April provided several cold spells in Tennessee this year. An old wives’ tale would name these cold spells as “Huckleberry Winter”, Dogwood Winter” or whatever tree in bloom when it happens. One thing is for sure, the outdoor temperature is something we cannot control. The gardener is anxious to plant his garden but does not want to plant too early in case of a late frost. We can only hope that consistently warm temperatures are just around the corner.

There are a couple of famous sporting events that happen in May. The Kentucky Derby is at the beginning of May and the Indianapolis 500 is at the end of May. It is better for the fans of both events if the temperature is in the upper 70s or lower 80s but there is no guarantee.

Plastic injection molders cannot operate their process successfully by hoping the temperatures are where they need to be. FISA offers heaters and thermocouples for the injection mold; however, that is only half of the requirement. There needs to be a precise temperature controller that keeps the hot runner nozzle at optimum temperature.

FISA also has a line of cost-competitive, highly reliable temperature controllers that can keep the tool temperature within a tight window. From a small 2-zone to a multizone controller with touch screen HMIs, FISA can help keep your process in specifications. You won’t have to hope the melt temperature is correct.

We can offer a line of water temperature controllers for your injection mold tools. These water temperature controllers are made in the USA and will control your tool temperature.

Contact me to learn more about our complete line of water or hot runner temperature controllers.

Until next month, be safe, hope your horse or Indy driver win their race and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation.

Mark Gilley
(931) 273-7550
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

Spring officially started in March.   We have sprung forward 1 hour into daylight savings time.  It would be nice to not have to change time twice a year but that’s another story for another day.  Last weekend in Tennessee, it was in the 70os and nice, this weekend they are calling for potential snow and temperatures at night in the teens.  If you would track the weather for the month of March and display it as a histogram, you could say this temperature is out of control.  There is not a whole lot we can do to get the outdoor temperature into a controlled condition.

In the plastic injection molding industry, we not only can control temperature, but it is necessary to control temperatures.  Depending on the resin you are processing, there is an ideal  temperature you achieve to keep the melt liquid until the cavity is filled, the injection pressure is reduced, and the cooling starts.  Whether you are using a single cavity mono-drop hot runner or a multi-drop manifold system the temperature control is important for producing the quality of parts your customer demand.

FISA is a distributor for ITC Hot Runner Temperature Controllers.  We can supply up to a 12- zone standard control unit with either an analog or digital control modules.  The cables can be supplied with a standard power and thermocouple connectors, or we can match your existing manufacturer of connectors, such as Harting or Nanaboshi for example.  If you want more functionality and reporting capabilities, the Visions 3000 system can provide that plus much more.

To control the tool temperature, we offer TempTek water circulating temperature controllers. They can provide process water temperatures form 30oF to 300oF.   They are sized from 35 GPM to 100 GPM systems.

Both temperature controllers, ITC and TempTek, are manufactured in the USA.  Contact me to learn more about either of these control systems. 

Don’t forget to contact me to get a quote for your replacement hot runner components.  We have a complete stock of these items on the shelf and can ship 1-day ARO.

So, until next month, be safe, dress in layers, keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

I look forward to this time of year, because the seed catalogs will soon arrive. After a long cold winter, I will start to plan my vegetable garden and my wife will look at the flowers and other ornamentals. We will place an order for seeds and plants then anticipate delivery in 4-6 weeks.

Preparation of the soil begins as the ground warms and dries. Adding organics, nutrients, and adjusting the pH to proper levels will give me the best chance to have a bountiful harvest. We have seen times of little rain over the last several years in Tennessee; therefore, an irrigation system whether an automatic in-ground
system or a garden hose with a sprayer handle is a good back-up.

I will plant the seeds and after a few weeks of keeping the weeds from taking over you see the blooms knowing that the veggies will soon grow. After a few more weeks the veggies will ripen, and you get to taste juicy tomatoes and crisp vegetables fresh off the vine. My wife likes cut flowers so she will keep fresh bouquets throughout the house all summer.

Having a successful garden takes some planning, you will develop an action plan to achieve good results. I see a similar pattern for injection molding operations. You will make an action plan to achieve the results you are looking. A good preventative maintenance program on your injection mold tools will help you reduce unplanned shutdowns.

FISA Corporation keeps good inventory of standard components to support your PM program. We will ship same day if we receive an order before 2:00 Central time, which is much better than the seed catalogs. We have several customers that routinely send their hot runner nozzles to us for evaluation and refurbishment.

FISA is here to support your hot runner requirements. Contact me with any requests for quotation or if you would like to learn more about our evaluation and refurbishment program.

Until next month, be safe, hope your garden yields a bountiful harvest, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

As we enter 2022, we can see that time does not stand still. My grandmother used to tell me time flies as you get older, I have a better understanding after 50 some years. It’s hard to believe that 2021 is in our rearview mirror. As the calendar changed from 2021 to 2022, it seems that most things are in a constant state of change. In many areas, if you don’t like the weather wait 10 minutes and it will change. It was 75 o Saturday, 56 o Sunday morning, When I woke up on Monday, there was almost 7 inches of snow on the ground. What a change!

One thing that has dramatically changed, is the way we operate our business. New technologies, domestic and offshore competition, supply chair, and regulatory issues, to name a few drivers to make us change the way we remain profitable. We constantly review our manufacturing processes and make improvements where needed to reduce operational costs and increase the profitability of the company.

Plastic injection molding is no different than any other manufacturing process in the fact that the more you can
engineer out waste in materials, time, and scrap, the more opportunity there is for a better bottom line. One way that can be accomplished is by using hot runners to deliver the melt to the cavity of the mold.

FISA hot runners do not require hydraulic or pneumatic actuation. The plastic pressure from the barrel and screw will actuate the patented spring and piston assembly to open and close the gate. These can be directly gated to the part and that will eliminate the runner. This will reduce the resin required to make the part, help reduce cycle time in the cooling of the part and eliminate trimming. In most cases the ROI (return on investment) of the hot runner system will be very quickly realized by the operational savings in the manufacturing process.

We offer the NH series hot runners designed for the commodity resins and the AH series hot runners designed for the engineered resins with up to a 2,000g shot size per nozzle depending on the resin. We can design for a single drop hot runner and a multi-drop manifold system.

Whether you need spare parts for an existing tool or have a new tool that would benefit from a hot runner system, contact me to see how we can partner with you to improve your process and bottom line.

Until next month, be safe, have a prosperous 2022, and make
good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

Another year has come and gone.  As 2021 fades into the sunset, I would like to thank you, our customers, for a good year.

The month of December is usually a very hectic time with all the activities associated with the Holiday season.  With all the hurrying around, sometimes it is difficult to sit back and enjoy the season.   I enjoy watching the children in their plays at school and church.  Also, the look on their faces as they open the surprises that await them under the tree on Christmas morning.

We have a complete inventory of standard components in stock in Tennessee if you are planning any tool repair or refurbishment during the Christmas shutdown.  We can ship the spare parts 1-day ARO.

FISA will be closed Friday, December 24 and Monday, December 27 to celebrate Christmas and Friday, December 31, and Monday, January 3 for New Year.

We at FISA Corporation wish you and your family a joyous Christmas and a happy New Year.

To borrow a line from the favorite Christmas story, “Merry Christmas to all and to all and a good night.”

Until next month, be safe, make sure you are not on the naughty list, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

November is a season for us to reflect on the things we that are thankful.   For me, it is a time of remembering the times as a child.  At Thanksgiving, sometimes we would travel to one of our aunt and uncle’s house for the Thanksgiving meal.  All my cousins, my brothers and I would go outside and play, while the adults would tell stories from their younger years.   We may have even watched some football on the television.

Here at FISA Corporation we are thankful for you, our customers.  It is because of you that we are here.  We think our NH, AH series hot runner design is best in the industry.  They can be direct gated to the part eliminating the need for runners.  They are competitively priced and will provide years of operation with minimal downtime.  We also believe our attention to customer service is world class.

