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.

Reporting on spot PP market sales, Greenberg reports that TPE saw the market as “a tale of two grades” in the last week of July. He notes that homopolymer PP sales slumped due to prebuying during May and June, while PP copolymer sales moved up as supply had been tight for several months and was further exacerbated by an INEOS Polyolefins force majeure for its PP copolymer resins. “Invista is not expected to bring its CoPP line back up until at least mid-August, and Heartland Polymers is not expected to produce CoPP until late fourth quarter,” Greenberg says.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

At July’s end, Greenberg reported that TPE’s prime spot PE pricing was a mixed bag, with most grades down a half cent, though lower volume LLDPE injection and granular grades held firm, and scarce LDPE injection garnered a penny increase. “Export business was softer due to competitive offers out of China,” Greenberg says. “North American producers might need to be agile with export pricing to remain competitive on incremental sales and maintain market share and/or reduce reactor rates to keep burdensome inventories from developing.”

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

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

Barry, for one, notes that these two plants represented only a fraction of overall domestic PS production, but Pavlov says it was a bit premature to determine that degree of impact, also noting that the shutdowns affected primarily HIPS production. As such, he ventures prices in August could move up with September likely to be flat. Somewhat in contrast, Barry reports that spot feedstock prices — primarily benzene — were dropping, noting that July benzene prices fell 13-14¢/gal to $3.85. He ventures that another similar drop was likely for August, so that a corresponding drop in PS prices was likely, at least, for August. While PS demand is characterized as a bit better in second quarter year to date, it was still lackluster, with plant’s operating at 60% utilization.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

These sources generally were in agreement that any PE price reduction would not be forthcoming for August and September, and that a flat pricing scenario had potential. Some, like Barry and Burns, ventured that the partial 3¢/lb increase could be implemented in August vs. July. All noted that the impact of hurricane Beryl was not an issue and that the market was generally balanced. In fact, Barry noted that some PE resin sectors — primarily LLDPE film and HDPE injection — appeared to be “long.”

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.

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

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.

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.

Prices of PE, PP and PVC moved up in July, while those of PS and PET rolled over, but there was potential for flat pricing for all through August and September. Driving factors include reduced domestic demand. The slackened demand can be partially attributed to prebuying in anticipation of a very active 2024 hurricane season; a drop in exports due to higher domestic prices combined with global competitive pricing and slowed demand; and overall lower raw material costs, except for propylene monomer, though a change in that market was underway. All this holds, barring major production disruptions, of course.

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.

Despite earlier anticipated rollover in prices for most of the volume commodity resins, prices were generally on the way up for all going into the third month of first quarter.

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.

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

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.

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.

Polyethylene prices, after rolling over for both May and June, appeared to be moving up 3¢/lb in July, this out of the 5¢/lb July-issued hike, with one industry index showing as much and another indicating ‘unsettled.’ Meanwhile, PE suppliers were out with another 5¢/lb increase for August. By most accounts, while it seems PE resin prices won’t drop within the July-August time frame, it appears that PE suppliers won’t garner much more than the 3¢/lb increase out of the 10¢/lb sought. This according to PCW’s associate director for PE, PP and PS David Barry; TPE’s Greenberg; Burns of Plastic Resin Market Advisors; and Kevin Mekaru, RTi’s senior business leader commodity plastics.

As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. There are a few reasons this might happen:

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.

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.

Pavlov ventures that August prices would roll over and September prices had the potential for a 1¢/lb decrease. Todd reports that while OxyVinyls had joined Westlake to issue increases of 2¢/lb each for July and August, there had been no announcements from either Formosa or Shintech. That’s despite some unplanned shutdowns of PVC and VCM lines. Pavlov notes that PVC demand for the first half of 2024 was up by nearly 11%, adding that domestic suppliers continued to have an advantage in exports due to global PVC prices rising.

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

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

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 (TPE); Scott Newell, executive vice president  polyolefins at distributor/compounder Spartan Polymers; and Mike Burns of Plastic Resin Market Advisors.

These sources all noted that despite Hurricane Beryl in July, which had a negligible impact on resin production, partially due to a large Saharan dust plume which prevented the development of new storms. That said, most meteorologists continued to predict a heating up of the summer storm season that could prove severe. As TPE’s Greenberg reported, “A series of storms, or even just a major one, could disrupt petrochemical and plastics production to create supply challenges, so we advise to err to the side of caution and keep an extra inventory buffer on hand, just in case.”

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

PVC prices in July moved up 1¢/lb following the unusual back-to-back increases through April, which now total 7¢/lb. While some suppliers had issued a total of 4¢/lb for the July-August time frame, the trajectory was changing, according to RTi’s Pavlov and as indicated by Donna Todd, PCW’s associate director PVC and pipe.

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.

This downward trajectory is expected to continue, primarily due to slowed demand, lower feedstock costs and adequate-to-ample supplies.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

PET prices were flat again in July, following the 1¢/lb-to-1.5¢/lb drop in May. They had the potential to stay relatively flat in August and September, according to RTi’s Mekaru. This is in concert with raw material formulation costs and general economic indications. Mekaru continues to characterize PET supply as ample, with competitively priced imports continuing to be a factor and year-over-year demand showing a bit of an uptick, which has included prebuying activity in anticipation of the hurricane season.

Barry noted that spot propylene prices going into August were trending down. He also reported on a slowdown in exports demand due to higher U.S. prices. Still Mekaru ventured an increase of another 3¢/lb was possible for propylene and PP in August. “We’re still vulnerable,” Newell says. “There’s not a lot of cushion in terms of propylene supply, but PDH plants are coming back online, so it’s a tough call.” Citing American Chemistry Council data, these sources all note that domestic PP demand through the second quarter was up by 5% year-to-date, but all also note that it’s difficult to determine how much of that was due to prebuying. Newell notes that some processors had bought material to last through September. By July’s end, some resin distributors reported a slowdown, attributing it to higher prices, according to Barry.

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.

Polypropylene prices in July moved up 5¢/lb in step with propylene monomer, and while suppliers were out with a 3¢/lb price increase in addition to any change in the monomer, this initiative fell by the wayside, according to PCW’s Barry; Spartan Polymers’ Newell; TPE’s Greenberg; and Paul Pavlov, vice president of PP and PVC for RTi. The continuation of a tight monomer supply due to planned and unplanned shutdowns of on-purpose PDH (propane dehydrogenation) propylene plants, made the outlook for pricing in August uncertain, though nearly all sources saw potential for flat pricing in September.

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

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

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.

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.

Polystyrene prices in July appeared to have rolled over for the fourth consecutive month, and there was some potential for this trend to continue into August and September, according to PCW’s Barry and RTi’s Mekaru. This despite unplanned shutdowns in July due to tornado turbulence in Illinois at two plants — one by INEOS Styrolution and the other by American Styrenics.

Moreover, nearly everyone commented that the overall market was not as robust as PE suppliers have been indicating, citing a slowdown in Asian exports in particular. “The long-term outlook does not foresee the sustainability of any of the new increases without an unexpected event,” Burns says. “Feedstocks will not drive prices as natural gas and ethane inventories remain ample and low cost.” Both Barry and Mekaru noted that new capacity from Shell, NOVA and Baystar was also making an impact. They also added that Shell had initiated production and marketing of HDPE blow molding grades at attractive prices, in addition to its LLDPE film and HDPE injection grade resins.

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

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.

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

PE properties can be adjusted either by changing the molecular weight or by altering the density. While this increases the possible combinations of properties, it also requires that the specification for the material be precise.

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

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.