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Nissha Medical Technologies has formalized a definitive agreement to acquire majority equity in micromolding company Isometric Intermediate LLC. A contract design/development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Wisconsin-based Nissha Medical Technologies is part of Japan’s Nissha Co. Ltd. The acquisition, which is expected to close later this month, will bolster Nissha Medical’s capabilities in the design, development, and manufacture of minimally invasive surgical devices and medical wearables, and further expand medtech innovation,…

In my role as Executive Director of the Sustainable Packaging Research, Information and Networking Group (SPRING), I see many sustainability factors forming over the plastic packaging horizon. PlasticsToday editors asked me to name what I consider to be the top five as we move into 2024. 1. Federal interest and motivation to first create, and then successfully apply, national recycling mandates. In April 2023, the Senate’s Environment & Public Works…

FDA reported on Nov. 30 that it is evaluating plastic medical syringes made in China for potential device failures, such as leakage and breakage. The agency said in a statement issued on Thursday that it has received information about quality issues associated with several China-based manufacturers of syringes. It is currently collecting and analyzing data on plastic syringes made in China that are used to inject or withdraw fluids into…

Thanksgiving week was short but sweet at the PlasticsExchange trading desk. The spot resin market had a solid showing: Supplies continued to improve as a relatively heavy flow of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) off-grade railcars materialized. Prime packaged resin remained scarce, however. The resin clearinghouse reported that a limited number of buyer inquiries hit its spot marketplace the week of Nov. 20, but that most realistic offers met with…

Demand for plastic pipe, particularly in North America, is poised for solid growth in the near future, according to a new market report by German industry analyst Ceresana. The new, sixth-edition “Market Study: Plastic Pipes” projects 3% average annual growth in the plastic pipe segment, varying by region, as well as by materials and applications. Demand lags in Western Europe, China In Western Europe, demand for plastic pipes is not…

A CEO-led chemical industry coalition incubated and hosted by the World Economic Forum for the past three years has just relaunched as the Global Impact Coalition (GIC). Initially dubbed the Low-Carbon Emitting Technologies (LCET) initiative, the now-standalone group claims to be a “first-of-its-kind collaboration of climate action champions in the chemical industry.” Its aim: To transform the chemical industry to net-zero by 2050. Chemical industry produces 6% of GHG emissions…

Global automotive OEM Toyota has signed up to be the first customer to purchase the new F3300 3D printer from polymer 3D-printing solutions provider Stratasys. Toyota will utilize the F3300 for new production support, including parts and fixtures, and for prototyping applications to accelerate time to market. Compatible with a range of plastics The F3300 uses a portfolio of materials that address high-use applications in the additive manufacturing environment. They include widely…

Electric mobility encompasses a lot, lot more than the semi-ubiquitous electric vehicle, as outlined in a comprehensive report from research firm IDTechEx, “Electric Vehicles: Land, Sea & Air 2024–2044.” The document covers all vehicle volume and drivetrain breakdowns, including battery-electric, fuel cell, and hybrid vehicle unit sales; battery demand (GWh); and market revenue generation (in US$ billion). The report further details emerging technology trends underpinning the transition, from silicon-anode batteries…

Polymer 3D-printing pioneer Stratasys announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Siemens Healthineers to advance medical imaging “phantoms” for computed tomography (CT) imaging. CT phantoms are specialized devices used to evaluate and ensure the performance of CT scanners. By simulating certain characteristics of the human body, phantoms enable the assessment of core metrics, including radiation dose and image quality. They aid in calibration and safeguarding consistent scanner…

A collaboration between sustainable chemistry company Avantium N.V. and Netherlands retailer Albert Heijn leverages the sustainability of Avantium’s 100% plant-based and circular material PEF (polyethylene furanoate) for packaging. Refresco, the global independent beverage solutions provider for brands, will produce Albert Heijn’s new fruit juice bottle made of PEF. Albert Heijn is the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands and is the first in the world to introduce PEF packaging for…