• Labor shortage solutions take center stage: New extrusion systems focus on automation, guided workflows and smarter controls to support less-experienced operators.

• Reifenhäuser Everex flat film line: Automated PAM (Precise, Autonomous Mechatronic) die and adapter adjustment for time savings, improved safety and reduced operator intervention

• KraussMaffei Pioneer ProcessControl (ppC): Dashboard- and widget-based data visualization; role-based interfaces for all skill levels; smart guided workflows to simplify complex production steps

• Milacron MosaicX control system: Faster processing and expanded data reporting; controls multiple extruders and auxiliary systems; enhanced self-diagnostics and fault detection

• Coperion Lifecycle Manager (C-Beyond platform): Predictive maintenance based on real operating hours; automated service notifications; improved OEE through bundled, scheduled maintenance

• Breakthrough degassing technology from Battenfeld-Cincinnati: The BC-120-40 DVT, the first single-screw extruder with dual, independent degassing zones for Superior moisture and volatile removal, minimized bubble formation, reduced pre-drying

• Recycling-ready extrusion: Coperion STS 35 Mc 11 optimized for recycled resin, with nitride-hardened steel process section, brass heater shells with water flash cooling

• Industrial AI enters extrusion operations: Reifenhäuser NEXT system includes AI chatbot for real-time troubleshooting (NEXT.AI), digital and on-site training platform (NEXT.Learning), production dashboards and data aggregation (NEXT.Data)

Listen now to hear PMM’s Ron Shinn break down the most impactful extrusion innovations from K 2025 — and what they mean for your plant floor.

• Three top executives are departing Husky Technologies in the wake of its acquisition. 
• KraussMaffei has developed a process to dose glass fibers directly into a molding machine. 
• Absolute Haitian co-owner Glenn Frohring talks about his love for rock ‘n’ roll, birds, his career and what comes next. 

• Linda and Yousry Sayed, new owners of Wilmington Machinery, are planning to expand the business. 

• North American robot orders increased in 2025, but orders in the plastics and rubber sector declined. 

• German Machinery manufacturer Reifenhäuser rolled out new lines for flat film and blown film at K 2025, as well as an upgraded automation system and AI-powered chatbot. 

Why should processors and machinery manufacturers care? Because recyclers are a foundational building block for plastics circularity, which is essential for the industry's future.

• Total cost of wages and benefits are likely to go up this year for plastics processors, according to a report from The Plastics Industry Association. 

• WM Thermoforming unveiled two new machines designed for energy efficiency, quick set-up and easy maintenance, at the recent K Show. 

• Gabler Thermoform demonstrated the M100 Evo, capable of up to 43 cycles per minute and production of 250,000 items per hour. 

• Thermoforming experts Conor Carlin and Mark Strachan have developed an AI-powered tool to help thermoforming companies struggling to find and keep skilled operators. 

• Pat Farrey, former head of SPE and now executive VP of PLASTICS, talks about the merger of the two organizations, leadership and improving the image of the plastics industry. 

• A new high-tech Kiefel thermoformer boosts production by 50 percent and uses 10 percent less energy. 

Here are some key points: 

• Survey respondents were surprisingly positive, with 73 percent saying they plan to buy primary processing equipment in 2026. Some machinery OEMs and analysts aren't quite so optimistic.

• Tariffs are having a mixed effect and are still causing confusion. 

• Manufacturing wages across the board are rising, and processors are going to have to pay more for workers, even as the lack of skilled labor is driving more automation.

• The trend to keep machinery running longer is continuing, and machinery OEMs are responding by beefing up their service departments. 

• Dr. Boy went big at K 2025 by introducing an entirely new line of all-electric injection molding machines. 

• An Ohio injection molder invested $50,000 in robots and saw a $75,000 annual savings. 

• Paul Caprio was named president of LS Mtron for the U.S. and Canada. It is his third stint as president of a North American plastics machinery company.

• Significant improvement in the U.S. manufacturing sector. 

• Training and workforce development on a national level. 

• Stabilization of U.S. tariff policy. 

• An overhaul of the plastics recycling system. 

Take a listen and tell us what's on your wish list.

• We look at new injection molding machinery introduced by Engel, Arburg and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag at K 2025. 

• Netstal Americas, Arburg and Hasco all announced new top executives. 

• The Plastics Industry Association has launched Positives of Plastic, a website designed to provide fact-based information about plastics for industry professionals and the general public. 

• The latest trends in injection molding machines. 

• Most notable new features on the machines. 

• The importance of artificial intelligence. 

• The next big frontier for injection molding machines. 

• SPE officially became a division of PLASTICS on Jan. 1. The challenge now is to merge SPE’s extensive offerings of technical events, products and membership into PLASTICS. 

• The Wittmann Group debuted two new injection molding machines at K 2025, a redesigned MacroPower servo hydraulic and an all-electric EcoPrimus press. 

• Industry veteran John Wiley has been promoted to VP of operations at LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine. 

On this PMM Insight podcast commentary, Editor Ron Shinn sees signs that true lights-out capabilities are on the horizon: 

• Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence (AI), smart factory technology and a skilled labor shortage has delivered the plastics processing industry to the beginning of a new era in automation. 

