Plastics News by the year: 2009

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: 2009.

JANUARY

Protective case maker Pelican Products Inc. is going big when the injection molder buys rotational molder Hardigg Industries Inc., which will allow it to make far bigger cases.

Plastics are finding a new place to lurk on cars as more and more automakers begin making under body shields, which both protect functional parts and improve aerodynamics.

FEBRUARY

 “How many of you shipped a tool six months ago that you haven't been paid for yet?” mold making consultant Craig Wiggins asks during a rally for improved payments to toolmakers in front of Chrysler's Canadian headquarters and across the river from General Motors' headquarters at Detroit's Renaissance Center. “How many of you have shipped a tool a year ago that you haven't been paid for yet? That's what we're dealing with.”

Two major injection mold press makers, Nissei and Netstall-Maschinen, say they are pulling out of NPE2009.

MARCH

Guardian Industries Corp. has spun off its automotive plastics operations into wholly-owned SRG Global Inc., which becomes one of the largest suppliers of chrome-plated plastic parts for the global auto industry.

An SPI stimulus package lures press maker Nissei back to NPE2009. JSW Plastics Machinery and KraussMaffei both ultimately decide to take part in the show as well, thanks to the incentives.

APRIL

Two new reports show the impact of the recession on auxiliary equipment makers as new orders of robots fell 21 percent in 2008, following a 16 percent decline in 2007.

MAY

A. Schulman and Add The Flavor LLC combine forces for Polyflav, a plastic that can be designed to taste like mint, raspberry, grape, lemon, chocolate or orange. Favorite applications so far as children's teething toys and mouthguards for football players.

JUNE

General Motors Corp. follows Chrysler LLC into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and are downsizing and restructuring in what will become a rapid turnaround both companies.

Fathead LLC, a vinyl graphics company, is finding increased sales for the life size decals of sports heroes and other celebrities.

JULY

Plastic composite bridges are showing up in more places, from rural counties to Fort Bragg, N.C., where a bridge made of automotive bumper scrap and recycled HDPE milk jugs even stands up to tanks.

SPI is forced to cut 11 positions from its staff as the group sees reduced revenue.

AUGUST

Auto industry got you down? A market specialist for energy utility DTE suggests that auto suppliers bring their talents and technology to a new industry which also needs complex parts.

The American Chemistry Council is reorganizing its plastics activities and strengthening its public outreach to focus on public outreach in the face of increased attention on bags and bottles.

SEPTEMBER

Milacron Inc. has a new lease on life and a slightly new identity — Milacron LLC — after emerging from bankruptcy.

OCTOBER

Major resin markets are continuing to struggle with sales of HDPE and LDPE in North America down 10.4 percent, LLDPE down 6.3 percent and PP down 10.8 percent for the year so far.

The swine flu outbreak has been a big challenge for health care officials, but a big opportunity for a Florida company that is working around the clock to meet an order for 25,000 to 35,000 trays needed to process vaccines for the flu, also known as H1N1.

NOVEMBER

Hang 10 on this: Entropy Sports of Santa Monica, Calif., has started making surfboards using advanced epoxy carbon nanotubes.

NPE is headed to Orlando, Fla., for both 2012 and 2015 under the terms of a deal struck between SPI and the Orange County Convention Center. Orlando beat out NPE's long time home of Chicago, in part, due to complaints from exhibitors about the cost at McCormick Place.

DECEMBER

Noel Cuellar, CEO of Primera Plastics Inc., gets a chance to ask President Obama during a White House forum. Cuellar brings up the difficulties of getting financing for small to mid-size companies, and points out that forces firms like his to decide between using their limited resources to buy more equipment or hire more people.