However, while it is important for us to have confidence in our products and service, it is more important for us to know your opinion of FISA.  We want to continually improve our customer service and have developed a Customer Service Survey to give you, our customers, a way to give us a “piece of your mind”.

With all of that said, I would like to invite you to invest 2-3 minutes and click on the front page on our website, www.fisacorp.com ,  scan to the bottom and click for the “customer survey” box.  There ae 10 questions that will help us to evaluate the industry’s perception of FISA’s customer service.  After completing the survey please click the “submit” button at the bottom and the survey will be emailed to me.

It is FISA’s intention to provide the level of customer satisfaction that you would like.  I appreciate you allowing me these few minutes out of your busy day to help us improve our level of service to you.
As a reminder, with the C
hristmas Shutdown approaching, FISA has a complete inventory of standard components for your valve gates in stock in Tullahoma for your spare part requirements.

FISA will be closed Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Until next month; be safe, have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving, and keep making good parts.


Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

As September transitions to October many stores are gearing up for Halloween.  They have displayed costumes, treats, and yard decorations and ornaments for the people to purchase.  It seems like it is getting earlier and earlier; however, that is another story for another day.  They are in hopes that the consumer will buy early and often until the end of October.  In a few weeks we will answer our doors to small ghosts and goblins so they can “scare” us into giving them treats. 

In plastic injection molding, what scares us, is having a mold that “blows out” or has a catastrophic failure that results in plastic melt going everywhere except inside the mold.  Even when using proper operation and maintenance procedures, you still may experience one of these scary events.  While you may not be able to eliminate these, you can mitigate some of the effects by having a good supply of spare parts on your shelf.

Mr. Murphy will visit your operation at the most in-opportune time, usually late on Friday on a tool that needs to run all weekend.  We do keep a good stock of standard parts that we can ship 1-day ARO if needed.  It is always a good idea for you to keep some spare parts like springs, seal rings and such on your shelf for repairing tools and getting them back in the molding machine making parts.

Now is a good time to start planning for any tool maintenance or refurbishment projects during the Christmas shutdown.  Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or requests .

If you get a chance to visit our website, www.fisacorp.com , click on the “Customer Survey” and let know how we are doing and what we need to improve on.

Until next month; be safe, do not get scared, and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

As September is soon coming, there will be a colorful backdrop to the countryside as the leaves turn from green to vibrant red, orange, and yellow.  Football is starting to be played on the weekends. 

Many industries will be tooling up for new products during this time.  Especially in the plastic injection molding community.  With an increase in offshore molders, it is more important today to put your company in a competitive position.  As you know, how you design and develop the injection mold will be a factor in how efficient the tool operates.  As mentioned in previous blogs, cycle time and amount of material used will greatly influence the total cost of delivering parts to your customers.

One way to decrease both is to use a direct gated hot runner to introduce the melt into the cavity.  FISA’s patented Plagate system uses the plastic pressure generated from the barrel & screw to actuate the gate.  It does not need any external actuation so that will save on size and complexity of the tool.

If you are in the process of designing a new injection mold tool, feel free to use FISA as a resource to help with the design of the hot runner system, whether it is a single drop or a multi-drop manifold system.  Our in-house Engineering department can design an efficient melt delivery system that will give you years of production with minimal downtime.  We will be happy to provide the hot runner nozzles with the appropriate type, size, and gate for your application. 

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to learn how FISA hot runner nozzles can help you improve your process and bottom line. 

Until next month; enjoy the colors of the season, root your favorite teams to win, and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable time of vacation.  Many schools have started the new school year and the others will be soon. 

The baseball season is heading into the stretch run and teams are trying to position themselves for the playoffs.  My Cincinnati Reds are still in the hunt for a wild card berth for the playoffs this year; however, they will be looking to the off season to improve for next year’s playoffs.  Football teams are getting ready for their new season.  Everyone is trying to make improvements, so they can make the playoffs this year with the hope of being champions. 

In manufacturing, we are always looking at ways to improve all aspects of our business.  From raw material cost reductions, to process improvements, to lower PPM numbers and improve the quality of the parts going to our customers. 

One-way plastic molders can improve their process which would have a positive effect on their bottom line is to use hot runners in their molds.  As I have said in the past, with hot runners you can inject directly to the part.  That decreases material usage, eliminates the need for gate cutters which decreases cycle time.  A spill over benefit is not needing to regrind runners and that will help your shop floor in 5S (cleanliness) and noise level.

The FISA hot runner nozzles have a patented system that does not require hydraulics or pneumatics to open and close.  The pressure generated from the barrel and screw open and close the gates.  This is very effective in a multi drop tool as the pressures equalize and the gates all operate simultaneously.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to learn how FISA hot runner nozzles can help you improve your process and bottom line. 

Until next month; be safe, root your favorite teams to win, and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

I hope you had a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.  It is time for backyard cookouts, maybe some time on a lake or river, or just to enjoy casual time with your family.

As we get back from our summer vacations it is a good time to evaluate heaters and thermocouples.  A little up-front attention can reduce much unplanned downtime.

Ring and cartridge heaters should be examined for frayed wiring, damage to the metal case, and loss of the wire seal on cartridge heaters.  Frayed insulation may be repaired with high temperature electrical tape.  If the conductor wire or metal case is damaged, the heater should be replaced.

Thermocouple examination is for frayed insulation, kinks and crushed areas on the metal sheath.  As with the heaters, frayed insulation may be repaired with high temperature electrical tape.  A thermocouple with kinks or crushed metal sheath should be replaced.

FISA Corporation keeps a large assortment of heaters and thermocouples along with all the standard components required for the complete rebuild of the hot runner nozzle drops in stock in Tullahoma, Tn.  Please contact us with any questions or quotation requests.

Keep in mind FISA will be closed on Monday, 5-July, to celebrate Independence Day.

Contact me with any questions or requests.

Until next month, be safe, enjoy the fireworks, and have a smooth post shutdown start up.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

It is hard to believe its June already.  Everyone is telling us the 17-year Cicada choir will be visiting us this summer. Many people are starting to plan for a summer vacation since we have been mostly home bound for a while.  We can re-visit beaches, go camping or sight-seeing.  The important part is to enjoy family activities, grilling out, playing outdoor games with the kids.  Most of you will be enjoying the summer shutdown.

That is except the tool maintenance engineers, they will be in the tool rooms repairing the tools, moving or installing equipment, and or completing Kaizan projects.  Now is an opportune time to check your stock of parts needed to complete these tool repairs.

FISA has a complete inventory of standard parts so we can ship any needed parts to you.  Check the tool crib shelves for on hand inventories of springs, ring or cartridge heaters, and piston assemblies.   Send me a list of needed items, I will send you a quote and we will ship 1-day ARO so you will have everything needed to complete your tool repair, rebuild projects during shutdown.

Keep in mind FISA will be closed on Monday, 5-July, to celebrate Independence Day.

Contact me with any questions or requests.

Until next month, be safe, enjoy the fireworks, and have a smooth post shutdown start up

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

April provided several cold spells in Tennessee this year.  An old wives’ tale would name these cold spells as “Huckleberry Winter”, Dogwood Winter” or what ever tree in in bloom when it happens.  One thing is for sure, the outdoor temperature is something we cannot control.  The gardener is anxious to plant his garden but does not want to plant too early in case of a late frost.  We can only hope that consistently warm temperatures are just around the corner.

There are a couple famous sporting events that happen in May.  The Kentucky Derby is in the beginning of May and the Indianapolis 500 is in the end of May.  It is better for the fans of both events if the temperature is in the upper 70s or lower 80s but there is no guarantee.

Plastic injection molders cannot operate their process successfully by hoping the temperatures are where they need to be.  FISA offers heaters and thermocouples for the injection mold; however, that is only half of the requirement.  There needs to be a precise temperature controller that keeps the hot runner nozzle at optimum temperature.

FISA also has a line of cost competitive, highly reliable temperature controllers that can keep the tool temperature within a tight window.  From a small 2 zone to a multizone controller with touch screen HMIs, FISA can help keep your process in specifications.  You won’t have to hope the melt temperature is correct.

