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JM Eagle´s Olympic ad focuses on water
LOS ANGELES (Aug. 28, 11:35 a.m. EDT) -- Pipe extruder JM Eagle showed a new television commercial during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games emphasizing a “power of water” theme.

Toyota supplier’s mantra: ‘adapt quickly’
TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. (Aug. 25, 11:05 a.m. EDT) -- Ten months into planning its new plant in Tupelo, Miss., to supply interior parts for Toyota’s Highlander sports utility vehicle, Toyota Boshoku America Inc. received word that the carmaker had changed its mind.

Toshiba boosts all-electric press production
SHANGHAI, JAPAN (Aug. 22, 2:55 p.m. EDT) -- Japanese press maker Toshiba Machine Co. Ltd. is doubling the capacity of its Shanghai factory for making all-electric presses, citing increased demand in China and for exports from that facility.

DMT biax equipment plant targets China
GUANGZHOU, CHINA (Aug. 21, 3:40 p.m. EDT) -- Biaxially oriented film line supplier DMT Technology GmbH has set up its first plant in China, hoping to take a leadership position in the world’s largest market for the equipment.

Olympics slow demand in northern China
SHANGHAI (Aug. 18, 12:20 p.m. EDT) -- Away from the action of the Olympic green, the rest of northern China is quiet. Manufacturing shutdowns, slow transportation and limited energy supplies have rendered factories silent and left highways pleasingly roomy. For the plastics industry in this part of the country, the Olympics have helped to slow demand, at least temporarily.

Step2 builds brand overseas
STREETSBORO, OHIO (Aug. 18, 9:45 a.m. EDT) -- Kids are the same the world over, especially when it comes to how they play and have fun. That might be why Streetsboro-based Step2 Co. LLC is finding new export opportunities for its line of rotational molded toys in China and the Middle East.

China film maker Decro eyes new markets
SHUNDE, CHINA (Aug. 12, 4:30 p.m. EDT) -- Guangdong Decro BOPP Co. Ltd. operates in one of China’s most competitive manufacturing sectors, plastics packaging. But the company said it sees its future not in price wars slugging it out for volume with countless competitors, but in technology and market development.

IPF criticizes Japanese visa policies
TOKYO (Aug. 12, 2:31 EDT) — International Plastic Fair organizers are criticizing Japanese government visa policies, which they say are too restrictive for visitors from China and other countries, and could potentially hurt sales at the upcoming fair.

Omnova takes full ownership of Thai, China units
BANGKOK, THAILAND (Aug. 12, 1:45 p.m. EDT) -- Fairlawn, Ohio-based Omnova Solutions Inc. has taken full ownership of its Thai and Chinese subsidiaries, paying US$28 million for the 49.9 percent stake of joint venture partner Charoen Pokphand Group of Bangkok.

Japanese firms turn interests to bioplastics
TOKYO (Aug. 7, 4:20 p.m. EDT) -- Japan is one of the hot spots today for using plant-based plastics, with grocery chains, carmakers and electronics firms all taking a serious look at the materials. Some companies, like Fujitsu Ltd., are making a splash with a notebook computer housing made partially from corn-based polylactic acid resin.

Thailand funding bioplastics effort
BANGKOK, THAILAND (Aug. 7, 4:10 p.m. EDT) -- Thailand’s government plans to spend 53.5 million over five years to try to turn the country into a regional leader in bioplastics.

Sun earns promotion at Plastics News

Sun

AKRON, OHIO (Aug. 6, 5:50 p.m. EDT) -- Plastics News has promoted reporter and Asia specialist Nina Ying Sun to assistant managing editor. Sun joined the publication in 2005 after earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism in Beijing, and two master’s degrees at Ohio University. Her new title reflects the multifaceted role she has played in developing all aspects of PN’s bilingual China products.

Germany´s Single pursues sales in China
HOCHDORF, GERMANY (Aug. 6, 12:05 p.m. EDT) -- Single Temperiertechnik GmbH, which makes temperature controllers and heat-transfer units in Hochdorf, has opened four sales outlets in China.

Husky opening 2nd technical center in Japan
BOLTON, ONTARIO (Aug. 5, 4:55 p.m. EDT) -- Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. will open a second technical center in Japan this fall, a facility in Minami Machida that includes hot-runner assembly.

Recycler MBA may expand in U.K. or China
RICHMOND, CALIF. (Aug. 4, 2:35 p.m. EDT) -- The joint venture of MBA Polymers Inc. and European Metal Recycling Ltd. may decide by the end of August or September on the site of its next plant for recovering plastic resin from the waste of end-of-life durable goods.

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