PTFE: 3 essential tips for machining.

PTFE can be machined to extremely close tolerances but comes with a few nuances you should be aware of. Here are three tips for machining PTFE:

• When holding PTFE sheet, rod or tube in place for machining, make sure the holding jig or fixture distributes forces evenly. PTFE is soft and vulnerable to deformation under the strong force of a vice grip.
  
  
• While non-cooled high-speed steel drill bits and router bits may work for virgin and unfilled PTFE, filled PTFE grades generally require carbide tooling. PTFE also responds well to coolants due to high moisture and chemical resistance.
  
  
• When drilling, use a high feed rate and consider using air to blow away chips. Leave plenty of room for chips to eject. Interstate Plastics recommends Onsrud HHS High-Speed Drill Bits, available online or over the phone.
  
  

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Twinwall: Tips for Edge Profiles

Interstate Plastics offers no-melt saw blades that work especially well when cutting twinwall profiles down to match the width of sheets to which they will be attached. Follow these simple tips when preparing your edge profiles.

• Use an aluminum edge profiles to protect the lower edge of the sheets. For the protection of the upper edges, polycarbonate edge profiles can be used.
   
• Use a metal saw to cut the aluminum edge profiles into pieces matching the width of sheets to which they will be attached.
   
• Drill drainage channels to allow for the flow of condensed water along the profiles used for the bottom section of the building’s roof.
   
• Attach the edge profile to the sheet with the short side on top of the sheet.

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Interstate Plastics Introduces "Everything-You-Need" CNC Router Bit Kits

No matter the application, let Interstate Plastics provide everything you need to get the most out of your CNC machines. Take a look at our newest kits from Onsrud, an industry leader in CNC machining technology:

	Onsrud CNC Starter Kit Everything you need to get the most out of your CNC router.
	Onsrud CNC Sign Kit The perfect assortment of cutting tools for expert sign making.
	Onsrud CNC Production Kit Everything you need for production level performance from CNC machines.
	Onsrud 3D Cutting Kit Superior cutting tools for creating perfect 3D masterpieces.
	Onsrud Router Bits for Plastics Plastic cutting bits by Onsrud are an industry standard in quality.
	Onsrud Drill Bits for Plastics Plastic cutting bits by Onsrud are an industry standard in quality.
	No-Melt Saw Blades for Plastics Saw blades that offer premium performance on hard and soft plastics.

Simple Cleaning Tips for Polycarbonate Twinwall

Follow these simple tips to keep your twinwall sheets looking new for years to come!

General Cleaning:

1. Rinse the twinwall surface with warm water to loosen preexisting dust, dirt and grime
2. Gently wash the surface with a mild soap and a soft microfiber cloth or sponge
3. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Dry the sheet completely with a soft, preferably microfiber, cloth

Removing Oil and Tar:

1. Rinse with warm water to loosen preexisting dust, dirt, and grime
2. Gently the rub surface with a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water mixture using a soft, non-abrasive cloth
3. Immediately rinse material with water and dry using a soft, dry cloth

Removing Heavy Markings: (e.g. graffiti, paint, marker, inks, glazing components)

1. Rinse with warm water to loosen preexisting dust, dirt, and grime
2. Gently rub the surface with Naphtha VM&P grade, isopropyl Alcohol, or butyl cellosolve, using a soft, non-abrasive cloth

Removing Adhesive-Backed Labels:

1. Rinse with warm water to loosen preexisting dust, dirt, and grime
2. Remove stubborn adhesives with a soft cloth using isopropyl alcohol, Naphtha VM&P grade or kerosene

Removing Scratches:

• Deep scratches and gouges made by sharp objects such as keys, screwdrivers, and knives cannot be repaired
• Fine scratches can be cosmetically hidden by using our Novus 2, followed by a polishing agent such as Novus 1

Learn More »

Special Note: Always rinse edges of polycarbonate with generous amounts of warm water, as the edges of polycarbonate sheet are not protected with an abrasion and chemical resistance hard coating.

3 Tips for Multiwall Roof Structures

The roof of a polycarbonate twinwall or multiwall structure many times takes the brunt of the abuse. Here are three twinwall tips for a strong, safe roof.

A supporting structure must have a minimum roof slope ratio of 1:12, or ~5 degrees.  (however, we recommend a minimum of 10 degrees) to allow water to effectively flow over the sheet or through the flutes. 

A 1:12 slope ratio means 1" of rise for ever 12" of run.

Plan arches within the cold-bending capabilities of your multiwall sheet. For proper cold bending, arches should always be formed parallel to the sheet ribs and the sheet length must be longer than sheet width.

Check roofing dimensions on-site. Complete all metalwork and painting before unmasking multiwall sheets, or before any sheet installation work.

LEARN MORE ABOUT POLYCARBONATE TWINWALL FROM INTERSTATE PLASTICS »

Planning a Multiwall Supporting Structure

When planning a polycarbonate twinwall or multiwall supporting structure, we have a few important tips to keep in mind.

