August 12, 2019 PlasticsNews.com $5
Blow molder Kautex may be on selling block
By Frank Esposito vonia, Ga.; Puebla, Mexico; and Plastics News Staff Windsor, Ontario. Putting safety Kautex makes blow molded fuel Industrial rm Textron Inc. is tanks and advanced fuel systems exploring options for its Kautex for cars and light trucks, includ- blow molding unit, including a ing pressurized fuel tanks for hy- possible sale. brid applications. The unit also In an Aug. 5 news release, of - develops and makes camera/sen- rst, every day cials with Providence, R.I.-based sor cleaning solutions for autos Textron said that the rm “is re- and catalytic reduction systems By Bill Bregar dures for the conveyor belt that ing consequences. viewing strategic alternatives” for used to reduce emissions from Plastics News Staff ripped off her arm. But Hart ac- And Hart said that could Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, diesel engines. cepts that she shares some of happen to anybody at any including a sale, tax-free spinoff Kautex also makes cast iron en- Columbus, Ohio — Kina Hart the blame by not trusting her factory. She urged manage- or other transaction. gine camshafts, crankshafts and lost her left arm in an industrial gut instinct that the job was haz- ment to spell it out to new Kautex is based in Bonn, Germa- other engine components. accident when she was 20 years ardous. She “gave away [her] hires that no job is worth ny, and has more than 30 plants in In the release, Textron Chair- old, working in a factory to pay safety” — with tragic, life-chang- getting injured. 14 countries. It generated sales of man and CEO Scott Donnelly de- for college. “This is the one time in more than $2.3 billion in 2018. scribed Kautex as “a leading Tier It happened just after she start- our lives where we need to The company is the No. 8 larg- 1 supplier to global OEMs [that] ed on her rst day on the job. She put ourselves rst, when it est blow molder in North Amer- has a long history of product told the story to kick off the Envi- comes to safety,” she said. ica, according to Plastics News, innovation, world-class opera- ronmental Health and Safety Sum- Losing her arm at a young with estimated sales in the region tions and strong nancial perfor- mit, held July 17-18 in Columbus. age was hard to overcome. of $855 million. Among companies mance.” An upbeat speaker, Hart mixed She had to relearn how do that specialize in blow molded He added that Textron is “ex- in poignant details and humor everyday things — tie her fuel tanks, Kautex is No. 3, behind ploring strategic alternatives to into her rst-person account of shoes, make a sandwich, Plastic Omnium Auto Inergy Divi- see how we can position Kau- how and why the serious accident open a jar of peanut sion and ABC Group Inc. tex to best serve its custom- happened — and how it impacted See Hart , Page 9 Kautex has ve plants in North ers for ongoing success while her family, friends and coworkers. America: Avilla, Ind.; Detroit; La- See Kautex , Page 22 “The reason I share that sto- ry with you is that I know that’s how so many people are when it comes to their jobs. I know that every one of you here work really Bemis Healthcare Packaging hard. Your employees work really hard. This isn’t just a job. It’s not just a paycheck,” she said. The Environmental Health and Europe merges with Nelipak Safety Summit was sponsored by the Manufacturers Association By Don Loepp “This will signi cantly enhance for Plastics Processors, the Amer- Plastics News Editor Nelipak’s capabilities with the ad- ican Mold Builders Association dition of exible packaging alter- and the Association for Rubber As promised, Nelipak Corp. Inc. natives for our global customers,” Products Manufacturers. is growing globally under its new Mike Kelly, president and CEO of Yes, the money is important, ownership. Nelipak, said in a news release. Hart said. A manufacturing job In July, investment rm Kohlberg pays the bills and puts food on & Co. LLC acquired the major man- the table. In Hart’s case, it was ufacturer of custom plastic pack- Fallout of Amcor- paying for college, where she aging for the health care sector. At dreamed of getting an education the time, Mount Kisco, N.Y-based Bemis deal to become a dentist. Kohlberg announced it had plans Kohlberg picked up the Bemis “But I’m here to tell anybody to leverage the business with “size- Healthcare business as a result of that’ll listen to say there is no job, able, global acquisitions.” the year’s packaging megamerger: there’s no paycheck, there’s abso- Kohlberg made good on the Amcor Ltd.’s $6.8 billion purchase lutely no amount of money that pledge Aug. 8, when it completed of Bemis Co. Inc. The European would ever be worth any part of a previously announced deal to Commission asked the companies you,” she said. buy Bemis Healthcare Packaging to divest the European health care She wasn’t trained for her Kina Hart lost her left arm in an Europe for $394 million — then business because of competition summer job at an Alaska salm- industrial accident when she was immediately merged the unit with concerns. on processing plant. It did not 20 years old. She is now a safety Nelipak. Industry veteran Peter Schmitt have lockout/tag-out proce- speaker. Photo courtesy of Kina Hart The combined companies have called the Nelipak deal an exam- footprints in both North America ple of a major “remapping” of the and Europe. Products include ex- sterile medical packaging market, MORE COVERAGE INSIDE: Pages 9-14 ible and thermoformed packaging. See Nelipak , Page 18
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THE BLOWN FILM EXPERTS ALPINE AMERICAN Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • 3 Regional solid PS, PP, PET Airlite Plastics buys Kodiakooler Omaha, Neb. — Airlite Plastics Co. has made its second acquisi- tion in ve months, this time purchasing insulated packaging mak- bottle resin prices up in July er Providence Packaging Inc., dba Kodiakooler, for an undisclosed price. By Frank Esposito May. Prior to those moves, a series cents in the April-June period, when In an Aug. 3 news release, of cials with Omaha-based Airlite said Plastics News Staff of declines from November through demand for bottled water and car- that acquiring Kodiakooler expands their rm’s industry presence March had sent PP prices tumbling bonated soft drinks typically is high. and product line offering of sustainable and innovative packaging North American prices for solid 24.5 cents. Market sources said the domes- for temperature-sensitive products. polystyrene, polypropylene and Market watchers now are con- tic PET market remains well over- Kodiakooler is based in Mooresville, N.C. The 14-year-old rm PET bottle resins each increased cerned about the potential impact supplied, with bottled water usage will continue to be based there and will continue to sell its prod- during July, mainly as a result of of a July 31 explosion and re at a attempting to make up for ongoing ucts under the Kodiakooler brand name, of cials said. higher feedstock prices. major propylene site operated by declines in CSD demand. Airlite President and CEO Brad Crosby said in the release that In the other direction, region- ExxonMobil Chemical Co. in Bay- The PE resin pricing situation the acquisition “allows Airlite to expand its growth in tempera- al polyethylene resin buyers who town, Texas. Forty-one people were has been the cause of much debate ture-sensitive products.” didn’t see a price drop in June saw injured in that accident but none in the domestic market for the last “Bob Menzel and his staff [at Kodiakooler] have created a world one in July instead. seriously. two months. Some PE buyers saw class business, and together with Airlite, we can offer customers a Solid PS prices saw the largest ExxonMobil’s Baytown site also a 3-cent price drop in June, a move variety of innovative and sustainable temperature-sensitive prod- increase, moving up by an average has PP resin production, which ap- that may have begun when one high ucts,” he added. of 2 cents per pound. That move parently was not affected by the in- density PE supplier lowered