We can offer a line of water temperature controllers for your injection mold tools. These water temperature controllers are made in the USA and will control your tool temperature.

Contact me to learn more about our complete line of water or hot runner temperature controllers.

Until next month, be safe, hope your horse or Indy driver win their race, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

Spring officially started in March.  The daffodils have bloomed here in Middle Tennessee and soon it will be safe to put out the tender vegetables like tomatoes and similar plants.   I have done the annual maintenance on my lawn mower, pressure washer and other power equipment I need to use for the summer.  I will be able to perform the routine maintenance duties around the house.

That is a good segue into the topic for April’s blog, the benefits of performing routine maintenance on your FISA hot runner nozzles.  One of the main components in a properly operating nozzle is the spring.  The spring can fatigue through overheating, that is why we recommend using a propane torch and not a MAPP torch to heat the nozzle to remove the piston assembly (torpedo front, piston, spring, and torpedo rear for the NH series and collar, spring and piston for the AH series).

The AH2/NH2 has two strengths of springs, SG2818K2NP for the standard force and the SG2819K2NP for the stronger force. The SG28 states this spring is for the AH2 or NH2 series nozzle.  The 18 or 19 indicates the minimum length of the spring (mm) that will allow for proper operation inside the nozzle.  This will ensure proper opening and closing to eliminate the drool or leakage of the melt.

If you are using the AH4 or NH4 They also have two strengths SG4022K2NP for the standard force and SG4024K2NP for the stronger force.  Please use same precautions when heating the nozzle to remove the piston assembly.  The SG40 states these springs are for the AH4 or NH4 series nozzle.  The 22 or 24 for indicate the minimum length of the spring (mm) that will allow for proper operation inside the nozzle.  This will ensure proper opening and closing to eliminate the drool or leakage of the melt.

After the removal of the piston assembly and the cleaning of the piston assembly, it is always good practice to measure the spring length with a set of calipers before the re-assembly.  If the spring measure anything less than the minimum length of that spring, we recommend it be replaced.  We also recommend replacing the seal ring, PS157, between the nozzle and the flange when you re-attach the nozzle to the flange.  That will eliminate leakage between the flange and nozzle.

These items are inexpensive and help you provide a good quality part to your customer at the most competitive cost.

So, until next month, get out take a ride through the country, enjoy the spring flowers, the flowering trees and help ensure your hot runner nozzles are operating as new.

Contact me to get a quote for your replacement components.  We have a complete stock of these items on the shelf and can ship 1-day ARO.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

This year marks the 25th year FISA Corporation has been selling our patented Plagate hot runner nozzles out of our US corporate headquarters in Tennessee.  While the US operation was established in 1996, our parent company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, was established January 7, 1961.  During its early years they developed and produced a high temperature camera for X-ray analysis, a sphere-boring machine, and a series of electrostatic eliminators.  In 1974, Mr. Toshio Saito developed and patented the Plagate Hot Runner System.

FISA Corporation was awarded over 20 patents while Mr. Saito was President.  FISA was awarded the prestigious Ichimura Prize for Originality in Engineering.  FISA is also very environmentally conscience and won the award for environmental preservation from the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

FISA Corporation is now a global company operating 6 manufacturing facilities with 7 sales offices located in Japan, China, Thailand, and Tennessee.   The Tennessee office supports injection molders in many industry segments, toys, automotive, consumer goods, and electronics to name a few throughout North America, South America, and Europe with sales, manufacturing and engineering services.

I think it is important to look at our legacy to see the foundation for the present.  President Mr. Susumu Saito (3rd generation) brings the same passion as his father to lead FISA into the future.  Ms. Mari Fugate (also 3rd generation), President of the US operation, has the same vision as her father in providing the best hot runner nozzles at a competitive cost with the world class customer service.

FISA Corporation is large enough to support our customer’s demanding technical requirements with a strong emphasis in engineering and design.  We are small enough to provide the world class level of customer service that our customers have become accustomed.

If you have any hot runner needs, whether it is a multi-drop manifold system, a single drop hot runner, emergency spare parts to get your mold back in the molding machine, or spare parts for a future refurbishment please contact me and I will provide that world class service.
Until next month, stay safe and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

Super Bowl LV will be played in Tampa, FL on February 7.  The Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s will play the Kansas City Chief’s and the winner will be world’s champion.  The Buc’s will be the first team to play a Super Bowl at home as Tom Brady leads his team onto the field.  He is arguably the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) NFL quarterback.  This will be his 10th Super Bowl and he has won 6.  He has played 21 years in the NFL and when he retires, he will own many QB records and will be a 1st year Hall of Fame inductee.  You do not play as long as he has and won those 6 Super Bowls without being dependable.  His teammates, coaches, and fans have counted on his reliability to produce good results.

Since the 1970’s, the FISA Plagate hot runners have proven to be a dependable hot runner nozzle.  Many molders have counted on the Plagate nozzle’s reliability to produce good parts.   With its patented design, it does not use hydraulic or pneumatic actuation.  The plastic pressure from the screw, opens and closes the valve gate.  This leaves a smooth gate appearance on the part.  The Plagate hot runners are designed for todays resins, the NH series is designed for your commodity resins, and the AH series is designed for the engineered resins.

FISA can support your tooling needs in a single drop hot runner, or a multidrop manifold system.  We have customers that are still using tools that have been in production for 20 years with the FISA nozzles.  We have a complete inventory of the standard components and can ship 1-day ARO for spare parts.

Contact me if you have a new tooling project and would like to discuss how FISA could partner with you to provide your customer with good quality parts and you with operational efficiencies that will positively affect your bottom line.

Until next month, be safe, hope your team wins the Super Bowl and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4361
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

Well, as the big ball drops in a lonely Times Square this year, 2021 promises to present many changes.  As in most new year’s, there will be some good changes and maybe some not so much, depending on your point of view.  One thing for certain, there will be many things that will not change, your customers will still expect on-time deliveries, low ppm, and cost reductions.  Every year we strive to find ways we can do more with less.

One of our customers approached us about a project to increase capacity for a part.  They were using a single cavity tool and their customer was increasing the demand for this part.  They asked if it was possible to make a multi-cavity tool so they can increase their production.  Our multi-functional team, the customer, the tool shop, and FISA held virtual meetings over the phone and asked “what if” several times during this project.  We eventually settled on an 8-drop manifold system design using our NH2 series hot runners.  The tool passed the PPAP trial in full-automatic mode making 8 good parts each cycle.  The customer is now ready for the ramp-up of the increased part requirement.

Contact me if you have a new project or an existing one that needs new tooling to improve manufacturability.

Until next month, be safe, have a prosperous 2021, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4361
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com


 

The month of December is usually a very hectic time with all the activities associated with the Holiday season.  With all the hurrying around, sometimes it is difficult to sit back and enjoy the season.   I enjoy watching the children in their plays at school and church.  Also, the look on their faces as they open the surprises that await them under the tree on Christmas morning.

While this Christmas season may look different than Christmas’ past, it is still a time to reflect on what is important.  Our celebrations may be smaller in size; however, they are still celebrations.  My wife just bought some Christmas decorated face masks for when we do go out and about.  Who says you cannot accessorize?

We keep a complete inventory of standard hot runner components in stock in Tennessee.  Don’t be a Scrooge or a Grinch, instead of a lump of coal, put a good supply of spare parts in your favorite mold repair Engineer’s stocking so when they return from Christmas shutdown, they can have a smooth start up for the New Year.

FISA will be closed Thursday and Friday, December 24 and 25 to celebrate Christmas and December 31 and January 1, for New Year.  We at FISA hope you have a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New year.  Enjoy your family and friends, be safe in your travels and everyone to have a very prosperous year in 2021.

To borrow a line from the favorite Christmas story, “Merry Christmas to all and to all and a good night.”

Until next month, stay safe, make sure you are not on the naughty list, and make good parts.

