Technological advancements have paved the way for furniture companies to appeal to customers and display products photorealistically. Furniture manufacturers leverage immersive technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and extended reality (XR) to deliver realistic simulations of furniture. This allows buyers to virtually try them out before buying, enhancing the buying experience.

Looking for startups & scaleups developing innovative technologies? Don’t miss out & discover startups you won’t find anywhere else in a short call with our Innovation Experts!

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

Why is it so important? You would be hard pressed to name a single, common molding/part problem that melt non-uniformity does not cause or exacerbate. To name a few:

Like pieces in a puzzle, these components interact with each other. Each has a staggering number of details that interrelate. So where to begin? First is to build a team — not one or two people — that encompasses these five components. It would be nice if the team members were all within your company, but that is not what I suggest. Build your team, but realize the best of us make mistakes. So double check the first three key components with known experts before the tool is built. Yes — the time and expense are worth it.

The integration of additive manufacturing in the furniture industry reshapes conventional production methods to enhance design flexibility, reduce costs, and provide customized furniture. 3D printing also streamlines furniture production by addressing issues like shape, material choice, functionality, and hierarchical complexities. Additive manufacturing applies to the mold-making process of furniture items by rapidly prototyping complex shapes and reducing the costs of furniture molding links.

For example, automated drilling machines ensure that holes maintain precise depth and angle, leading to consistent quality and reduced waste. Automated systems further monitor production lines in real time to proactively detect and address issues, boosting productivity. They gather insights on production workflows and pinpoint areas for improvement utilizing sensors and data analytics. Lastly, robotics enables furniture manufacturers to reduce manual errors and labor costs while enhancing quality control.

Below, you get to meet 20 out of these 1344 promising startups & scaleups as well as the solutions they develop. These furniture startups are hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised & more. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.

Moreover, 3D printers process a variety of materials, including polylactic acid (PLA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The startup’s solutions allow furniture manufacturers to prototype furniture using sustainable materials.

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.

Italian startup Labec Design leverages 3D printing to produce furniture. It utilizes techniques such as fused deposition modeling (FDM) and selective laser sintering (SLS). The startup’s high-performance 3D printers leverage surface tessellation language files to ensure a seamless transition from digital design to physical product.

By accessing representative data, manufacturers track real-time quoting activity on the furniture and streamline the reporting to their representatives. Revalize assists furniture retailers in making informed decisions by providing insights into sales forecasting, product development, and market shifts.

UAE-based startup C3D Printing produces large format 3D printed furniture using plastic granules. Large format 3D printers allow manufacturers to produce bigger, more complex, and detailed furniture pieces at a faster pace. The startup uses fused deposition modeling to make strong and durable furniture components.

Figure 3 presents actual samples showing solids bed breakup and poor melt uniformity. Figure 4 shows the typical degradation of the polymer often seen when a screw is pulled for cleaning or repair. My guess is that roughly 80% of all machines running today exhibit these problems. This is a global problem in the molding industry. How much does this cost you in degraded resin, wasted machine time and color changes? Big bucks!

The data speaks for itself. General-purpose screws are costing you money. Melt uniformity screws, not barrier designs, will save time, make your life easier on the shop floor and make you significantly more money with less hassle. Check out what Mike Sepe had to say about his trials with the screw design.

Startups and scaleups develop innovative solutions that revolutionize furniture design, production, and usability. AI is used in the concept of generative design to enhance human resources by utilizing algorithms to automate design logic. Overall, the furniture manufacturing process sees significant improvements through digitalization and automation.

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

FIG 5 Following a purging, material remains in the barrier screw’s flights, getting darker as it gets closer to the tip. Photo: Joe Cascarano

Indian startup ezTruck Logistics makes a furniture logistics platform that allows companies to easily book trucks for local relocations and deliveries. This solution addresses the issue of transportation hassles by allowing seamless optimization of omni-channel logistics.

The smart integration between suppliers and manufacturers results in notable freight cost reductions. Beeontrade platform enables them to efficiently manage logistics and production schedules while providing customers with real-time updates and reliable delivery forecasts.

