Kickstart: Heavy machinery sales

We're not talking individual machine sales, here, but rather the big moves in M&A for machinery companies on Nov. 21.

Just as you finished your first cup of coffee, Hillenbrand Inc. announced it had completed its acquisition of Milacron Holdings Corp. Together the two companies will create an expected $3 billion machinery business.

But don't get comfortable yet. By early afternoon, Nissei Plastic Industrial Co. Ltd. sent out a news release that it was buying Italy's Negri Bossi SpA, a deal that was first rumored during K 2019 in October.

Combined, those companies will offer a larger spread of both injection molding press sizes and geographic range.

And in a request from machinery reporter Audrey LaForest: If you've got more deals up your sleeves to announce, can you wait a few weeks? She'd really like to get some sleep one day soon.

Depending on your point of view, the timing of Thanksgiving this year is either way too late or "OMG it's already Thanksgiving?"

But let's be thankful for traditions, like the balloons that are part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

These floating versions of Snoopy, the Grinch, SpongeBob SquarePants and "Frozen's" Olaf (don't let it go balloon handlers) are made of polyurethane and other polymers. Rubber & Plastics News' Erin Pustay Beaven has a blog about the balloons. And if you're in New York the night before Thanksgiving Macy's has tips on where you can go to see them inflated.

Let's say that you really need to take out some stress, but can't yell at your kids or your boss.

How about a machine?

The video game makers behind Angry Birds, Rovio, placed a "Venting Machine" in New York on Nov. 21 and invited passers by to scream at it, shake it or even punch the soft foam surface.

In exchange you can get a prize. And, as our sister publication Ad Age pointed out, the program also is a partnership with UNICEF Finland. Rovio is making a $100,000 donation supporting education in conflict zones, so you can put your anger to good use.

No word on whether the machine will travel to any workplace in need of a little stress relief.