For over six decades, our team has made innovation in manufacturing one of our top priorities. From high-quality material selection to state-of-the-art ISO-certified cleanrooms with innovative machinery, our team has always prioritized finding new ways to best serve our clients.

Part of that innovation includes how we dispose of scrap plastics, using a granulator machine that helps us to put emphasis on sustainability by recycling our plastic materials.

For years, Janco has used a granulator to turn scrap plastic into pellet form that can be given to plastic suppliers for reuse. Our team recently invested in a brand new, more efficient granulator so that we can continue to dispose of plastic responsibly.

What is plastic regrind?

Plastic regrind refers to any plastic material that has gone through at least one process before being chopped and ground, a process using a granulator machine that converts the plastic into a small pellet form.

Our team feeds large pieces of scrap plastic into a granulator and regrinds it, producing plastic that can be reused rather than wasted. When scraps are fed into the granulator, a rotator uses several cutting knives on an electric motor to break the plastic into smaller pieces.

The regrind plastic then goes back out to some of our plastic suppliers, who use it for a wide range of new projects, including the creation of plastic water bottles.

We use the following plastics for contract manufacturing products:

• PET
• PETG
• PETE (Polyethylene terephthalate)
• HIPS (High impact polystyrene)
• TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethanes)
• Acrylic
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
• Kydex®, a trademarked acrylic/PVC alloy
• ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
• PC (polycarbonate)
• PP (polypropylene)
• PS (polystyrene)
• HDPE (high-density polyethylene)

Our Granulator
The granulator used in our facility is from Cumberland, a trusted name in the industry since 1939. Cumberland creates a range of high-performance size reduction equipment systems for several uses. Our new granulator is durable enough to process large volume parts and is designed for the most demanding applications, including heavy purging and recycling.

Benefits of Regrinding Plastic

Our team made the decision to invest in granulating machines for several reasons. Very simply, the regrind process saves material. Often, processed plastic is simply thrown out when it has no more use on a specific project.

Our team wanted to be able to repurpose material and ensure it was able to be reused. Regrinding plastic reduces the non-biodegradable waste that our facility is responsible for. In turn, plastic regrind is cheaper for suppliers to purchase and allows them to be part of the cycle of sustainability as well, rather than investing in the creation of new plastic.

Our Team

Above all else, our job is to ensure that the work we do at Janco is of high quality. Our quality remains unbeatable because of the people we employ, the equipment we use, and the processes we follow. Janco is family-owned, and our team is built on the principle that we treat our clients and employees with the same care and respect that we treat our own family.

Over the years, our vision has expanded to include making a positive impact on the world around us, which is why we’ve utilized a granulator to reduce our waste and help our community have access to affordable, recycled plastics.

Want to learn more about our capabilities?

Reach out to start a discussion with our team about how Janco can help with your next contract manufacturing project.

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Our team has been a distributor of high-quality foam and plastic for decades, working with suppliers to give you a range of options depending on your distinct needs. Whether you’re packaging medical devices, electronics, or anything in-between, there is a wide range of variables that go into material selection.

We put our years of experience to use helping you consider every crucial factor, walking you through your options, and offering recommendations to add value to your product and packaging.

To help you understand what goes into our material selection process, this resource includes:

• What Defines Medical Grade Foam?
• Material Selection Chart
• Material Selection Process
• Frequently Manufactured Products
• Why Choose Janco?

What defines Medical Grade Foam?

When designing and manufacturing packaging for medical devices and related products, there are unique industry regulations that require important standards and practices to be followed. Because of this, selecting the right material is critical.

One of the essential components of medical-grade foam is biocompatibility, which means that the foam or plastic has been cleared for use with a range of medical packaging uses. This is done by testing and certifying the compliance of the materials with the ISO 10993 protocol.

This protocol gives you peace of mind that the material selected won’t produce a toxic or immunological response when exposed to the body or bodily fluids, which is essential when packaging for medical uses.

At Janco, our process for medical-grade foam manufacturing combines cutting-edge equipment used in state-of-the-art cleanrooms. We use only the highest-quality biocompatible materials needed to withstand repeated multiple forms of sterilization methods.

Material Selection Chart

Below, browse the plastic and foams we use most frequently in manufacturing projects to better understand their most common uses and advantages.

Plastics

Foams

If the product or packaging you need isn’t listed above, chances are we can still help. Reach out to our team to find out how we can help get your next manufacturing project started.

Get in touch

Material Selection Process

Using the table above to understand common uses and advantages to each material is essential, but we’ll also work with you on every project to guarantee that you understand your options and make the best foam or plastic selection possible for your needs.

Several factors go into choosing the right material, beyond even just the advantages listed above. Sometimes, your budget and timeline are the most important indicator of which material will be right for your needs. Often, we’re looking at a combination of factors to help you decide.

In addition to the type of material that will best suit your product, it’s also important to consider:

• Lead time
• Design time
• Cost
• Manufacturability

While we often keep a wide range of materials stocked, it can occasionally take some time to get specific foams or plastics, meaning if you’re on a tight deadline, we may have to get creative to choose a material that will fit both your needs and timeline.

Likewise, if you’re working within a set budget, we’ll help you choose a cost-effective material that won’t compromise your product or packaging quality.

Frequently Manufactured Products

While we work across several industries each with unique needs, several products, in particular, are commonly manufactured in our facilities, including:

• Medical trays
• Blister packs
• Medical device packaging
• Electronic device packaging
• Athletic gear

For all of the above, we work with you from start to finish, starting from the design phase through to labeling for sale.

Why choose Janco for contract manufacturing?

For decades, our team has prioritized value-add solutions designed to improve your products and packaging.

From our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including cutting-edge cleanroom capabilities, to the way we assist you from design through to labeling, our goal is always to make your experience as efficient and valuable as possible.

Whether you have a clearly defined idea of your design needs or require the support of our experts to select the right foam or plastic, our team will be by your side every step of the way.

Ready to get started or still have material selection questions?

Get in touch with Janco to discuss your project or find out more about our contract manufacturing capabilities and consulting. We’re happy to help bring your project to life with the customization, precision, and innovation that you need.

The post Foam and Plastic Material Selection for Manufacturing Projects appeared first on Janco Inc.