• Engel displayed the world’s first autonomous, self-regulating molding cell at K 2025. 

• Haitian, Reifenhäuser, Shibaura, Stork and Wittmann — among others — also unveiled AI-powered systems for plastics processing. 

• KraussMaffei’s redesigned PX injection molding machine series is more compact and energy efficient. It features a simplified, web-based MC7 control system for improved usability and cyber resilience. 

• Chinese manufacturer Tederic Machinery unveiled its new Innova 250 high-speed hybrid molding machine designed for the packaging industry. 

• Stork Plastics Machinery showed a high-performance molding machine named the 6600-3550, designed for thin-wall packaging products. 

Here are the editor’s favorites: 

• Business management experts said that leaders need to change their thinking to successfully navigate tariff whiplash and stock market volatility, but at the same time stick to their values. 
• Processors have massive amounts of data to track, but much of it goes unused. How do you become one of the companies that tracks and uses data? 
• A study suggests that every company has a 50-50 chance of being hacked, and manufacturing companies are among the most frequently targeted. Find out how to protect your company and recover quickly if you are the victim of a cyberattack. 

• 2025 will be remembered as the year worldwide treaty talks to end plastic pollution collapsed. 

• Recyclers are probably the biggest losers. 

• To solve the problem, recyclers just need solid commitments from buyers to use recycled resin. 

• LS Mtron is continuing its aggressive expansion plans by enlarging its Chicago-area technical center. 

• Wittmann USA President Sonny Morneault discusses leadership, changes he has seen in the plastics industry and what’s ahead. 

• Your business insurance can help maintain uptime, control costs and keep you competitive. It is a good time to review your coverage. 

• The number of people working in plastics and rubber manufacturing fell by 3.500 from August to September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

• Cobots from Universal Robots will be manufactured in the Detroit area starting next year. 

• Haitian, the world’s biggest manufacturer of injection molding machines, unveiled two new presses for packaging applications at K 2025. 

• An explanation of the green premium and why it matters. 

• Is flexible plastic packaging in danger of being replaced by paper or fiber? 

• Are plastic packaging converters caught in a tough spot?

• A good sign for U.S. manufacturing: Industrial robot orders were up in the third quarter. A bad sign for plastics and rubber manufacturing: Robot orders dropped. 

• There is a new player in the North American thermoforming processing machinery market, and its name is Asano Laboratories. 

• A small tool maker and injection molder in Florida brought those skills together to develop a new product — a dog grooming tool with steel teeth and an ABS handle. 

• John Erkert, CEO of PiovanGroup North America, has assumed the additional role of president of Conair Group. 

• Japanese injection molding machinery makers Nissei and Toyo are merging, citing lessening demand and rising costs, tightening global competition, environmental concerns and a shortage of skilled labor. 

• An interesting case study about implementing automation in a blow molding cell that manufactures large industrial drums.  

• Why is advanced recycling important to the circular economy?

• Who are some of the biggest players players in the industry?

• What is ahead for advanced recycling in North America, and what's holding it back?

• Can companies continue to make packaging profitably while heading off regulations that could put plastics on the chopping block? 

• Russ LaBelle, the well-known founder of Wilmington Machinery, died at the age of 86. He developed specialized plastic machinery solutions that have since been adopted by companies around the world. 

• Good news for injection molding machinery builders in third-quarter sales totals. Not so much for extrusion machinery manufacturers. 

• Are you familiar with PWDS, SFDR or WDLS? If you are in the blow molding business, you know they are acronyms for equipment to optimize thin bottle walls. But you might be surprised where this equipment came from. 

• Tobias Baur is Arburg’s managing director of sales and after-sales, plus he is president of Euromap. Hear what he has to say about leadership, innovation and the future of plastics. 

• Recyclers may be the biggest losers in the collapse of talks on an international plastics treaty. 

• Competition – particularly from Asian machinery manufacturers – has caused Arburg to build a lower-cost molding machine. 

• Artificial intelligence is coming, but machinery manufacturers are very divided on when it will get here. 

• Aftermarket parts and service have become more important for machinery manufacturers’ bottom line. 

• Injection molding equipment manufacturer Husky Technologies has been acquired by CompoSecure, a financial technology services firm. Husky will continue to operate under current management as a standalone company. 

• The Plastics Industry Association announced the theme for NPE2027. It is “Next is Now.” 

• The American Injection Molding Institute (AIM) has launched a plastics technology certificate training program that consists of 64 hours or instruction, available in person or online. 

• If 50 percent of plastics in the municipal solid waste stream were redirected from landfills to recycling facilities, the U.S. could add an estimated 173,200 jobs, $12.8 billion in annual payroll and $48.7 billion in annual economic output, according to a new study from the American Chemistry Council. 

• Advanced recycling methods using heat and chemicals, chemical depolymerization and thermal processes such as pyrolysis are explained. 

• Maguire Products has unveiled the fourth generation of its Ultra line of vacuum dryers. 