Supporting beams for polycarbonate multiwall structures must be at least 30mm (1.18") wide to ensure good anchorage of sheets and fastening accessories. In the case of an arched structure, check the smallest permissible cold bending radius according to the sheets' thickness.

Your polycarbonate twinwall sheets should be installed with the ribs parallel to rain flow, allowing water to flow throw the flutes if needed. A supporting structure must have a roof slope of at least 10 degrees.

In gable and wall applications, always ensure that the ribs are positioned vertically.

Complete all the metalwork and painting before beginning sheet installation work. Check the dimensions on site, and plan the roofing requirements before beginning installation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT POLYCARBONATE TWINWALL FROM INTERSTATE PLASTICS »

Storing Your Twinwall Sheet

When you keep polycarbonate twinwall and multiwall sheets on hand, it's important to store them properly. This will prevent UV damage, scratches, and deformation. Here is a quick guide.

Twinwall sheets should be stored in dry, dark and well-ventilated areas, with no exposure to sunlight, wind, dirt or hard objects to prevent damage.

Store sheets on a flat clean raised surface and place them on a soft material, like cardboard, to prevent damage. Sloped stacking is recommended and if stacked flat, a stack should be kept at a maximum height of 3 feet.

Outdoors, sheets should be covered with an opaque material (cardboard, wood, EPDM sheet etc.) that provides protection from the sun. For long term storage, do not store sheets under a PVC sheet or tarpaulin.

To ensure twinwall is delivered damage free, Interstate Plastics ship on an extra protective plywood pallet at $15 for every linear foot.

LEARN MORE ABOUT POLYCARBONATE TWINWALL FROM INTERSTATE PLASTICS »

Twinwall's Greenhouse Light Diffusion & Privacy Advantage

Did you know your twinwall bends light to your advantage? Especially when it comes to greenhouse applications.

Polycarbonate twinwall panels diffuse light evenly throughout greenhouses eliminating "hot spots" and shadows. A slight decrease in light transmission (versus glass) helps to keep your greenhouse from getting too hot during warm weather and keep your plants from burning.

Diffusing light is critical for optimal plant growth because diffused light bends around corners and allows light to reach the entirety of plants, as opposed to just the tops.

Marine Grade Plastics Used in Emergency Repair of Cruise Ship

In May of 2016, a cruise ship went into dry dock for service which included replacing a broken stabilizer. (Pictured above.) It was determined that the flap bearings from the OEM for the new fin stabilizer would not work and needed replacement. CIP Composites, a manufacturer of marine grade materials for Interstate Plastics, offers 24-Hour Emergency Support, and was able to answer the request for this urgent delivery, providing new bearings the same day! Learn about marine CIP composite material from Interstate Plastics »

Benefits of Marine Composites: Environmentally friendly Self-lubricating High edge and shock load capabilities Low coefficient of friction Suitable for fresh or saltwater environments Negligible water swell

Story via CIP Composites

 

Twinwall in Real Life: Data Centers and Containment Systems

Data centers play a pivotal role in modern technologies that we all enjoy, especially those technologies which rely on cloud computing. "The cloud" may conjure up many different images based on your understanding of what the cloud is. Many see it as a metaphor, not a physical object. The reality is that these metaphorical clouds are indeed physical objects; rooms full of computer servers and battery racks placed inside containment systems (many times referred to as isolated hot aisles and cold aisles).

Large companies including Google, Amazon and Home Shopping Network have found that utilizing polycarbonate twinwall and polycarbonate multiwall in these containment systems provides the most reliable IT environments, allowing for maximum "uptime" as well as maximum cooling for servers and batteries alike, as well as physically separating groups of servers or batteries from each other.

The physical isolation of these servers, batteries and other systems provide many benefits, most notably temperature control, fire safety and contamination control.

Twinwall in Real Life: Office Partitions & Dividers

Interstate Plastics has provided polycarbonate twinwall for office partitions and dividers in a multitude of scales and scenarios. Twinwall is widely acclaimed for its toughness, aesthetic appeal, and thermal properties.

Easy to machine, install and affix, lightweight polycarbonate twinwall panels are a proven solution for office spaces.

Sound deadening, filling gaps and handling obstructions with beautiful aesthetics are all possible with our twinwall panels; they can even improve cooling efficiency!

Twinwall partitions and dividers section off areas, or can be used for sliding doors with no threshold, creating hazard-free walkways that let carts pass through with ease.

Twinwall in Real Life: An Engineer's Go-To

Caroline is retired Civil Engineer Technician, but the engineer in her never stops creating and designing. Caroline recently contacted Interstate Plastics with an idea to take her love of gardening, and gardening projects, to new heights. (Literally!)

