Featuring the Zeiss ATOS Q at Chemtech Plastics

At Chemtech Plastics Inc., we specialize in tackling complex injection molding projects that other companies shy away from. One of the key technologies that allows us to deliver faster, more precise results is our Zeiss ATOS Q blue light scanner—a powerful tool that transforms the mold qualification process.

The Challenge: Shrinkage and Surface Tolerances

Mold project engineers face a critical challenge: designing, building, and qualifying a mold that delivers a molded part within spec after cooling and shrinkage. The First Article Inspection Report (FAIR) helps highlight dimensional issues, but understanding how to address them effectively requires more than just data—it requires clarity.

Traditional measurement tools like CMMs rely on single-point data collection, limiting insight into curved or freeform surfaces. Interpreting this data, especially when compensating for plastic resin shrinkage, often becomes a frustrating mix of trial, error, and intuition.

A Smarter Solution: Blue Light 3D Scanning

With blue light 3D scanning, Chemtech Plastics gives engineers a faster, more accurate path to mold qualification and correction.

Using the Zeiss ATOS Q, we generate a high-resolution 3D surface scan of your molded part and instantly compare it to your CAD model. Our software produces intuitive color maps that show precise deviations—making it easy to identify exactly which areas are out of spec and what needs adjustment.

Key Benefits:

• Full 360° surface analysis
• Data-driven corrections replace guesswork
• Color-coded deviation maps for fast, visual decision-making
• Feature isolation for specific dimensional insights
• Smarter, more targeted tool adjustments
• Faster turnaround from inspection to correction
• Reduced costly rework and tooling delays

Built for Precision: Zeiss ATOS Q

The Zeiss ATOS Q utilizes structured blue light projection and dual-camera triangulation to produce ultra-detailed 3D point clouds—up to 12 million points per scan. With point spacing as fine as 0.02 mm and repeatable accuracy down to 6 microns, this scanner excels in capturing even the most intricate part geometries.

Parts are scanned on a high-precision rotary stage, creating a fully photogrammetrically aligned model from all angles. This approach dramatically enhances inspection clarity, speeds up surface analysis, and enables smarter steel modifications on complex tools.

Why It Matters

Blue light scanning brings clarity to the complex—and speed to the critical.

Instead of interpreting dozens or hundreds of CMM data points, you get a full-surface visual report that eliminates ambiguity. You know exactly where the problem is, and your toolmaker knows exactly what to fix. This turns mold correction from a reactive process into a precise, efficient, and repeatable one.

Partner with Chemtech Plastics

At Chemtech Plastics, we invest in advanced technologies that help our customers succeed in launching tight-tolerance, high-performance molded parts. Our blue light scanning capabilities reduce delays, improve accuracy, and turn complex geometry into data-driven solutions.

Let’s talk about your next project—and how we can help you qualify tools faster, with greater confidence.

Written by John Linder, Director of Sales and Marketing

As I prepare to retire from a nearly 50-year career in mold making and precision injection molding, I find myself with an unusual and challenging task: finding my replacement. I’ve been lucky enough to have had a career that’s branched out into many different directions, so I think the best way to find someone to fill my shoes is to tell my story and share how I’ve acquired my skills. Maybe you’ll read this and discover we have some things in common.

 

A Born Moldmaker

I must start by looking at what shaped me and my long career path. I am a third-generation tool/mold maker. My father owned a mold making and injection molding company, so I was exposed to molding at a young age. I loved building model cars, which had me dealing with molded parts, runner systems, and the like.

I exhibited a God-given talent for craftsmanship at a young age, excelling in woodshop and drafting classes while in middle school. By high school, I had taken aptitude tests that confirmed I have a high level of mechanical aptitude. A mold maker must be able to see the opposite side of the surface in order to know what the mold will look like, and not everyone can easily see in reverse.

Old-School Methods

I started my mold making career in an era that was pre-CAD/CAM, wire EDM and HS machining. We had to learn what is today considered very outdated machining techniques. We did much of our own mold design work. Even handheld calculators were uncommon. This old-school environment taught me many valuable lessons that are hard to replicate.

Breaking into the Mold

About nine years into my career, I moved over to the molding side of the business. Learning how a mold operates in serial production was an invaluable lesson. As my career progressed, I managed the technical portion of the molding business. This included managing the engineering function. I started buying and then selling internationally built molds. As my career progressed, I became more involved with secondary operations and assembly work. I have always embraced technology, and things like mold simulation software and additive manufacturing have brought interesting learning experiences and opportunities.

Agility is Key: Moving into Sales and Admin

With a little over 40 years in the business, I moved into the sales role full-time. I have always contributed to the sales function throughout my career, and having a technical background is very important. Customers want to speak with an intelligent and knowledgeable salesperson. Part of this technical knowledge must include the ability to conceptualize and brainstorm on new product designs and manufacturing processes. In my role, I am the one who reviews all new opportunities to determine if the project is a good fit for our capabilities. Being able to easily envision a new concept is key to being effective.