• A comprehensive story about the state of advanced recycling revealed some interesting developments. 

• Creating a stand-up pouch that can be recycled seemed like an impossible task when a team from Effytec, LD Pack USA, Dukane Corp. and Hoffer Plastics first looked at the problem. 
• Conair’s new PowerFill Pro is a compact, portable vacuum conveying system for processors who want the benefits of a central system without the infrastructure of long tubing runs or in-depth wiring and terminations. 

• Despite industry headwinds, early booth reservations are on track. 

• Companies that traditionally buy big booths do not seem to be reducing their space. 

• A top NPE official said it is too early to tell if new visa restrictions and tariffs from the Trump administration will impact NPE exhibitors or attendees. There were more than 15,000 registrations from 133 foreign companies at the last NPE. 

• The recycling industry has been stuck in a perpetual cycle of volatility for years. Its future depends on overcoming technical, economic and legislative challenges, alongside investment in infrastructure and recovery efforts, according to an ICIS analysis.

• Hillenbrand, which owns Mold-Masters, DME, Tirad, Herbold Meckesheim and Coperion, has been acquired by Lone Star Funds in a $3.8 billion deal. 

• The U.S. plastics industry accounted for $154.3 billion in trade volume in 2024 but turned from a trade surplus in 2023 to a deficit in 2024, according to the annual Global Trends Report from PLASTICS. 

• Processors who have always thought they could not afford Arburg molding machines should take another look. The German machinery maker launched the Allrounder Trend, aimed at standard molding tasks and with a lower price. 

• Reifenhäuser introduced the Everex flat film extrusion line, which features high automation and a next-generation HMI for easier operation, even by inexperienced operators. 

• Engel unveiled the tie-bar-less Victory Electric 220 injection molding machine that is designed to save space and energy. The company said it is highly precise, enables short cycles and offers excellent process stability. 

• The K Show has opened and PMM Editor Ron Shinn lists 10 things he is excited to see. 

• Engel is unveiling Inject AI, the evolution of its Inject 4.0 technology. This is expected to be a peek at the things artificial intelligence will do for plastics processing. There are also exciting new machines from Arburg, Kautex, KraussMaffei and Haitian on the list. 

• Maguire is demonstrating the new Ultra line of vacuum dryers with Pitstop functionality that can make material changeovers in 15 minutes. There is more interesting new auxiliary equipment from Sepro and Dr. Boy to see.  

• The Plastics Industry Association and the Society of Plastics Engineers are merging. SPE will become a division of PLASTICS. 

• PLASTICS and the National Association of Manufacturers are warning of potential harm to domestic manufacturers if additional tariffs are imposed on importers of industrial machinery and robots. 

• PMM’s seventh annual machinery buying survey is open. Survey results help us shape our coverage, telling us what’s happening in machinery markets, such as the effects of trade policy, labor shortages and other factors. 

• Cavalier Tool has become one of the world’s best mold builders by following a simple principle of people, process, equipment. “The right people doing the right things on the right equipment,” said Brian Bendig, President and CEO. 

• Arburg has a new vertical, servo-hydraulic press designed for manual and automated overmolding. 

• There are just 10 days remaining until the start of the K Show on Oct. 8. Learn how you can find out the 10 things Editor Ron Shinn is excited to see at the show. 

• Some of the special infrastructure requirements for these presses, which can be the size of a basketball court. 

• Increased capacity required in materials handling systems for machines that can consume as much as 250 tons of resin a month. 

• The growing role of supersized all-electric molding machines. 

Read the full story on these injection molding mammoths.

• The plastics industry still faces headwinds, but employment is outpacing the broad manufacturing sector and the plastics industry is showing resilience in difficult times, according to the Plastics Industry Association's annual Size and Impact Report. 

• Sumitomo (SHI) Demag plans to discontinue hydraulic injection molding machines in an effort to improve profitability. 

• Paul Lloyd, president of Farrell Piomini, fell in love with the company’s giant mixing and compounding machines the first time he saw them. 

• Arburg is leaving the additive manufacturing market, 12 years after introducing the Freeformer series of 3D printers. 
• Dan Weissmann played key roles during the evolution of plastic beverage containers as well as the plastic closure for hot-fill packaging. 
• At the K Show next month, KraussMaffei is showing how to use its ColorForm technology to apply a thin polyurethane surface directly to thermoplastic components within an injection mold. The product is an automotive headlight with a PU protective cover.

• After more than two years of negotiating, talks for a worldwide treaty to end plastic pollution collapsed. 

• There has been a great deal of innovation built on and because of the advances made in plastics. The industry needs to keep pushing the limits and capabilities of the material. 

• What next? Countries should develop their own national action plans and not wait on a treaty. 

• Expanded steel and aluminum duties may slow investment and complicate equipment imports, warns PLASTICS chief economist Perc Pineda. 

• If you share manufacturing data — with customers or suppliers — you share risk. Whether buying new machinery or making deals for raw materials or parts deliveries, processors should scrutinize their partners’ approach to cybersecurity in the same way they evaluate their own systems. 

