AKRON, OHIO — News of a tragic explosion at an olefins plant in Louisiana is featured in this week's video. Also featured is news of a polypropylene outage at a plant operated by Formosa Plastics Corp., as well as news of Eastman Chemical Co. launching a $1.6 billion expansion.

AKRON, OHIO — Different price directions for North American polystyrene and PVC are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, we report another downstream move by materials maker RTP Co., as well as news that China's Dalian Commodity Exchange will begin offering PP futures.

TAMPA, FLA. — In this Executive Forum video from Tampa, executives from DeKalb Molded Plastics Co., Rodon Group LLC (Michael Araten, above) and Processor of the Year Hoffer Plastics Corp., detail their hiring processes during a Best Practices Panel.

AKRON, OHIO — A. Schulman Inc.'s busy week of acquisition, job cuts and plans to sell its Australian compounding plant is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also featured is news of a 1-cent decline in North American polypropylene pricing.

TAMPA, FLA. — In this latest video from PN's Executive Forum in Tampa, Jennifer McNelly states her faith in U.S. manufacturing. McNelly, president of the Washington-based Manufacturing Institute, believes that days of manufacturing's importance are far from over.

AKRON, OHIO — Ferro Corp.'s response to challenges at its annual meeting are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, we report on four global compounding expansions.

TAMPA, FLA. — In this latest Executive Forum video, Charles Austen Angell of Modern Edge Inc. talks about establishing an innovation culture, whereby the creative process is enhanced by people from different departments working together.

AKRON, OHIO — A recent drop in North American PET bottle resin prices is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, we report on polyethylene supply issues impacting two material firms, as well as news that sustainable chemicals maker BioAmber Inc. raised $80 million in an initial public offering of its stock.

TAMPA, FLA. — The hunt for talent can be expensive and time-consuming, but it's important, according to Dennis Gros of Gros Executive Recruiters. In this PN Executive Forum video from Tampa, Gros says companies should see recruiting is an ongoing processes.

TAMPA, FLA. — In this latest Executive Forum video, Crain Communications Inc.'s Tracy Schmidt, who takes social media seriously, says Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube offer businesses ways to share content, discuss ideas and find new employees.