Kickstart: The search for medical molders

Let's say you're a medical device maker who needs to find a molder that can thermoform your packaging in a secure environment.

You could comb through pages worth of Google search results in hopes of finding one with a working phone number. Or you could take advantage of Hollee Keller's research for Plastics News and grab a copy of our compilation of top medical molders in North America.

Hollee has pulled data from all of our processor rankings for one downloadable list with company names, what they do, where they're located and a contact name for companies in the medical industry. It's similar to a previous listing of automotive suppliers she developed earlier.

The list is available to download here.

Plastics News has been following the coronavirus story since ... checks archive ... Jan. 24, although it feels like forever.

During those first weeks, the big question was whether the quarantine would impact one of the world's biggest economies while international manufacturers were closely monitoring the situation, wondering if it would spread beyond Wuhan, China. The answer, of course, is yes. (The most recent updates in PN: Antec is still on schedule, but Hannover Messe is being postponed.)

In addition to those stories, all kinds of manufacturing supply chains are being hit, including those making parts for drones.

Dronelife.com reported March 4 that even U.S. makers of drones are being hurt because they can't access parts.

"The world's largest manufacturing center has been severely crippled — and every battery, gimbal, prop, camera or small piece of plastic manufactured in China has become harder to get," Editor Miriam McNabb wrote.

At last week's Plastics News Executive Forum in Naples, Fla., Editor Don Loepp spoke to some of the industry's Rising Stars.

Flexible hours and continued training are big draws for the younger generation, members of the 2019 class of Rising Stars said. And these young people (35 and younger) also are seeing opportunities to become the next generation of leaders by learning from today's executives, if they're given a chance.

"It's like having a starting quarterback and a backup. There's going to be a big gap as the baby boomers continue to retire, so there needs to be training and mentoring of younger workers," said Nicholas Rocheleau, an engineer with Rocheleau Blow Molding Systems in Fitchburg, Mass.

Frank Esposito will have a story from the event in a future edition of Plastics News.
If you think you know one of these future leaders, we'd like to hear about them for the 2020 class of Rising Stars. Click here for the nomination information. The deadline to apply is March 16.