• Progressive Components’ new Cooled UniLifter assemblies feature a design that accommodates water line placement. 

• Retaining a cybersecurity expert in advance can help with negotiating a ransom payment, recovering lost data and getting a business up and running after an attack. 

• Jason Sears, second-generation owner of Dri-Air Industries, learned the business from his Hall of Fame father, Charlie. He has pushed the company’s technology forward.  

• Manufacturers surveyed by Wipfli after the second quarter were glum. Profitability is flat and capacity utilization is down. Some better news is that quoting activity is up and employment levels are steady.  

• Any given company has a 50-50 chance of being hacked, and manufacturing companies are among the most commonly targeted.   

• Small companies are as much at risk as bigger companies. 

• It is important to always segregate IT systems from operational technology systems. 

• Peter Gardner, president of LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine USA, is retiring. During his tenure, the South Korean machinery manufacturer’s share of the North American market has risen from a negligible amount to an estimated 10 percent. 

• Artificial intelligence has brought manufacturing to the threshold of another revolution and offers remarkable advantages for blow molding, according to Eric Simmons, chair of the SPE Blow Molding Division. 

• U.S. companies have a 50-50 chance of being hacked in the next year and costs of an attack can be enormous. But there are steps to shore up defenses and companies that can help safeguard you. 

• North American shipments of injection molding and extrusion equipment in the second quarter of 2025 were up 0.7 percent from both the previous quarter and the same quarter of last year.  

• Currier Plastics has always excelled at adapting to changing times. It will be honored with the Recognition of Excellence Award at the Annual Blow Molding Conference Sept. 8-10 in Pittsburgh.   

• Netstal has made numerous upgrades to its PET-Line injection molding system for preforms, which is designed for high output and efficiency. 

• The new tax and spending law reinstates 100 percent deduction of the cost of capital equipment purchases in the year the purchase is made and accelerates deductions for manufacturing buildings. 

• Research and experimental or development costs can now be deducted in the year the costs were incurred. 

• A tax expert said the new law creates compelling economics for domestic facility expansion and modernization. 

• Plastics processors say they have plenty of unused capacity immediately available if manufacturing picks up. 

• Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. has acquired Addex, Inc., a supplier of blown film extrusion equipment.  

• Kautex is relaunching its KEB series of extrusion blow molding machines, which debuted in 1968. 

• Mold making in the U.S. is an up-and-down business. Mold shops are expanding services, consolidating operations and embracing automation and smart manufacturing. 

• Canadian based Nova Chemicals has opened a linear low-density polyethylene mechanical recycling plant in Connersville, Ind. The company hopes to prove the consistency and viability of mechanical film recycling. 

• Denso has upgraded its control system so it can operate two, four-axis SCARA robot arms from a single control unit. The company said the unit is well suited for assembly or when robot operations are needed in a cramped space.  

• Yaskawa America plans to build a state-of-the-art robotic manufacturing facility at its Franklin, Wis., campus. This marks the first time Yaskawa’s high-volume industrial robots will be manufactured on U.S. soil.  
• R&B Plastics Machinery specializes in building blow molding machines and extruders that are more customized for the customers’ needs than many bigger machinery makers and willing to tackle. It has proved to be a successful niche for the Saline, Mich., manufacturer. 
• Static electricity can be a big problem in some manufacturing operations, so Exair has introduced a hand-held measurement device to pinpoint the highest-voltage areas in a facility. 

• Mold makers continue to face tough competition from foreign competitors and are seeing higher costs due to tariffs.  

• New technologies such as sophisticated design software, additive manufacturing and robots and other automation help mold makers stay competitive. 

• Artificial intelligence is the latest technology mold makers are learning to use. 

Mold makers are taking on intricate projects requiring precision that was unattainable just a few years ago, and they are employing a variety of new manufacturing tools to get the job done. 

LS Mtron employed retractable tie bars to help Stanford Manufacturing fit two large presses under a low roof. 

M&J Recycling has added a system to capture and reuse energy during shaft reversals to its P250e pre-shredder. 

• Meet Geoff Foster of injection molding company Core Technology, whose non-profit provides free STEM camps for middle schoolers. 
• Additive manufacturing technology maker Stratasys has acquired “a collection of assets” from Nexa3D, which shut down in December.  
• Shini USA introduced three new film pelletizers designed for precise cutting and uniform pellet size.  

• We are in an era of manufacturing transition, from huge numbers of lunchpail-toting workers streaming out of the factory gate at the end of their shift to an era of fewer workers making more goods.  

• What will it take to succeed in the new era? Embracing Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing; following sustainable practices; using additive manufacturing; and improving human-machine collaboration. 

• Technology can help improve productivity, but manufacturers must invest in their workers.  

• As the national conversation on manufacturing expansion and reshoring continues, we want to know: Do you have excess capacity available to take on new business right away? 
• Learn about the advantages of joining the PLASTICS Committee on Equipment Statistics. 
• Dri-Air has added two new models to the low-throughput MD dryer series that debuted at NPE2024. 

