The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released a recap of the US plastics industry 2022 economic performance, authored by Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda.

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

Kunststoffverarbeitung

Dienstleistungen

Lohnfertigung

Kunststoff-Verpackungsmaschine

Sondermaschinen

Kunststoff

Bauwesen

Baustoffe

The US Plastics Industry in 2022

Susanne Schröder will become editor-in-chief of the magazines Kunststoffe and Kunststoffe international on December 1, 2020. The current editor-in-chief Dr. Karlhorst Klotz will leave the company by mutual agreement.

Susanne Schröder will become editor-in-chief of the magazines Kunststoffe and Kunststoffe international on December 1, 2020. Until now she has been editor-in-chief of the trade journal FORM+Werkzeug

16:9

Werkzeuge für Leichtbauwerkstoffe

Präzisionswerkzeuge

Tiefziehwerkzeug

Werkzeug-, Formen- und Modellbau

Werkzeugüberwachung

Toolmanagement

Werkzeugwechselsysteme, Spritzgieß

Werkzeuge für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Spritzgießwerkzeuge

Werkzeug- und Formenbau

Modulare Werkzeugsysteme

Absaugungen für Werkzeugmaschinen

Betriebsausrüstung / Betriebsmittel

Absaugvorrichtungen

Fluorkunststoffe

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Thermoplaste

Werkzeugverwaltungssoftware

Prüfen von Kunststoffen

Messtechnik

Biokunststoffe

Presswerkzeuge, Kunststoff

Werkzeugreinigung, Kunststoffe

Standardkunststoffe

Technische Kunststoffe

Füllstoffe für Kunststoffe

Kunststoffhandel

Handel

Betriebstechnik für Kunststoffverarbeitung (Peripherie)

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Verfahren

Kunststofffasern

Verstärkungsstoffe

Kunststoff-Recycling

Kunststoff-Aufbereitung

Hochleistungskunststoffe

Qualitätssicherung Kunststoff

Qualitätssicherung

Change in the Chief Editorial Office of Kunststoffe

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) decided the cancellation of the in-person components of NPE2021, scheduled for May 17–21, 2021, in Orlando, Florida.

No Live-Event from May 17 – 21, 2021

Verbände, Institutionen, Messen

NPE2021: In-Person-Components Cancelled

Chinaplas 2022, to be held from April 25 to 28, will bring together more than 4000 exhibitors of the plastics and rubber industries from all over the world to launch innovative green solutions.

The 3rd Chinaplas x CPRJ Plastics Recycling and Circular Economy Conference and Showcase will be held one day prior to the show in Shanghai (photo from last year’s event).

Kunststoffe

Photonik

Optik

The Theme Color of the Show Is Green

 Brenda Chamulak will become company president and CEO effective June 30 as part of a planned leadership transition.

Brenda Chamulak will become Tekni-Plex‘spresident and CEO effective June 30 as part of a planned leadership transition

Spritzgießen

Verpackungstechnik

Logistik

Tekni-Plex Names New President and CEO

The quality of final products can be increased by using measurement technology for monitoring production processes. Interest in it is increasing especially for compounding. There are various existing methods of non-destructive testing that can also be used inline in the manufacturing process. The different methods are suitable for different applications: an overview of the current capabilities and limitations of the various inline methods.

Fig. 2. Dependence of measurable ultrasonic amplitude (extinction coefficients) of filler content and the accompanying median size of chalk particles in plastics compounds: By using such databank-integrated calibration curves, both of these quality relevant features can be quantified inline by ultrasound

Inline Testing Methods for Monitoring Processes

Mikrowellenmesstechnik

Elektrische / Magnetische Messtechnik

Compoundieren

Transparency in Compounding

Engel Austria GmbH, Schwertberg, Austria, presents the next generation of the all-electric e-cap injection molding machine series for beverage caps. The production of 29/25 lightweight caps on a new e-cap 380 machine makes it clear how continuously increasing requirements can be combined with the shortest cycle times, the highest precision and lowest energy consumption. 

Engel Presents the Next Generation e-cap 

Spritzgießmaschinen

High Stability and Precision  

Since March 2020, Alain Zijlstra has taken the lead role in Volpak S.A.U., Santa Perpetua de Mogoda/Barcelona / Spain. 

New Chief Executive Officer 

A Change in Leadership at Volpak 

By the end of the year, Germany‘s largest used injection molding machine will be on its way from southern Germany via Amsterdam to Mumbai. Gindumac organizes the complete logistic handling with the customer.

All components of the large machine, such as the plasticizing unit in the picture, have to be removed and packed for long distance transport to India

Komponenten für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Spritzgießmaschinen, allgemein

Gebrauchtmaschinenhandel

Dienstleistungen in der Metallbearbeitung

Gebrauchtmaschinen

Gindumac Receives Big Order from India

Whether it is the cycle time, energy consumption or process stability: the levers for greater efficiency and quality in the injection molding process are many and varied. With the new performance.boost Engel offer its customers an expertise as a service for process analysis and optimization.

With its expert knowledge, the company identifies process optimization potential and provides user support during their implementation. The results include shorter cycle times, superior part quality, greater process stability, lower energy consumption or a longer machine service life

Instandhaltung

Industrie 4.0 für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Industrie 4.0

Instandhaltungssoftware

Optimize Processes Efficiently with Engel performance.boost

All of Sacmi’s closure, preform, container, computer vision system and post-processing operations to come under the ‘roof’ of the newly formed Business Unit. This operation is part of a wider Sacmi strategy of developing technologies and solutions for every stage of the production process.

