Plastics welding: Interplas 69

Abstract

Described as the largest exhibition to be held in the UK, INTERPLAS 69, the International Plastics Exhibition for Europe, was held at Olympia, London, from 18–27 June 1969. Surprisingly, perhaps, manufacturers of ultrasonic welding equipment were well represented at INTERPLAS, contrasting sharply with their absence at the International Welding Exhibition held earlier this year at Olympia. This would seem to indicate that ultrasonic welding has now been accepted as a standard production technique for the plastics Industry rather than as a specialized fastening device for use by industry in general. Admittedly, lead bonding as used in semiconductor manufacture is another industrial application of ultrasonic welding, but this technique seems unlikely to expand beyond the confines of a small portion of the electronics industry. The welding of plastics by ultrasound has now ‘come of age’ as evidenced by the variety and complexity of equipment displayed at INTERPLAS and we are pleased to present a brief review of some of the equipment exhibited.