Latest News: Plasticcraft has moved to the Rivergate Marina Complex in Murarrie!
After eighteen years in Wakerley, due to the sale and impending redevelopment of the site, Plasticcraft has moved to a new location in Murarrie.
This follows on from our recent decision to restructure the business, and finally become a Pty Ltd Company. Plasticcraft Polyurethane Moulding Pty Ltd commenced trading in April 2024.
CSIRO Projects:
We continue to do work for the CSIRO due to our willingness to take on demanding one-off projects. The latest in 2024 was a full-size prototype of an innovative hydrocyclone design. This involved meeting the customer to discuss and advise on design requirements and mould parts up to thirty kilograms. The parts were hot moulded for optimum performance, and we constructed a new oven to fit.
Previously we have made sensor housings for longwall mining and mineral separation plants, and potting of electronic cattle ear tags.
Team Member Updates
Plasticcraft welcomes Jim Horrigan to the team as our new Production Manager. We now employ four people in our mould shop, three of them Polyurethane Technician apprentices at PARTEC.
Handmade in Australia
We rely on skilled operators to hand mix and pour (gravity cast) our products. Our capacity has increased by employing more people and setting up more ovens for curing.
Facilities
Our workshop is equipped to process polyurethane strictly in accordance with our suppliers specification.
It has:
- 6 ovens, all capable of maintaining a process temperature of 100-110°C. The main pouring ovens are digitally controlled and fan forced. Additional ovens are used for postcure; a laboratory grade oven with digital thermostat control and fan force.
- 3 vacuum chambers, each with a 3 phase pump capable of 0.1 mbar vacuum. We ensure that the material is thoroughly degassed both before and after mixing (products up to 3kg)
- Lathe
- Mill
- Hardness Tester: hardness of finished product is checked before dispatch
- Temperature Probe: Mix temperatures and oven temperatures are checked.
- Linish, grind, abrade: equipment for cleaning and roughening surfaces for bonding. Successful bonding depends on careful surface preparation.
- Safety is a serious concern, and in addition to the PPE provided the workshop is equipped with a fume cupboard for weighing and mixing operations. .
- MOCA: we process using MOCA when needed for ultimate physical properties and environmental resistance. MOCA is particularly useful for processing high performance materials in the softer hardness ranges, and for better colour fastness.
- Large objects and products in 75D hardness are processed with Ethacure. Ethacure can produce strength and abrasion resistance comparable to MOCA, but is more convenient to use as it doesn't require melting.