Caroline decided that a small garage addition could act as the perfect winter greenhouse. Having experience as a Civil Engineer Technician, she had seen the use of polycarbonate twinwall in harsh outdoor environments, due to both exceptional strength and insulation properties.

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King Starboard® Provides Perfect Storage Solutions for Overlanding Vehicles

King Starboard® is an industry leader for extreme outdoor weather performance for marine industries and hobbyists. That's why it is no wonder that King Starboard® has now made its way into the "overlanding" community. Overlanding is defined as self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations, by vehicle, where the journey is the principal goal.

This means large loads over long distances, exposed to all nature has to offer. And with so much gear, overlanding vehicles require organizational systems that segment tools, enclose electronics, provide platforms for cooking, and various methods to keep everything safely secure.

Interstate Plastics Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate New Alabama Branch

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 15, 2016 — Interstate Plastics is pleased to announce a new branch location in Birmingham, Alabama. On December 13th, 2016, Interstate Plastics employees, customers, vendors and local officials participated in an official ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the new facility located at 288 Snow Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209.

Seeing significant growth in 2016, Interstate Plastics seized on a logistical opportunity to combine all Alabama operations into one large facility.

"The new space allows Interstate Plastics to contain all Alabama operations under one roof, as well as provide a more convenient location to service customers," explained Cole Klokkevold, Interstate Plastics' Chief Executive Officer.

The new Birmingham location will continue to service markets throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.

Branch manager Todd Brownfield stated post-event "Tuesday night’s ribbon cutting was another proud moment for Interstate Plastics and a celebration of its continued investment in the business community. The support from customers, vendors, executive management, and the Birmingham Business Alliance was remarkable.  It is very much appreciated."

For more information about the event, or to contact Interstate Plastics Birmingham, please call Todd Brownfield at (205) 620-9500.

Interstate Plastics is a full-line distributor of plastic sheet, rod, tube, bar, film and profiles, as well as plastic accessories, tools and care products. With 10 locations nation-wide and an online sales and support team, Interstate Plastics provides full sheets and pallets, simple cut-to-size and complex CNC manufacturing. Interstate Plastics is known for its reputation of selling high-quality products, providing excellent customer service, and superior technical support.

Product Highlight: PPS

Today we'll take a quick look at an often over-looked plastic, PPS. Due to impressive strength and cost-effectiveness, PPS bridges the gap between partially crystalline materials and PEEK plastic.

Interstate Plastics chooses Quadrant's Techtron® as their PPS material of choice, which is easily machined to close tolerances. It is ideal for structural applications in corrosive environments or as a PEEK replacement at lower temperatures.

40% Glass-Reinforced  PPS is the most recognized PPS grade. It is compression molded and offers better dimensional stability and thermal performance than Techtron® PPS and maintains its strength to above 425°F (220°C).

Bearing-Grade Techtron® PPS is an internally lubricated and carbon fiber reinforced compression molded PPS offering a low coefficient of thermal expansion and uncompromised chemical resistance. It is well suited for and wear applications or when an electrically conductive material is required.

Rings made of Bearing-grade Techtron PPS eliminate galling and corrosion problems in centrifugal mining pumps, and allow closer running clearances -- reducing recirculation and increasing efficiency over materials such as bronze.

Mercedes-Benz Turns to 3D Printing for Plastic Spare Parts

This marks the first time the company is offering 3D-printed spare parts.

This article first appeared on Plastics Technology's website. 

German truck manufacturer Daimler AG says that its Mercedes-Benz trucks are using the latest 3D printing processes for plastic spare parts. Starting in September, Mercedes-Benz says that 30 genuine 3D-printed spare parts can be ordered and supplied quickly, economically, in any quantity and always in consistent quality. The available spare parts consist of plastic components. Covers, spacers, spring caps, air and cable ducts, clamps, mountings and control elements are a few examples of the spare part production.

Interstate Plastics Announces Planned Merger of Alabama Branches

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Interstate Plastics has announced a restructuring of its Birmingham, Alabama Branches, effective September 5, 2016. The move is designed to increase logistic efficiency and customer responsiveness by combining machining and inventory functions in a single location.

Birmingham operations are currently divided into two locations; an inventory location stocking of a wide range of niche and commodity plastics including ABS, Acetal, Acrylic, HDPE, Marine Board, UHMW and other performance plastics, and a machining location specializing in value added services including routing, beveling, counter sunk holes, hole drilling, and other custom machining and fabrication processes.

With both locations experiencing significant growth, Interstate Plastics took advantage of an opportunity to streamline operations by combining the two locations into a much larger facility. "The new space will allow Interstate Plastics to get all operations under one roof, as well as provide a more convenient location to service its customers," said Cole Klokkevold, Interstate Plastics Chief Executive Officer.

The new Birmingham location will continue to service markets throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.

