This week Plastics News publishes its annual ranking of North American blow molders. Here is a peek behind some of the numbers:
This year we're ranking 130 firms with total combined sales of $17.4 billion. Just ever so slightly above last year's ranking of $17.3 billion in sales.
Amcor Rigid Plastics moves into the top position with its acquisition of the blow molding operations of Sonoco Products Co. In all, nine acquisitions are reported in this year's chart.
Industrial blow molding sales continued rising with 2.8 percent growth over last year's ranking. Bottle sales continue their downward trend, falling 1.6 percent, in fact, 2016 was down 8.9 percent over the most recent high point reported in fiscal 2014.
Detailing some of the collective results, we saw 31 percent of the firms reporting growth, an average of 9 percent. Most fell within a range of plus $500,000 to $5 million.
Resin pricing was a mixed bag for 2016, with polyethylene and PET down, but polypropylene and PVC up.
Here is a list of the top movers in our ranking this year:
Plastique Micron Inc. of St. Claire, Quebec, moved up 11 positions to rank at No. 51.
Anchor Plastics Ltd. of L'Assomption, Quebec, moved up nine positions to rank at No. 86.
SPI Blow Molding LLC of Coloma, Mich., moved up eight positions to rank at No.110.
Plastic Industries Inc. of Nashua, N.H., moved up six positions to rank at No. 25.
Blow Molded Specialties Inc. of Foley, Minn., moved up six positions to rank at No. 66.
Polycon Industries Inc. of Merrillville, Ind., moved up six positions to rank at No. 33.
Apex Plastics of Brookfield, Mo., moved up five positions to rank at No. 104.
Plascor Inc. of Riverside, Calif., moved up five positions to rank at No. 53.
Resilux America LLC of Pendergrass, Ga., moved up five positions to rank at number 35
Cox Container LLC of Troy, Ala., moved up five positions to rank at No. 86.
Parker Plastics Inc. of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., moved up five positions to rank at No. 31.