A considerable amount of my time is spent on administrative functions. I am the gatekeeper for pricing. I read every contract and proposal coming into the company. With the advent of some new European laws and regulations, we must deal with many new environmental and human rights initiatives and requirements.

Do You Have What It Takes?

Selling today has taken a dramatic turn post-COVID. Today, online presence and online marketing is everything. Old-fashioned door knocking and relationship building is simply ineffective. In this role, having the ability to produce interesting technical articles is critical in attracting new leads. Managing a marketing partner and what is posted online is vital to how you are perceived online. This information is what drives new leads to the sales funnel. Understanding CRM programs and how to use them effectively is a very important tool for growth.

I have been truly blessed to have had such a wonderful career. I know that there are only a few people who have had similar experiences. Understanding mold making and injection molding, as well as possessing experience and knowledge of both, is fundamental. If you have the skills and knowledge outlined in the story and are interested in learning more about this position, email me at jlinder@chemtechplastics.com.

Manufacturers around the globe are beginning to adjust to new tariffs and trade regulations in the economic market. In order to avoid the effects of these newly imposed tariffs, many companies are looking for U.S. injection molding partners they can trust to transfer programs currently running serial production outside of the U.S.

How to Effectively Transfer Production to the U.S.

Transferring production projects currently running serial production takes extra care and planning to avoid missed or late deliveries. Determining the time required to requalify molds to a new production location takes considerable time to complete, depending upon part complexity and the amount of verification/validation that needs to be completed.

Normally, there is a controlled sample, which could include a run-at-rate study, followed by an FAI report and capability study before a PPAP can be submitted. If this includes additional product testing, it can take months before the mold can be restarted running approved product.

Chemtech Plastics: A Trusted Partner for Large-Scale Transfers

Fortunately, Chemtech Plastics already has a proven, in-depth APQP process process in place for serial production transfers. Driven by a massive transfer of hundreds of part numbers in one transfer, Chemtech developed a way of planning for such a large amount of activity flowing through at one time. In this case, multiple stages were planned to get the most urgent products addressed first. Chemtech was able to complete all stages of the transfer in under six months.

Open communication is a key element in the planning process. All stakeholders must have input into the planning process. The timeline needs to be clear, well-understood, and achievable. Working together with our customers and conducting the required
planning, molds can be transferred in a timely manner, with minimal disruption to the supply chain.

Chemtech is prepared to help you transfer your program to a highly competent precision injection molding partner. Explore our website to learn more about Chemtech and the many services we offer.

Making up the pillars of Chemtech Plastics’ core leadership team are a few key individuals who have played an instrumental part in the company’s continued success. You’ve already met Founder and CEO Ragnar Korthase. Now, it’s time to meet John Linder, Director of Sales and Marketing—and the visionary behind the parts Chemtech produces.

Over 40 years of experience

Linder began as a journeyman moldmaker in the plastic injection molding field. As his knowledge and skills grew, so did his career. In 1979, Linder became a shop owner at just 25 years old, but in 1985 was when he really “got off the bench,” marking his move into management. Around this time, Linder switched from toolmaking to injection molding at a company that performed both functions (much like Chemtech).

Until 2016, his career focus was primarily technical, reflected in his positions. Linder was Director of Engineering at Chemtech from 2000-2013. Naturally gifted in technical pursuits, he found himself drawn to this side of the industry.

“Everything made sense. I had the skills and learned very quickly, which made it very enjoyable,” said Linder. “Experiencing both toolmaking and moldmaking has been rewarding, challenging, and interesting.”

From technical to front-end

For many years, Lindner worked within this highly specialized niche in the injection molding industry, making highly complex automotive electrical connectors, junctions, and relay boxes. “I’ve always been interested in and focused on technically demanding parts and products,” said Linder. “At Chemtech, that’s our niche. We seek technically challenging projects other companies can’t or won’t do.”

Moving to Director of Sales and Marketing was a natural transition for him. The transition supports Linder’s remarkable ability to brainstorm and envision the perfect way to craft each new part that crosses his desk. Getting involved with the upfront initial scope planning is crucial in this role.

As he explains, clients approach Chemtech for plastic solutions. Mold modeling for client requests is a highly technical process, with many moving parts and client involvement. We create a mold to produce applicable plastic solutions, but there’s a significant amount of front-end work in creating a successful product launch.

Specializing in saving lives

Within the plastic injection molding field, Chemtech makes parts for several different industries, including automotive, medical, and electromechanical components. Throughout his career, Linder’s specialties have been automotive and medical components. Because of their human impact, he finds it most rewarding to work on medical components, such as those used in modern surgical devices.

Shifting gears

As Director of Sales, Linder felt the shift when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Chemtech had to pivot from good old-fashioned knocking on doors as a relationship-building model—what was previously their most successful approach was no longer an option. “Trying to relearn something that you’ve done for decades is a change and a challenge,” he said. “You have to remain fluid and willing to evolve.”

“Chemtech does it right.”

Where others have failed to step to the plate, Chemtech has been there. “Over the years, as other companies lost business, we grew,” said Linder. “People came to us because they know we do it right. They knew we could help them make their products when others couldn’t.”