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.

This article focuses on only one aspect: No. 4: Processing/Molding. Specifically, we’ll look at obtaining a uniformly melted shot of plastic to form a functional part. This is critical for the part to perform, yet grossly overlooked by most processors. Typically, most molders use the stock “General Purpose” (GP) screw. See Figure 1.

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

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

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

Further, the desk integrates voice control through Google Assistant and a touchscreen to facilitate user interaction. This enables them to set reminders for taking a break, drinking water, eating snacks, and moving certain parts of the body using both on-screen and vocal notifications. Consequently, it improves user posture, energy levels, and overall productivity.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Furniture companies struggle to manually handle, count, and transport large inventories. Traditional inventory management systems often lack robust forecasting features. As businesses expand their operations, keeping inventory available for customers presents another challenge. Startups thus provide inventory management platforms to efficiently manage stock, reduce costs, increase profit margin, and streamline the entire process.

For this in-depth research on the Top Furniture Industry Trends and startups, we analyzed a sample of 1344 global startups & scaleups. This data-driven research provides innovation intelligence that helps you improve strategic decision-making by giving you an overview of emerging technologies in the furniture industry. In the Furniture Industry Innovation Map, you get a comprehensive overview of the innovation trends & startups that impact your company.

Lithuanian startup Ruupi utilizes virtual reality for product demonstrations and immersive shopping experiences. It enables furniture manufacturers and salesmen to enhance the online buying experience for customers. Moreover, it incorporates a marketplace that showcases a catalog of furniture items available for visualization and purchasing.

Customer feedback is analyzed in terms of rating and through textual interpretation of comments by identifying the positive/negative opinions bundled according to the topic. Further, it evaluates the brand’s online score on the web across time and compares it with the score of its main competitors. Monitora assists furniture brands in conducting better market research and marketing strategies to outperform their competitors.

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.

Editor’s Note: This article updates a column originally published in the January 2021 issue. At that time, the author was struggling to find a manufacturing partner for the new screw design. He has since found a manufacturer for the screw and, with a year of testing data in hand, he’s ready to issue a challenge to our molding readers.

Management information systems further improve the efficiency of various processes and streamline personnel management in the delivery phase. Warehouse management platforms and automated material handling equipment boost the efficiency of the supply chain. Moreover, biometric devices ensure high safety standards and security. Furniture companies also leverage electric vehicles, renewable energy sources, and hydrogen fuel cells to decrease the carbon footprint of furniture logistics.

Further, it uses a stereolithography technique that uses liquid resin for high-resolution prints. This solution enables furniture manufacturers to create intricate, customized, and high-quality large furniture with reduced costs and environmental impact.

This screw dominates the market, yet it is well established that it does not provide melt uniformity. I think it was Bob Dray who labeled these as “No-Purpose” screws. That is, GP screws fall far short in providing melt consistency or uniform temperature. But both are critically important for production.

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

This interactive experience ensures that customers make informed decisions about their furniture choices without stepping into a store, enhancing customer shopping experience. Consequently, the startup increases sales and minimizes returns since customers preview furniture before purchase.

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 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.

I’m looking for a few good molders to help trial a new screw design, and share data and results for a future article to prove the benefits of a melt uniformity screw.

The furniture industry faces challenges that require manufacturers to adapt to the changing market conditions. Resource waste and a high carbon footprint stand out as major concerns. Advancements in technology are reshaping this industry by allowing manufacturers to produce practical, sustainable, and affordable items. The emerging furniture industry trends span 3D technologies, AI, augmented reality, virtual reality, and touch commerce, among others.

Swedish startup Palats offers a circular AI-integrated platform for interior designers to streamline inventory management for office relocations. QR codes enable a seamless connection between the physical furniture and their digital twins, simplifying information management and updates.

Due to high demand and competition, furniture companies utilize automated solutions for material handling and efficient order fulfillment. They deploy AI-powered robotics, like autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and automation to revolutionize the furniture manufacturing process. Robots equipped with computer vision and AI algorithms also perform complex tasks such as cutting, shaping, and assembling furniture components with high precision.

