Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

While price initiatives for PE and PVC were underway, resin prices had rollover potential for first two months of 2024, perhaps with the exception of PET.

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

Parkway Products, LLC, founded in 1946, is a leader in five niche process technologies utilized in plastic processing and is ranked among the top 100 injection molders according to Plastic News' 2020 rankings. With over 750 dedicated employees working in nine facilities throughout the United States and Mexico, customers are provided a single source for precision-molded products requiring both high performance and advanced materials. Learn more at www.parkwayproducts.com.

Headquartered in Genas, France, Clayens Group is a European leader in processing polymers, composites and precision metal parts. It collaborates with customers worldwide to provide them with the products and services they need across a wide range of industries: aeronautics, automotive, healthcare, electronics, construction, household goods, sports, and leisure products. Clayens Group operates industrial sites in Germany, Eastern Europe, North Africa and Mexico, with foreign subsidiaries providing specific services to customers close to their assembly facilities. Clayens’ expertise is focused on four main technologies: thermoplastics, thermoset forming, metal engineering and electronics. Clayens’ R&D teams provide innovative technologies, often working in partnerships with its customers and third-party companies on the latest processing and design applications. Learn more at www.clayens-np.com.

Say “manufacturing automation” and thoughts immediately go to the shop floor and specialized production equipment, robotics and material handling systems. But there is another realm of possible automation — the front office.

First quarter was ending up with upward pricing, primarily due to higher feedstock costs and not supply/demand fundamentals.

Greenberg characterized spot PE prices as selling at deep discounts through December, and reported that transactional prices were well below levels reflecting the 9¢/lb increases reported by the major indices in 2023. Quoting November supply/demand results from the ACC (American Chemical Council), he reported, “PE production was almost identical to October, as reactors again ran just shy of 85% capacity and PE exports were above 2 billion pounds for the seventh straight month and comprised nearly 47% of total PE sales.”

One Equity Partners (“OEP”) is a middle market private equity firm focused on the industrial, healthcare, and technology sectors in North America and Europe. The firm seeks to build market-leading companies by identifying and executing transformative business combinations. OEP is a trusted partner with a differentiated investment process, broad and senior team and established track record generating long-term value for its partners. Since 2001, the firm has completed more than 300 transactions worldwide. OEP, founded in 2001, spun out of JP Morgan in 2015. The firm has offices in New York, Chicago, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. For more information, please visit www.oneequity.com.

Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.

The aim of this presentation is to guide you through the factors and the numbers that will help you determine if a robot is a smart investment for your application. Agenda:  Why are you considering automation? What problems are you trying to solve? How and why automation can help Crunch the numbers and determine the ROI

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

Chesshier ventures that PE prices in January-February could either be flat but with potential for an increase, particularly if the exports market strengthens. Similarly, Barry saw potential for an increase, as he expected exports to pick up, but was not quite certain of domestic demand. He noted that processors had stocked up due to lower pricing at the end of 2023. These sources also point to the impact of new capacity, particularly from major new player Shell as well as NOVA Chemicals and Baystar, leading Barry to say, “2024 will see a “market share battle.”

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

How the development of new catalysts—notably metallocenes—paved the way for the development of material grades never before possible.

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

PET prices in December dropped 1¢/lb, following drops of 2¢/lb and 4¢/lb the two previous months driven primarily by lower raw material formulation costs as well as seasonal slowed demand for PET in the Northern Hemisphere, according to Mark Kallman, RTi’s v.p. of PVC, PET and engineering resins. He anticipated a bit of a rebound in PET prices of 1¢/lb to 2¢/lb in the January-February time frame as a result of forecasted increases in key raw materials. Kallman continued to characterize the market going into first quarter as domestically well supplied along with continued attractively priced imports.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

Chesshier noted there was no real cost push from any of the key feedstocks, including styrene monomer, ethylene and butadiene, with continued lackluster demand for PS resins. Reported Barry, “Supply remained ample amid a generally gloomy demand outlook. The implied styrene price based on a 70% benzene/30% ethylene spot formula was down 1¢/lb by end of December.

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

Polypropylene prices in December were flat, in step with propylene monomer; this despite that the anticipated recovery of monomer tightness had yet to occur due to two unplanned shutdowns, according to PCW’s Barry, Spartan Polymers’ Newell and The Plastic Exchange’s Greenberg. Said Newell, “As long as monomer inventories remain tight, there’s some volatility.” He notes that domestic PP demand ended badly in 2023, and he expected suppliers would likely have to further cut production rates from the low 80s percentile to the mid-70s for an improved supply-demand scenario.

