Plastics Technology

JUN 2017

Plastics Technology - Dedicated to improving Plastics Processing.

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To overcome this, some decoy makers have turned to foamed PS cores, which must be wrapped in burlap and other materials in a labor- and time-intensive process that precludes them from mass production and still presents durability issues. That's why Jason Minnich and Travis Biggs, owners of Lake Effect Decoy Co. LLC (leddecoys.com) in Cochranton, Pa., saw a market opportu- nity if they could mass produce a rugged decoy that wouldn't be hamstrung by the volume and variability issues associated with hand-made solid decoys. The technology they came up with, for which they filed for patents in February, has led to the creation of a new company, Moxietec (moxietec.com), which will license the process and materials for the technology, tradenamed NautXcell, to other companies and markets. "NautXcell requires a very unique blend of materials and process to achieve the solid core. We're looking to partner with some bigger companies that can utilize this technology," Biggs says. "That's our main goal: grow the Moxietec business with the technology of NautXcell and find other companies that can utilize it." FIVE-PLUS YEARS OF R&D; Biggs says Lake Effect began development of a "solid" alternative five or six years ago, initially focusing on the duck's head. Once that was perfected, the company moved onto the larger decoy body, spending nearly two years tweaking the compound, process, and mold for that larger component. "There were major hurdles to overcome," Biggs says. "We wanted to create a solid, lightweight part, utilizing a standard injection molding machine. The biggest challenge was being able to create A maker of duck decoys has applied for a patent on a plastic cel- lular structure technology that allows dramatic density reductions in large injection molded polyolefin parts, using a standard press and without affecting the part's surface or structural integrity. In addition to cutting weight by 65%, the inventors say the foam structure, for which they can control bubble size and arrangement, imparts greater strength to the finished components. For hunters of water fowl, apart from a gun, a dog, and warm clothes, one must-have element to a successful trip are decoys. Typical decoys are hollow blow molded parts, designed to float, but if struck by shotgun pellets—a distinct possibility given their role in luring ducks within firing range—they tend to sink. By Tony Deligio, Senior Editor Moxietec's NautXcell technology can tailor the cell structure of molded parts and is suitable for large, thick components. New Process & Material Permits Big Weight Savings In Foamed Parts New firm develops technology that offers weight reductions up to 65% for large injection molded polyolefin parts. Startup company Moxietec's NautXcell technology, available for license, creates a plastic cellular structure on standard injection machines. 26 JUNE 2017 Plastics Technology PTonline.com F O A M M O L D I N G Close -Up On Technolog y

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