prices Airlite’s product lines include containers and lids for food pack- was tied to a 14 percent price hike cident. But sources said PP markets to some of its customers. aging, drink cups and lids, as well as polystyrene coolers, insulat- for benzene, which is used to make could be impacted if propylene pro- That 3-cent drop later spread ed concrete form building blocks, a permeable paving system and styrene monomer. Benzene prices duction from Baytown, which was through the rest of the market, other custom plastic products. for July were up 33 cents to $2.67 more than 1 billion pounds per year, reaching most buyers by the end of In April, Airlite acquired Stiles Manufacturing LLC. Stiles makes per gallon. remains out for any length of time. July. Sources said that momentum TrueGrid pavers, which are made of recycled high density polyeth- Regional PS prices had been at Tighter propylene supplies could for the decline also may have come ylene and are an alternative to concrete and asphalt. in May and June after moving up 4 give PP makers leverage to raise from less-than-robust domestic de- MBS Advisors of Florence, Mass., advised Airlite on both the Ko- cents in April. Domestic PS demand prices. Market sources said that PP mand and from PE inventories that diakooler and Stiles deals. showed growth of around 1 per- makers might welcome that oppor- have been growing because of mul- cent in the rst half of 2019, market tunity, especially since domestic PP tiple capacity expansions and be- watchers told Plastics News, with demand hasn’t been strong so far in cause of the impact of the U.S.-Chi- DeKalb supervisor dies after electrical shock gains in consumer products and 2019. na trade war on PE exports from the Butler, Ind. — A molding supervisor at DeKalb Molded Plastics electrical/electronic applications. PET bottle resin also saw a 1-cent U.S. Co. died on Aug. 4, less than a month after he suffered an electrical A 1-cent price hike for PP in July upward move in July. That move Market watchers also said that shock in a July 18 accident at the company’s Butler facility. was impacted by upward move- mainly was tied into higher feed- buyer backlash to a 3-cent increase The company said Larry Grif n Jr. was working around one of ment in price for polymer-grade stock prices. The July increase re- that went through in April after be- the company’s presses, which was not in operation, when he re- propylene monomer. Prices for PP versed a surprising trend that had ing challenged by some PE users ceived the shock. The company said the incident and the death had been down 4 cents in June, can- seen prices for that material fall by may have played a role in the 3-cent have been reported to the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health celing out a 4-cent price hike from 2 cents in June and by a total of 6 June and July price drop. Administration. The company released a statement saying that it was saddened by the news. “The company sustains supportive efforts towards Mr. Grif n’s RTP buys Zeotherm TPV business family, which include two sons, age 8 and 5, and his ancee,” the statement said. “DeKalb Molded Plastics has a strong record of By Frank Esposito our product line, which includes applications, they added. employee safety and continues to assure workplace safety as a No. Plastics News Staff compounds based on SEBS [sty- “For design engineers with ap- 1 priority.” renic block copolymers], TPV, plications that require high per- DeKalb said Grif n worked at the custom structural foam mold- Materials rm RTP Co. has ac- thermoplastic urethane, POE formance in potentially harsh er for 10 years. quired the Zeotherm-brand ther- [polyole n elastomers], COPE environments, such as under-the- In an email to Plastics News, a family member said Grif n, nick- moplastic vulcanizate product [copolyether-esters], and COPA hood automotive parts or harsh named Bean, was working alone, which delayed resuscitation ef- line from Zeon Chemicals LP. [polyether-block-amides], making industrial applications, Zeotherm forts. The deal — completed in May it one of the broadest TPE prod- TPVs can be an excellent material but announced in an Aug. 6 news uct portfolios in the industry,” he choice,” Gummersbach said. release — includes all products said. Louisville, Ky.-based Zeon Suspect jailed following shooting at Lear plant sold globally under the Zeotherm RTP of cials declined to pro- Chemicals is a global producer of Brookwood, Ala. — An employee at a Lear Corp. seating plant TPV name, of cials with Winona, vide any other details on the deal. specialty elastomers, polymers near Brookwood was charged with murder following a shooting at Minn.-based RTP said in the re- Zeotherm TPV products offer and specialty chemicals with an- the factory Aug. 4, police told Automotive News. lease. continuous use performance at nual sales of almost $3 billion. Angela Mayo, 28, ed the scene but turned herself in “very The Zeotherm acquisition “is 150° C, while withstanding long- The business is a unit of industri- quickly,” said Lt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s just the latest step in our rapidly term exposure to engine oils and al form Zeon Corp. of Tokyo. Of ce. expanding thermoplastic elasto- lubricant greases, RTP of cials RTP is a global compounder Police said 27-year-old Shanina Smith was shot multiple times mer business,” TPE General Man- said that level can’t be achieved that operates 20 plants world- near the assembly line. ager Todd Gummersbach added with other TPEs or copolyesters. wide, making compounds based Kennedy said a call came in about the shooting at 8:39 p.m. CDT in the release. Zeotherm TPV also bonds well to on more than 60 different engi- Aug. 4, and police arrived at 8:45. He said Mayo and Smith worked “The Zeotherm TPVs expand nylon substrates in overmolding neering resin systems. on the assembly line. “We're still investigating the motive,” Kennedy said, “but ap- parently there was a history of some type of verbal arguments between them.” INDUSTRY-LEVEL DATA FROM THE SURVEY OF PLASTICS “We can con rm that one of our employees, Shanina Smith, was INDUSTRY OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND ILLNESSES fatally shot at our Tuscaloosa plant on Sunday evening and that local authorities have a suspect in custody,” a spokeswoman for Lear said in an emailed statement. “We have been in contact with Shanina’s family and our hearts 35 Latest and prayers are with them on this truly tragic day. Additionally, Observation: we have engaged professional grief counselors who are now on- site and will remain as long as it takes to provide services to any Annual 2017 employees who are in need. At this time, we have no further de- tails regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting and
AND ILLNESS CASES 28.2 are fully cooperating with authorities. We ask that any further 30 questions be directed to local law enforcement conducting the investigation.” Local media reported the plant makes seats for a nearby Mer-
cedes-Benz factory. (THOUSANDS) (SIZE CLASS 0)
Brie y ... Huntsman Corp. will sell its chemical intermediates NUMBER OF INJURY and surfactants businesses to Indorama Ventures for $2 billion 25 in a move that will effectively see The Woodlands, Texas-based 2014 2015 2016 2017 Huntsman exit the ethylene business. Graphic by Amy Steinhauser; source: U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics
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By Audrey LaForest ance. We’ve actu- ic tools that are out there have part of that pro t strategy? Plastics News Staff ally put ourselves helped facilitate and, not neces- Offenbacher: No, not at all. at the forefront on sarily automate, but more or less Our roof business was a unique Traverse City, Mich. — Lon Of- stitching. We’ve got digitize something that was an business. It didn’t start out to be fenbacher, president and CEO of three-dimensional analog activity that was not really a strategic business. It came with Inteva Products LLC, is looking on automated stitch- reliable. the acquisition of ArvinMeritor’s the bright side as a Tier 1 supplier ing that is leading Q: How do you turn auto in- light vehicle systems. It’s a good to a uctuating, and increasingly the industry. We can dustry disruption and challeng- business, and in over the course high-tech heavy, automotive in- do things that ve es into pro t? of about 18 months, our owners dustry. years ago couldn’t be Offenbacher: Well, that’s key. [the Renco Group Inc.] and I got The top executive said suc- done, and do it very Our customers are always driv- over a dozen different unsolicited cessful navigation of the constant reliably and very re- en in the supply world where we overtures from other companies change comes down to knowing producibly. To give have a rather unique marketing wanting to buy it. But kind of the what people are buying, where a very high-tech, proposition because even though innocent question was, guys, if they are buying it and what they luxurious feel, we there’s a lot of people who adver- there’s this much interest, may- need that they don’t have yet. developed our own tise and promote, there are a very be it’d be an opportunity. As it “Innovation becomes a really surface materials. Lon Offenbacher, president and CEO of Inteva limited number of people in the worked out, the company that big deal,” Offenbacher said in an We branded Inteath- Products LLC. Plastics News photo by Audrey LaForest world that make the buying deci- bought it was a very, very small Aug. 6 interview at the Center for er, and we basically sions on parts that we make. player in the roof business, and Automotive Research’s Manage- have a whole palette of materials so many more opportunities for In the world of automotive this kind of put them on the map. ment Brie ng Seminars. that the customer can deal with. people to get kind of a fully auton- manufacturing, we think we serve It’s good for the team because Powell: Mobility changing the way auto industry For Inteva, a $2.8 billion global And then, of course, leather and omous type of experience — not pretty much the whole industry. that organization will plan on con- auto supplier with headquarters more exotic materials are also be- just the car driving itself — but a We have 115 customers. There tinuing to grow it, and it was good in Troy, Mich., innovation is at the coming part of that palette. lot of assist, a lot of help. I think might be another 10 or 12 that we for our owners because they es- front end. The company makes I think as autonomous becomes it’s actually a bright new future, don’t serve that maybe we don’t sentially got a dividend. And yes, thinks about business closure systems, interior sys- more prevalent, and people are but certainly during the transition know about because they’re just some of the proceeds will be used tems, and motor and electronics getting into their vehicle and ex- there’s a lot of ambiguity. You’re coming out. But take that prop- to continue to invest in the core systems. It also has its own trade- pecting to not have to spend — at not sure which direction things osition and think about maybe a business at Inteva. marked material called Inteather, least initially — quite as much are going to go. We’re just trying dozen people that are making a Q: Is there anything else you’d By Audrey LaForest which highlights the evolution time looking at the road, they’re to prepare ourselves for the land- set of decisions at any given time like to add? Plastics News Staff of thermoplastic polyole n as a going to want to spend more time scape. on your stuff. It comes back to Offenbacher: I think it goes leather alternative in cut, sew and embracing what’s around them. Q: The technology is changing intimacy: getting to know your back to making sure that you have Traverse City, Mich. — The wrap applications for vehicle inte- And that’s what we do. so quickly. We’re hearing a lot customer and knowing what their the right product at the right time, automotive industry talks a lot riors and other capabilities. So, along with the materials, about advanced manufacturing wants and their needs are, and and you have the right kind of fo- about disruption and how the The ‘in’ of Inteva stands for the technology has to lead, too — now — smart factories, auto- taking that advantage of a limited cus with your customers. If you speed of change is accelerating, innovation, Offenbacher said. electronics integration, and we’ve mation, connectivity, the inter- scope, or limited audience, and understand that you’re serving a as automakers and suppliers Though, he now refers to it as val- got touch controls and more sur- net of things — that’s not go- just embracing it and making it customer and you’re trying to de- reorganize and adapt to the ad- ue-based innovation. face-reactive type of electronics, ing away. What impact are you work for you. light them — you’re trying to not vanced technology embedded “A lot of times, companies will the integration of electronics into seeing from a high-tech shift in At the end of the day, on the just serve, not just respond to an within four letters: CASE (Con- spend a lot of money and time the interior, and exotic lighting. manufacturing? other side of that, even when you RFQ [request for quotation] and nected, Automated, Shared and on innovation, but if they don’t You’re already seeing a lot of am- Offenbacher: IoT has been come up with something truly provide a part — but in fact, give Electri ed). have a focus on ful lling a need bient lighting. I think that’s going kind of a watchword for a while, revolutionary, the rst question them something that they not But Toyota Motor Corp.’s that is near-enough term that the to become much more integrated and I hear these words — auto- customers have is, who else can only expect, but in some cases, Wayne Powell views the disrup- customer understands it, then it rather than kind of a design or mated factories and things like make this? And if it’s patented well-exceeds their expectations. I tion and change as a “disconti- doesn’t really pay off,” he said. styling feature. It’s going to be this — and they’re more evolu- technology, will you license that think that’s fundamental. nuity of acceleration,” he said, Plastics News sat down with Of- much more functional and effec- tionary than they are revolution- technology? Because they want One of the things we’ve done in highlighting the shift away from fenbacher on Aug. 6 in Traverse tive. And I think, overall, the in- ary. A lot of the things that are competition. They want a fair the last ve-10 years is we have traditional vehicle development City to discuss how the automotive terior itself is going to be a very, enabling that have been around, price. The march for innovation a very, very deep understanding and business models. supplier is staying competitive in very inviting thing. but they’re getting re ned. Au- is to stay fresh with your product, of the materials we use. We de- “Toyota, in our rst hundred the automotive interiors space. Then you match that up with tomation in the factory, as far as but it’s also to make sure that you veloped our own materials in the years, we were in cars,” Powell Q: What will the future auto- door systems. We’ve been a lead- the key operating performance have good cost control. Making interiors business. ... That portfo- said in an interview at the Cen- motive landscape look like or er in the door systems business metrics, we’ve always had per- sure that if you’re vertically inte- lio of products is getting a lot of ter for Automotive Research’s have you essentially prepared for 70 years. What we’re seeing formance metrics recorded at the grated, making sure that you’re attention from a lot of automakers Management Brie ng Seminars. for the unknown? is more and more interest in au- operator. So today, the difference smart in your vertical integration and a lot of our competitors in the “The next 100 years for Toyota Offenbacher: For our space, tomation. You approach [the is the operator might have a tab- and not doing things that you interiors space, so it’s become ef- are about mobility.” we’re in interiors. We’re in door car and] the door presents itself let device that he or she can enter shouldn’t be doing or deepen- fectively