China's rotomolders looking to modernize
 Wang
WENZHOU, CHINA (September 22, 2009) — China’s rotational molding industry says it is looking for foreign investment, to boost its technology and tap unmet domestic demand the small firms in the
sector have trouble meeting. Wang Kai, head of roto- and injection molder Shanghai Terrui Mechanical Equipment Co. Ltd. in Shanghai, said he sees opportunities in China in areas like sewage systems,
where manhole equipment currently made of concrete or brick could be rotomolded.
Australia investigating LLDPE dumping complaint
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA (August 4, 2009) -- The Australian Customs & Border Protection Service (ACBPS) is investigating allegations that North American manufacturers have dumped linear low density
polyethylene into the Australian market. Australia’s sole LLDPE manufacturer Qenos Pty. Ltd. initiated the investigation. Qenos is a subsidiary of China National Bluestar (Group) Co. Ltd.
China’s manufacturers mull ways to boost industry
 Chan
HONG KONG (June 30, 2009) -- Stung by the collapse of their export markets, Chinese manufacturers should not look for that big volume business to return and instead ought to explore new areas such as
manufacturing products targeted at niche markets, using better industrial design and looking inward at Chinese culture for inspiration. That, at least, was some of the advice coming from
manufacturers and industrial designers -- like Eric Chan, a native of Guangdong province and now president of industrial design firm Ecco Design Inc. in New York -- at a Hong Kong forum on
reinvigorating the sagging manufacturing industries in the Pearl River Delta.
SPI stimulus brings Nissei back to NPE
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 24, 2009) -- In light of current economic conditions, the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI) has put in place what it calls an “economic stimulus” of financial
incentives designed to lower the overall cost of exhibiting at NPE2009 and to prevent exhibitors from incurring unexpected move-in and move-out costs. The offer already has succeeded in getting
Japanese injection press supplier Nissei Plastic Industrial Co. Ltd. to reverse its recent decision to drop out of the show.
Plastics Hall of Fame to induct 9 new members at NPE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (March 17, 2009) -- The Plastics Hall of Fame’s class of 2009 covers a global spectrum of leaders in materials, machinery, screws and packaging. The Hall of Fame will induct the
nine new members June 22 at NPE2009 in Chicago. Check out Plastics News’ full story about the inductees and their accomplishments.
Two more plastics equipment majors pass on NPE show
 Carteaux
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (March 3, 2009) -- Three high-profile plastics machinery makers have withdrawn from exhibiting at the big U.S. trade show NPE2009 since mid-February. U.S. auxiliary equipment
manufacturer ACS Group on March 2 joined injection press makers Netstal-Maschinen AG and Nissei America Inc. in pulling out of the June 22 to 26 show in Chicago. Now Bill Carteaux, president and
chief executive officer of the show’s organizer, the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., is traveling to Asia and Europe to meet with major exhibitors. Carteaux said that at this stage in the
game the level of cancellations is on a par with NPE2006, with paid exhibit space about the same as it was for the show three years ago, and that SPI continues to book new space weekly.
German machinery makers expect 20% sales drop in ’09
FRANKFURT, GERMANY (February 24, 2009) -- The German Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association started to experience a decline in orders in mid-2008, but despite a sluggish few months, the year ended
with an all-time high, in line with earlier forecasts for the year. But lower order levels will have a marked effect in 2009, with the group predicting that the year will end with a 20 percent drop
in sales. The expected decline is based on currently available data.
India's rotomolders see opportunity, but slow growth
NOIDA, INDIA (February 10, 2009) -- Executives in India’s rotational molding sector believe they have escaped the worst of the world economic slowdown, although one prominent estimate said the
financial turmoil is likely to slow growth in the domestically oriented sector to less than its current 8 percent.
Speaker tells rotomolders to think creatively
ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS (November 18, 2008) -- If innovation is the key to surviving and thriving in today’s economy, where do companies start? For rotational molders, the first step is to understand
what makes a rotomolded part original and unique. Mark Kearns, a molding research manager, provided a long checklist of innovative features to more than 300 attendees at the recent Association of
Rotational Molders International’s annual meeting in Rosemont. Kearns is with the Polymer Processing Research Center at Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
OK so far, rotomolding firms brace for sour economy
ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS (November 18, 2008) -- It is not here, but it may well be on the way. That’s how U.S. rotational molders feel about the damage the economic downturn may bring to their sector.
Rotomolders are cautiously taking measures to fend off the ripple effect from weak markets and turn challenges into opportunities. Attendees at two Association of Rotational Molders International’s
events last month had mixed responses regarding the business environment, with a good amount of optimism arising from efforts to improve processes and products.
Malaysian plastics industry set to benefit from AFTA
 Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (November 18, 2008) -- Malaysian plastics manufacturers are set to benefit from zero export tariffs under the 2010 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade
Area, or AFTA. The agreement will lower tariffs on finished products beginning January 1, 2010. “As it is, the Malaysian plastics manufacturers have already established a global export market
and leads the region in product quality,” said Lim Kok Boon, president of the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA).
Malaysian plastics industry urged to upgrade
 Fadillah
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (November 18, 2008) -- Malaysian Plastics Manufacturer Association (MPMA) members have been urged to work out measures to overcome the challenges imposed by the current
financial crisis and looming economic recession. To deal with regional competition, Fadillah Bin Yusof, Malaysia’s deputy minister of science, technology & innovation, called on the industry to
upgrade and venture into manufacturing value-added products. The industry should move up the value-chain and must build its competitive edge, he told more than 200 delegates attending the MPMA
International Plastics Conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Plastics machinery growth strongest in China, study says
CLEVELAND, OHIO (November 4, 2008) – U.S. research firm Freedonia Group is forecasting a 4.7 percent annual rise in global demand for plastics processing machinery. China is expected to increase
plastics processing equipment demand by more than US$1.6 billion (10.9 billion yuan) from 2007 to 2012. By then, China will account for nearly one-quarter of the global market.
International rotomolders share trends at ARM events
ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS (November 4, 2008) -- Attendees from more than 20 countries -- higher than the previous years -- gathered at the recent Association of Rotational Molders International’s annual
meeting and Rotoplas’08 trade show in Rosemont, in search of the most up-to-date technologies, know-how knowledge and market intelligence.
Re-evaluating China, from across the Taiwan strait
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (September 30, 2008) -- With costs quickly climbing across the Taiwan strait, many of the island’s companies are reassessing their relationship with mainland China, a region that is
both its biggest market and its fiercest competitor. Plastics News spoke with several Taiwanese firms on the subject at the Taipei Plas show, which was held earlier this month.
S. China plastics firms struggling, but eye modernization
 Au
GUANGZHOU (September 30, 2008) -- By some estimates, thousands of factories in the Pearl River Delta manufacturing area between Guangzhou and Hong Kong have closed down, as China kicked in tough new
tax and labor laws designed to push local industry to modernize. Plastics News interviewed a number of attendees about the subject at the recent AsiaMold exhibition in Guangzhou, including
Alfred Au, vice chairman of the Hong Kong Mold and Die Council. Au said, “I think the challenging time will be the coming year.”
|