Also please like Us on Facebook FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

November is a season for us to reflect on the things we that are thankful.   For me, it is a time of remembering the times as a child.  At Thanksgiving, sometimes we would travel to one of our aunt and uncle’s house for the Thanksgiving meal.  All my cousins, my brothers and I would go outside and play, while the adults would reminisce from their younger years.   We may have even watched some football on the television.

Here at FISA Corporation we are thankful for you, our customers.  It is because of you that we are here.  We think our NH, AH series hot runner design is best in the industry.  They can be direct gated to the part eliminating the need for runners.  They are competitively priced and will provide years of operation with minimal downtime.  We also believe our attention to customer service is world class.

However, while it is important for us to have confidence in our products and service, it is more important for us to know your opinion of FISA.  We want to continually improve our customer service and have developed a Customer Service Survey to give you, our customers, a way to give us a “piece of your mind”.

With all of that said, I would like to invite you to invest 2-3 minutes and click on the front page on our website, www.fisacorp.com ,  scan to the bottom and click for the “customer survey” box.  There ae 10 questions that will help us to evaluate the industry’s perception of FISA’s customer service.  After completing the survey please click the “submit” button at the bottom and the survey will be emailed to me.

It is FISA’s intention to provide the level of customer satisfaction that you would like.  I appreciate you allowing me these few minutes out of your busy day to help us improve our level of service to you.

As a reminder, with the Christmas Shutdown approaching, FISA has a complete inventory of standard components for your valve gates in stock in Tullahoma for your spare part requirements.

FISA will be closed November 26 and 27 to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Until next month; be safe, have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving, and keep making good parts.

Also please like Us on Facebook FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
 

Fall is a season of change. Looking out my window, I see the leaves on the trees turning from green soon to be brilliant yellows and reds. The temperature is brisk in the mornings and there is a chill in the evening.

These are not the only changes. Our customers require changes of us, maybe with new projects that require new tooling or at least engineering changes. One of the phrases that always made me chuckle was when a customer talked about a “minor model change”. What the customer called a minor model change meant complete re-tooling for the molders. Unless it is a shoot-and-ship part, it also usually meant additional secondary processes maybe to include technicians, robots, and or other equipment. That is anything but a minor model change.

The challenge we face as molders is to design manufacturability and profit into the injection mold tooling. As I have discussed in the past, one of the best ways to accomplish that is to use direct gated hot runners to make your parts. For a small increase in tool cost over a cold runner tool, the cost savings of eliminating secondary operations such as gate trimming, reduced material used because no runner is needed to extend cycle time or regrind over the life of the part. That cost savings throughout the life of the part will have a positive impact on your bottom line.

Whether you are looking at new tooling or planning a tool refurbishment, contact me with any questions or requests.

Until next month, be safe, go for a drive in the country and see the colors, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

As September approaches, it is a time when families prepare to send their children to school, we plan on our picks for the fantasy football leagues, and we gear up to watch MLB playoff baseball.  While this year may be different than previous years in many ways, the one thing that is consistent is that we need to support our customers increasing requirements.

For the plastic molders, whether in the automotive, consumer goods, toys, or medical industry, the end users continue to apply pressure on us in Quality, Cost, and Delivery, (QCD).  In the assembly process, you can Kaizen the process to get the most efficient throughput for your operation to help keep processing costs down.  You can Poka Yoke the process to reduce quality issues to reduce rework.

On the tooling side, you can look at the Net Present Value (NPV) of making the parts.  To calculate the NPV, take the cost of making the parts, times the number of parts per year, times the number of years that part is in production. Add the tooling cost to give you the total cost for making that part through the life of production.  Then divide that number by the total number of parts throughout the production life.  That will give you the cost per part including the tool cost over the life of the program.  Here is the formula: (part cost X no. of parts annually X no. of years program life) + tool cost / no. of parts for program life = NPV.

What you will find is that the small cost increase of using hot runners in your tool will give you a faster return on investment (ROI) than a cold runner system because of the efficiency gain with a hot runner system.

The economy is starting to pick up, and many think we will have a robust 3rd and 4th quarter.  We can use this “slow” time to fine tune our processes to be able to provide our customers the best quality parts, with on time delivery, at a competitive cost.  This will help protect your bottom line.

FISA Corporation will be closed on Monday, September 7, to celebrate Labor Day.

Whether you are looking to plan a tool refurbishment or new tooling, contact me with any questions or requests.

Until next month, be safe, stay healthy, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

Summer has finally arrived. July brings many things. For one, Independence Day, July 4, gives us the opportunity to celebrate USA’s birthday. There will be fireworks, cookouts, family get-togethers, among many ways to celebrate. This is usually the time of taking a family vacation to the beach, to an amusement park, to go camping and things like that. Due to COVID-19, vacations will look a little different this year.

As manufacturing restarts, the normal summer shutdown period for retooling, maintenance, and process rationalization projects have been shuffled to different times. Please note, FISA will be closed Friday, July 3, to celebrate Independence Day. If you are planning tool maintenance during your summer shutdown whenever that is, we will be open to support your operation with a full stock of standard inventory components to ship 1-day ARO.

We have supported several customers with new tooling projects in the last several weeks. If you are looking at new tooling, we can support you with a single drop hot runner or a multi drop manifold system. Our patented Plagate system does not need hydraulic or pneumatic actuation to open and close the gate. The pressure developed by the barrel and screw actuate the valve gate.

Whether you are looking to plan a tool refurbishment or new tooling, contact me with any questions or requests.

Until next month, be safe, stay healthy, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Most sports leagues select an MVP, Most Valuable Person, for their season that has outperformed everyone else.  Without that person, their team would not have been successful.  I think all the frontline medical workers and first responders are the MVP, Most Valuable People, during this season of the pandemic.  Because of their selfless dedication and putting the concerns of others before themselves, along with most of the US citizens following guidelines set forth, as it appears, we are on the other side of this virus.

Some areas of the country have started to reopen, we are able to go to some restaurants, retail stores and other areas that have been shut down for the past couple of months.  As the rest of the country continues to reopen, we need to observe the fundamentals on our attack of the COVID 19 virus like social distancing, keeping our hands washed and other common-sense things.

As many people look for a quick and robust recovery in our economy, our manufacturing sectors will be the driving force behind it.  Manufacturing is starting to ramp up for production and will sort out temporary issues in their supply chain.  Tooling and process engineers are combing through the manufacturing processes to insure a smooth startup.  As I said last month, I do not know what the “New Normal” will be but I do know that FISA is here to support you and your operation.  We have a complete inventory of standard components we can ship 1-day ARO to get your existing tools back in operation.  Our Engineering department is available to discuss any new hot runner tooling opportunities that are on your horizon.

Contact me with any questions or requests.

Until next month, be safe, stay healthy, and have a smooth start up.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

The past couple of months have been very trying globally as not many countries have been able to avoid this COVID 19 virus.  As you know, in order to flatten the curve, the US pretty much shut down most of the country and we sheltered in our homes except for essential travel for groceries and such.

The American Spirit is strong and up-lifting.  As in many other cities and communities across the nation, my local elementary school’s teachers decorated their cars with posters, stuffed animals and balloons and had a parade through the neighborhoods where their students lived to show support.  I appreciate the people who work at the essential businesses like grocery stores, restaurants to-go, and pharmacies to name a few worked every day to make sure we were able to have our necessities.

We at FISA Corporation would like to thank the heroes during this time, the first responders and the frontline health care providers.  Many of the doctors, nurses, and others quarantined themselves from their immediate family and cared for the people infected by this virus.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those that have been impacted by this virus.

The beginning of May, many of the states will relax some of the guidelines and allow a slow monitored opening of the economy.  The remaining states will hopefully start to relax theirs soon.  We need to continue to be prudent in our precautions so there is not a second wave of this virus.

I do not know what the new normal will look like when things open and manufacturing starts production again.  I do know that when you do restart your processes, FISA will be here with our world class customer service to support you any way we can.  We have a complete inventory of the standard components and can ship 1-day ARO.

Contact me with any questions or requests.

