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Brazil holds version of IDEA competition

Goma stool

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (Aug. 27, 4:50 p.m. EDT) -- Winners in Brazil’s inaugural version of the International Design Excellence Awards included a variety of products with plastics content. Objeto Brasil, a São Paulo-based design group, organized the single-country IDEA/Brasil competition with cooperation from Industrial Designers Society of America in Dulles, Va.

Ex-Anipac head starts rotomolding in Mexico
QUERÉTARO, MEXICO (Aug. 21, 1:40 p.m. EDT) -- Mexico’s leading rotomolding machine designer, Horacio Lobo, and his son, Horacio Jr., launched their own processing company this summer. They’re already planning to move into larger premises and take on more staff.

Seat-of-pants decision spreads firm’s success
OOSTBURG, WIS. (Aug. 18, 10:45 a.m. EDT) -- Brothers Carl and Daven Claerbout use their father’s guiding principles to run Dutchland Plastics Corp., a rotational and blow molder. The Claerbouts follow a simple rule: treat employees like equals, all the way down to the temporary help.

Some rotomolders find success with blow molding
DARIEN, WIS. (Aug. 18, 10:40 a.m. EDT) -- Executives of Plasticraft Corp. and Dutchland Plastics Corp. had very different reasons for getting into industrial blow molding years ago, but they say adding the process recast both Wisconsin rotational molders as hollow-parts experts.

Rotomolders adjust to changing landscape
ADVANCE, N.C. (Aug. 18, 10:30 a.m. EDT) -- North American rotational molders were generally optimistic going into this year, despite signs of higher resin prices and more competition from industrial blow molding to make large hollow parts, according to an updated study by Plastics Custom Research Services.

Rotek grows with big Ferry
STOW, OHIO (Aug. 18, 10:20 a.m. EDT) -- At its factory in Stow, Ferry Industries Inc. is finishing up its largest-ever four-arm rotomolding machine, with a 20-foot swing, for Rotational Technologies Inc. The Claremore, Okla., molder, known as Rotek, is expanding its building to house the RS-6000.

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.

Technovent improves mold venting
CEDARBURG, WIS. (Aug. 18, 9:45 a.m. EDT) -- A new product for rotational molds called Technovent performs three functions in a single device — it vents the mold, allows the addition of compressed air and measures the air temperature inside the mold. Norstar Aluminum Molds Inc. of Cedarburg is the North American distributor of Technovent.

Meese Orbitron Dunne offer recycled containers
ASHTABULA, OHIO (Aug. 18, 9:35 a.m. EDT) -- Rotational molder Meese Orbitron Dunne Co. is offering its Ship Shape bulk forklift containers made from 100 percent recycled polyethylene from its internal scrap. Company officials said the equipment was added in anticipation of the current high resin prices.

Foreign markets serious business for toy maker
STREETSBORO, OHIO (July 30, 6 p.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 molded plastic toys in China and the Middle East.

Plastics help designs bring home IDSA gold
DULLES, VA. (July 28, 12:20 p.m. EDT) -- A low-cost laptop, a featherlike welding helmet and a customized baby bottle were among the products making good use of plastics in winning 2008 International Design Excellence Awards. The annual contest, co-sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America and BusinessWeek magazine, drew 1,517 entries from 33 countries.

Analysts: Cross-border deals up in second half
AKRON, OHIO (July 25, 5:45 p.m. EDT) -- International players are big on the mergers and acquisitions scene this year — and in certain plastics sectors, that’s likely to pick up, in part spurred by the weak U.S. dollar, several analysts said.

Rotomolders group outlines initiatives, dues
GLEN ELLYN, ILL. (July 25, 10:40 a.m. EDT) -- More than a year since hiring outside management to boost membership, the Association of Rotational Molders International has announced additional moves to streamline its organization.

Rotomolder Snyder gets new majority owner
LINCOLN, NEB.(July 23, 5:45 p.m. EDT) -- Private equity firm Olympus Partners has taken a majority stake in rotational molder Snyder Industries Inc. and promises to help with its diversification. Snyder holds the remainder of the company.

Lakeland closing old Wheeler Boyce plant
STOW, OHIO (July 18, 4:10 p.m. EDT) -- Lakeland Mold Co. is closing down its plant in Stow, citing a slowdown in demand. The plant, acquired when Lakeland bought Wheeler Boyce Co. in 2006, has made rotational molds for 33 years.

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