C.R. Onsrud built an over 1,000-square-foot High-Rail CNC machine to process TerraLam® cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels for their customer Sterling Structural, a division of Sterling Site Access Solutions, LLC. Standing at 18-feet tall, weighing over 40 tons, and wielding a 42-inch saw blade, this machine captured attention.

“All of our machines are beefy. We use steel for every base, column, bridge and gantry to give customers the rigidity they need for high-speed and accuracy. But still, by comparison, the High Rail dominated the floor,” said Rich Guerin, director of operations and controls for C.R. Onsrud. “Visiting manufacturers and everyone in our company came to see it. One guy said it is larger than his apartment.”

With the High-Rail CNC machine, a cutting process which had taken several hours now takes minutes. While one spindle performs all the milling operations, the other does the sawing.

The High Rail requires several skilled technicians two weeks to install, align and prepare the machine for production and includes training the Sterling’s operator. The High Rail is built to order and engineered for a customer’s specific application.

“C.R. Onsrud and Sterling co-specified the 5-axis High-Rail to be the exact machine we needed to transform our Terralam CLT standard billets into robust buildings components for the design and construction industries we serve,” notes Michaela Harms, senior director of mass timber for Sterling Structural. “Our customers expect reliable and seamless installation of our CLT products, and with this modified, domestically-produced, 5-axis CNC, we can deliver even more buildings across the country.” www.cronsrud.com.

Prompted by concerns about rust contamination from yeast, a shift in the baking industry has led to the replacement of metal components with plastic parts in dough-making equipment. Dough pistons, a part crucial to large-scale bakeries, is one traditionally metal piece that is being swapped for plastic.

Cope Plastics, Inc., responding to a major bakery corporation’s challenge with expensive, overseas-produced pistons, has developed a solution using FDA-approved polymers. The new plastic dough pistons feature blue acetal, serving both functional and visual purposes. The distinctive color aids in quick contamination checks, enhancing food safety protocols.

The design and manufacturing process involves precise programming and skilled machining. These pistons are engineered to withstand rigorous industrial use while maintaining strict hygiene standards. It eliminates metal contamination risks, extends equipment life span and simplifies maintenance. www.copeplastics.com.

Surgical robotic systems are transforming modern surgery, offering enhanced precision and control for complex procedures. With over a million robotic-assisted surgeries performed annually, this technology is rapidly gaining popularity.

Plastics play a crucial role in these advanced systems, often replacing traditional materials like aluminum. Boedecker Plastics, Inc. provides a wide range of medical-grade plastics for surgical robotics, offering benefits such as chemical resistance, weight reduction and enhanced wear resistance.

Key applications include housings, structural components, rotating and linear wear parts. Materials like polycarbonate, Ultem™, PEEK and Radel® are used in control stations for their impact strength, chemical resistance and electrical insulating properties. End effectors are designed in many different configurations to achieve effective gripping, cutting, probing and other operations. Plastics are used in these applications for bio-compatibility, chemical resistance, wear resistance for wear components, dimensional stability and weight reduction. www.boedeker.com

In northern Australia, where saltwater crocodiles thrive, wildlife management often requires the relocation of these massive reptiles from residential areas. Röchling Group’s plastics expertise plays a crucial role in this process, demonstrating an innovative application of industrial materials in wildlife conservation.

The relocation begins with trapping the crocodile in a metal cage, baited and designed to safely capture the animal. Once trapped, the crocodile is transferred to a transport box made from Röchling’s Polystone® G.

This plastic transport box offers several advantages over traditional steel containers. Polystone G is waterproof, UV-resistant to withstand the harsh Australian sun, and easily processed. The box features a watering system and air holes for the crocodile’s comfort during transport.

A key benefit of the plastic design is its rounded interior, which reduces the risk of injury if the crocodile becomes agitated during transport. This thoughtful application of Polystone G showcases how industrial plastics can be adapted for specialized wildlife management tasks, balancing the needs of both human safety and animal welfare in unique environmental challenges. www.roechling.com.