a fourth product line. The Powell is vice president of systems, and we’re in motors and without you touching the handle. the data. And guess what? That’s ing your value chain that you’ve advantage of that is we not only the electronic systems division electronics. All three of those, It can detect obstacles, so that it much more legible than the hand- already got to reduce the cost have a nice palette of materials at Toyota Motor North America while they’ll be changed, they doesn’t swing into other cars or written charts or clipboards that structure. That’s ultimately how for our customers to pick from for Research & Development. It’s a won’t be earth-moving. We’ve ac- poles or oncoming traf c. There’s we’ve used in the past. So, it’s you preserve your margins. the haptics, the feel, the touch, for role that has him thinking about tually seen a lot of change in the a lot of technology that’s being actually enabling higher reliabili- Q: Earlier this year, Inteva this autonomous world — that’s driver assist systems, vehicle interior segment over the last pushed. And then in motors and ty in terms of the data collection sold its roof systems unit to an- important — but we also have this cockpit electronics and wiring probably 10 or 15 years, getting a electronics, there are going to be and higher reliability in terms of other global auto supplier, CIE value stream that we can offer sus- systems — all areas that fall un- more living room-type of appear- so much more creature comforts, the data use. I think the electron- Automotive in Spain. Was this tainable technologies. der the large umbrella of safety. And for Toyota’s automated driving strategies, speci cally, safety is signi cant. “Our sole focus is eliminating Plastics, steel, aluminum coexist in auto, for now fatalities. That’s pretty much it,” he said. “And elimination of By Richard Truett “All materials will be signi cant magnetic transparent,” Chirino said. to full aluminum bodies — following For full autonomy, vehicle fatalities is the goal of Automotive News players,” said Mario Greco, chair- “Plastics allow for that transparency the Ford F-150 — didn’t come to fru- the systems we’re developing man of the aluminum transporta- and are supporting the introduction ition. these future today.” Traverse City, Mich. — There tion group of the Aluminum As- of those materials.” A survey conducted by the Cen- vehicles will have Powell sat down with Plastics is peace, for now, among the steel, sociation, a trade group. He said He said you can build sensors ter for Automotive Research asked News to dig deeper into the big- aluminum and plastics supplier in- manufacturers will develop new and lidar onto a side mirror or have nine automakers about materials sensors, lidar, radar gest unknowns and challenges dustries. types of architectures for electric radar on the rearview mirror, for ex- on future vehicles. Aluminum is the and cameras — all — ranging from sensor integra- Members of those vehicle materi- and autonomous vehicles that will ample. overwhelming choice for closures, tion to shuf ing supply chains al segments have argued that each require different materials to op- “You can have sensors all over doors, tailgates, trunks and hoods, of which create — that are adding a new mixture has the potential to replace the oth- timize weight and safety, enabling the vehicle, and those technologies they said. an opportunity for of stress and excitement for the ers. designers to create interiors that are being enabled with plastics,” “Aluminum has been the fastest key players in automotive. But during a panel discussion deliver a different user experience Chirino added. growing metal in body structures; plastics. Q: The technology on vehi- Aug. 6 at the 2019 CAR Management than today’s vehicles. General Motors uses a combina- it has taken over for steel where it cles is changing drastically and Brie ng Seminars, representatives For full autonomy, these future tion of composites, steel, aluminum, has been right to do so,” Greco said. rapidly. Each year, there seems took a more conciliatory tone than vehicles will have sensors, lidar, magnesium and other lightweight But a complete switch to aluminum and regulatory strategy.” to be an update, especially for in previous years. radar and cameras — all of which materials on vehicles such as the means most automakers also have For its part, the steel industry advanced driver assistance Each agreed that a mixed-materi- create an opportunity for plastics, 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac to install a new manufacturing sys- has rebounded against aluminum’s systems. How is the speed of als approach that uses the most ap- according to Jose Chirino, chair of CT6 and Chevrolet Silverado and tem, as Ford did in the plants that strong push by developing new gen- change altering the supply propriate material in strategic areas the American Chemistry Council's GMC Sierra pickups. build the F-series pickups. erations of ultra-high-strength steel chain? of vehicle bodies is the best way for automotive team. If anything, the aluminum indus- “It’s a decision that goes beyond that is cost-effective compared with Powell: It’s a challenge. Tradi- automakers to produce safe, strong, “We see plastics having a very try is somewhat humbled. Predic- individual vehicles to strategy,” Gre- lighter materials. tional OEM/Tier 1 relationships lighter-weight vehicles that are good t into that area because of tions ve years ago about the num- co said. “Ford was very strategic Plastics News staff reporter Audrey have been around for a really cost-effective. the inherent ability to be electro- ber of vehicles that would convert and based its decision on volume LaForest contributed to this report. long time. The Tier 1 is respon- Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • 5
Auto supplier Inteva Products sees ‘bright new future’ ahead This test vehicle, a Lexus LS500h hybrid sedan, is one of about 20 vehicles on the road in North America tasked with part of that pro t strategy? a goal of gathering data to support Offenbacher: No, not at all. Toyota’s autonomous vehicle and driver Our roof business was a unique assist systems for the future. business. It didn’t start out to be Plastics News photo by Audrey LaForest a strategic business. It came with the acquisition of ArvinMeritor’s light vehicle systems. It’s a good business, and in over the course of about 18 months, our owners [the Renco Group Inc.] and I got over a dozen different unsolicited overtures from other companies wanting to buy it. But kind of the innocent question was, guys, if there’s this much interest, may- be it’d be an opportunity. As it worked out, the company that bought it was a very, very small player in the roof business, and this kind of put them on the map. It’s good for the team because Powell: Mobility changing the way auto industry that organization will plan on con- tinuing to grow it, and it was good for our owners because they es- sentially got a dividend. And yes, thinks about business some of the proceeds will be used to continue to invest in the core business at Inteva. Q: Is there anything else you’d By Audrey LaForest sible for the total performance Powell: As in so many things or the performance we need? were trying to launch the Model like to add? Plastics News Staff of whatever product they sell. in the automotive industry, it’s And is it priced in a way we can 3. He tweeted about how dif cult Offenbacher: I think it goes In the new space we’re dealing complicated, right? The idea of get it? Are people willing to pay it was and how complicated it back to making sure that you have Traverse City, Mich. — The with, which is heavily software integrating incredibly expensive for it? The hardest part is when was and how hard it is to meet the right product at the right time, automotive industry talks a lot dependent, the idea of the per- sensors. These are not $2 parts. we’re making changes like that, volume production and get the and you have the right kind of fo- about disruption and how the son who provides the system or Adding hundreds of dollars’ is customer perception follow- cars