Reduction of Waste Generation in a Plastics Injection Processing Industry

Abstract

It is common that small and medium-sized enterprises lack technology that allows them to optimize their processes. This research aimed to offer technologic alternatives of the environmental, technical and economical kind to a medium-sized enterprise which produces blender containers, with the purpose of improving its performance and competitiveness.  In order to do this, the manufacturing process was studied so that the conflictive points could be identified; the critical point appeared to be the waste of raw material –general purpose polystyrene, GPPS– which represented worthless waste to the enterprise. Then, four types of technology were reviewed: plasma nitriding of molds, gas-assisted injection molding, use of reinforced steel molds, and reincorporation of post-industrial material into the manufacturing process. Despite the fact that all four technologies could be complementary, the one recommended is the latter as it produces immediate benefits, is affordable and helps the company save money since less raw material is required.