US-based startup NextErgo develops an AI-powered smart desk equipped with ergonomic posture correction and built-in presence detection sensors. The company employs thermal imaging and hand-level detection that allows users to set up an ergonomic standing posture.

Moreover, it offers flexibility and efficiency in accommodating high-volume demands. ezTruck Logistics provides furniture businesses with hassle-free truck rental, transparent pricing, and enhanced safety of the products.

Furniture production causes a large global carbon footprint. With the increasing demand for better ecological life cycle assessments, there has been a significant shift towards sourcing eco-friendly materials for furniture production. Further, furniture companies continuously contend with raw materials shortages. Therefore, implementing recycling and upcycling processes optimizes the use and lifespan of the resources. For instance, bio-based materials serve as a promising alternative to plastic in furniture production and its components.

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

US-based startup Zolak Tech provides 3D furniture visualization software for furniture retailers to boost their customers’ confidence. The startup combines AI and computer vision to create a virtual furniture showcase. It allows customers to explore and customize furniture in various realistic interiors.

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.

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.

With the rise of online shopping, furniture e-commerce has emerged as a trend to accommodate new ways of reaching customers. Startups harness technologies such as 3D product visualization, chatbots, and virtual showrooms to provide customers with seamless omnichannel shopping experiences. Furniture visualization tools allow customers to see how furniture appears in realistic 3D environments, enabling them to make more informed purchasing decisions. This increases customer engagement, maximizes sales, and reduces the number of returns due to mismatched expectations.

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.

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.

Big money can be saved and higher production rates can be realized by obtaining melt uniformity. So, what does it take to get that melt uniformity? Let’s start with the melt model of a GP screw shown in Figure 1, which shows a typical design with a 20:1 Length/Diameter (L/D) geometry. Figure 2 attempts to show the non-uniformity of melt developed during typical processing with this design.

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.

Austrian startup Flowfactory makes a window seat that hangs inside a working space and serves as a multifunctional table or shelf. When folded, it transforms the window recess into a mini-balcony alternative, enabling comfortable and secure seating at the window. The startup sells multifunctional furniture for optimal use of living space, offering employees additional space to relax and concentrate.

US-based startup Flumio provides an AI-powered system that generates a variety of furniture design iterations through text-to-image technology. The startup combines generative AI and a robotic fabrication process to convert digital designs into tangible furniture.

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.

Hong Kong-based startup Invisible Tech creates furniture with embedded audio to deliver high-end audio performance. The audio system allows easy wireless listening through up-to-date connectivity, ensuring a hassle-free user experience.  The startup also upcycles waste wood materials into a smart audio system for the furniture pieces, thus enhancing product sustainability. Invisible Tech also customizes its products to match customer preferences to address the growing demand for enhanced smart living experiences.

As property prices rise and cities become more crowded, optimizing living space using durable furniture becomes crucial. Multi-functional furniture designs incorporate advanced technology to produce space-saving and aesthetically appealing furniture. Emerging startups create furniture with modular designs and advanced folding mechanisms to ensure maximum storage.

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

FIG 4 Degraded polymer shown at junction of flight and root diameter of a general purpose screw (dead space). Photo: J. Bozzelli

Further, the startup offers an all-in-one solution for the photo-digitization of patterns, a leather hide scanner, automatic leather nestling, and digital die cutting. It allows furniture leather factories to attain sustainable and efficient furniture leather production.

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.

Further, data manipulation technologies harness distributed data storage and processing to analyze a vast amount of data points quickly. Using qualitative data further streamlines and personalizes the furniture shopping experience. This allows furniture retailers to predict trends for a defined period and manage their items accordingly. By aligning furniture supply and demand, furniture enterprises reduce costs, improve operations, and maximize sales opportunities.

US-based startup Revalize provides data analytics software tailored for furniture manufacturers and retailers. The solution streamlines the quote-to-cash process for custom furniture items. Further, it allows manufacturers to view data quickly, to configure and price furniture while reducing errors and maximizing deal sizes.