Until next month, be safe, stay healthy, and have a smooth start up.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

March 2020 has been a month of uncertainty.  The expansion of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is now a global pandemic causing loss of life and major disruptions globally.  Middle Tennessee had an outbreak of tornados causing loss of many lives and destroying much property.  Sometimes we must look at what is important.

I do not want to downplay the necessity of injection molds making good parts and the benefits of a well-run shop floor.  I would like to say that we at FISA would like to recommend social distancing and an increased level of hygiene like washing your hands frequently, coughing in your sleeve and try not to touch your face.  This is the best way to protect you and your family.  While we may not stop the spread of COVID-19, we can slow it down through these measures.

Join us in giving your thoughts and prayers to all that have been impacted by these events.

April 12 is Easter this year.  To the Christian, Easter is the holiday that reflects most on “new life” with the resurrection of Jesus.

FISA will be closed April 10, Good Friday.

Contact me if you need spare parts for your FISA Plagate hot runners or if you would like to learn of the benefits of using our patented Plagate hot runners.

Until next month, be safe, wash your hands frequently, and make good parts.

#alonetogether

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

March is a month of significance. It marks the end of the first quarter of the year. The time changes from standard time to daylight savings time (March 8, 2020). The NCAA basketball starts its tournament with March Madness. Winter gives way to Spring. Spring training gets into full swing in March.

Now is a good time in the plastic injection molding industry to look at any new tooling for VA/VE ideas to engineer cost savings into the tool and process. As I have mentioned before, it has become increasingly difficult to protect your bottom line with increasing costs, supply chain interruptions, piece price reductions pushed by the customers, to name a few pressures. While some of these pressures are out of your control, you can look at tools and process rationalization to fortify the bottom line.

The injection mold itself is a good place to start. A direct gated hot runner system offers many advantages over a cold runner system. While the initial cost of a hot runner system is a little higher than the cold runner, the ROI is realized very quickly spread out over the life of the tool in piece price. Here are a few of the benefits of using the direct gated hot runners. Material savings as there is no runner needed. Because there is no runner, cycle times can be reduced due to less material injected into the tool, that reduces the cooling time required. There is no need for gate cutters to trim the runners, that eliminates the need for some secondary processes. With no runners there will be less material to be ground in the granulators. That will reduce the noise, dust, and other issues associated with regrind.

Feel free to contact me if you have new tooling on the horizon and we will discuss the benefits of using a direct gated hot runner. We can support you in a single drop hot runner or a complete multi--drop manifold system.

Until next month, be safe, hope your NCAA brackets survive March Madness, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

February is a transitional month. Winter has had its grip on us for about 6 weeks. It’s been cold, rainy, some snow but mostly dreary. I see signs of Spring in my yard as the little yellow daffodils are poking their heads out of the ground. We will pick up the sticks and branches that have fallen from the trees. It won’t be long until we get our lawn mowers serviced and ready to cut the grass as we take back our yards from a long winter’s siege. For those of us that garden, we will be looking at the seed catalogs to make our orders for the juiciest vegetables and the most colorful flowers.

Plastic injection molding can be very similar as we continually face transitions. Our customers push for piece price reductions, compressed delivery timing among other things. Our suppliers push for higher pricing and sometimes there are shipping delays. We have internal transitions with our workforce, equipment and so forth. Like the gardener, we need a good plan for our business that reduces the impact of pressures that we can control and flexible enough to mitigate those we cannot control.

FISA is here to support your needs with cost competitive, world class hot runners. Whether your needs require a single drop hot runner or a complete multi-drop manifold system, we are here to partner with you to help protect your bottom line. We also keep a complete inventory of standard items that can ship same day if we receive a PO by 2:00 Central time.

Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions on any requirements you have.

Until next month, be safe, hope your team wins the Super Bowl and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4361
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

As we enter the third decade of the 21 century, we can see that time does not stand still. It seems that most things are in a constant state of change. In many areas, if you don’t like the weather wait 10 minutes and it will change. Twenty years-ago everyone was wondering what changes would have to be made because of Y2K. Not so much as it turned out.

One thing that has dramatically changed, is the way we operate our business. New technologies, domestic and offshore competition, and regulatory issues, to name a few drivers to make us change the way we remain profitable. We constantly review our manufacturing processes and make improvements where needed to reduce operational costs and increase the profitability of the company.

Plastic injection molding is no different than any other manufacturing process in the fact that the more you can engineer out waste in materials, time, and scrap, the more opportunity there is for a better bottom line. One way that can be accomplished is by using hot runners to deliver the melt to the cavity of the mold.

FISA hot runners do not require hydraulic or pneumatic actuation. The plastic pressure from the barrel and screw will actuate the patented spring and piston assembly to open and close the gate. These can be directly gated to the part and that will eliminate the runner. This will reduce the resin required to make the part, help reduce cycle time in the cooling of the part and eliminate trimming. In most cases the ROI (return on investment) of the hot runner system will be very quickly realized by the operational savings in the manufacturing process.

We offer the NH series hot runners designed for the commodity resins and the AH series hot runners designed for the engineered resins with up to a 2,000g shot size per nozzle depending on the resin. We can design for a single drop hot runner and a multi-drop manifold system.
Whether you need spare parts for an existing tool or have a new tool that would benefit from a hot runner system, contact me to see how we can partner with you to improve your process and bottom line.

Until next month, be safe, have a prosperous 2020, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4361
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

Another year has come and gone. As 2019 transitions to 2020, I would like to thank you, our customers, for a good year. It’s hard to believe it will soon be 2020, but that is another story for another day.

Now would be a good time to restock your tool crib for all the spare parts needed to keep your injection mold tools in optimum operating condition into the new year. That way you will be able to “hit the ground running” when you return from your Christmas break. We keep a good inventory of standard components in Tennessee and can ship parts to you quickly.

FISA will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, December 24 and 25 to celebrate Christmas and December 31 and January 1, for New Year. We at FISA hope you have a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New year. Enjoy your family and friends, be safe in your travels and everyone to have a very prosperous year in 2020.

To borrow a line from the favorite Christmas story, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

Until next month, be safe, make sure you are not on the naughty list, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

 

As November begins, it is a season for us to reflect on the things we are thankful for. For me, it is a time of remembering the times as a child. At Thanksgiving, we would have some of my aunts, uncles and cousins at our house for the Thanksgiving meal. All my cousins, my two brothers and I would go outside and play, while the adults would tell stories from their younger years. We may have even watched some football on the television.

Here at FISA Corporation, we are thankful for you, our customers. It is because of you that we are here. We think our NH, AH series hot runner design is best in the industry. They can be direct gated to the part eliminating the need for runners. They are competitively priced and will provide years of operation with minimal downtime. We also believe our attention to customer service is world-class.

However, while it is important for us to have confidence in our products and service, it is more important for us to know your opinion of FISA. We want to continually improve our customer service and have developed a Customer Service Survey to give you, our customers, a way to give us a “piece of your mind”.

With all of that said, I would like to invite you to invest 2-3 minutes and click on the front page on our website, scan to the bottom and click for the “customer survey” box. There are 10 questions that will help us to evaluate the industry’s perception of FISA’s customer service. After completing the survey please click the “submit” button at the bottom and the survey will be emailed to me.

It is FISA’s intention to provide the level of customer satisfaction that you would like. I appreciate you allowing me these few minutes out of your busy day to help us improve our level of service to you.

As a reminder, with the Christmas Shutdown approaching, FISA has a complete inventory of standard components for your valve gates in stock in Tullahoma for your spare part requirements.

Until next month; be safe, enjoy your friends and loved ones during Thanksgiving, and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4361
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com
 

As September transitions to October many stores are gearing up for Halloween. They have displayed
costumes, treats, and yard decorations and ornaments for the people to purchase. It seems like it is getting
earlier and earlier; however, that is another story for another day. They are in hopes that the consumer will
buy early and often until the end of October. In a few weeks we will answer our doors to small ghosts and
goblins so they can “scare” us into giving them treats.