Interstate Plastics Introduces Verbatim 3D Printing Filament Solutions

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Interstate Plastics provides solutions for 3D printing in commercial markets and is now proud to offer Verbatim's full line of 3D printing filament, with a wide range of ABS, PLA and Primalloy™ filament products and resources.

Featuring a proprietary compounding process, Verbatim 3D filaments are manufactured from high quality materials, to extremely tight tolerances, resulting in a highly homogenous material composition. This uniform composition, combined with the outstanding diameter consistency of Verbatim 3D filaments provides for smooth operation and high quality prints with fewer layer-to-layer discrepancies.

Custom Plastic Fabrication Solutions From Interstate Plastics

Nearly every industry benefits from fabricated plastic parts and products. Through our fabrication partners, Interstate Plastics provides cost-effective solutions for a variety of design, fabrication and machining applications.

From small to big projects and parts, both simple and complex, Interstate Plastics provides fabrication solutions for applications requiring milling, routing, drilling, bending, flame polishing and CNC or panel sawing. Applications range in size from large tanks and tank liners to flanges and lids.

Our vast experience and working knowledge of ANSI, AGMA and metric standard parts make Interstate Plastics your source for made-to-order parts and custom fabrication and machining. Send us your sample, sketch, drawing or CAD file (AutoCad, Solidworks, etc.) for a speedy, competitive quote.

Interstate Plastics also offers Leister's full line plastic welding solutions. Leister is the world leader in plastic welding equipment. From full kits to individual tools, tips and nozzles, Interstate Plastics offers the equipment you need for professional plastic fabrication.

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A must-see acrylic light show!

"We put those tubes to good use!" Robert from ZGF Architects told us in an exclusive interview. He was referring to acrylic tubes provided by Interstate plastics, used for an amazing professional light sculpture.

ABS Plastic for Speaker Enclosures

Russ has been fabricating high-quality audio speaker enclosures from ABS plastic provided by Interstate Plastics for decades. Speakers have included studio monitors, home theater mains, rear, and subwoofers, professional mains, subwoofers and stage monitors.

 ABS is his material of choice because of appearance, light weight, machinability, and general ease of fabrication. None of Russ's fabrication is injection molded.

Interstate Plastics Provides Solutions in Plastic at MD&M West 2016, booth #3190

Interstate Plastics is attending the MD&M West Conference at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92802. The event will span Tuesday through Thursday, February 9th - 11th. Interstate Plastics is providing free admission when registering for the event. Customers who call the Interstate Plastics Medical Group at (877) 695-2594 will receive a code for admission, a $95 value.  Interstate Plastics will be present 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at booth #3190, highlighting their extensive line of full and cut-to-size plastic sheet, rod, tube and accessories for industries including manufacturing and manufacturing equipment, engineering and design, as well as packaging and medical grade plastics.

Deals, Updates & Promotions! The Interstate Plastics Newsletter

Signing up for our newsletter is the only way to get exclusive Interstate Plastics deals! Be the first to know: get promotional codes and offers from Interstate Plastics, as well as useful information about plastics and their applications.

We offer these promotions as a way of showing our gratitude for your continued business. Promotional codes can be redeemed only at the time you place an order online. Simply enter the claim code in the coupon field upon checkout; click the "Promotional Code?" link under your subtotal to reveal the promotional code entry field.

Promotional codes may not be applied toward sales tax or shipping costs. Promotional codes apply only to orders placed online unless otherwise stated, and may have other restrictions.

Learn More »

Thermoforming Sheets & Kits from Interstate Plastics

Interstate Plastics provides all your thermoformable plastics in one place with pre-cut easy to form sheets! Thermoforming is a manufacturing process where a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature, formed to a specific shape in a mold and tripped to create a usable product.

Thermoforming applications include prototyping, architectural design, model making, signage, repairing & replacing plastic parts, tabletop gaming, costume design, Jello molds, chocolate molds, soap and candle molds -- Just about anything!

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NASCAR Illustrated Spotlights Interstate Plastics Sponsored James Bickford

NASCAR Illustrated's Steven Levine sits down with NASCAR Next driver James Bickford to discuss his budding career post the 2015 K&N Pro Series West season. James discusses his relationship with cousin Jeff Gordon, his history with racing and his plans for next year and his momentous career.

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR’s James Bickford: Phoenix Int'l Raceway

Tuesday, November 10th
On the night of November 10th, James Bickford landed in Phoenix, ready to finish strong in the last race of the season.

Wednesday, November 11th
James spent the entire day at tech inspection, talking over strategy and looking over the car with the Bob Bruncati team. Everything looked good as James mentally prepared for the race.

Thursday, November 12th

8:00am
James drove to the track in the Sunrise Ford Van which had made the long drive down. As practice started, James felt he was fast; his confidence rose. Then the first problem of the day: an ignition box failure.
"We were half power down the entire track" James noted, "We had to hustle to get it fixed."

In qualifying, James was in the middle of the pack to set a time. He placed a strong 3rd, but as the competition took to the track he was bumped down to 11th.