The furniture industry faces a plethora of challenges starting from market competition, shifting consumer preferences, cost management, and changing retail landscape. Therefore, startups develop data analytics platforms for furniture retailers to access data and generate insightful reports. They assist in business strategy planning, streamline marketing strategies, and maximize profits. AI-powered predictive analytics also enables them to analyze customer data and historical sales patterns to optimize pricing.

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.

Once the furniture is digitized, the platform generates detailed reports on the environmental impact and economic savings. Further, furniture companies coordinate work directly from the platform by creating tasks for the staff, ensuring efficient inventory administration. Palats empowers them to optimize their assets, save money, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Time passes and with the help of a new screw manufacturer and two years of research/trials, we have an updated version. After a year of testing, it has passed my tests for melt uniformity and provides rapid color/material change, in addition to being easier to clean. Figure 6 provides an example of a resin change in less than eight shots without purging.

Indian startup Gani Robotics builds a machine vision-based leather edge trimming robot to automate and optimize furniture leather production. The robot, mainly used for wet blue and crust leathers, is highly precise and reliable.

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

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.

Furniture companies consistently encounter logistics challenges like long-distance deliveries, driver shortages, and high freight charges. Startups leverage technologies to reduce costs, boost customer satisfaction, and increase sales for furniture retailers and logistics providers. For example, GPS and radio-frequency identification (RFID) enhance supply chain visibility, allowing for precise furniture tracking from the manufacturer to the customer. Further, companies utilize IoT and AI to optimize vehicle routes, speed, and fuel consumption.

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).

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.

Indian startup Fegno offers an e-commerce platform for furniture sellers to boost their online presence and efficiency. The platform enables streamlined and intuitive online trading. Furniture sellers access features like bulk product management, product additions, and strategic product arrangement to enhance buyer discoverability and seller productivity.

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

Further, the online furniture visualizer autonomously personalizes content for individual website visitors in real-time. This eliminates the need for the direct involvement of marketing and sales personnel. The technology allows furniture companies to increase sales and maximize their profits.

US-based startup Beeontrade builds an AI-powered supply chain platform for optimizing customer service and managing suppliers. The platform identifies which manufacturers are short on deadlines, allowing businesses to adjust orders. Further, it updates customers with precise arrival times to prevent cancellations and increase transparency in the purchase process.

How is the furniture industry leveraging technology to improve efficiency and revenue? This data-driven industry research focuses on the top furniture industry trends in 2024 based on the analysis of 1300+ companies. These trends include sustainable furniture, multifunctional design, robotic manufacturing & more.

Moreover, startups produce furniture from recycled materials and renewable resources such as old wood fibers, polyethylene terephthalate bottles, and bamboo, cotton, and algae, respectively. Using injection molding, manufacturers produce furniture fittings, glides, wheels, and castors made entirely from renewable materials. This allows furniture companies to achieve sustainability goals by sourcing materials responsibly while avoiding the use of toxic chemicals.

Companies leverage enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to track inventory in real-time, build forecasting models, and boost overall supply chain efficiency. Automated forecasting utilizes workflows for better purchasing practices with less cost and time spent to manually calculate purchase orders. This, in turn, frees up capital that is invested in other business operations. Advanced furniture inventory management enables furniture companies to optimize stocks, cut costs, as well as track and manage inventory flawlessly.

Intelligent virtual assistants use natural language processing (NLP) along with predictive analytics to address customer queries and offer personalized furniture recommendations on a 24/7 basis. Further, machine learning algorithms personalize the e-commerce customer experience by collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing the consumption behavior of each target group. Furniture retailers leverage technology to satisfy customers while minimizing overhead costs and maximizing profits.

Based on the Furniture Industry Innovation Map, the Tree Map below illustrates the impact of the Top 10 Furniture Industry Trends in 2024. With the increasing emphasis on environmental protection, furniture makers are adopting recyclable materials to embrace sustainable production processes. Further, multifunctional and modular furniture designs are trending for space-saving. Startups employ IoT technologies to produce furniture that allows users to control features using smart devices or voice commands.