All of Sacmi’s closure, preform, container, computer vision system and post-processing operations to come under the ‘roof’ of the newly formed Business Unit „RigidPackaging Technologies“

Verpackungsmittel aus Kunststoffen

Sacmi Establishes New Business Unit for Rigid Packaging Technologies

With immediate effect the registration documents for K 2022 are available online. The deadline for registration for all the companies wishing to participate in K 2022 is 31 May 2021.

The next K show will take place in Düsseldorf from October 19 to 26, 2022

20:7

Messe K-Kunststoffmesse

kunststoffe-international.com

Kunststoffverarbeitungsmaschinen

Kunststoff-Erzeugung

K 2022: Registration Documents Available

AMI has announced that its four focused plastics industry exhibitions, which were scheduled to take place at Messe Essen in Germany on 1–2 June 2021, have now been postponed to 29–30 September 2021.

AMI Postpones European Plastics Industry Expos

Pascal Laborde has been in charge of the French Arburg subsidiary in Aulnay-sous-Bois since 1 November 2020. His main objectives are to further develop the successful business in France and to continue to advance the excellent reputation Arburg enjoys as a machine builder and partner for the plastics processing industry.

Pascal Laborde has been in charge of the Arburg subsidiary in France since 1 November 2020.

Digitale Transformation

Wirtschaft

Innovationen und neue Technologie

Automatisierungstechnik

New Managing Director for Arburg France

Chinaplas 2021 will take place on April 13 – 16, 2021 in Shenzhen, PR China, with “New Era − New Potential − Innovation for Sustainability ” being the show theme. 3,600 exhibitors from 50 countries present the latest innovation of the plastics and rubber industries.

Chinaplas 2021 to Open on April 13

Perc Pineda, PhD, Chief Economist of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), summarized the U.S. plastics industry performance in 2021 in seven charts.

According to Perc Pineda, PhD, Chief Economist of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), the U.S. plastics industry performance in 2021 can be summarized in seven charts.

The charts presented below are not all-inclusive considering that November and December data is still forthcoming. These charts are based on PLASTICS’ projections.

1. Industrial Manufacturing of Plastics Products

Low plastics material and resins supply caused the plastics product manufacturing to slow earlier this year but turned around after May. Although resin production has increased, the plastics industry continues to face labor shortages. However, it appears that plastics production has been running on high gear to meet higher demand for plastics and plastic products. In November, plastics production was up 7.1% from a year earlier. Compared to the end of the Covid-19 recession in April 2020, plastics products manufacturing rose 23.0%. With 2021 expected to end on a high note, a 4.5% increase in plastics production can be expected in December year-on-year.

2. Plastics and Rubber Shipments: Plastics and rubber shipments have been increasing since February this year. It increased 7.5% in October from a year earlier to USD 22,019 million, according to the latest estimates of the U.S. Census Bureau. Business conditions remained favorable in November and assuming that’s unchanged in December, this year could close with shipments 9.5% higher than December last year.

The US plastics industry continued to experience low labor supply in 2021 – reflecting the economy’s labor participation rate that appears to be stuck around 61.0% since June last year. Plastics products manufacturing saw an increase in employees in August reaching 598.6 thousand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates plastics manufacturing employees at 597.7 thousand in October. Considering the low supply for workers, it is unlikely that hiring increased dramatically in November, albeit in November plastics and rubber unemployment was estimated by BLS at 1.5%. This means that November and December plastics.

This year saw stable plastics molds exports. Except in February, where exports were USD 39.9 million, plastics molds exports stayed above USD 40.0 million through October. May and August exports at USD 53.1 million and USD 57.3 million, respectively. It is projected that the two remaining months of 2021 will continue to see exports above USD 40.0 million. Molds exports in 2021 are less volatile than in 2020. However, the uneven pace of emergence between countries from the pandemic could cause only moderate increases in molds exports in 2022.

5. Producer Prices in Plastics Material and Resins Manufacturing

After many years of stable resin prices, 2021 saw prices climbed into double-digits due to ongoing interruption of the pandemic and adverse weather conditions that caused resin shortages. While the causes of resin shortages have been analyzed by many industry observers, strong demand for plastics and plastics products sustained elevated prices throughout 2021. However, data suggest that resin prices peaked in the summer months – price increases moderated thereafter, which is expected through December. It remains to be seen when prices will return to their pre-pandemic levels. Given that supply chain issues could remain unresolved – at least in H1–2022 – resin prices could remain elevated, but the rates of increase will continue to moderate as resin supply catches up with resin demand.

6. Capacity Utilization in Plastics Material and Resins Manufacturing

The plastics material and resins manufacturing capacity utilization rates averaged 88.0% in 2019 and 2020. This year could see that rate to average lower, at 83.1%, as supply continues to adjust. While the pandemic affected capacity utilization, adverse weather had a larger negative impact on capacity utilization than the pandemic per se. There is ample room for plastics material and resin manufacturing utilization rate to expand, which could be expected in 2022.

Although the US manufacturing sector continues to grapple with supply chain issues, 2021 is looking to be a banner year for US plastics machinery. Demand has been running hot – in primary machinery types and auxiliaries—as converters deal with higher demand. Helped by low-interest rates to finance equipment investment, low labor supply caused processors to enhance productivity through plastics equipment and auxiliaries. Data shows that plastics machinery imports have stayed stable in 2021 as equipment suppliers continue to service robust demand. In October, plastics machinery imports totaled USD 305.5 million – a 15.0% increase from a year earlier. While imports could slow in November and December, the likely scenario is from plastics machinery imports to increase 13.2% from 2020.