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Parkway manufactures and produces high-performance precision plastic components, and offers plastics and molding processing solutions including thermoplastics, thermoset and machined plastics, as well as magnesium thixomolding and high-performance polymers molding, allowing for highly-engineered applications across an array of industries. From its eight facilities in the US and one in Mexico Parkway serves clients in the precision industrial, infrastructure, agriculture, aerospace & defense, transportation and healthcare markets.

PVC resin prices dropped by another 1¢/lb in December, following a similar drop the previous month, but suppliers were out with January price increases ranging from 2¢/lb to 5¢/lb, according to Paul Pavlov, RTi’s v.p. of PP and PVC and PCW’s senior editor Donna Todd. The former ventured that prices in the January-February time frame were likely to remain flat, noting, “These price initiatives are a knee-jerk reaction and aimed at stemming the bleeding.” He saw potential for some uptick in March.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

Plastics Technology’s Tech Days is back! Every Tuesday in October, a series of five online presentations will be given by industry supplier around the following topics:  Injection Molding — New Technologies, Efficiencies Film Extrusion — New Technologies, Efficiencies Upstream/Downstream Operations Injection Molding — Sustainability Extrusion — Compounding Coming out of NPE2024, PT identified a variety of topics, technologies and trends that are driving and shaping the evolution of plastic products manufacturing — from recycling/recyclability and energy optimization to AI-based process control and automation implementation. PT Tech Days is designed to provide a robust, curated, accessible platform through which plastics professionals can explore these trends, have direct access to subject-matter experts and develop strategies for applying solutions in their operations.

Successfully starting or restarting an injection molding machine is less about ticking boxes on a rote checklist and more about individually assessing each processing scenario and its unique variables.

Compounders face a number of processing challenges when incorporating a high loading of low-bulk-density mineral filler into polyolefins. Here are some possible solutions.

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

Clayen’s Crystal Lake manufacturing business includes a 473,000 square-foot fully equipped facility with clean room operations and significant capacity for growth and is primarily involved in production of plastic-based products for the medical sector, such as medical waste containers and syringes for leading healthcare players.

Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.

Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

NEW YORK – One Equity Partners (“OEP”), a middle market private equity firm, today announced that its portfolio company Clayens Group (“Clayens”), a leading value-added outsourced contract manufacturer of high-performance polymers, composites and precision metals headquartered in Genas, France, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire precision plastics manufacturer Parkway Products LLC (“Parkway”) and completed a carve-out of the Crystal Lake, IL injection molding manufacturing facility and transfer of in-house operations from a global healthcare corporation to Clayens. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Closing of the Parkway acquisition is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Polyethylene prices in December appear to have dropped by 3¢/lb while suppliers cancelled their 3¢/lb increases and issued new 5¢/lb increases for January, according to David Barry, PCW’s associate director for PE, PP and PS, The Plastics Exchange Greenberg, and resin pricing expert Robin Chesshier. They view this latest move by suppliers as intended to stop any further price erosion.

After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.

Join this webinar to explore the transformative benefits of retrofitting your existing injection molding machines (IMMs). Engel will guide you through upgrading your equipment to enhance monitoring, control and adaptability — all while integrating digital technologies. You'll learn about the latest trends in IMM retrofitting (including Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits) and discover how to future-proof your machines for a competitive edge. With insights from industry experts, it'll walk you through the decision-making process, ensuring you make informed choices that drive your business forward. Agenda: Maximize the value of your current IMMs through strategic retrofitting Learn how to integrate digital technologies to enhance monitoring and control Explore the benefits of Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits Understand how retrofitting can help meet new product demands and improve adaptability Discover how Engel can support your retrofitting needs, from free consultations to execution

Polystyrene prices dropped another 3¢/lb in December, following a 4¢/lb drop the previous month, but flat prices for the January-February time frame were ventured by both PCW’s Barry and resin pricing expert Robin Chesshier. This scenario is primarily attributed to improved benzene supply due to plenty of Asian and European imports underway. Barry did add that while there was a likelihood of January benzene contracts dropping 10-20¢/gal, it would translate to only 1-2¢/lb for PS resins.

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

Reported Todd in December, “With January increases of 2¢/lb, 3¢/lb and 5¢/lb, customers were wondering how the price would be implemented and at what level.” She also noted that Westlake, with the lower price hike, announced that it would issue another price increase for February. “As such, it appeared that the January price uptick will be limited to 2¢/lb, with a further increase of undetermined size in the cards for February. Some PVC converters think the January price hike would be pushed back and implemented in February.”

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

PCW’s Barry, somewhat in contrast, ventured further price correction of PP and the monomer through January and February, noting that spot monomer prices were well below contract prices and that domestic PP resin tabs were still too high compared to global prices. Characterizing 2024 as a year of “market share battles,” he reports that with no anticipated near-term uptick in demand, some traders were positioning for PP prices to move lower in first quarter.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

Driven by brand owner demands and new worldwide legislation, the entire supply chain is working toward the shift to circularity, with some evidence the circular economy has already begun.