To prove out this new design, I am seeking four or five shops to trial this new screw. I am offering to pay $1000 to the screw supplier who developed it toward the purchase of this new screw design, providing the accepting molder agrees to share production data before and after testing the new design (within 6 months of receipt of the screw). The participating molders will also need to agree to use a specific common nozzle tip, costing $20. Plastics Technology and I will then review this data and write a follow-up article showing results. In short, technology changes and there is good chance that new screw technology will make your life easier and save you some money to boot.

Renowned screw designer Robert F. Dray wrote to me recently, lamenting that injection molding screw design has not received the kind of attention that the extrusion industry has paid to perfecting this fundamental processing component.

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.

About the author: John Bozzelli is the founder of Injection Molding Solutions/Scientific Molding in Midland, Michigan, a provider of training and consulting services to injection molders, including LIMS and other specialties. Contact john@scientificmolding.com.

Not all the pellets melt, and the resulting solids bed breakup provides for poor melt uniformity, as well as several of the previously listed problems. It is also common for the plastic to stagnate where the flights mate with the root diameter. This stagnation causes discoloring, degradation and solids bed breakup.

The AI-chat interface facilitates real-time customization by rapidly converting designs into parametric models, generating the necessary data for the robotic production system. Flumio presents an innovative approach to manufacturing desired furniture with high speed and precision.

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

Back in the early 1990s, I was fortunate enough to have worked on a research program to solve problems of mixing color concentrates into natural resins. After about a year and a half and more than $250,000 spent on several barrier-type screws, we did not have an answer. One screw supplier had a “melt uniformity screw.” This melt uniformity screw passed rigorous requirements for color distribution and uniformity. We trialed it further in seven production machines making complex parts for six months. The results were impressive (see accompanying table).

Also, note it gets darker as you get closer to the screw tip. Because this is after purging, you can understand that this material stays there during production and will degrade over time. You get even more degradation and black specks. So, if a barrier screw is not the answer, what is?

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

US-based startup Hoek Home produces modular furniture design powered by patented snap-lock and flat-pack systems. The snap-lock system enables businesses to easily assemble and disassemble furniture without tools or long instructions. Moreover, the flat-pack system ensures that each furniture component packs into an easily transportable item.

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

Leverage our unparalleled data advantage to quickly and easily find hidden gems among 4.7M+ startups, scaleups. Access the world's most comprehensive innovation intelligence and stay ahead with AI-powered precision.

For instance, multi-functional desks convert into wall-mounted shelves or fold into compact units when not in use. Materials like aluminum, steel, wood, and even cardboard are being utilized to produce such furniture. Further, startups and scaleups use natural resources to produce sustainable furniture that is foldable, stackable, and transformable.

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

US-based startup Calico Sol develops sustainable home furnishings to reduce the overall carbon footprint and support concepts of reuse and recycling. The startup offers custom furniture with stain-resistant and durable textiles that are cost-effective, convenient to dispose of, and environmentally sustainable. All the company’s furnishings are produced entirely from natural, less resource-intensive, and nontoxic materials. Its circular design further assists furniture manufacturers in minimizing waste and keeping materials in use.

Xaloy is investing in a new R&D Facility for plasticizing equipment in northeast Ohio with aid from JobsOhio R&D Center Grant.

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.

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.

The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the global distribution of the 1344 exemplary startups & scaleups that we analyzed for this research. Created through the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, the Heat Map reveals high startup activity in India and Western Europe, followed by the US.

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

Moreover, emerging companies leverage 3D printing for quick prototyping and customization of furniture design, allowing manufacturers to reduce production costs. Immersive technologies like AR and VR also provide 3D furniture models for enhancing the purchasing experience. Robotics further streamline manufacturing processes by automating repetitive human tasks, boosting efficiency and productivity. Other trends such as furniture e-commerce, advanced inventory management, and data analytics aid furniture companies in improving decision-making, sales, and profits.

