Blow molder Altium pulls off major expansion with acquisition
Altium Packaging LLC, formerly Consolidated Container Corp., gains new operations from coast to coast in buying Plastics Industries Inc.
Plastics Additives Address e-Mobility Challenges
Clariant’s additive solutions to support plastics in meeting key e-mobility challenges will be to the fore at K 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany, in October. The materials supplier will showcase products designed to assist the automotive industry as it seeks to safely extend battery range and charging performance, achieve significant materials reuse and recycling, and decrease its carbon footprint. “We’re working closely with the automotive value chain to validate our advanced…
Renewable-Energy Powered Storage System Slashes Roto-Molder’s Fuel Costs and GHG Emissions
A novel thermal energy storage system powered by renewable energy is substantially cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the rotational molding of polyethylene water tanks. Fortlev, which makes water storage solutions including tanks, pipes, and connectors, is using a Brenmiller Energy bGen Thermal Energy Storage (TES) unit at its production facility in Anápolis, Brazil. The 1-MWh bGen unit uses renewable biomass instead of natural gas to heat the air for Fortlev’s…
Finding a Niche in LSR Tooling
Mixed in amidst the soft, translucent liquid silicone rubber (LSR) parts, the shiny, metallic chunk of silica mineral in M.R. Mold & Engineering’s display shelf provides a striking contrast. The fact that such smooth, squishy and clear materials are derived in part from a hard, opaque rock is counterintuitive, but for M.R. Mold’s founder and president, Rick Finnie, displaying the parts alongside their unlikely source helps customers understand the strengths…
Eight Ways Manufacturers Can Attract & Retain Customers–Part 2
Plastics processors excel at using automation to overcome process and product-related challenges, but when it comes to customer relationships, those skills need to be balanced with empathy. Customer relationship management (CRM), marketing automation, and customer success applications can help augment short-staffed teams in cultivating customer relationships, but they cannot become a substitute for first-hand engagement. The good news is that plastics processors have an edge in understanding how processes work and…
HIG Capital to ‘accelerate investments’ in Avient distribution unit
Private equity firm HIG Capital has plans to grow Avient Corp.’s distribution unit, which it is acquiring for $950 million in cash.
DOJ Files Criminal Charges Against ABC Polymer for Worker’s Death
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama earlier this week announced criminal charges against ABC Polymer Industries LLC for the death of a worker at its Helena, AL, plant. The employee, Catalina Estillado, was pulled through the spinning rollers of plastic sheet machinery on Aug. 16, 2017, and died as a result. The DOJ cites “willful violations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration…
OSHA seeks $177K fine after worker burned at packaging firm
OSHA says plastic foam packaging firm International Cushioning has a culture where it appears “employee safety is not emphasized,” following investigation of a burn incident.
Trexel CEO Passes Away 'Doing What He Loved'
Trexel announced with profound sadness the loss of Brian Bechard, its President and CEO. He passed away suddenly of a heart attack while competing in a rowing race on the Merrimack River on Aug. 6, 2022. While taken too soon, he was engaging his athletic passions and doing what he loved, said the release. Bechard was 48 years old and served as CEO of Trexel since 2015. As a result…
Genomatica and Aquafil Start Pre-Commercial Plant-Based Nylon 6 Production
Photo Credit: Genomatica This past March, I reported on San Diego-based biotechnology firm Genomatica (Geno) and its collaboration with Asahi Kasei to commercialize renewably-sourced nylon 66. The strategic partnership entails the use of Genomatica’s biobased HMDA (hexamethylene diamine) building block. Now, the company reports that it is one step closer to commercialization of renewable nylon 6 with its long-term partner Aquafil, Italy’s nylon 6 fiber producer. The partners produced the…