In plastic injection molding, what scares us, is having a mold that “blows out” or has a catastrophic failure that
results in plastic melt going everywhere except inside the mold. Even when using proper operation and
maintenance procedures, you still may experience one of these scary events. While you may not be able to
eliminate these, you can mitigate some of the effects by having a good supply of spare parts on your shelf.

Mr. Murphy will visit your operation at the most in-opportune time, usually late on Friday on a tool that needs
to run all weekend. We do keep a good stock of standard parts that we can ship 1-day ARO if needed. It is
always a good idea for you to keep some spare parts like springs, seal rings and such on your shelf for
repairing tools and getting them back in the molding machine making parts.

Now is a good time to start planning for any tool maintenance or refurbishment projects during the Christmas
shutdown. Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or requests .

Until next month; be safe, do not get scared, and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4361
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Looking at the calendar, I see Labor Day is just around the corner. With that, there are many changes coming, the weather is starting to cool off a little, the leaves on trees will transition from a lush green to a very vibrant pallet of colors, our children will return to school, listing a few of the changes.

In manufacturing, we are accustomed to changes happening very often. In the automotive industry, the OEMs will reimagine their vehicles every 4 or 5 years, and with “minor model changes” in between. The toy and hobby industry will rush new products to market to offer the next Pet Rock (circa 1975) or something similar.

For plastic molders, change is the norm. Your customer is changing his requirements to you with changes in shape, quantity, or delivery. You introduce change into your process with optimization and other projects to increase your efficiency and have a positive impact on your bottom line.

FISA has partnered with one of our customers that will increase their bottom line. They have accomplished this through changing from a cold sprue to a valve gated hot runner. They are experiencing an increase in production rates by reducing scrap rates from about 20% to<2%. We are now scaling it throughout their facility.

Contact me to see if FISA can help you optimize your process. Our Engineering group can be a valuable resource to help reduce some of the process limitations that stand in the way of making positive changes that will impact your bottom line.

Until next month, be safe, have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day Holiday, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4361
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

On the outside, it seems like we sell FISA hot runner systems, also known as runner less mold systems. But is that really true? I like to think we sell service and savings to our customers.

Savings

Material. Plastic may be cheap, unless you are producing plastic parts…. Over the life of the tool, a few pennies saved per part can add up to a HUGE savings. No runner, no wasted plastic. Oh, but you use a granulator and re-grind your plastic, right? How much does that grinder cost compared to a hot runner system? How do you separate your parts from your runners? Conveyors? Sprue Pickers? More cost again…. not to mention more peripheral equipment that can break, and the noise of that grinder…. can you say hearing protection? How about color matching with regrind? Regrind will throw off your colors, and because it’s already been through the plasticizing process, the plastic has lost some of its qualities. Do you have any metal contamination in your regrind?

Cycle time. As a plastic molder, you’ll need a certain number of parts per hour just to break even. There is the cost of the plastic, do you trim the sprues? Well labor is very expensive as I’m sure you know. The overhead of the press, electricity, the building, the operator, office people, forklifts… you get the picture. Any reduction in cycle time will drastically increase profits.

So why wouldn’t you want a process that makes just the parts? The FISA system is a valve gated system that has been around for 45 years, so it is proven. I know, I know, very few of you have ever heard of us in North America. Well, I’m making it my mission to change that. It’s a great product with the best service. It’s simple and it works! Now I know you can cut a cold runner and/or a sprue into your new mold and it will run just fine, but what will that cost you in the long run? Other systems use hydraulics or pneumatics to operate the valve. The FISA system uses just a spring and the pressure of the plastic for operation. We will probably save enough in mold height steel alone over the other systems to pay for a FISA system. Give me a call or send me an email to see how we can help optimize your operation and increase your bottom line. We have a complete inventory of all standard parts and can ship in 1 day whether it is spare parts or complete nozzles.

Until next month, be safe, have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day Holiday, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com

Summer is a time to enjoy many outdoor activities. Hiking trails, floating rivers, taking road trips, visiting theme parks, camping to name a few of these activities. It is a chance to unwind from your daily grind, to create family memories, or just to enjoy friends and family.

With a few precautions, these activities can be safely enjoyed. If you are camping or hiking make sure you have plenty of water to hydrate with, a basic first aid kit and some insect repellent. Take plenty of sunscreen if you are outside, as your mother said, even on cloudy days you will need UV protection. But most important don’t forget your Smore’s kit.

When you are driving to your destination, keep your speed down, those white signs along the way are not suggested speeds. Be aware of the distracted drivers that may try to share your lane. July 1, Tennessee has outlawed the use of cell phones while driving. Play travel games with the children during the trip. Many times, the journey is as enjoyable as the destination.

We at FISA Corporation want you to enjoy your well-earned vacation and know that when you return, we will have a full stock of standard Hot Runner Nozzles and spare parts to keep your injection molds making the best parts possible. Please contact us with any questions or quotation requests.

Please note FISA will be closed on Thursday, July 4, to celebrate our Independence Day.

Until next month, be safe, enjoy your vacation, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Summer is right around the corner and many plastic molders will have a summer shut down as a time for refreshing and recharging for most people. However, for the people that keep the tools running that make the plastic parts, this is the time to schedule tool repair, so the tools will operate within optimum parameters. Included in the repair of the tools is the inspection and or replacement of the hot runner components.

Evaluation of the nozzles and internal components.
If you are experiencing any injection issues, now is a good time to evaluate and clean the hot runner system. It is important to use a propane torch and not a MAPP torch because the hotter MAPP torch will overheat the spring and cause fatigue and failure.

Evaluation of the heaters and thermocouples.
Ring and cartridge heaters should be examined for frayed wiring, damage to the metal case, and loss of the wire seal on cartridge heaters. Frayed insulation may be repaired with high temperature electrical tape. If the conductor wire or metal case is damaged, the heater should be replaced.

Thermocouple examination is for frayed insulation, kinks and crushed areas on the metal sheath. As with the heaters, frayed insulation may be repaired with high temperature electrical tape. A thermocouple with kinks or crushed metal sheath should be replaced.

Nozzle refurbishment service.
I would also like to offer the FISA nozzle refurbishment service as an option, if you would like to send us your nozzles, recommended for AH series nozzles as the piston is more vulnerable to damage with improper removal. We will disassemble, clean and evaluate the components. We will send you a report of our evaluations along with a quote for the parts that need to be replaced. When you send us a PO to cover the refurbishment, we will reassemble your nozzles to optimum condition and return to you.

We do have an extensive inventory of all standard components in stock at our corporate headquarters in Tullahoma, Tennessee and we can ship 1-day ARO. Order your spare parts so you can have them in stock when you need them.

Until next month, be safe, keep your injection mold tools in optimum condition, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation.

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

April provided several cold spells in Tennessee this year. An old wives’ tale would name these cold spells as “Huckleberry Winter”, Dogwood Winter” or what ever tree in in bloom when it happens. One thing is for sure, the outdoor temperature is something we cannot control. The gardener is anxious to plant his garden but does not want to plant too early in case of a late frost. We can only hope that consistently warm temperatures are just around the corner.

There are a couple famous sporting events that happen in May. The Kentucky Derby is in the beginning of May and the Indianapolis 500 is in the end of May. It is better for the fans of both events if the temperature is in the upper 70s or lower 80s but there is no guarantee.

Plastic injection molders cannot operate their process successfully by hoping the temperatures are where they need to be. FISA offers heaters and thermocouples for the injection mold; however, that is only half of the requirement. There needs to be a precise temperature controller that keeps the hot runner nozzle at optimum temperature.

FISA also has a line of cost competitive, highly reliable temperature controllers that can keep the tool temperature within a tight window. From a small 2 zone to a multizone controller with touch screen HMIs, FISA can help keep your process in specifications. You won’t have to hope the tool temperature is correct.

Contact me to learn more about our complete line of temperature controllers.