5:30pm
The race began at 5:30pm and the sun was still shining bright over the horizon. (Most of Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.) Around lap 10 the drivers slowed for the first caution flag. On restart James fell quickly behind.

As additional caution flags came, each restart seemed to create more of a challenge.

"The car felt extremely loose; something wasn't right" he remarked, "it turned out that for 40 laps we were driving with a deflated right passenger side tire."

Coming out for the last 50 laps, James quickly worked his way up to 14th place. On the green flag lap he passed one car. Then, in James' signature comeback style, he was able to pass 5 cars on the white flag lap, finishing 8th for the race.

James was pleased with the finish. We asked him to reflect on this past season and to give us his thoughts moving forward.

"I like how we qualified throughout the season, I felt we were fast. Our average qualifying was around 3rd place, that's encouraging. We had about 300 laps led throughout the season which is a great accomplishment. We were unfortunately plagued with problems. We dealt with the problems as best we could, but unfortunately a few bad circumstances set us back."

James had technical difficulties in a few races throughout the season, but always bounced back, never picking up a DNF.

"There's up seasons and there's down seasons. I know next year will be an up season. I'm sad that I won't be with Bob Bruncati and the #6 car, but hopefully there will be a lot of attention around this program that we've built.  I'm excited to start focusing on next year."

Are you a frequent purchaser, but do not yet have an account with Interstate Plastics? What are you waiting for? Check out this helpful video that will show you which steps to take to set up net 30 credit terms, and make buying a whole lot easier!

How to request Net 30 credit terms from Interstate Plastics >>

Quick tip: use separate cutting boards for raw meat and poultry, and for your vegetables, fruit and prepared food. http://fb.me/23omxB2pi 

Providing Your Solutions in Glazing

Twinwall polycarbonate provided by Interstate Plastics is the ideal glazing material for many outdoor applications including roofing, hobby and commercial greenhouses and window replacement. Twinwall’s notorious double paneled sheets serve to trap air, therefore increasing the product’s insulation strength. Insulation properties will increase depending on the material’s thickness.


Twinwall’s surface is protected from the degradation effects of UV radiation by a proprietary co-extrusion process. Beneficial infrared light passes through the material promoting an ideal growth environment.

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR's James Bickford: All American Speedway

On Saturday, October 17th, Interstate Plastics sponsored James Bickford took to a local track, All American Speedway in Roseville, CA. Qualifying with an impressive 3rd place, the race hit an unfortunate bump in the road that left to a major repair stop.

Friday, October 16th:
James drove down to the track in the late afternoon. The late models were out to practice, and James watched, looking for any differences between this and last year. He concluded the line was about the same. He stayed in the comfort of his own home that night, remembering that the previous year he was stuck in an uncomfortable motel.

Students Create Robot Using Polycarbonate From Interstate Plastics

Jeramie met several Columnes Oaks High School students at the Elk Grove Western Festival who used our polycarbonate to help make this awesome robot. Their team is called Wolfpack Robotics.

Then we received a very thoughtful note of appreciation from the Wolfpack’s mentor, Jack Covert, where he described exactly how the team used our products. See below:

How to Navigate an Interstate Plastics Category Page

Interstate Plastics has simplified online shopping with a series of how-to videos to teach customers how to locate products, request a quote, learn material information, and purchase from our website. This customer tool set contains everything you need to know to find and order the best material for your unique application. A tutorial instructing customers how navigate an Interstate Plastics category page is just one video within the eleven-video-series. Now that’s solutions in plastics!

Once you start on the Interstate Plastics website, you'll move to the acrylic category page, accessible through the top drop-down menu at the top of the page, or through the search box on the right hand side of the top of the page. Category pages allow you to quickly find the specific grade you need for your application. We see that Interstate Plastics carries acrylic sheet, rod, tubes and accessories for cleaning, care, and machining acrylic. Underneath we get a short description, and below that you will find our most popular sub-categories for Acrylic plastics. This includes sheet, rod, tube as well as specialty grades, textures and colors.

The body of the page is divided into two columns. On the right you will find specific products related to the acrylic category page, and on the left-hand side, we will find a great deal of information including a general plastics overview, acrylic plastic applications, other important and useful information, as well as optical properties. You'll also find material specifications and chemical resistances. With all the relevant information you need for acrylic in one place, you can learn about the material and purchase it right there.

1.) How to navigate the Interstate Plastics home page >>

2.) How to get a custom price quote on cut-to-size material >>

3.) How to navigate an Interstate Plastics category page >>

Interstate Plastics Downey Becomes Master Distributor of Polygal Polycarbonate Twinwall

Interstate Plastics Downey has partnered with Polygal to become a master distributor for Polygal polycarbonate twinwall throughout the United States’ Pacific Southwest. Interstate Plastics has added an additional facility in Downey, California to house an influx of new polycarbonate twinwall following the partnership.