out there and just talked cus with your customers. If you speed of change is accelerating, the boxes also providing those worth of electronics to integrate ing what we can do? Are we lag- about how hard their team mem- understand that you’re serving a as automakers and suppliers systems is the default solution, into the part, while it may make ging or leading? bers were working and how many customer and you’re trying to de- reorganize and adapt to the ad- but it may not be the most ro- overall sense, what happens It’s often said that we’re lagging. late nights they were spending light them — you’re trying to not vanced technology embedded bust one. when one of them breaks or a Customers want more than we’re — and he’s absolutely correct. just serve, not just respond to an within four letters: CASE (Con- We are looking toward sepa- doing. And that’s generally not Yes, that’s our world. That’s what RFQ [request for quotation] and nected, Automated, Shared and rating software and hardware, an untrue statement, but there’s we do. An automobile is a mas- provide a part — but in fact, give Electri ed). so software is a product in itself. ‘Toyota, in our rst sometimes where we can go too sively complicated system, and them something that they not But Toyota Motor Corp.’s We’re also bringing it in-house hundred years, we fast. We can introduce technolo- the idea that you can just get only expect, but in some cases, Wayne Powell views the disrup- on certain areas, not every- gies and systems in the car that your arms around it and predict well-exceeds their expectations. I tion and change as a “disconti- where. So, we will be owning our were in cars. The are too complicated. People don’t everything without incredible think that’s fundamental. nuity of acceleration,” he said, own software. We will be actual- understand them. They don’t hard work, lots of stress, lots of One of the things we’ve done in highlighting the shift away from ly writing our own software, and next 100 years for trust them. If you put a system in changes in direction. That’s what the last ve-10 years is we have traditional vehicle development we will be installing it in our sup- Toyota are about a car where the goal is to make it we do. If we can’t live in uncer- a very, very deep understanding and business models. pliers’, our partners’, boxes, so safer but the driver doesn’t trust tainty, automotive is not a good of the materials we use. We de- “Toyota, in our rst hundred the business model is changing. mobility.’ it, it hasn’t done its job. The abil- place to be. You have to be able veloped our own materials in the years, we were in cars,” Powell They have to understand how to Wayne Powell ity to predict how quickly people to work in that somewhat scary interiors business. ... That portfo- said in an interview at the Cen- compete. Toyota Motor Corp. will adopt or come on board and space of sometimes pure brute lio of products is getting a lot of ter for Automotive Research’s The successful Tier 1s, typi- say, “I trust my forward cameras force is what it takes to get it attention from a lot of automakers Management Brie ng Seminars. cally, were kind of big turnkey, to look at after me. I trust that done. It’s just hard work. And and a lot of our competitors in the “The next 100 years for Toyota highly capable, highly engi- these things are going to work and what technologies, what sys- interiors space, so it’s become ef- are about mobility.” neered products. That ecosys- crash happens? They need to protect me.” The rate of adoption tems, what things to do at the fectively a fourth product line. The Powell is vice president of tem may be changing. We’ll still be replaceable, separately or in the real marketplace — we’re right time, and sometimes you advantage of that is we not only the electronic systems division be buying a lot of software and together. So serviceability, du- not talking the niche marketplace, bet right, and sometimes you bet have a nice palette of materials at Toyota Motor North America hardware traditionally, but as rability and kind of bang for the but the whole market — is really wrong. And when you bet wrong, for our customers to pick from for Research & Development. It’s a we evolve in this space, you’re buck. How much are you really critical to us, and we pay a lot of it’s a big deal, and you have to the haptics, the feel, the touch, for role that has him thinking about going to see more new ways of saving by doing all that integra- attention to that. recover fast. this autonomous world — that’s driver assist systems, vehicle commercially engaging the sup- tion? Q: Do you nd this era of That uncertainty and scari- important — but we also have this cockpit electronics and wiring ply base, like how do you buy From a plastics point of view, automotive and new mobility ness and stress is kind of what value stream that we can offer sus- systems — all areas that fall un- software? Do you buy licenses? the performance of the plastics stressful or energizing? we live for. This is our passion. tainable technologies. der the large umbrella of safety. Do you buy time and materials? — the requirements of the plas- A: One of my biggest satisfy- Mobility is a twist on the pas- And for Toyota’s automated Who owns it? Who’s responsible tics — is changing. For example, ing moments in the last year or sion, but it’s still the passion of driving strategies, speci cally, for validating it? Those are the shooting radar through them is so was an Elon Musk tweet. They what we do. safety is signi cant. big changes for the supply base. a big deal. The material proper- “Our sole focus is eliminating They have to be evolving into ties, the re ective properties, Plastics, steel, aluminum coexist in auto, for now fatalities. That’s pretty much “What do you want to be in this even when you paint it, for cer- it,” he said. “And elimination of ecosystem?” Do you want to be a tain types of paint, those mat- For full autonomy, vehicle fatalities is the goal of strong hardware player with low ter. We do a lot of design work the systems we’re developing overhead? Do you want to be a when we put our radar behind these future today.” full systems supplier? Do you a bumper fascia to make sure it vehicles will have Powell sat down with Plastics want to be a software supplier? performs properly and shoots News to dig deeper into the big- Do you want to be an ecosystem through there, and we have to sensors, lidar, radar gest unknowns and challenges supplier? make sure it’s going to stay that and cameras — all — ranging from sensor integra- It’s very complicated. We used way. It’s not just the strength SHRED SCRAP NOT YOUR TALONS tion to shuf ing supply chains to draw you the traditional re- performance, if you will, of the of which create With easier-than-ever service and cleaning, you’ll immediately notice — that are adding a new mixture lationship. Now the relation- plastic parts, but also the elec- that Republic’s patented Split-A-Part modular shredders are safer to an opportunity for of stress and excitement for the ship, you can’t even draw it on tromagnetic signature, if you clean and service. And soon, you’ll discover that your operating costs key players in automotive. a at sheet of paper. It’s almost will, has to be known, under- are much lower, thanks to the way they minimize heat, wear and tear. plastics. Q: The technology on vehi- three-dimensional. It’s a big stood. cles is changing drastically and challenge for them. It’s a huge Q: What is something that rapidly. Each year, there seems challenge for them because it’s you don’t have an answer to and regulatory strategy.” to be an update, especially for a huge impact to their revenue yet? What is your biggest un- republicmachine.com For its part, the steel industry advanced driver assistance stream. known in the space that you has rebounded against aluminum’s systems. How is the speed of Q: What are some of the chal- work at within Toyota? Eagle Modular Shredder strong push by developing new gen- change altering the supply lenges of integrating sensors and Powell: The hardest part erations of ultra-high-strength steel chain? electronics