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.

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.

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.

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

Italian startup Monitora develops a web-based platform that allows furniture brands to analyze customer reviews using semantic analysis. Manually analyzing reviews is time-consuming and might yield inaccurate results. The platform enables them to access accurate, updated, and easy-to-interpret data.

Smart furniture features include wireless charging, built-in speakers, health monitoring systems, and more. Additionally, voice-enabled furniture pairs with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and home IoT devices. For instance, smart beds employ biometric sensors to track parameters such as breathing rate, heart rate, and restfulness. IoT integration enables furniture manufacturing companies to achieve longer furniture lifespans by identifying potential malfunctions and maintenance needs.

German startup Retrac develops a digital inventory management platform for tracking tasks and costs associated with furniture. Property managers use a QR code to access all furniture information, take notes, or sign off a task. This AI-powered platform aids them in tracking the condition of furniture by flagging issues ahead of time.

The common 3D printing technologies used in furniture production include photocuring molding and selective laser sintering (SLS). Moreover, it solves problems of slow product update speed and long R&D and production cycles. Novel 3D furniture printing enables manufacturers to produce more intricate and innovative designs at reduced costs and shorter timelines.

These insights are derived by working with our Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 3 790 000+ startups & scaleups globally. As the world’s largest resource for data on emerging companies, the SaaS platform enables you to identify relevant technologies and industry trends quickly & exhaustively.

Furniture manufacturing companies strive to keep up with the changing preferences of the customers. In this regard, the Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming furniture manufacturing. Companies make smart furniture embedded with sensor technology to monitor real-time user data. Merging technology with furniture seamlessly blends functionality and design.

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.

What is required for an injection molding company to make plastic parts profitably with a sustainable future internationally? The number of variables involved is staggering. So where do you start? There are five key components of making acceptable parts profitably … long term:

Singaporean startup NXT Interactive develops a web-AR furniture app that showcases real-time 3D models of furniture to facilitate purchasing decisions. It employs augmented reality to envision furniture within customers’ personal spaces.

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

The emerging furniture industry trends and startups outlined in this report only scratch the surface of trends that we identified during our data-driven innovation & startup scouting process. Identifying new opportunities & emerging technologies to implement into your business goes a long way in gaining a competitive advantage.

This solution is equipped with a slim wall cleat to allow users to hang the furniture and save space when not in use. The startup’s quick-assembly furniture is ideal for multiple purposes such as a desk, table, bookshelf, and more.

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

The photo-realistic renderings and precise product representations offer customers a comprehensive view of the product, allowing them to see it from all angles. Customers also have the option to verify whether the furniture dimensions suit their available space and if the colors harmonize with their surroundings. Further, the adoption of an immersive marketing strategy assists furniture companies in enhancing the in-store experience, bridging the gap between physical stores and online retail.

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.

There are solutions, but be careful who you talk to. When anyone asks for better melt quality, most machine and screw manufactures provide the knee jerk response: “Try our barrier screw.” I say, do not waste your time! Why not? Figure 5 shows a typical barrier type screw after it was purged. Note the green polymer is still in the barrier flights.

Embracing these technology trends improves business strategy planning, quality control as well as customer engagement and satisfaction. As technology continues to evolve, the furniture industry promises even better eco-friendly and customer-friendly products. However, adopting these technologies requires mastering new skills and developing strategies to seamlessly incorporate these innovations into their operations.

Further, it stores all inventory details, inspections, historical repair work, costs, and furniture quality insights. This provides smart data-driven insights to automate daily workflows and optimize inventory performance.

Spanish startup Gravity Wave manufactures recycled furniture to preserve the environment and reduce ocean pollution. The startup transforms the ocean’s plastic waste into sustainable furniture such as recycled tables, benches, and pots. The material’s versatility facilitates adaptability to a wide array of shapes and spaces, catering to diverse needs in interior design and architectural decorations. Lastly, the solution uses a circular furniture manufacturing process to promote sustainability in the industry.