Interstate Plastics Appoints Larry Chavez Chief Financial Officer

Interstate Plastics has announced the appointment of Larry Chavez as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective Aug. 19.

Interstate Plastics Names Grant Long Branch Manager for Kent Facility

Interstate Plastics announced the appointment of Grant Long as Branch Manager for Interstate Plastics of Kent, effective August 5.

Interstate Plastics Receives IAPD Award for Environmental Excellence

The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) presented Interstate Plastics with a bronze award in Environmental Excellence on September 23, 2015 at the 59th Annual IAPD Convention in San Diego, California.

Awarded to a select few, the Environmental Excellence Award was established in 2008 to celebrate environmentally-conscious IAPD member organizations. Interstate Plastics was one of seven companies to receive the 2015 award, rated on excellence in recycling, conservation, community awareness and employee engagement.

In a formal announcement regarding the award presentation, Susan Avery, IAPD CEO said:

"IAPD is proud to honor the accomplishments of these seven companies with the Environmental Excellence Award. Life cycle analyses show that plastics are often the most environmentally-friendly material to use for applications, and as shown in the examples from these ... companies, the manufacturing of those plastics can also be done in an environmentally responsible manner."

Interstate Plastics' recognition for environmental excellence came following a company-wide recycling effort that began in 2014 and includes recycling scraps, runoff and remnant material. Interstate Plastics Safety and Quality Manager Rich McDevitt, who has spearheaded Interstate Plastics' green initiatives, emphasized that "it is important that we recycle and reuse all materials, not just plastics ... Although sometimes challenging to implement in large settings, recycling is very rewarding."

In addition to the IAPD Environmental Excellence Award, Interstate Plastics has joined the IAPD GreenScene™ program. IAPD GreenScene™ honors all member companies that engage in environmentally-conscious practices.

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR's James Bickford: Meridian Speedway

On Saturday, September 5th, Interstate Plastics sponsored James Bickford and the rest of the NASCAR K&N West crew took on Meridian Speedway (Meridian, ID) for the first time in over forty years. After leading the race until lap 43, the Napa-native flew over debris from a previous collision, which caused a slow leak from the right-rear tire and resulted in an unforeseen 14th-place finish. Check out the details below:

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR’s James Bickford: Colorado National Speedway

On Saturday, August 22, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West returned to Colorado National Speedway in Dacono, CO for the NAPA Auto Parts/Toyota 150. After starting fifth on the grid, James suffered a small collision and rounded out the race with a tenth place finish. Take a small look into Team Bickford's race weekend.

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR’s James Bickford: Evergreen Speedway

Interstate Plastics sponsored NASCAR Next and K&N West driver, no. 6 James Bickford, returned to Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington on August 15th for the ninth race of the K&N Pro Series West season. After rounding out the pole in qualifying, Bickford finished the night in eighth place. Take a look and see how it all went down.

Interstate Plastics Provides Broad Range of Mechanical Plastics to Machine Shops Nationwide

Interstate Plastics offers mechanical plastics to machine shops for engineering, commercial and retail markets. With a large network of exceptional machine shops and manufacturers, Interstate Plastics works to provide solutions for a wide variety of machining applications. Interstate Plastics assists customers in finding solutions for custom components and parts, fabrication and CNC routing.

Mechanical Plastics from Interstate Plastics >>

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR's James Bickford: Iowa Speedway

On Friday, July 30th, Interstate Plastics sponsored James Bickford returned to Newton, Iowa for Iowa Speedway’s Thanks Kenny 150. Bickford took home sixth place in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series combination race, scoring third among the K&N West contenders. Fellow K&N West driver Brandon McReynolds took home the trophy for the 131.25 mile event and Interstate Plastics got footage from the day’s events. Watch it all here.

How to Get a Custom Quote from the Interstate Plastics Website

Interstate Plastics has simplified online shopping by introducing a series of how-to videos to quickly learn how to locate products, request a quote, learn material information, and purchase from our website. This customer tool set contains everything you need to know to find and order the best material for your unique application. A tutorial instructing customers how to receive a custom quote via the Interstate Plastics website is just one video within the eight-video-series. Now that’s solutions in plastics!

Once you reach the Interstate Plastics home page, you will point your cursor to the top of the page and click ‘Get a Quote.”

Once you’re on the ‘Get a Quote’ page, you’ll be given a simple form to fill out. Go ahead and type in your email address, telephone number, a description of your project, and any drawing, file, or schematic that you may have. Review the information provided to make sure everything is correct, then type in the special CAPTCHA code and click ‘Email.’

Wait for a confirmation that you’ve submitted a request for a custom quote, and you’ll hear back from one of our plastics experts as soon as possible – generally about one to two business days.