1. Hoffer Plastics and Rocheleau Tool & Die, both third-generation family-owned plastics businesses, are thriving and remain committed to staying independent and honoring their heritage.
2. The historic HPM brand, known for injection molding machines, has been officially retired by Yizumi, the Chinese firm that acquired its assets in 2011.
3. Blow molding machinery maker Bekum America Corp. has nine new apprentices in its four-year training program — the largest class since the program began in 1994.

• Merger and acquisition activity in the plastics industry is slow, but private equity companies are still buying. 

• The first step in selling a business might not be the one you expect. 

• A buyer's commitment to employees frequently plays a big part in a seller’s decision. 

• Managing mergers and acquisitions: Whether you're buying, selling or keeping your business in the family, we spoke with experts who have tips to ensure the best outcome for all stakeholders. 

• Yaskawa America announces expansion: With a $180 million investment, the company will consolidate Illinois and Wisconsin operations in Franklin, Wis., and move its Drives & Motion division headquarters there. 

• Kistler system for injection molding: AkvisIO IME 7.0 manages and analyzes data to help processors become more efficient and improve part quality. 

• Shipments of injection molding and extrusion machinery in North America fell 17.5 percent in the first quarter from the previous quarter and 4.6 percent year over year, according to the Plastics Industry Association's Committee on Equipment Statistics. What's weighing on the market?
• Learn how Wittmann's space-saving Insider Package machine cells helped ITW Deltar Fasteners make the most of its limited floor space.
• A Chinese cobot manufacturer, Fairino, has entered the North American market this year and is having some success selling to plastics processors.  

• The Plastics Industry Association and National Association of Manufacturers support the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” now being debated in the U.S. Senate. 
• The challenge for the plastics industry is to influence the Senate to keep the good provisions of the tax bill while tinkering with the rest. 
• Can the U.S maintain world leadership in manufacturing? That question is yet to be answered. 

• As the U.S. Senate debates President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” we look at what it could mean for plastics processors.
• Henning Stieglitz, CEO and CTO of the German company that manufactures Battenfeld Cincinnati extrusion machines, talked with the VDMA about sustainability, artificial intelligence, post-consumer material and problems with the circular economy. 
• Universal Robots has launched the UR15 collaborative robot, promising high performance and greater speeds. 

• Corporate sustainability goals are colliding with the reality of a political climate dominated by news of cuts and regulatory backlash, but work on recycling is moving ahead at the state and company level because it makes business sense. 
• Pete Sullivan, a long-time publisher of trade magazines for the plastics industry, and a member of PMM's founding team, passed away last week at age 81. 
• Epson unveiled the new GX-C series of SCARA robots it describes as its high-performance flagship line. 

• Bekum America builds application-specific extrusion blow molding equipment and prides itself on customer support, especially to new blow molders. Take a look behind the scenes. 
• The SPE Thermoforming Division presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Greg McCunn, staff engineer for materials at John Deere, at its recent conference. 
• Learn about Wittmann’s latest granulator, the S-Max Dual 8. 

• Leaders can put their heads down and cope with a crisis, but to successfully deal with change they have to keep their heads up, take a deep breath and make decisions that gets them to their goal. 

• Lean manufacturing plays an important role in dealing with chaotic times. 

• Believe it or not, there are new opportunities for processors despite the uncertainty. You just have to know how to look. 

• Digital transformation holds the key to making better decisions about your customers’ needs, machine maintenance, supply chain trends and more.  

• A top leadership consultant discusses how to cope with fear, volatile markets, global instability and waves of tariff announcements and suspensions. 

• PTi has upgraded and rebranded its twin-screw dryerless sheet extruder formerly known as the HVTSE. 

• A survey of PMM readers found processors and equipment suppliers are unhappy and are at a loss as to how to deal with the constantly changing tariff landscape. Orders are slowing down and processors are postponing equipment purchases. Read the summary story or listen to our podcast commentary. 
• It may seem like chaos in the business world, but you still have to pull up your big-boy pants and manage through it. We can help, with our story about dealing with chaos and even finding new opportunities. 
• Progressive Components’ Spring Cups are our new product of the week, enabling safer and faster installation of spring-loaded ejector systems in molds.

• Processors and others responding to a PMM survey said they believe that the Trump administration’s trade policies will have a negative impact on their business and that customers are already delaying orders. 

• More than 60 percent said they are delaying purchases of new machinery and equipment. 

• There was little optimism that reshoring would result in new business for the domestic plastics industry. 

• There are significant stumbling blocks to reshoring, including our labor shortage, lack of manufacturing capacity and failure to invest in artificial intelligence, according to the annual Kearney Reshoring Index. 

• China is eating our lunch when it comes to investing in automation and industrial robotics. Can plastics processors help? 

• Smart technology is a smart investment. A new study from Deloitte shows improvements of up to 20 percent in production output, 20 percent in employee productivity and 15 percent in unlocked capacity. 

• Andrew Wheeler, president of Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp., discusses how packaging markets have changed, the growing use of recycled plastics and whether the W&H Group might start building machines in the U.S. 

• Manufacturers will continue to invest in artificial intelligence, but are moving toward generative AI, according to international business consulting firm Deloitte. Find out how generative AI might be used in the plastics industry. 