Until next month, be safe, hope your horse or Indy driver win their race, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

As the old saying goes “Spring has sprung”. The dormancy of winter has given way to the awakening of nature. The daffodils are coloring the countryside with their blooms, you can see a greening of the trees, yes Spring has finally arrived; however, maybe not as fast as Punxsutawney Phil predicted.

I have heard the roar of the lawnmower and smelled the freshly cut onions. It urged me on to service my lawn mower and now I am ready to keep my lawn looking good and with the application of fertilizer and other treatments, it will be green through summer.

We will be celebrating Easter in a few weeks. To the Christian, Easter is the holiday that reflects most on “new life” with the resurrection of Jesus.

If you are looking to bring “new life” to your hot runner nozzles, FISA is here to support you. We carry a complete inventory of standard parts that you can rebuild your nozzles to a “like new” condition. We also offer an evaluation and refurbishment service. So, whether you need a new hot runner system or want to bring that “new life” to existing ones, contact me to start the process.

Until next month, be safe, enjoy the beauty of the Spring, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation
Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

I look forward to this time of year, because the seed catalogs will soon arrive. After a long cold winter, I will start to plan my vegetable garden and my wife will look at the flowers and other ornamentals. We will place an order for seeds and plants then anticipate delivery in 4-6 weeks.

Preparation of the soil begins as the ground warms and dries. Adding organics, nutrients, and adjusting the pH to proper levels will give me the best chance to have a bountiful harvest. We have seen times of little rain over the last several years in Tennessee; therefore, an irrigation system whether an automatic in-ground system or a garden hose with a sprayer handle is a good back-up.

I will plant the seeds and after a few weeks of keeping the weeds from taking over you see the blooms knowing that the veggies will soon grow. After a few more weeks the veggies will ripen, and you get to taste juicy tomatoes and crisp vegetables fresh off the vine. My wife likes cut flowers so she will keep fresh bouquets throughout the house all summer.

Having a successful garden takes some planning, you will develop an action plan to achieve good results. I see a similar pattern for injection molding operations. You will make an action plan to achieve the results you are looking. A good preventative maintenance program on your injection mold tools will help you reduce unplanned shutdowns.

FISA Corporation keeps good inventory of standard components to support your PM program. We will ship same day if we receive an order before 2:00 Central time, which is much better than the seed catalogs. We have several customers that routinely send their hot runner nozzles to us for evaluation and refurbishment.

FISA is here to support your hot runner requirements. Contact me with any requests for quotation or if you would like to learn more about our evaluation and refurbishment program.

Until next month, be safe, hope your garden yields a bountiful harvest, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Super Bowl LIII is the first Sunday in February. The two teams that have endured a long season and then prevailed in the playoffs will kick it off on Sunday to see which one will be successfully crowned NFL Champion. Whether it is the Patriots from New England or the Rams from Los Angeles, both teams have made extensive plans, taken informed risks, adjust when the plans were not as effective on the field as thought. Hopefully, the game will be more interesting than the commercials.

Being successful in the NFL is not that much different than being successful in plastic injection molding. You have assembled a team of professionals, you make business plans, you empower your employees to perform at their highest level. The plans are executed, and you use the PDCA cycle as a platform for continuous improvement. At times you will need to take informed risks. All of this is a good foundation to be successful in your business.

FISA Corporation is here to support your team with world class customer service, low maintenance, cost competitive hot runner nozzles and all associated spare parts. We are large enough to support your organization and small enough to provide you the best customer service available.

Feel free to contact me to learn more about our hot runner nozzles or spare parts.

As part of our continuous improvement, please go to the front page of our website and click on the customer survey button. I would appreciate your feedback.

Until next month, be safe, hope your team wins the Super Bowl and make good parts.

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Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Last Monday night we saw the big ball drop from Times Square as 2018 went into the history books and 2019 burst on the scene. The anticipation of what 2019 will bring is exciting. As businesses deploy the business plan they have developed for this year, everyone has the possibility of achieving 100% of their goals.

As you know, one way to help achieve the goal is to have your production run at high efficiency. If you have optimized your cycle time and have a low ppm scrap rate, you increase your efficiency.

We at FISA are here to support your injection mold operations with our patented Plagate Hot Runner Systems.

FISA has a new customer that replaced a cold sprue tool with a Plagate NH2 0512 06 single gate hot runner. They have dramatically reduced cycle time due to cooling time reduction, reduced material usage because the direct gate injection does not require de-gating, and lower ppm scrap rate. Since the initial trial, they have replaced 10 cold sprue tools with the FISA Plagate systems. They are now looking at some multi-gate manifold
systems on some of their other tools.

Whether you need spare parts for an existing tool or have a new tool that would benefit from a hot runner system, contact me to see how we can partner with you to improve your process.

Until next month, be safe, have a prosperous 2019, and make good parts.

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Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Another year has come and gone. As 2018 fades into the sunset, I would like to thank you, our customers, for a good year.

The month of December is usually a very hectic time with all the activities associated with the Holiday season. With all the hurrying around, sometimes it is difficult to sit back and enjoy the season. I enjoy watching the children in their plays at school and church. Also, the look on their faces as they open the surprises that await them under the tree on Christmas morning.

FISA will be closed Monday and Tuesday, December 24 and 25 to celebrate Christmas and December 31 and January 1 for New Year.

We at FISA Corporation wish you and your family a joyous Christmas and a happy New Year.

To borrow a line from the favorite Christmas story, “Merry Christmas to all and to all and a good night.”

Until next month, be safe, make sure you are not on the naughty list, and make good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation.

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

November has arrived along with a chill in the air. Baseball’s World Series will crown a new champion in the next few days. Football teams are starting their stretch drive to make playoffs or bowl games. College basketball will be starting soon.

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving as it is a time to reflect on what we are thankful for and to spend time with family and friends. It is also a time when we can explore all the different ways to use leftover turkey.

As November arrives it is also a time to plan for the Winter shutdown maintenance and repair on your injection mold tools. The break will give you some time to refurbish tools that are not producing good parts as they once did. Whether it is heaters, thermocouples, springs or seal rings, FISA has complete inventory on all standard components for the hot runner nozzles in stock in Tullahoma, TN. and can ship same day if we receive an order by 2:00 Central Time.

We also offer a refurbishment service. Send us your nozzles that are giving you problems. We will clean, evaluate and replace worn or out of spec parts, then return it to you in optimum condition in a 1-week turnaround.

Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about our refurbishment service or spare parts.

Until next month; be safe, enjoy your Thanksgiving, and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

As September transitions to October this weekend and we start the 4 th quarter of 2018, it seems that it was not too long ago that many of us watched the ball drop in Times Square. I remember as a child, my Grandma Long would tell me how fast time flies. In my 8 or 9-year old mind, I could not understand her comment.

However, as I approach the age she said that, I have a more-clear understanding. As we watch first our children, and then our grandchildren go up, we realize how precious time really is. As parents and grandparents, we try to have a reasonable work-life balance, so we can make good memories with our family members. The memories we make now will carry us through our later years.

Time is not only precious to our personal time but also carries over to our professional time. As in most industries, cycle time in your process has a major impact on your bottom line. This is especially true in the plastic injection molding industry. The time between when parts are removed from the injection mold machine is important. If you can shave seconds from that cycle time, the production increase over a shift, a week, a month and a year will have a positive effect to your bottom line.

If you are not using hot runners to deliver your melt to your mold, we may be able to help you achieve reduced process cycle times. FISA hot runner nozzles do not use hydraulic or pneumatic actuators to operate the gates, so there is no possibility of dangerous oil or air leaks. We use the plastic pressure developed from the barrel and screw to actuate the gates.

We will be happy to discuss any application you have about including FISA hot runners into your molds to reduce your cycle times. There are many other spillover benefits to using hot runners, but an important benefit is with improved cycle time, it might be easier to have a better work-life balance. With a better work-life balance, you can spend more time with the family making good memories.

If you have an injection mold process with a long cycle time or a future project, contact me to see how FISA can help reduce your cycle times, operating costs, and improve your bottom line.