in vehicle exterior of our job is this technology that is cost-effective compared with Powell: It’s a challenge. Tradi- parts? Sensors and electronics moves so fast, and we approach lighter materials. tional OEM/Tier 1 relationships usually rely on plastic housings. it from: Does it work like it’s READY FOR YOUR Plastics News staff reporter Audrey have been around for a really Are you researching this and supposed to, and can we afford PRODUCTIVITY TO SOAR? LaForest contributed to this report. long time. The Tier 1 is respon- navigating within that space? it? Does it achieve the safety 6 • Plastics News, August 12, 2019 : BILL BREGAR Losing focus on safety doesn't have to happen ince 2001, Plastics News 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48207 has kicked off every year Tel. 313-446-6000 www.plasticsnews.com with our editorial agenda. One constant: Safety must Vice President/Group publisher Sbe the top priority of every compa- Brennan Lafferty ny. So this week, we are glad to EDITORIAL 313-446-5869 bring you our special report on Editor Don Loepp, [email protected] workplace safety. A bunch of the Assistant managing editor stories are from a tremendous Rhoda Miel, [email protected] Assistant managing editor conference in mid-July, the 2019 Steve Toloken, [email protected] Environmental Health and Safety Art director Amy Steinhauser Summit, sponsored by the Manu- Senior staff reporters Bill Bregar, 330-203-5991 facturers Association for Plastics Frank Esposito, 330-703-7290 Processors (MAPP), the American Special projects editor Jordan Vitick Mold Builders Association and the Web producer Erin Sloan Staff reporters Jim Johnson, 937-964-1289 Association for Rubber Products Catherine Kavanaugh, 313-446-0346 Manufacturers. Audrey LaForest, 313-446-5870 This two-day event held in Co- Editorial research coordinator lumbus, Ohio, drew 100 people Hollee Keller, 330-633-2192 Correspondents Dave Hutton, Stephen Downer, this year — but the conference de- Rebecca Kanthor, Michael Lauzon, Kent Miller, Anna serves a much wider audience. The Flávia Rochas, Roger Renstrom, Gurdip Singh, Satnam Singh, Kate Tilley Environmental Health and Safety Editorial cartoonist Rich Williams Summit is a unique chance for pro- Economics editor Bill Wood cessors and mold makers to hear the newest happenings in safety. INTEGRATED MARKETING We encourage 313-446-5869 more people to Conference director Joe Pryweller Events Manager Lori Poole attend this an- Graphic Designer Hadi Shehadeh nual event. Email marketing specialist Meaghan Crawford Topics this Safety is about so much more spray it down. She told about those huge feel- Audience development specialist year included than a big OSHA ne. She could have died. Her whole ings of guilt — by her own father Alliya Samhat safety around If a worker gets seriously injured, body could have been pulled into and by her foreman at the sh Reprint account executive Lauren Melesio injection mold- physically, on the job — or heaven the conveyor. But she survived, and plant, whose life was devastated by ADVERTISING ing machines forbid killed, as we reported this in a speech at the MAPP safety con- her injury on his watch. Hart’s sto- 313-446-6783 and tooling, week about Larry Grif n Jr., who ference, Hart told her compelling ry is heartbreaking and inspiring at Display and classi ed ads [email protected] how to survive was electrocuted at DeKalb Mold- story. And she admits she made a the same time. She has made some- Group sales director Patrick Cannon, an OSHA in- ed Plastics Co. — it also injures ev- big mistake, trusting that manage- thing good with her life, speaking [email protected] Bregar spection, med- erybody else in the entire company ment knew what it was doing and at safety conferences and helping Sales and marketing specialist Christina Dutzy — psychologically — from manage- wouldn’t let her do anything dan- with safety training at factories. Regional managers ical marijuana, Peter Bianchi (Michigan, Southern) fall prevention, the permitting of ment down to the person sweeping gerous. Plus, she had begged to get Hart said her lost arm is an ugly 312-265-6484 [email protected] air emissions, managing multiple the oors. Guilt. Remorse. “What- called to work, then ended up los- reminder of that day. It often hurts Linda Hickey (New England, Northeast, Ohio) 330-576-6536 cell 330-592-4857 factory sites and workplace vio- if” scenarios running in an endless ing her arm in the rst hour of her from phantom pain. “But the worst [email protected] lence. All are important, timely loop through your mind. rst day on the job. part of what happened to me was Gary Judy (Mid-Atlantic) topics. An injury to one person can hurt Hart’s life has been hard. But it was 100 percent preventable. It 410-819-0511 [email protected] Ed Rich (Eastern Canada) And of course, lockout/tag-out morale of the entire company. impressively, she shares much of did not even have to happen,” she 330-869-0375 [email protected] — the OSHA rule that you have to- For proof, read the Page 1 story blame. Even though, she thought said. John Hickey (Western, Midwestern) 260-437-8502 tally power off a piece of industri- about Kina Hart. She lost her left to herself, this job is kind of danger- Just losing your focus on safety [email protected] Sales representative Betsy Connolly al machinery before servicing the arm in a gruesome industrial acci- ous, she said she “gave away my for a minute can cause devastating (Non-Endemic and Processor sales) machine or doing maintenance. dent when she was just 20 years safety” that day, changing her life consequences. But it doesn’t have 248-770-8315 [email protected] Failure to do lockout/tag-out of old. She wasn’t properly trained forever. She just wanted to work to happen. Benelux, France & Scandinavia Arthur Schavemaker/Kenter & Co. a machine, such as an injection for the summer job when she was hard and do a good job, like any tel. 31-547-275005, [email protected] molding press, can result in seri- a college student working in the factory worker. Bregar is a Plastics News senior Greater China Lago Poah Yang M +86 138 1643 7421 ous injury or even death. It’s abso- Alaska salmon processing factory. Hart’s message was that every- reporter and author of the Heavy [email protected] lutely critical to do it correctly. And The conveyor belt was not “locked one, including every worker, needs Metal blog on PlasticsNews.com. Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Eastern Europe training is a must, so that all plant out” as she cleaned the underside. to keep safety in mind every single Follow him on Twitter @Machinery- Randy Krings/ EuroMedia Connect Ltd. tel. 49-611-5324-416, [email protected] workers are on the same page. Someone topside turned it on to day at work. beat25. India representative Bhupal Potdar tel. 91-98211-51035, [email protected] Italy representative Fabio Potesta tel. 39-10-5704948, [email protected] PERSPECTIVE Japan representative Yutaka Mogi/Tandem Inc. tel. 81-3-3541-4166, [email protected] Classi ed sales representative Lynn Calcaterra 313-446-0446 [email protected] NFPA 652: Beyond the Dust Hazard Analysis Classi ed sales representative Brooke Stender 330-865-6117 [email protected] The plastics in- NFPA 652 requires the owner/op- der this heading of “management an important part of NFPA 652 re- Administrative assistant Lindsay Crawford VAHID dustry is replete erator of a facility with potentially systems” below apply retroactively. quirements. The training level, fre- Media services manager Patrick Alfes EBADAT is with powders that, combustible dust to take responsi- You need to do it now, however long quency and depth will depend on the CEO of if dispersed in air, bility for the following activities: your facility has been operating. the responsibilities and activities Chairman Keith E. Crain Stonehouse will form explosible • Determine the combustibility expected of personnel; however, Vice Chairman Mary K. Crain Process President KC Crain dust clouds. These and explosibility hazards of materi- an operator who does not under- Senior Executive Vice President Chris Crain Safety Inc. Operating