Plastics News by the year: 2004

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: 2004.

January

DC Comics revives Plastic Man, the pliable superhero.

The U.S. levies a temporary tariff on plastic bags imported from China, Malaysia and Thailand as it investigates whether the overseas countries have been involved in dumping bags on the U.S. market.

February

Plastics have new competition when it comes to lightweight production as General Motors introduces a proprietary aluminum forming system it calls “quick plastic forming.”

The widening exchange rates between the dollar and the euro is causing problems for global manufacturers. In late 2003, the euro was worth $1.15. It now is trading at $1.25.

March

Six Flags uses plastics for its thrill ride the X coaster, which rides on Igus' plastic bearings.

April

California Clock Co. is fighting against knockoff versions of its Kit-Cat Clock, forming the Americans Take Action Condemn Knock-Offs, or ATACK.

Battling quotes in the latest study on plastics and marine debris. “What we're ending up with in the environment is billions of pounds of food-size [plastic] particles, which look and feel like the food these things are used to eating,” Charles Moore, Algalita Marine Research Foundation. “You have to take what Charles Moore said with a block of salt,” Robert Krebs, American Plastics Council.

May

Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. decides it is time to revive thin-wall molds for PET containers.

SPI's latest survey shows that the downward slide in machinery sales has finally stopped, but there's no real recovery yet.

June

With the plastics industry expected to rebound, companies say they are facing a whole new problem: a lack of skilled workers.

Now here's a winning combination: Bill Davidson, the owner of auto supplier Guardian Industries Corp., is also the owner of basketball's Detroit Pistons and hockey's Tampa Bay Lightning, and both teams have just claimed championships in their leagues.

August

Graham Packaging Co. LP is out to be North America's largest blow molder with the purchase of most of rival Owens-Illinois Inc.'s blow molding business. The combined company will have $1.8 billion in annual sales.

The 8 percent annual growth rate of Gatorade and other sports drinks is expected to drive PET sales for the North American industry.

Hurricane Charley rips through Florida, affecting plastics companies and their employees in the state.

September

The All-American Soap Box Derby rides on wheels made by Stow, Ohio-based Remington Plastics Inc. Remington President Bruce Sutphen designed the single cavity mold used for every wheel.

Hurricane Ivan hits the Caribbean and U.S. just a few weeks after Charley, this time taking out production along the Gulf of Mexico.

November

Michigan state officials agree to give tax breaks to mold makers to help their industry deal with global competition. The tax permits mold makers to submit for breaks either as individual companies or as part of a coalition of multiple firms.

Diebold Inc.'s controversial touch screen voting machines make it through their first election. The 48-pound machines use plastic throughout the structure and surface.

December

A high profile plastics name is moving into politics as Jon Huntsman Jr. is ready to be sworn in as the new governor of Utah. Huntsman is the son of Huntsman Corp. founder Jon Huntsman Sr. and oversaw family interests for the company's chemicals, plastics and financial units of the company. He'll go on to make an unsuccessful bid for president.