Until next month; be safe, make good family memories, and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Summer is quickly transitioning into Autumn. Temperatures will become cooler, the leaves on the trees will start to paint the landscape with vibrant colors. A relaxing weekend drive in the country will remind you of the beauty of Autumn.

It is also the time when many of your customers might be looking for new products that will require new injection mold tools. Keep FISA Corporation in mind for the tools that hot runner technology can benefit your production floor and your bottom line. Our patented Plagate system is a proven technology for both commodity and engineered resins.

Depending on your requirements, we can supply a single drop or multidrop manifold systems. Our engineering department will work with your tool design group to optimize the melt delivery to give you the best parts at the lowest cost. We have a complete inventory of standard parts in Tullahoma, TN and can ship same day if PO is received by 2:00 Central time.

If you have a future project, contact me to see how FISA can help reduce your operating cost and improve your bottom line.

Until next month; be safe, enjoy the scenery and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

1 hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable time of vacation. Many schools have started the new school year and the others will be soon.

The baseball season is heading into the stretch run and teams are trying to position themselves for the playoffs. My Cincinnati Reds will be looking to the offseason to improve for next year’s playoffs. Football teams are getting ready for their new season. Everyone is trying to make improvements, so they can make the playoffs this year with the hope of being champions.

In manufacturing, we are always looking at ways to improve all aspects of our business. From raw material cost reductions, to process improvements, to lower PPM numbers and improve the quality of the parts going to our customers.

One-way plastic molders can improve their process which would have a positive effect on their bottom line is to use hot runners in their molds. As I have said in the past, with hot runners you can inject directly to the part. That decreases material usage, eliminates the need for gate cutters which decreases cycle time. A spillover benefit is not needing to regrind runners and that will help your shop floor in 5S (cleanliness) and noise level.

The FISA hot runner nozzles have a patented system that does not require hydraulics or pneumatics to open and close. The pressure generated from the barrel and screw open and close the gates. This is very effective in a multi-drop tool as the pressures equalize and the gates all operate simultaneously.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to learn how FISA hot runner nozzles can help you improve your process and bottom line.

Until next month; be safe, root your favorite teams to win, and keep making good parts.

Please like us on Facebook at FISA Corporation

Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Summer is in full swing, we will celebrate Independence Day, and many will take a well-deserved vacation. Where ever your plans take you, apply sun screen, stay hydrated, and be aware of your surroundings.

We are updating our website by including our Operation and Maintenance manual. We hope this improvement will give you better access to information on our Plagate NH and AH series of precision hot runner nozzles. We are also looking at making future improvements to the website to make it easier for you to get the information you need. One thing that will help us understand what information is beneficial to you is for you to complete the customer survey on our website and tell me what additional information you would like.

When you return from your vacation, FISA will be here to support you and your hot runner needs. Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or requests.

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Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com
www.fisacorp.com

Summer is right around the corner and many plastic molders will have a summer shut down as a time for refreshing and recharging for most people. However, for the people that keep the tools running that make the plastic parts, this is the time to schedule tool repair, so the tools will operate within optimum parameters. Included in the repair of the tools is the inspection and or replacement of the hot runner components.

Evaluation of the nozzles and internal components.
It is important to use a propane torch and not a MAPP torch because the hotter MAPP torch will overheat the spring and cause fatigue and failure. On an NH series nozzle, once you have removed the internal components from the nozzle body, separate the torpedo front, piston, spring and torpedo rear. Using a heavy-duty plastic scouring pad (Scotch Brite) or fine emery cloth, polish the surfaces of these internal components. Once clean, you can inspect the piston, torpedo front and rear for cracks or other defects, replace if necessary. For the spring, measure the length with a set of calipers. If you have an NH2 series nozzle, the standard force spring should measure a minimum of 18mm, the strong force spring should measure a minimum of 19mm. For the NH4 series, the standard force spring should measure a minimum of 22mm, the strong force spring should measure a minimum of 24mm. If the measurements are less than the minimum recommended length, the spring should be replaced.

Evaluation of the heaters and thermocouples.
Ring and cartridge heaters should be examined for frayed wiring, damage to the metal case, and loss of the wire seal on cartridge heaters. Frayed insulation may be repaired with high temperature electrical tape. If the conductor wire or metal case is damaged, the heater should be replaced. Thermocouple examination is for frayed insulation, kinks and crushed areas on the metal sheath. As with the heaters, frayed insulation may be repaired with high temperature electrical tape. A thermocouple with kinks or crushed metal sheath should be replaced.

Reassembly of the nozzles.
Upon reassembly on the nozzle, I would highly recommend replacing the PS157 seal ring to reduce the possibility of leakage between the nozzle and the flange. I would also like to offer the FISA nozzle refurbishment service as an option, if you would like to send us your nozzles, recommended for AH series nozzles as the piston is more venerable to damage with improper removal. We will disassemble, clean and evaluate the components. We will send you a report of our evaluations along with a quote for the parts that need to be replaced. If you decide to send us a PO to cover the refurbishment, we will reassemble your nozzles to optimum condition and return to you. If you decide not to send us a PO, we will send the components back to you. We do have an extensive inventory of all standard components in stock at our corporate headquarters in Tullahoma, Tennessee and we can ship 1-day ARO.

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Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com

May this year will be a very busy month for those of us in the plastics industry. NPE 2018 in Orlando is fast approaching. If nothing else, it gives us a chance to catch up with acquaintances
every three years.

I like the show because it gives me a chance to see the latest cutting-edge technologies that have been released into the marketplace. On one campus you can investigate anything related
to plastics and plastic processing from a global perspective. As designer’s imagination become more creative and adventurous, it is up to us to make their dreams (designs) come true.

This show will bring together every aspect of our industry to help us be successful. I hope you take the opportunity to visit the show. If you do, be sure to take plenty of notes, pick 3 of the ideas that will help your processes, and wear comfortable shoes.

Hope to see there.

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Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com

Spring officially started in March. It is time that the landscapes start to wake up from a long cold winter. The trees will start to bud out and that is the start of the tree pollen season. The daffodils have bloomed here in Middle Tennessee and soon it will be safe to put out the tender vegetables like tomatoes and the like.

That is a good segue into the topic for April’s blog, the benefits of performing routine maintenance on your FISA hot runner nozzles. One of the main components in a properly operating nozzle is the spring. The spring can fatigue through overheating, that is why we recommend using a propane torch and not a MAPP torch to heat the nozzle to remove the piston assembly (torpedo front, piston, spring, and torpedo rear for the NH series and collar, spring and piston for the AH series).

The AH2/NH2 has two strengths of springs, SG2818KNP for the standard force and the SG2819KNP for the stronger force. The SG28 states this spring is for the AH2 or NH2 series nozzle. The 18 or 19 indicates the minimum length of the spring (mm) that will allow for proper operation inside the nozzle. This will insure proper opening and closing to eliminate the drool or leakage of the melt.

If you are using the AH4 or NH4 they also have two strengths SG4022KNP for the standard force and SG4024KNP for the stronger force. Please use same precautions when heating the nozzle to remove the piston assembly. The SG40 states these springs are for the AH4 or NH4 series nozzle. The 22 or 24 for indicate the minimum length of the spring (mm) that will allow for proper operation inside the nozzle. This will insure proper opening and closing to eliminate the drool or leakage of the melt.

After the removal of the piston assembly and the cleaning of the piston assembly, it always a good practice to measure the spring length with a pair of calipers before the re-assembly. If the spring measure anything less than the minimum length of that spring, we recommend it be replaced. We also recommend replacing the seal ring, PS157, between the nozzle and the flange when you re-attach the nozzle to the flange. That will eliminate leakage between the flange and nozzle.

These items are inexpensive and help you provide a good quality part to your customer at the most competitive cost.

So, until next month, get out take a ride through the country, enjoy the spring flowers, the flowering trees and help insure your hot runner nozzles are operating as new.

Contact me to get a quote for your replacement components. We have a complete stock of these items on the shelf and can ship 1-day ARO.

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Mark Gilley
(931) 222-4351
sales@fisacorp.com