Another thing Linder appreciates about Chemtech is the collective management style of Ragnar and President Derek Popp. There’s no hand-holding, he said, because “when you have a position here, you have the authority and responsibility not to let the team down.” Linder said, “We strive to attract talented people that help create a culture and environment that is dynamic yet enjoyable to work within.”

To our clients, what puts Chemtech a step above the rest is that every part we make has a story. Most injection molders go into their sample case, and a part is just a part with little more to it than a name. In contrast, “I can get you excited by 20 parts,” said Linder. “With each one, you’ll go, ‘Wow!’ when you realize everything that goes into each component. Not everyone can do that.”

Ready to start a new project? Interested in a career at Chemtech? We want to hear from you.

Chemtech Plastics, Inc., began with one man with a plan—Ragnar Korthase. As an immigrant who moved to the U.S. at the ripe age of 11, it’s unlikely young Korthase guessed at the time he’d be starting his own company many years down the road.

In 1982, Chemtech Plastics came to be. From there, Korthase worked long and hard to grow the plastic injection molding company into what it is today. Follow along as we share with you the story of Korthase and Chemtech.

The very beginning

Thanks to his German father’s card nights, Korthase met a family friend who was a toolmaker, a profession that had him enthralled. “I latched onto him, and said ‘I want to get into the business.’” The toolmaker had a partner at a molding company, which is where Korthase buckled down after completing high school. 

After “my uncle called, Uncle Sam” and four years in the U.S. Air Force, Korthase got back into the moldmaking business—setting a personal goal to start his own business by the age of 30.

From early on

And that’s exactly what he did, first in an eight-year partnership and then on his own. If you can believe it, the company opened its doors with a single molding machine that was “half-broken,” as Korthase recalls, “and all I did was fix things.” 

That was one way to quickly learn that machine maintenance was not the business he wanted to start. “A tough, tough, start,” as he recalled.

It was that moment when Korthase realized brand new molding equipment was the only way to go to fulfill his dream. With the right machinery, “it’s amazing how easy things become. We make good parts with good equipment.”  

Present-day

Teaming up early on with Derek Popp (current president of Chemtech) was exactly what the company needed. Together, the duo makes an unstoppable team—Korthase with the toolmaking experience and Popp with the moldmaking expertise. Credit where credit is due, Korthase also touts Popp’s technical mind and excellent customer service skills.

While great leadership, quality machinery, and expert employees are crucial to Chemtech’s success, so are creating and maintaining meaningful connections with their customer base. “We have long-term relationships with a lot of our customers,” he said. “They rarely go elsewhere, because we are a quality house—always have been, always will be—and we make sure our customers are very happy.”

Looking forward

Reflecting on Chemtech’s earliest days, “We all have goals, of course, but I really didn’t know to what extent the company would go,” he said. “I was always just happy to have another customer get another machine.” These humble aspirations are a great part of why people love Chemtech and the work we produce—and how we’ve become a leader in the precision injection molding industry for over 30 years.

All Korthase wants is to see his company continue to grow year after year. “We still have room to grow,” he said. “Maybe we get one customer one year and then three the next.” What matters is that “we’ve got a great group of people” and “we strive to do our best [because that’s how] we succeed.”

Ready to start a new project? Interested in a career at Chemtech? We want to hear from you.

It’s our pleasure to newly introduce you to Chemtech Plastics, Inc. We’ve been an industry leader in precision injection molding for over three decades—and we wanted our website to reflect that. We’ve done a complete overhaul of our online presence, and we can’t wait to share that with you. Refresh your browser, and join us as we refresh your memory about why manufacturers, companies, and technology creators around the world choose Chemtech Plastics for all of their precision molding needs.

Who we are

Dating back to 1982, Chemtech has a long-standing history in the moldmaking industry. CEO Ragnar Korthase started the company as its sole employee, working on used machines. Through his dedication, Korthase grew the company to become the great success that it is today, with the help of strong leadership like that of President Derek Popp.

Chemtech specializes in full-service, custom, precision injection molding that spans multiple industries, including automotive, medical, industrial, and optic lighting. Our core competencies include straight molding, insert, and overmolding, as well as multi-shot (2K and 3K) expertise. 

We incorporate Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles into everything we do. This ensures the most efficient and cost-effective production process for every project our clients propose. Chemtech excels in project management and quality assurance, as well, which has allowed us to create a name for ourselves that is synonymous with reliability.

What you can expect from Chemtech

Our new website gave us an opportunity to bestow upon you a wealth of clear and transparent information about who we are, what we do, and how we can make your projects come to life. Throughout the site, you’ll find each of our areas of expertise broken down into digestible segments—giving you the insight you need in an easy-to-read format.

Learn about our capabilities, from precision molding and toolmaking to engineering and automation. Take a deep dive into the work we’ve done in the industries we specialize in and what types of components we’ve made. Find out more about our company promise to our clients. With Chemtech, you’re in good hands. 

Have a new project in mind? Let’s get started! Request a quote today.