If a customer needs further assistance, Interstate Plastics has a team of plastics experts ready to answer any questions they may have about our full line of plastic products and how to purchase them. Give us a call at (888) 768-5759 today to learn more about how we may provide your solutions in plastics.

1.) How to navigate the Interstate Plastics home page >>

2.) How to get a custom quote >>

How to Navigate the Interstate Plastics Website

Interstate Plastics has simplified online shopping by introducing a series of how-to videos regarding how to quickly locate products, request a quote, learn material information, and purchase from our website. This new customer-tool set contains everything you need to know to find and order the best material for your unique application. A tutorial instructing customers how to navigate the Interstate Plastics home page is the first video within the eight-video-series. Now that’s solutions in plastics!

1.) How to navigate the Interstate Plastics home page >>

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR’s James Bickford: Stateline Speedway

Interstate Plastics sponsored no. 6 James Bickford set out to take on the previously championed Stateline Speedway on Saturday, July 11th in Post Falls, Idaho. Team James Bickford had a major comeback and first season win following an unfortunate loss at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday, June 30th.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West returned to the quarter-mile track for the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 150, where Bickford clinched the championship for the second consecutive year after leading 151 laps of the 158-lap-race. The Napa native received his first K&N West career title at Stateline Speedway in 2014.

Interstate Plastics has tons of EXCLUSIVE footage of the day’s events, including the night’s win! Check it out here, and read below for more details.

Interstate Plastics Sponsored James Bickford Hopes For Repeat Win at Stateline Speedway

Interstate Plastics sponsored no. 6 James Bickford is set to take on previously championed Stateline Speedway on Saturday, July 11th at 9:00pm PST.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will return to the quarter-mile track in Post Falls, Idaho for the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 150. The Napa native clinched his first and only K&N West career title at Stateline Speedway in 2014 after passing veteran Greg Pursley with only four laps remaining.

Purchasing on the Interstate Plastics Website: How To Navigate the Home Page

Interstate Plastics recently created a library of short, interactive YouTube videos that aim to teach our valued customers how to easily purchase plastic on the Interstate Plastics website.

First in the series is a video instructing customers how to navigate our home page. Take a look at the video and get on your way to becoming a purchasing pro!

Enter to WIN Autographed NASCAR Gear by Visiting Interstate Plastics

Interstate Plastics sponsored no. 6 NASCAR K&N West driver James Bickford has been spanning the Western United States throughout the course of the 2015 racing season. Interstate Plastics has your ticket to all of his upcoming events as well as autographed Team Bickford memorabilia.

Interstate Plastics, in its second year of sponsorship, is excited to venture into new territories and find customers who love NASCAR!

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR’s James Bickford: Sonoma Raceway

Date	Track	Location	Starting Pos.	Finish	Series Standing
03/28/15	Kern County Raceway Park	Bakersfield, CA	5	4	4
04/11/15	Irwindale Speedway	Irwindale, CA	9	17	10
05/02/15	Tucson Speedway	Tucson, AZ	5	6	6
05/16/15	Iowa Speedway	Newton, IA	4	24	7
05/30/15	Shasta Speedway	Anderson, CA	2	2	5
06/27/15	Sonoma Raceway	Sonoma, CA	8	28	8
07/11/15	Stateline Speedway	Post Falls, ID
07/30/15	Iowa Speedway	Newton, IA
08/15/15	Evergreen Speedway	Evergreen, WA
08/22/15	Colorado National Speedway	Dacono, CO
09/05/15	Meridian Speedway	Meridian, ID
10/17/15	All American Speedway	Roseville, CA
11/12/15	Pheonix Int'l Raceway	Pheonix, AZ

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On June 27th, Interstate Plastics sponsored no. 6 Team Bickford took on Sonoma Raceway and closed off the night with an unprecedented 28th-place finish. The day was filled with adrenaline, tons of press events and an unforeseen car malfunction – and Interstate Plastics caught it all on camera! Let's take a look into the day leading up to the Carneros 200 and the potential factors that led Team Bickford to their unfortunate loss.

Watch the exclusive footage here »

NASCAR's James Bickford Attends Pre-Race Media Events Leading Up to Sonoma Raceway's Carneros 200

Interstate Plastics sponsored no. 6 James Bickford recently completed a marathon week of media appearances and practices leading up to the June 27th NASCAR K&N West Carneros 200 at Sonoma Raceway, which shared an event weekend with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota Save Mart 350. The combined events brought nearly 500,000 fans to Sonoma Raceway over the course of the weekend. The 17-year-old Napa native mentioned that he "loves media appearances", which comes as no surprise given his natural poise and eloquence in front of the camera. Take a look below to see where James appeared prior to the June 27th Carneros 200 at Sonoma Raceway.

Interstate Plastics Sponsored Bickford Eager To Run Second Race On His "Home Track"

SONOMA, CA. (June 23) - After narrowly missing victory in his last race, James Bickford, 17, of nearby Napa, can hardly wait until he starts his engine for the Carneros 200 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday afternoon. He finished second at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, CA, losing the lead with only five laps remaining on May 30.