• Engel has redesigned its spherical check valve to make it more precise and reliable. 

• Collecting operational data has become easy. Using it effectively is the difficult part. For our recent cover story, three consultants talked about the competitive price processors pay when they don’t effectively use their data. Editor Ron Shinn discusses.  
• The IT director at a Pennsylvania thermoformer has seen spectacular on-time-delivery results pulling data from the company’s ERP system and displaying it in real-time for plant-floor operators and decision makers. 

• Modern processing machinery collects plenty of data, but using it can be problematic. Three experts explain how it can help your molding business and the high cost of ignoring it.  

• Bobby May, the IT director at Pennsylvania thermoformer SAY Plastics, has built 120 dashboards that puts the right ERP data in front of decision-makers at the right time. Results have been impressive.  

• An Australian manufacturer is bringing plastic noise walls to North America. The wall panels are made from post-consumer resin. 

• Molding bioresins takes patience, skill and determination. Having a good partner helps too, as Refork found in Mold-Masters. 

• The 3D printing equipment market is struggling under the weight of high interest rates. But big-name OEMs are still embracing the technology. Are we at a turning point for the 3D printing industry? 

• Endeavor Business Media publications continue to follow the frequently changing Trump tariff story, and you can find all their reporting on the PMM homepage. We also have a new poll giving you the chance to tell us how tariffs are impacting your business. 

While domestic EV production is being slowed by tariffs and automakers are trying to figure out how to move forward, other countries are racing ahead. What does it mean for the plastics industry? Editor Ron Shinn has one discouraging outcome in this PMM Insight commentary. 

• President Trump’s latest round of tariffs were condemned by industry trade groups, including PLASTICS, VDMA and the Recycled Materials Association. 
• Reshoring guru Harry Moser thinks Trump’s tariffs will cause short-term pain but could lead to long-term gain for the economy. 
• Dutch machinery maker Stork launches a new line of all-electric injection molding machines. 

A new thermoforming technology from Origin Materials can produce PET and recycled PET caps at a speed that’s competitive with other processes.  

Talks on a global treaty to end plastic pollution drag on. If there's no meaningful resolution, the plastics industry itself could be the biggest loser. 

But there are big-name OEMs, such as the BMW Group, pushing ahead with groundbreaking new projects. It appears automation may be important to the future of 3D printing, Editor Ron Shinn reports in this PMM Insight commentary. 

Bioresins are growing in popularity as companies emphasize sustainability, but they pose processing challenges. Hear how extrusion and blow molding equipment makers are adapting. 

Artie Riegger, who is 40 years into a career in KraussMaffei's extrusion business, has another talent: he was a drummer in a rock and roll band for 55 years. He told us about his dual careers for this month's "In Other Words" interview.

Also, Husky Technologies has acquired secondary injection unit and rotary platen technologies from MGS Healthcare Manufacturing to complement its multi-material and multicolor solutions. And Plastics Recycling Inc. has invested $10 million in two state-of-the-art extruder systems and lab equipment at its Indianapolis headquarters plant. 

Modern equipment generates rivers of data that, used and interpreted properly, can make your processes more efficient, reliable and profitable. But you need workers who know how to put that data to work.

In this episode, PMM senior reporter Karen Hanna and editor Ron Shinn discuss her stories detailing the kinds of skills you should be looking for and how to get those data-savvy employees onto your shop floor.

Also, Absolute Haitian has introduced new, lower-cost versions of its Mars and Jupiter injection molding machines known as the SE (Special Edition) models; and we share factors to consider if you want to be a world-class plastics manufacturer.

Conair's new SureLaunch program sends a technician to your facility for a day to make sure your new auxiliary equipment is started up and optimized for maximum performance. It's the company's third service offering as customers deal with workforce issues and more complex technologies.

Chemistry professor Andreas Fath has been drawing attention to the issue of microplastics and other waterway pollutants through marathon swims, supported by Arburg. Hear more about the "Swimming Professor" and his cause.

The Association for Advancing Automation (known as A3) has published updated ISO 10218 standards, the global flagship standard for industrial robot safety, with extensive revisions for a fast-changing field.

You'll also learn about the Elmet Top 3100 dosing system for LSR, the successor to the Top 3000.

In other news, sales of automation equipment are in a slump, with few signs that things are going to pick up this year. The Association for Advancing Automation (known as A3) recently released sales figures for 2023. 

And a private investor has purchased Wilmington Machinery, and founder Russ LaBelle has stepped away. The blow molding and injection molding machinery maker pledged to continue honoring contracts with customers, and hopes to double its workforce this year. 

Though they are currently on hold, the prospect elicited strong reactions from manufacturers, plastic industry leaders and consultants, both positive and negative. We also share ways you can prepare now for potential shocks if those tariffs do go into effect.

We also discuss Hillenbrand's pending sale of an approximately 51 percent stake in Milacron, an Ohio-headquartered manufacturer of injection molding and extrusion equipment, to an affiliate of Bain Capital; and a new spectrophotometer from Byk-Gardner for quality control of small, bright, glossy parts. 

