To date, 2019 has been an interesting year for the petrochemical industry. The trade war with China, sanctions in Iran and the turmoil in Venezuela all have contributed to a murky outlook and have industry professionals wondering what the remainder of the year, along with 2020, will bring.

While we at RTi do not possess a crystal ball to predict the future of resin prices, we can use a combination of market intelligence, a network containing over 14 billion pounds of annual transactions and decades of experience to get a picture of where the markets are likely to be moving.

Our Editorial Team will discuss the economy, trade, tariffs, the border, supply chains, NAFTA and USMCA. They will take an in-depth look at their impact on plastics, from the point of view of two industry journalist who each have decades of experience.

Versatile and made to last, plastics are today found in everything from cars to medical devices to food packaging and much more – including the environment. Public outrage at plastic pollution is mounting, as are concerns about resource scarcity, which have served to increase awareness about the need for better solutions. Preventing the leakage of end-of life plastics into natural systems and ensuring these plastics are collected, preferably to be reused or recycled, has become a priority topic within the ongoing transition to a more circular economic approach. Effective recycling will require designers and producers to radically rethink product and packaging designs if we are to successfully close the plastics loop.

The annual Processor of the Year Award honors superior-achieving companies. Candidates are judged on financial performance, quality, customer relations, employee relations, environmental performance, industry/public service and technological innovation. Join the next episode as we reveal what’s involved in winning this prestigious award, while taking a closer look at our 2018 winner, MTD Micro Molding.

Perhaps the greatest threat facing the resurging North American plastics industry is a growing talent shortage.  The industry lost a generation of talent during the 1990s and early 2000’s as college graduates shunned manufacturing for careers in technology, investment banking and healthcare markets.  Now, with an average age of over 46 years, its workforce is among the oldest in manufacturing at a time when the industry is experiencing a renaissance. 

Join the first Plastics News Fireside Chat of 2019 to learn what companies and the greater industry can do to attract a talent pool that is diverse in skillset and demographics.

The open-source 3D printing movement is revolutionizing what is possible in industrialized additive manufacturing. Join us for our latest Fireside Chat and learn how adding open-source 3D printing capabilities to manufacturing operations can create endless opportunities for versatile and cost-efficient use cases. Panelists Justin Finesilver of the 3-D Printing Store, Peter Ho of Ultimaker, Dan Lentsch of Composite Drivelines LLC, and Haleyanne Freedman of M. Holland will discuss how open-source 3D machines and materials have advanced this emerging industry as it takes its place among the other major processing technologies in the plastics industry.

Join the first Plastics News Live as our expert staff looks at the state of the plastics merger and acquisition market. Frank Esposito and Don Loepp will discuss hot areas, valuation multiples, who's buying and selling, a recap of some major deals and thoughts on the outlook for the rest of 2018 and 2019.

View/Download Archive

Achieving Supply Chain Excellence Amid Rising Trucking Industry Workforce Shortages and Rising Costs An efficient, agile supply chain is vital for plastics businesses to maintain a competitive advantage, especially in a global market. How do companies successfully navigate today’s added challenges of a shrinking truck driver workforce and increased costs to deliver on-time and keep customers happy? Join Mike Coots, Assistant Vice President, Sales & Business Development at Plastic Express; Jordan Hoffman, Vice President at G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation LLC; Mike Mobley, Senior Vice President of Operations at Echo Global Logistics; and Pete Nutley, Vice President of Operations at M. Holland Company as they share strategies and tangible best practices to achieve supply chain excellence.

Molding a part to print – is it possible? With all of the variables involved, what does it take to achieve your tolerances? How can you leverage simulation to get there? Attend this webinar and we will manage your expectations regarding simulation and, more importantly, demonstrate the steps necessary to achieve your “part-to-print” objectives.

The industry keeps talking about Additive Manufacturing and many OEMs are dedicating resources to Additive in their strategic plans. Your customers and your competition are considering it. Learn about actual use cases that demonstrate how to achieve cost savings, and optimize production line efficiency as well as drive performance improvements in your machinery and production line equipment.