Summer brings warmer weather, vacations, cookouts, and beach reads drawn from bestseller lists. We’ve selected the hottest reads in plastics from the virtual pages of PlasticsToday for the first half of 2024. Available whether you’re at the seashore or at your desk, this slideshow reveals the Top 10 articles and slideshows that resonated with industry professionals across the breadth of plastics. The Top 5 appear in the accompanying slideshow while…
Global materials supplier Trinseo took another step toward meeting its ambitious sustainability goals with the official opening of its polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) depolymerization facility in Rho, Italy, on June 25. The pilot plant advances next-generation recycling technology for acrylics and is aligned with Trinseo’s 2030 Sustainable Product Portfolio Goals, the company said in a news release. In addition to supporting Trinseo’s sustainability goals, the investment in new recycling technologies also…
TPI Composites Inc. (TPI) is pushing the boundaries of weight reduction and aerodynamics via an all-composite cab design adopted in the next-generation Kenworth SuperTruck 2. TPI’s expertise in the development and design of lightweight, high-strength composite materials has enabled the manufacturing of critical components and cab structures with significant weight reduction and improved freight efficiency. Joint investment by US DOE and Kenworth’s parent company. The SuperTruck 2 program is a…
Although commodity resin trading cooled slightly the week of June 17 from earlier in the month, completed volumes still remained above average, reports the PlasticsExchange in its Market Update. The flow of spot polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) railcars improved, and high-quality, well-priced material again sold quickly. Buyers generally ignored transitional railcars and resisted seemingly high-priced offers, while resellers actively bought truckloads to fill in supply gaps. Processor throughput appears…
LyondellBasell has started up an additional production line at the Dalian site of its Advanced Polymer Solutions (APS) business, further expanding its presence in China. The new line will produce a range of high-performance, high-quality polypropylene compounds, mainly supplying the automotive industry. As the second production line at the Dalian site, with an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes, it will double current production capacity, enhancing the company’s ability to meet…
You often hear about companies leaving California for the seemingly more business-friendly climes of states like Texas and Florida, but RenyMed, for one, isn’t about to pull up stakes. In fact, the vertically integrated full-service molding and tooling supplier to the medical device industry is doubling down on its operations in Baldwin Park in the San Gabriel Valley, just a few miles east of downtown Los Angeles. RenyMed recently announced…
There has been a lot of chatter — a lot — about how artificial intelligence (AI) will transform seemingly every aspect of manufacturing. That includes additive manufacturing (AM), aka 3D printing, and I spoke with someone who is steeped in the adoption of AI within that industry. Fabian Alefeld is the global senior manager of Additive Minds Academy and Business Development at AM technology company EOS, and he is clear-eyed when…
Sabic showcased its latest thermoplastic solutions for batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), and energy storage at The Battery Show Europe in Stuttgart, Germany, this week. The products included a thermoplastic-metal DC-DC converter housing for EVs and a high-voltage battery pack enclosure. In these and many other applications, design freedom and high performance can reportedly help customers to reduce component weight and manufacturing complexity, enhance safety, and extend service life. “Accelerating the…
Avient has extended its reSound REC recycled content thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) portfolio with new AF 7210 grades specifically developed for automotive interior applications such as mats, grips, and console trays. This supports new targets proposed by the European Commission as part of the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive. More than 80% of automotive plastics end in landfills or incinerators. Over 80% of the plastic parts used in automotive applications are estimated…
Say goodnight to plastic air pillows from Amazon. The company has already replaced 95% of the plastic pillows from delivery packaging in North America with paper filler and is working toward full removal by the end of the year. It’s the next big step away from plastic since last October when it replaced plastic shipping materials at a facility in Ohio. That conversion included heat-sealable paper, paper fill, and lightweight…