Abstract: Container (10, 10?) for the laboratory area, having: a body (1) with a layer (2) that is opaque to an optical reader, is applied to the body and has clearances (21) in the form of machine-readable data, the body (1) having at least one local material modification (3), and the material modification (3) together with the opaque layer (2) forming a reading area (6), in which the machine-readable data can be read from the outside by an optical reader on the basis of the optical contrast between the material modification (3) and the opaque layer (2).

Abstract: The invention provides foamed plastics particles having a star-like shape the three legs of which are on the same plane. The ratio of particle thickness to particle height is from 1:2.75 to 1:3.3, that of leg width to particle height is from 1:2.2 to 1:2.5, and the particle height is from 10 to 60 mm. The particles of the invention are suitable as free-flowing packing material having a good flow and simultaneously a good interlocking capacity.

Abstract: The flameproof styrene polymer foam in accordance with this invention is obtained by melting a granular mixture of styrene polymer and aluminum hydroxide having a grain size of 20-100 .mu.m and a specific surface of below 1 m.sup.2 /g in an extruder, incorporating a physical expanding agent, and homogenizing and extruding the mixture.

Abstract: To produce hollow articles of a thermoplastic by extrusion blowing a parison is transferred from the extruder die into the blow mold by means of a gripper device comprising two gripper arms which work hand-over-hand, alternatively grip the parison as it issues from the die and draw it at an adjustable take-off speed, which is greater than the speed of extrusion, into a blow mold waiting under the die, and the blow mold, after the gripper arm has passed the lower edge of the mold, closes about the parison still hanging from the die, the second gripper arm grips the parison just above the blow mold before the parison is severed between the upper edge of the mold and the gripper arm, the filled blow mold makes room for the next blow mold, the parison inserted in the mold is inflated in a manner which is in itself known to form the hollow body, the latter is released from the mold, and the entire sequence is repeated as a continuous set of cycles.