Kickstart: Opening minds to AI

Artificial intelligence has found a home in the plastics industry.

AI is used in Industry 4.0 to produce more parts and do it more efficiently. It helps integrate recycled content in packaging. It is helping manufacturers cope with labor shortages.

And as Plastics News Editor Don Loepp writes, it was clear at NPE2024 that AI is being used by early adopters of new technology.

"I think the AI bubble has opened a lot of minds up to just how much can be done using basic analytical and statistical tools to optimize front office and shop floor operations — actions like forecasting and predictive maintenance, just to name two," Harshal Bhogesra at CoreTech System Co. Ltd. told Don.

AI "condenses" years of technology and equipment knowledge into operating systems, Sam Rajkovich, Conair vice president of sales and marketing, told PN's Catherine Kavanaugh.

"The net result of AI technology is to enable the available personnel to focus on making parts, not on making auxiliary equipment adjustments," he said.

Spain's plastics recycling data is facing extra scrutiny.

Research group Eunomia says in a new report commissioned by two environmental groups that while Spain claimed it reclaimed more than 70 percent of the small plastic bottles in 2021, it could confirm a rate of only 36 percent.

It's not just a matter of bragging rights. As our sister paper Sustainable Plastics reports, the lower rate would likely trigger a bottle deposit program in Spain. The country adopted bottle collection targets of 70 percent by 2023 and then 85 percent by 2027. If it did not hit the 2023 goal, then Spain would require a deposit program to be set up.

Eunomia claims the higher number was manipulated by undercounting the number of bottles in circulation in Spain and overcounting what ended up in collection bins.

"This dismal 36 percent is a wake-up call for the Spanish Government," said Zero Waste Alliance, once of the groups that commissioned Eunomia's study. "Just admit we've missed the mark. As mandated by the Spanish Waste Law, it's high time to roll out the deposit return system for beverage containers."

Wisconsin-based pallet maker Orbis Corp. is making sure kids in its hometown get enough to eat on weekends.

The company is working with Blessings in a Backpack's Waukesha County chapter to pack backpacks with food that students at Magee Elementary School can take home each weekend. While children have access to free or reduced-cost food at school during the week, they may go without on Saturdays and Sundays.

"This cause hits close to home for a lot of our people," said Orbis President Norm Kukuk, who is also a board member of Blessings in a Backpack of Waukesha County. "It's been inspiring to see Orbis employees unite around this cause, donating their time and expertise, and we hope our support can empower others to give back to their own communities."