procedures Secretary Lexie Crain Armstrong powders include the als they handle. stand how a dust explosion can Chief Financial Of cer Robert Recchia molding compounds, • Identify and assess any re, occur and why certain precautions Founder (1885-1973) G.D. Crain Jr. resins, ingredients and llers used ash re and explosion hazards, or and practices are in place could be at risk and Chairman (1911-1996) Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr. throughout the industry. The les of Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA). It is important to have written could put others at risk. the Chemical Safety Board contain • Manage the identi ed re, ash operating procedures and practic- Plastics News is published by Crain Communications Inc. For new subscriptions or address changes, write many plastics industry-related dust re, and explosion hazards. es that will prevent/mitigate dust Circulation Department, Plastics News, 1155 Gratiot res and explosions. • Communicate the hazards to af- explosions and res. These written Housekeeping Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2912; tel. 877-320-1723 or 313-446-0450; email customerservice-pn@crain. The National Fire Protection As- fected personnel. procedures should include mainte- Good housekeeping practices com. Subscription rates: For U.S., $94 for one year, sociation (NFPA) has developed Yet after a company has collect- nance and servicing as well as nor- are important since powder lay- $170 for two years, $5 per copy, $19.95 for rankings, $39.95 for special reports and $79.95 for the Market detailed standards to help industry ed the data, measured dusts for mal operation and need to be im- ers not only produce large res, Data Book. For Canada, $144 for one year, $260 for two years (includes GST). All subscriptions served identify and manage the re and explosion properties in labs and plemented by staff and contractors they can also be disturbed and outside the U.S. and Canada, air mail delivery only, explosion hazards of combustible undertaken a DHA at its facility, the alike. Scheduled walk-throughs to raised into a cloud form that is $297 for one year. All prices in U.S. funds. dusts and particulate solid; the 2019 requirements of the standard for validate practices and compliance explosible. Such housekeeping Edition of NFPA 652 is the most re- procedures and training to “man- are also very important. practices must be veri ed peri- cently updated standard. Although age the identi ed hazards” and odically, through a documented it may be a fundamental high-level “communicate the hazards” do not audit. standard in some ways, it places always receive suf cient attention. Training and hazard clear obligations on the owner/ Here, we will review what you need operators of facilities that handle to do after you have the explosion awareness Hot work or process potentially combustible data and have completed your DHA. Training and hazard awareness Clearly proper procedures for dusts. Incidentally, the steps required un- for staff and contractors become See Mailbag, Page 18 Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • 7 Carbon ber truck bed ‘aggressive stance’ for GM By Audrey LaForest motive Research’s ‘At the end of the day, I don’t Plastics News Staff Management Brief- ing Seminars. “It know that anybody wants to Traverse City, Mich. — Gener- brings lightweight. al Motors Co. drew attention last It brings durability. pay for weight. They want year when it announced the op- And it’s a really, re- value for performance.’ tion for a carbon ber pickup box ally fantastic proj- on the GMC Sierra. ect.” Mike Siwajek The application of the high-cost, You have to de- Continental Structural Plastics Inc. high-strength thermoplastic ma- termine where car- terial on the truck bed was a rst bon ber, which for the automotive industry, which carries a price tag anywhere from need for paint or a bed liner, which typically recites a “cost is king” $6-$40 per pound on average, pro- saved an additional 40 pounds of mantra. vides the most value, he said. mass. Mike Siwajek, vice president “From our standpoint, you don’t The CarbonPro box was a run- of research and development at want to go in and say, we’re just ner-up in the module category for Continental Structural Plastics going to put carbon ber there the 2019 Enlighten Award from Inc., the composites supplier that just for the sake of putting carbon global technology rm Altair En- molds and manufactures the Car- ber,” Siwajek added. “Yes, it saves gineering Inc. The application bonPro box at its facility in Hun- weight. Yes, it’s high strength. … marked a paradigm shift for car- Continental Structural Plastics is supplying the carbon ber box of the tington, Ind., said that’s not going Where does it bring the most value bon ber composite use in the au- 2019 GMC Sierra CarbonPro Edition. General Motors Co. photo to be the case for every vehicle or for the customer?” tomotive industry and could open every model. For GM, the strategic use of the door to wider adoption of the plastics or attention-grabbing “At the end of the day, I don’t “GM has taken an aggressive carbon ber, plastics and other material in high-volume manufac- carbon ber — Siwajek said au- know that anybody wants to pay stance on that and said this is materials such as steel, aluminum turing of structural parts. tomakers just “want solutions to for weight. They want value for something that brings value,” and glass ber composite on the But when it comes to perfor- their challenges,” and they want performance,” he said. “So you try Siwajek said during an Aug. 6 Sierra enabled a mass savings of mance, mass reduction and materi- that solution to bring value and be to gure out where it ts best, and session at the Center for Auto- 62 pounds. It also eliminated the als — whether it’s steel, aluminum, cost-competitive. it’s different from case to case.” Continental Structural Plastics steps outside SMC comfort zone By Audrey LaForest terials and solutions to solve the problem. as a growing area of importance Plastics News Staff for our customers. Q: Carbon ber, speci cally, as the industry gives more at- Q: And carbon - tends to generate a lot of hype. tention to electric vehicles? Traverse City, Mich. — Conti- ber, speci cally, do It’s one of the materials, at least Siwajek: Yeah, that’s a growing nental Structural Plastics Inc., a you see that use in by name, that automakers don’t market. There’s already a pret- composites supplier owned by automotive applica- shy away from talking about. ty signi cant market in China, Japanese materials rm Teijin tions increasing or, But in terms of plastics — both and we’re part of that market. Ltd., wants to expand its portfo- because of cost, it’s the word and the variety of ma- We mold a lot of battery covers lio beyond sheet molding com- going to stay rela- terials — does it have an image in China. It’s part of our growth pound. tively at? problem? strategy in Europe as well be- CSP is looking at new materials Siwajek: Carbon Siwajek: I don’t think it has cause electri cation is very im- and processes that can be mar- ber is a high-val- an image problem. Carbon ber portant in Europe and Asia rst ried with its current capacity and ue material, so you inherently has the costs associ- right now. The U.S. is a little bit capabilities on a global scale, can’t just put carbon ated with it in people’s heads. standing back right now. They said Mike Siwajek, vice president ber somewhere to If people say they’re using car- offer electric vehicles, but it’s of research and development at make it strong, make bon ber, it brings an image of not a strategy, so to speak, in our the company’s headquarters in it light, because peo- high-quality, luxury vehicles. economy. But in Europe and Asia, Auburn Hills, Mich. ple aren’t always go- It’s historical. That’s where you it’s the way everybody’s going, Plastics News caught up with ing to pay for that. always saw it. When you start so there are a lot more programs Siwajek Aug. 7 at the 2019 CAR But if you can put it Mike Siwajek, vice president of research and seeing it creep down into more there. We’re getting