The U.S. is a net importer of plastic scrap, getting about 40 percent of it from Canada and 18 percent from Mexico, said Emily Friedman, who monitors the plastics recycling market for ICIS. Recyclers would need to realign their sourcing strategies.

It could also affect what processors pay for virgin resin and for various grades of recycled materials.

Learn more in this conversation between Friedman and PMM senior reporter Bruce Geiselman.

Wittmann's SmartPower Combimould line of injection molding machines, designed for multi-component molding, now offer servo-electric injection units for improved efficiency and performance.

David Stahl, a wealth management partner at Plante Moran Financial Advisors, offers three personal wealth planning steps owners of plastics businesses should take before selling.

Have you been thinking about adding cobots to your plastics plant? It needn’t be a daunting task, says Chris Buse, Universal Robots’ Applications Engineer Manager for North America West. Learn more on how to add cobots to your plastics plant.

Buse, who has a plastics engineering college degree, outlined the process and talked about the value cobots bring to plastics processing in an interview with Editor Ron Shinn at the inaugural Collaborate conference and trade show in Novi, Mich., on Jan. 28. 

Another vision of the future comes from Slant 3D president Gabe Bentz, who wants to revolutionize manufacturing in a way that allows anyone to turn an idea into a part.

We also have news on a manufacturer of recycled plastic railroad ties that has attracted an investor. 

In this episode of the PMM Insight podcast, editors Ron Shinn, Lynne Sherwin, Bruce Geiselman and Karen Hanna discuss the results of our annual survey and comments from machinery makers about their expectations. 

We also report on Netstal's new subsidiary in Mexico, following a trend among injection molding OEMs, and a large-format 3D printer from Wasp that was designed for boat builders.

Join us every Monday for Machinery Minutes, and be sure to subscribe.

PMM editors Ron Shinn and Lynne Sherwin, who both live in Akron, have seen its success from their own front yards, and discuss it in this episode of PMM Insight.

You'll also hear about a new cobot-centric spinoff business of blow molding automation provider Proco Machinery, and an upgraded control system for the Geiss T11 thermoforming machine.

Another session is planned for 2025, but who's the biggest loser if no agreement is reached? The plastics industry, says Editor Ron Shinn in this PMM Insight commentary. 

In this episode of PMM Insight, Karen discusses the series with Editor Ron Shinn.

You'll also learn about a new large-part printer from Formlabs, and the inaugural Collaborate North America, a trade show and conference centered around cobots.

We also wish Jim Healy of Sepro North America well as he heads into retirement, and tell you about Diversys, which has a software program to keep track of your recycling data so you can meet EPR or company goals.

In this PMM Insight interview, senior reporter Bruce Geiselman speaks with Roger Barlow, CEO and co-founder of Diversys, about the company's cloud-based software that optimizes and tracks recycling data to verify compliance with EPR regulations as well as sustainability goals.

Engel has unveiled its energy-saving e-mac 500 injection molding machine, featuring its new High clamping drive.

And cobot pioneer Rethink Robotics has announced a new management team, which among other duties will oversee the relocation of robot production from Europe to the U.S.

Listen here, or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to get a new episode of Machinery Minutes every Monday.

Hasco, a supplier for tool and mold making, is supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts by opening up its warehouse to store and distribute donations. Learn how you can help. 

Artificial intelligence software from EverestLabs is helping robots sort recyclables at California’s Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer Station in Fresno.

As PMM turns 10, we are looking at people who made significant contributions to the industry during the past decade, as well as the most significant events and movements.

In terms of machine cost, the new Netstal top executive said processors need to look at the total value the machine is giving the company to make more money.

Hear the complete interview in this episode of PMM Insight with Editor Ron Shinn.

No. 1 – The return of Donald J. Trump to the White House has some plastics machinery makers feeling optimistic in the wake of the Nov. 5 election, expecting minimal impact from tariffs and increased confidence among processors to order new equipment. Read more: “Plastics machinery makers express optimism following election.” 

No. 2 – Drone maker Unusual Machines Inc. has turned to 3-D printing to meet growing demand for U.S.-made parts. Read more: “Drone maker soars higher with 3D printing.” 

No. 3 -- Erica Canaia, the third-generation CEO of Fimic, has grown the recycling machinery company and become an advocate for recycling while also developing a program to help working mothers. 

Read more: “Erica Canaia is passionate about recycling, supporting parents.”

No. 1 – Injection molding machine manufacturers can help plastics processors reduce their energy use, leading to lower energy bills and improved competitiveness. OEMs offer advice and new machinery technologies to optimize energy consumption.

Read more: “IMM makers offer help for cutting energy use.”

No. 2 – Extrusion equipment manufacturer Davis-Standard has named Steve Andrews as its new chairman and CEO. 

Read more: “Davis-Standard names Steve Andrews as chairman, CEO.”

No. 3 -- Hybrid vs. electric injection molding machines -- which is best for your operation? What kind of machine you choose comes down to balancing factors like energy consumption, price, precision and cleanliness, according to OEMs.