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

Prices of the five commodity resins were heading into 2024 at a lower point, but typical moves to reverse the overall downward trend of the fourth quarter were underway. This was particularly the case for PE and PVC, with suppliers issuing early first quarter price hikes. Such attempts are facing slowed domestic and global demand, higher supplier inventories and generally lower prices of key feedstocks. PET resin prices might differ just a bit if key raw materials move up.

Some industry insiders anticipate the first quarter may well see commodity resin prices relatively flat and perhaps a bit down. Certainly in the case of PE and PP, some of these pros see 2024, at least for the first half, as being a buyer’s market or as one put it — “anticipate market share battles.”

Coverage of single-use plastics can be both misleading and demoralizing. Here are 10 tips for changing the perception of the plastics industry at your company and in your community.

Citing ACC results going into December, Greenberg reported that PP suppliers ran their reactor a bit higher in November, at about 80%. He noted that exports were a bit stronger, but representing only 6.6% of sales. “Domestic processors were turned off by the steep cost-push price increase last month (November) and slowed their purchases to only 96.5% of the trailing 12-month average,” Greenberg added. “Total production outstripped the weak sales and consequently, upstream inventories built for the second straight month back to levels not seen since April.”

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

In a time where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, the food and beverage packaging industry is required to be at the forefront of this innovation. By adopting circular packaging processes and solutions, producers can meet regulatory requirements while also satisfying consumer demand and enhancing brand reputation. Join Husky to learn more about the broader implications of the circular economy — as well as how leading brands are leveraging this opportunity to reduce costs, increase design flexibility and boost product differentiation. Agenda: The cost and operational benefits of embracing circularity Key materials in circular packaging — including rPET and emerging bioplastics How to design a circular food and beverage package Strategies for selecting sustainable closures to future-proof packaging solutions Optimization and streamlining of production processes for enhanced efficiency How Husky Technologies can enable your sustainable success

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

Join Wittmann for an engaging webinar on the transformative impact of manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the plastic injection molding industry. Discover how MES enhances production efficiency, quality control and real-time monitoring while also reducing downtime. It will explore the integration of MES with existing systems, emphasizing compliance and traceability for automotive and medical sectors. Learn about the latest advancements in IoT and AI technologies and how they drive innovation and continuous improvement in MES. Agenda: Overview of MES benefits What is MES? Definition, role and brief history Historical perspective and evolution Longevity and analytics Connectivity: importance, standards and integration Advantages of MES: efficiency, real-time data, traceability and cost savings Emerging technologies: IoT and AI in MES

Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

Barry noted that Nova Chemicals has begun PE production at the new 992 million lbs/yr AST2 unit near Sarnia, Ontario, with initial output of wide spec injection molding homopolymer HDPE. Eventually it is expected to produce a range of octene copolymers, including film grades. Shell was restarting the ethane cracker at its Monaca, Pennsylvania, site on the evening of Dec. 25, according to a social media post, while Baystar was in the process of starting up a production unit at Pasadena, Texas, on the afternoon of Dec. 28, according to a flaring notification.

“These transactions are the result of strategic growth initiatives identified as part of our investment in Clayens in December 2022, proving OEP’s assessment of the company as a solid investment platform,” said Konstantin Ryzhkov, Managing Director, One Equity Partners. “The Parkway and Crystal Lake acquisitions give Clayens strategic scale in North America and further diversify its customer base and technical capabilities.”

technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.

In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.

“The acquisition of Parkway Products creates synergies that enable first-class production of high-performance polymers, composites and precision metals that enhances both companies’ technical expertise and overall client reach.“ said Clayens’ CEO Eric Pisani. “The purchase of the Crystal Lake facility helps achieve our strategic goal of boosting our healthcare capabilities by expanding manufacturing capacity in the United States. As a combined business with circa €600 million in revenues and 31 facilities in Europe, North America, and Northern Africa, Clayens is well positioned to provide top quality services to our customers on three continents and become one of the leaders in the global precision plastic components manufacturing.”

These are the views of purchasing consultants from Resin Technology Inc. (RTi), senior analysts from Houston-based PetroChemWire (PCW), CEO Michael Greenberg of The Plastics Exchange, Scott Newell, executive v.p.  polyolefins at distributor/compounder Spartan Polymers, and resin pricing expert Robin Chesshier.

Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

A collaboration between show organizer PLASTICS, recycler CPR and size reduction experts WEIMA and Conair recovered and recycled all production scrap at NPE2024.