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If your career is somewhere within the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) constellation and you live in Memphis, TN, or Augusta, GA, I have a piece of advice — move! Those two metro areas are ranked among the worst places for STEM professionals, according to data from WalletHub, a personal finance company and serial supplier of listicles to the media. WalletHub said it applied 21 key metric points, including per-capita…

Mechanical plastics recycling production surpassed 54 million tons globally in 2022 and is projected to near 55 million tons by 2030, according to a new report from AMI Consulting. Over 36 million tons of recyclate was produced in 2022 as a result, according to the report “Mechanical Plastics Recycling — The Global Market.” The report notes “vast opportunities” within the industry, as the global recycling rate of commodity plastics is expected…

Menlo Park, CA–based Novoloop has announced the construction of a pilot plant in India to trial its process for manufacturing chemically upcycled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) from post-consumer plastic waste. The facility will eventually process 70 tonnes/year of waste TPU by the end of 2024. Novoloop’s Lifecycling process has already been employed to produce test quantities of virgin-quality, high-performance TPU for use in prototype Run on Clouds sports shoes by Swiss sports brand…

The Chinese automotive market gradually regained momentum in 2023, with the performance of new energy vehicles (NEVs) particularly eye-catching. Amid the trends of “reverse joint ventures” and “exporting technology,” Chinaplas organizer Adsale asks what are the materials and processing technologies needed for the NEV sector to bring a safer, more comfortable, and sustainable experience? According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), China’s automobile production and sales…

The preeminent polymer gathering dedicated to polyolefins — the 2024 SPE International Polyolefins Conference — will be held Feb. 18 to 21, 2024, in Galveston, TX, in a hybrid format. It brings together producers, suppliers, marketers, application developers, regulators, and thought leaders in the polyolefin industry from around the world. 900 people attended last year The in-person conference will be at the Galveston Island Convention Center, which hosted last year’s event…

KraussMaffei has appointed Sinochem’s Chi Zhang as its new CEO and Ralf Benack as head of Extrusion EMEA, amid a host of recently announced leadership changes. Zhang, formerly chairman of KraussMaffei’s supervisory board, took over the role on Jan. 10. In his more than 20 years with Sinochem, Zhang held multiple leadership roles. Since the end of 2022, he was chairman of China National Chemical Equipment Co., which owns the…

Rotomolded fuel tanks made of acetal, produced via Gemstar Manufacturing’s Robomold robotic rotomolding technology, have been identified as a highly viable alternative to fluorinated fuel tanks in the wake of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to halt the production of fluorinated coatings for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers due to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination. Gemstar has commercialized several EPA-certified acetal fuel tanks made with its unique Robomold robotic rotomolding process…

Contract manufacturer Diversified Plastics Inc. (DPI) has a new CEO at the helm, with Alex Danzberger being promoted from vice president of finance. With more than two decades of experience ranging from operations to process efficiency, Danzberger will lead the Minneapolis-based custom manufacturer further down the path of digital manufacturing. Diversified also has a facility in Vista, CA. “Alex’s unique skillset aligns perfectly with the company’s vision and growth initiatives,”…

Mobility technology supplier to the automotive sector Marelli selected CES 2024 in Las Vegas to launch its LeanLight headlight and rear light concepts. Compared with traditional automotive lighting, the products feature up to 20% fewer components, a 20% reduction in weight, and a 6 kg reduction in CO2 emissions. Systems based on Marelli’s Lean platforms are primarily pre-developed, leaving room for automakers to customize certain features. This module-based platform approach targets…

Outrage over millions of plastic pellets washing up on the northwest shore of Spain earlier this week is spilling over into the European Parliament. Media outlets are reporting that some European Union (EU) lawmakers have vowed to strengthen a law on microplastics pollution that the parliament started negotiating on Oct. 16, 2023. The proposed law originally targeted reducing the amount of plastic pellets that end up in the environment through…