist or occasional use.

Purchase Plas-Drill Bits in the following sizes:

• 1/2"
• 7/16"
• 3/8"
• 5/16"
• 1/4"
• 3/16"
• 5/32"
• 1/8"

Have a salesman contact me immediately.