Learn more: “Hybrid vs. electric injection molding machines: Debate continues.”

No. 1 – Could a microgrid keep your plastics processing operation humming when your electrical power fails? PMM Editor Ron Shinn thinks it's wise to consider one. Read more.

No. 2 – Arburg introduced a slimmer version of its Allrounder Alldrive 630 A injection molding machine at Fakuma. Read more.

No. 3 -- Wittmann recently presented its E-MAX 2 conveyor controller for smaller- to medium-sized conveying systems. Read more.

The plastics industry is a “target-rich environment” when it comes to energy efficiency, Flanigan said.

APenergy is a consulting business that helps industrial plants not only identify energy savings opportunities, but also apply for and obtain funding assistance.

Flanigan explains a little more about his company, what they do and how to take advantage of incentive programs.

Read the story.

No. 1 -- Sensors that detect melt conditions in real time can help processors reduce cycle times and waste, according to sensXpert, a German company that provides equipment, artificial intelligence software, and machine-learning technologies to optimize plastics processing and reduce costs. Read more.

No. 2 – The Plastics Industry Association is crediting exhibitors and its recycling partners with helping to recycle or repurpose 516,160 pounds of plastic, cardboard and aluminum collected at NPE2024. Read more.

No. 3 -- The worldwide slowdown in plastics processing machinery sales is causing Sumitomo (SHI) Demag to cut production jobs and make other changes at its German locations. Read more.

On today's episode, Senior Reporter Bruce Geiselman discusses these stories:

• APenergy, a consulting company, is helping plastics processors get utility incentives to undertake energy savings projects, which can trim their bills at little to no cost. 
• Coperion has introduced its STS 75 MC Plus, which can be used for multiple applications, including recycling and production of masterbatches. 
• American Plastic Molding is a company on a mission. It hopes the addition of a 3D printer for prototyping will allow the company within 10 years to increase its annual sales from about $20 million to $50 million.

Microgrids are small, local energy delivery systems that are built on Industry 4.0 technology and can reduce your energy costs, provide power stability and help you meet environmental goals. 

Find out more in this PMM Insight commentary by Editor Ron Shinn.

Senior reporter Karen Hanna interviewed several equipment OEMs who said for the most part, your current machines should do just fine with the new materials, but they may require different processing parameters than traditional resins. 

"If you can melt it and inject it, we can mold it," said Michael Sansoucy of Arburg. Other OEMs agree. Find out more in this episode of the PMM Insight podcast.

Piovan is world’s biggest supplier of auxiliary equipment to the plastics industry. The Italian-based company had revenue from its polymer related businesses of $574.4 million in 2023, with $333.9 million coming from North American sales. Its brands include UnaDyn, Conair, Doteco and Thermal Care.

In this PMM Insight interview, Erkert said there has been increased interest in Piovan products since NPE but not a bump in sales. He said uncertainty in the economy caused by the U.S. presidential election is currently holding back sales. 

Erkert also predicted more manufacturing of Piovan products in North America in the future. 

If you enjoyed this interview, check out our recent chat with Conair President Jason Ganim, and subscribe to PMM Insight on your favorite podcast app.

Industry 4.0 technology is slower to come to blow molding than to other processes, but it is making inroads. 

Hear what machinery makers had to say about their newest technologies.

We have a serious labor shortage in the manufacturing sector and demographic trends tell us it is not going to get better. Sensible, bipartisan immigration reform will allow U.S. companies to grow. 

BMG, Illig and Kiefel are now offering solutions to SencorpWhite users that allow them to keep their tooling and in some cases even improve upon their performance.

Senior reporter Bruce Geiselman discusses the three companies' efforts in this episode of our PMM Insight podcast.

Part quality, efficiency and profit margins can be improved by technologies like predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring, Anger tells Editor Ron Shinn in this episode. 

In this episode of PMM Insight, Senior Reporter Karen Hanna shares what she learned on the NPE floor about the state of smarter injection molding.

Hear Stewart's analysis and predictions on what an eventual treaty might mean to the plastics industry, in this conversation with Editor Ron Shinn.

Senior reporter Bruce Geiselman looks at the state of smart manufacturing in the plastics industry in this episode of PMM Insight.

Read more: 

Start small, think big with Industry 4.0

In this episode of PMM Insight, Mo Abuali, digital director for manufacturing, retail and distribution at Wipfli LLP, told Editor Ron Shinn that these two trends have the potential to significantly improve manufacturing.  

John Hart, managing director of P&M Corporate Finance, speaks with PMM Editor Ron Shinn about the trend.

Hear more in this commentary from PMM Editor Ron Shinn.

While employers might have once been able to rely on trade schools and a deep labor pool to fill roles ranging from entry-level to supervisory positions, human-resources (HR) experts say that’s no longer the case. In many instances, they have to grow their own. 

Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna reports on success stories and tips for finding and nurturing leaders among your workforce.

Read more.

In this episode of PMM Insight: PMM In Person, Harbour also shares thoughts with Editor Ron Shinn about recovery for slow machinery sales and concerns about the North American mold making industry.

Read more about Harbour and her career.