Plastics News by the year: 2006

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: 2006.

FEBRUARY

Alpine Plastics Inc. of Kenner, La., escaped serious damage during last year's Hurricane Katrina. Then in February, a tornado passes within 10 feet of its plant, pushing a delivery truck into it, causing roof damage and knocking out electrical and phone service.

Chinese auto supplier Yangzhou Auto Plastics Parts Co. Ltd. says it plans on becoming a major player in blow molded fuel tanks, starting in Asia and expanding from there. In 2014, YAPP added its first production in the U.S.

MARCH

Berry Plastics Corp. is considering whether to put itself up for sale or go public. It is now owned by private investors.

APRIL

Six months after Hurricane Katrina, material producers and processors alike talk about the difficulties of coming back from the storm, and say that every company should make contingency plans in case of a disaster — whether from a storm or problems with infrastructure or suppliers.

MAY

Auto supplier Mann + Hummel has developed the Symposer, an under-the-hood part which can change an engine's sound, to make it sound more like a sports car or a simple sedan. “We control the vibrations, so we can control the noise,” says Claude Mathieu, president and CEO of Mann + Hummel USA.

Everyone loves a comfy chair, right? Including then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, who checked out a plastic Adirondack chair during a visit to molder Syroco.

JUNE

With controversy building about bisphenol A. the city of San Francisco begins action to ban polycarbonate baby bottles.

JULY

Steve Newlin takes over at PolyOne Corp.

Moll Industries Inc. is closing its factory in Tucson, Ariz., just two months after opening it, and will move production to Mexico.

DC Comics' Plastic Man makes it into a set of commemorative stamps along with Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

SEPTEMBER

Toilet seat up or toilet seat down? Or, if you're toilet seat maker Bemis Manufacturing Co., make a seat called “Harmony” which closes automatically.

OCTOBER

Lean manufacturing is finding its place in an unexpected business: toolmaking. “When companies are involved in a repetitive process, making 5,000 of the same part every day, for instance, it's easy to see where lean manufacturing can apply,” says D-M-E Corp. President Dave Lawrence. “It's been harder for people to see how these would apply in specialized production like mold making.” Lean production, however, has since become common for mold makers, who have used it to boost production without adding costs.

Nypro Chairman Gordon Lankton unveils an exhibition of his collection of Russian icon paintings. Lankton has been collecting the religious paintings for several years.

NOVEMBER

Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris warns that the high cost of natural gas in the United States will make it harder for businesses to invest in new production in the region. (How things have changed in the past eight years.)

DECEMBER

ITW Hi Cone doesn't see much to dance about in the cartoon movie “Happy Feet.” One of the animated penguins is shown with a six-pack carrier ring trapped around his throat. “What's happening [in the movie] can't happen in reality, in photodegradability and other features,” the company complains.

General Motors is ending its experiment with thermoplastic body panels, but it hasn't yet said what it will do with the injection molding machines at its Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., as the plant shifts to other production.