Interstate Plastics Sponsored James Bickford Set to Race Home Track, Sonoma Raceway

Interstate Plastics sponsored no. 6 James Bickford is scheduled to tackle his home track, Sonoma Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.), on Saturday, June 27 at 2:00pm PST. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series event will be televised post-race on July 1 from 6:00pm – 7:00pm PST on the television network NBC Sports (NBCSN).

Interstate Plastics Introduces New Polycarbonate Twinwall Resources

Interstate Plastics is proud to offer a full line of attractive polycarbonate Twinwall products, the ideal material for outdoor applications including glazing, window replacement, roofing, hobby and commercial greenhouses, and impact/storm protection. Twinwall is designed for applications requiring durability, UV resistance, and extreme impact resistance.

Interstate Plastics Provides Material Solutions at OMTEC 2015, Booth #836

Interstate Plastics will appear at the 11th Annual Orthopaedic Manufacturing & Technology Exposition and Conference (OMTEC 2015) on June 17 and 18, at the Donald E. Convention Center in Chicago. Interstate Plastics will be highlighting their extensive line of full and cut-to-size plastic sheet, rod, tube and accessories for industries including manufacturing and manufacturing equipment, engineering and design, as well as packaging and medical applications.

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR’s James Bickford: Shasta Speedway

Interstate Plastics sponsored no. 6 James Bickford made a serious comeback in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West this weekend thanks to a second place finish in Saturday’s race at Shasta Speedway. I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Team Bickford and caught tons of exclusive footage of their whereabouts leading up to the Bill Schmitt Memorial 150. Take a look at a weekend-in-the-life of NASCAR’s James Bickford and catch his second place win and interview from inside the Winner’s Circle. Watch it all here.

A Lap Around the Track With NASCAR’s James Bickford: Iowa Speedway

Interstate Plastics sponsored NASCAR driver James Bickford is no stranger to bad luck on the racetrack this season. Number 6 Bickford ended an otherwise exceptional race day at Iowa Speedway with a 24^th place finish following a minor crash in the Casey’s General Store 150 on May 16^th. Bickford spent some time with me to discuss the gritty details of the unfortunate crash and his weekend in Iowa.

Interstate Plastics Incorporates Management Changes in Austin and Des Moines Branches​

Interstate Plastics announced the appointment of Pete Butcaris as Branch Manager for Interstate Plastics of Austin, effective July 1. Butcaris previously served as Branch Manager for Interstate Plastics at their Des Moines facility.

Interstate Plastics Oversees Organizational Restructure

Interstate Plastics President Mark Courtright announced the Company will create a Director of Business Operations position, which will be occupied by current National Sales Manager, John Schwenck.

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR’s James Bickford: Tucson Speedway

Interstate Plastics sponsored James Bickford ended his third K&N Pro Series race with a sixth place finish at Tucson Speedway on May 2nd. On the rebound from his April 16th weekend at Irwindale Speedway, Team Bickford made a tremendous comeback at Tucson and climbed to the number six spot in overall series points.

Interstate Plastics Selected to be Master Distributor for Polygal Polycarbonate Twinwall in Pacific Northwest

Interstate Plastics has partnered with Polygal to become the Pacific Northwest's master distributor of the Polygal Polycarbonate Twinwall product line.

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR’s James Bickford: Irwindale Speedway

On April 11th, Interstate Plastics sponsored no. 6 Team Bickford took on Irwindale Speedway and closed off the night with an unprecedented 17th-place finish. Having entered race day with high expectations, Bickford sat down with me to reflect on the factors that potentially led Team Bickford to their unfavorable loss.

Interstate Plastics Now Offers Propylux HS Rod

Interstate Plastics is proud to now offer Medical Grade Propylux® HS, a heat stabilized polypropylene rod used primarily in orthopedic applications.

A Lap Around the Track with NASCAR's James Bickford: Kern County Raceway Park

Interstate's favorite NASCAR driver, James Bickford of Napa, 17, recently kicked off his 2015 K&N Pro Series West season at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, Calif. on March 28. With a fourth-place finish, Bickford started out his second NASCAR season on the very right side of the track. Let's take a look into Team Bickford's Day at Kern County Raceway Park.

Interstate Plastics Provides Solutions in Plastic at MD&M West 2015 booth, #2882 Hall C

Interstate Plastics will appear at the MD&M West Conference to highlight their extensive line of full and cut-to-size plastic sheets, rods, tubes and accessories for industries including manufacturing and manufacturing equipment, engineering and design, as well as packaging and medical grade plastics.

Interstate Plastics Now Offers UHMW Tivar® HPV

Interstate Plastics is proud to now offer Tivar® HPV, a high performance UHMW bearing grade material - the leading no-slip material for extreme wear applications.