Man shoots two employees at SC Fränkische plastics plant
A man identified as a former employee shot two people and killed himself April 5 at a Fränkische USA LP plastics manufacturing plant in South Carolina.
Evonik Invests in New Rohacell Production Facility
Evonik is investing several million euros — in the double digits, in fact — in a new production facility to make high-performance polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam for fiber composite cores manufactured in Darmstadt, Germany. At the same time, parts of the original production plant, which went into operation in 1972, will be shut down or extensively modernized. These measures will enable Evonik to continue to meet growing demand for its structural foams from the…
Three Ways to Improve the Health of Your Employees
We all carry stress. One employee’s strongest stressor might be financial (affordable housing, childcare, and elder care). For another employee, it might be a child who is experiencing bullying at school, a wife with a cancer diagnosis, or a mom who lives across the country and needs daily assistance. And for another employee, well, I think you get the gist. On top of our daily stress, Covid-19 has done a…
Sustainable Plastics Live
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS LIVE with Karen Laird, Sustainable Plastics Editor There is no bigger issue today in plastics than sustainability. Laird has the perspective necessary to understand the fundamental changes required to achieve a circular economy for plastics. She has covered the plastics industry for decades, including as founding editor of Sustainable Plastics since 2020. To register for the May livestream click here
Proof-of-Concept Drug-Delivery System Sorts Out Recycling Roadblocks
A global rise in the population suffering from chronic disease is expected to contribute to robust growth in the drug-delivery systems market. The segment is pegged to expand at a 6% compound annual growth rate in the next five years, increasing in value by $77.6 billion by 2026, according to a business report from Infiniti Research Ltd. With greater numbers of drug-delivery products in the hands of medical professionals and…
Mattel Puts Sabic’s Certified Renewable Polymers into Play
Sabic announced today that Mattel will incorporate its certified renewable polymers across its product lines, the first toy company to use these polymers in a mass balance approach. Mega and Matchbox products will enter the market in 2022 using certified renewable polypropylene from the chemicals company. More will follow, according to Sabic. Mega Bloks Green Town will be first out of the gate. The new construction play sets, including the Grow & Protect…
COVID prompts new technology for Protolabs
As a specialist in rapid manufacturing, Proto Labs Inc. was in a strong position to help its customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plastec West: It's Showtime for Plastics Processing Equipment
As the plastics industry wrestles with a labor shortage and skills gap, machine makers are recruiting artificial intelligence (AI) and automation systems to keep production lines running without missing a beat. They might even run more efficiently. At booth 3911, LS Mtron will demo its AI Molding Assistant, which “learns” from skilled operators and applies that knowledge to setting up molding processes that then can be overseen by less-skilled employees.…
Back at square one: Plastics association faces challenges hiring new CEO
The sudden ouster of the Plastics Industry Association’s CEO puts the group in a place it didn’t want to be. Steve Toloken has some ideas on the path ahead.
Association members say staff, direction issues behind Radoszewski’s departure
“That was a really big thing — staff turnover, staff morale,” said an executive at one member company who requested anonymity to discuss the change. “In my opinion, I just didn’t see any progress being made with the association.”