Welcome to Plastics News!
In preparation for this week's Injection Molding & Design Expo, Senior reporter Catherine Kavanaugh has a centerpiece story about one of the largest injection molding machines ever built in North America — an 8,000-ton Milacron press that's 94 feet long with 38 miles of wiring — is now installed at 20/20 Custom Molded Plastics LLC in Holiday City, Ohio.
Coming up this week: Senior reporter Frank Esposito will discuss the latest changes to polyethylene and what's on the horizon for resin prices in this week's Polymer Points Live.
Big news: Berry Global Group, after already closing plants and cutting costs this year, is now considering selling off the multibillion-dollar Health, Hygiene and Specialties division.
Also on the front: Otto Environmental Systems North America Inc. is expanding its injection molding capabilities into the Midwest by acquiring a South Bend, Ind., factory from Springboard Manufacturing.
Elsewhere in the issue:
- North American polyethylene resin prices surprised the market by increasing an average of 3 cents per pound in August.
- Covestro AG and ADNOC have started talks on a potential acquisition of the German firm.
- Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH, an extrusion blow mold machinery maker, is insolvent due to what the company calls "a multitude of exogenous factors."
- After 51 years with the company founded by his grandfather, Jonathan Fain is stepping aside as CEO fo Teknor Apex Co. Fain will remain a major stakeholder.
- The value of shipments from the U.S. plastics industry increased in 2022 as the number of people employed by the industry also grew.
- An Environmental Protection Agency proposal to regulate toxins in plastic waste is raising questions about how Washington will oversee chemical recycling, with industry saying EPA is throwing up barriers and others saying it's a welcome — if too weak — move to limit health risks.