A relatively new magazine and website called Green Manufacturer showcases stories about manufacturers with successful approaches to sustainable manufacturing.  True to its mission, Green Manufacturer has featured AGS Technology in its May/June issue.  Editor Kate Bachman spent a day touring and interviewing employees at AGS’ raw material and injection molding facilities.  The end result is an article that provides an in-depth report on the background, process, benefits, and people that make up AGS Technology.

To access Green Manufacturer’s website and to read the digital version of the article go to  www.greenmanufacturer.net.

For this reason, AGS Technology has always approached recycled plastics from a property performance standpoint, the same way the metals industry has approached their materials.  For example, when an engineer specifies a grade of steel, they are expecting a certain performance profile (ie. tensile strength, hardness, etc…).  The engineer does not even think twice about the fact that the grade of steel may contain 100% recycled material.  As long as the steel meets the specified properties the engineer is satisfied.

AGS Injectoblend plastic materials are formulated using this same line of reasoning.  Every grade of Injectoblend has a set minimum, maximum, or range of properties that need to be satisfied in order to be qualified as such.  In some cases, AGS may need to use a virgin plastic, additive, and/or modifier, but most of the time the performance profile is achieved using 100% recycled plastics.

This approach has paid off for AGS Technology as evidenced by the increased material approvals within the automotive industry.  General Motors and Ford Materials Engineering has approved AGS Injectoblend materials to the following specifications; GMP.ABS+PC.002, GMP.PA66.013, GMP.PP.017, and WSS-M4D926-A2 (PC).  Likewise, Chrysler has green lighted AGS Injectoblend materials based on Outside Design & Development (ODD) approvals to the following specifications; MS-DB-200 (ABS), MS-DB-195 (ABS+PC), MS-DB-41 (PA66), MS-DB-145 (PC), MS-DB-100 (POM), MS-DB-500 (PP).

For a complete listing of AGS Injectoblend automotive approvals as of this posting, click on the following link AGS Material Approvals 5-04-10.

http://forums.industryweek.com/showthread.php?p=38291#post38291

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: George Staniulis
Phone: (847) 534-6600 x102

AGS Technology Launches Online Part Cost Estimator for Injection Molded Parts Made From Recycled Plastic

Schaumburg, Ill., April 6, 2010 – AGS Technology has launched on its website the “AGStimator“, a do-it-yourself plastic part cost estimator based on its Injectoblend™ line of recycled materials. In less than a minute, the AGStimator can provide a cost competitive injection molding quotation for a structural part made from a choice of high performance AGS Injectoblend™ recycled materials.

“Purchasing and Engineering often don’t have the time to pull together the myriad of drawings, documents and electronic files to get an alternative material quote for a new part or to market test an existing virgin part,” notes Chris Racelis, President-AGS Technology. “However, these individuals often know or can easily access the basic mold, material, and machine information necessary to provide themselves with an accurate part quotation. By making our recycled part cost estimator openly available on our website, these decision makers can quickly generate an AGS quote that we believe will open their eyes to the significant cost benefits of using recycled materials and help promote environmental sustainability”.

The AGStimator can be accessed at www.agstechnology.com and requires only nine pieces of information in order to calculate piece part price: 1) Part#/Description, 2) Tooling new or existing, 3) Annual volume, 4) Material type, 5) Part weight, 6) Molding machine size, 7) Cavities, 8) Cycle time, and 9) Labor/Operator requirements. The AGStimator currently offers six different Injectoblend™ grades of recycled raw material available to choose from: General Purpose ABS (FABS007), General Purpose ABS+PC Blend (FABSPC003), 33% Glass Reinforced Nylon 66 (FPA66233), Impact Modified Polycarbonate (FPC120), Acetal Copolymer (FPOM110), and 30% Glass Reinforced Polypropylene (FPP330). These six Injectoblend™ grades are the most popular of the more than 50 standard and custom formulations in AGS Technology’s portfolio. AGS also has automotive approvals on a number of compounds at General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. Typical injection molded parts include brackets, shields, bezels, housings, bases, filter cores, covers, and substrates.

AGS Technology is a custom injection molding company that specializes in recycled plastics. Founded in 1995, AGS is a low cost producer of structural plastic parts for OEM and Tier 1 customers using its Injectoblend™ line of recycled materials. AGS Technology is registered to ISO/TS16949:2009 and is a certified minority owned business. For further information contact George Staniulis at (847) 534-6600 x102.

Then nothing. An internet ice age essentially preserved the old website for years. In our defense, at least we never posted a lame “Under Construction” icon to make it seem we were actively working on it.

Now comes the thaw. We recognize the new website is by no means revolutionary, but provides a nice platform to tell the AGS story. We like to think of our website as a bad ass amoeba. So check it out and let us know what you think.