Years from now, NPE2024 just might be remembered as the first trade show where the industry got a taste of how artificial intelligence is going to change plastics manufacturing.
Plastics trade shows are always exciting places to learn about new technology — and new buzzwords, too. The first time I really heard about 3D printers, collaborative robots, Open Platform Communication, Industry 4.0, circularity and sustainability was at either an NPE or a K show.
When a shiny new term starts to trend in the plastics trade press, readers may wonder whether it's a fad or something that will really affect their business. It makes sense to be at least a little skeptical.
But I get the sense that if you polled the folks who manage plastics companies, the majority these days would consider themselves to be technology early-adopters.
The timing of NPE was perfect for the show to become an early showcase of AI in plastics manufacturing. Just look at the stock market buzz this month about companies with ties to artificial intelligence, especially chip maker Nvidia Corp. The AI market is growing fast, and investors are excited.
At the show, Conair talked about AI technology in auxiliary equipment and how it can optimize resin conveying and drying. RJG Inc. highlighted how AI will be a game-changer in injection molding, helping companies optimize processes and enhance product quality.
Before the show, I asked Steve Bieszczat, chief marketing officer for DelmiaWorks, what's driving this big surge in interest in AI.
"I think the AI surge is driven by the fascination with ChatGPT and all of the hype that came with it. For instance, Google AI doing basic statistical extrapolations at sporting events. Everybody is on that bandwagon.
"More realistically, 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," he said.
Harshal Bhogesra at CoreTech System Co. Ltd., the maker of Moldex3D injection molding simulation software, talked about how AI fits into advanced injection molding.
"We leverage AI to optimize processes, reduce costs and improve output quality through predictive analytics and precise action recommendations," Bhogesra said.
"By bridging simulation and manufacturing, we can generate realistic simulations and real-world process conditions. Connecting simulation to production can help customers optimize shop floor operations and paves the way for automation."
RJG's Samantha Peterson pointed out the biggest reason why AI should catch on quickly in plastics manufacturing: It frees up engineering time to focus on important projects and helps bridge the skills gap, which is a major issue at every plastics processor I visit.
I contrast the reaction to AI from plastics manufacturers to what I hear from my fellow editors and reporters. Many of us are worried about the affect AI will have on journalism. These days we get news releases that were obviously written using ChatGPT and we roll our eyes. They aren't good. And when AI is helping someone write about a topic, where's the line between research and plagiarism?
Journalists also worry about AI creeping into news stories. Have you read about the newspapers that experimented with AI and ended up with error-riddled, robot-authored sports stories?
So don't expect to see AI-written stories in Plastics News. We'll draw the line at using spell check.
With that in mind, I think AI has a lot of potential in the manufacturing sector. I expect advances in machinery and software first, and I believe that companies on the cutting edge are going to end up with a competitive advantage.
Don Loepp is editor of Plastics News and author of the Plastics Blog.