As Plastics News marks its 25th year of publication, we take a year-by-year look back at some of the events, people and curious coincidences that have shown up its its pages. Check back through the end of the year (not including holidays) to follow along. This year: 1992.
January
Frank Macher, general manager of Ford Motor Co.'s automotive components group's Plastics & Trim Products Division says plastics suppliers should look at working together with metal suppliers in a multi-material approach. “Every day I hear plastics peddlers, aluminum peddlers and steel peddlers. Every day, I see contention, not cooperation.” Macher is now CEO of Continental Structural Plastics, which is seeking new possibilities for composites in the auto industry, and industry leaders continue calling for a multi-material approach to production.
February
The plastic Christmas tree market is beginning to consolidate as Noma Industries Ltd. of Toronto buys Hudson Valley Tree Inc. of Newburgh, N.Y. The Christmas trees are made by extruding PVC into a needle profile, notching the profile at fixed intervals to look like individual needles, then connecting those needles to wire branches.
March
A trio of adventurers will have to wait until fall to make their attempt at flying non-stop around the world in a balloon. The Earthwinds, with a PE balloon, was to take off from Akron, Ohio, but the conditions never allowed them to take off. (The first successful around-the-world flight won't take place until 1999.)
The Recording Industry Association of America sets a standard size for CD packaging: a 5 inch by 5 1/2 inch box, rather than a long box. This is good news for plastics processors who make the PS packages. “We are delighted,” says a spokesman for Jewelbox Advocates and Manufacturers. (No one tell him about digital downloads coming, OK?)
April
Toshiba injection molding machines return to the U.S. market after a 3-year ban imposed on the company for selling sensitive equipment to the Soviet Union. The company said it now hopes to sell 300 presses in the U.S. this year.
In a survey, half of all adults say they have not seen the recycling code placed on the bottom of bottles. And half of those who have don't know what it means. And 47 percent of consumers said they avoided plastic packaging altogether. “One in four still believe that plastic cannot be recycled,” noted a researcher.
May