our feet wet Management Brie ng Seminars somewhere where development of Continental Structural Plastics traditional passenger vehicles, I over there and learning the stan- to discuss the automotive indus- you’re going to get Inc. Plastics News photo by Audrey LaForest think that the customer percep- dards change daily because as try’s in uence on the big-picture an extreme val- tion is pretty high of carbon ber they create these things, they business strategy. ue out of it, where — whether it be in plastic, ther- realize, oh no, now we need this Q: CSP has played a big role you’re willing to pay a little more are steel and aluminum still moplastic or thermoset — what- or we need this. That’s really the in materials innovation for au- for the cost because it’s consoli- kings? ever it might be. challenge for my team is to con- tomakers, most notably the car- dating materials or doing things Siwajek: They have the most Q: CSP molds battery covers, tinually update the material and bon ber truck bed as an option that current materials cannot content. I saw a study the other too. Does the company see this See CSP, Page 18 on the GMC Sierra. Should we do, then I think that’s where you day. It was like, composites or expect to see more of this in the really see an expansion. plastics are 2-4 percent of the future? Now, the CarbonPro box is a entire vehicle structure. Yeah, Siwajek: I believe so. I think little bit of a departure. I think we’re not going to replace steel our new push is “driven by sci- that’s a brave chance GM is tak- and aluminum overnight, and I ence,” and it’s really kind of the ing on this. It’s a spectacular don’t think our goal is to do that. philosophy we’ve always taken. part and material, and we’ll see All of the solutions now are mul- We’ve always been a “materials how it takes off. And if it does, I timaterial, and it’s what makes rst” company, where we devel- think you’ll see more of that type sense for the customer. op and then sell what we devel- of thing. But we’re also looking At certain volumes, our costs op as opposed to just trying to at, where else can we do carbon scenario is better than a steel or provide something everybody ber? aluminum stamp for body pan- else provides. We try to provide As an SMC company — and els. At a certain point, there’s a some unique value. even the CarbonPro box is dis- tipping point. What is that tip- But a lot of the things going continuous bers — you’re ping point? Those are the kind of on right now are developing for cutting it up, which is reducing programs we have to target for future programs and future ma- some of the inherent properties body panels. Now for structural terials, where we’re doing things of carbon ber. It still brings or underbody or cargo boxes, a little outside of our comfort more than glass does, but can we that might be a different tipping zone. We’ve always been an SMC look at doing continuous bers, point, and there might be a differ- company. We’ve always done things that we don’t currently ent value proposition for those some DLFT (direct long- ber do? And those are some of the materials in those programs. thermoplastic). Now we have explorations we’re doing in the It’s a multimaterial world, and the CarbonPro box, where we’re R&D side to see if we can use we have to understand how we actually getting into more tradi- those kind of materials. can join our materials with alu- tional thermoplastic. We want Q: The CarbonPro box is a minum, with steel, with mag- to look to expand that because pretty good example of differ- nesium, other plastics. And we our charter is to be $2 billion by ent materials coming together. have to be able to provide that 2030. We’re not going to get there There’s metal, aluminum, glass solution to the customer be- with just SMC, so we’ve got to ber composite and carbon - cause they’re going to tell us look at all different types of ma- ber. But overall, in automotive, what they want, and we just have 8 • Plastics News, August 12, 2019
‘Numbers That Matter’ by Bill Wood appears in Plastics News twice monthly. It takes a close look at data and trends to help plastics company managers forecast next quarter and next year. Trade issues impacting business cycle s the long-lost — or at least hid- when compared with the same pe- den — business cycle in the U.S. riod of a year earlier. economic data nally returning? NEW ORDERS: DURABLE GOODS VS. NONDURABLES It is worth noting that a cyclical Some version of this question peak need not get above the ze- Ihas vexed economists and market Durables Nondurables ro-line. And a cyclical trough need analysts and politicians for most of not fall below the zero-line. Most the past decade. Perhaps you have of the important end markets for heard it expressed as, “Where are 25 FORECAST plastics products are dominated we in this cycle? Mid or late?” by mature industries, and their cy- To this day, there is a wide range clical patterns will mostly resem- of informed opinions on just where 20 ble that of the overall economy. we are in the cycle, and I nd it in- If we are returning to a more typ- teresting that when these opinions 15 ical cyclical pattern, then the graph are discussed they often require clearly indicates we are currently some knowledge of baseball in or- 10 in a period of early consolidation der to interpret them: “We are in percent or recession. the sixth — or third, or ninth, or BC This means the actual monthly even 10th — inning of this cycle.” 5 data is declining. In the second I have no doubt that most peo- quarter of 2019, new orders of du- ple in the plastics industry enjoy a 0 rable goods decreased 2 percent good baseball reference. But under- when compared with the same standing just where we are in the period of 2018. For the year-to- cycle is how owners and executives -5 date total, the growth in orders in this business earn their livings A D? for durable goods is still positive, and pay their workers. -10 but just barely. I expect the gradu-
Nevertheless, the always-chal- 12-month rate of change, al decline to continue for the next lenging task of analyzing and fore- -15 few quarters. This will result in a casting the business cycle has decline in the annual total for new been more dif cult than usual in orders of durable goods in 2019 of recent years. The Great Recession -20 2-3 percent. resulted in a staggering disruption The pattern in the graph for non- to the U.S. economy, and it has -25 durables is similar, but the actual taken much longer than anyone numbers are not quite as negative. ever expected to recover. There In the second quarter of this year, -30 are still some segments that have new orders of nondurables in- not recovered, and all of this has creased by less than 1 percent. For put some big wrinkles in the cy- -35 the year to date, orders of nondura- cle patterns. But I am starting to 2008 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 bles are also up by less than 1 per- think that just maybe the classic cent. The trajectory in this graph cyclical pattern in the manufac- will continue to aim downward, turing data is re-emerging. and the annual decline this year The chart shows the 12-month will also be a modest 1 percent. rate-of-change graphs derived from And whether you are a business the monthly new orders data for sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Mountaintop Economics & Research Inc. manager in the plastics industry both durable goods and nondu- nondurables. Another difference is 2015, when interest rates were ex- mark the four major phases of or a candidate for president of the rable goods in the United States. I that some durables are purchased tremely low. the latest business cycle: United States, all of this begs the chose to include both graphs for a as investments, rather than for con- I could ll up a lot of pages de- A — early recovery/expansion. question, “When and where will the couple of reasons. First, the plastics sumption, and their purchase often scribing how these two graphs B — late recovery/expansion. graph hit the next low point?” industry has a substantial interest requires nancing. Therefore, these and the whole U.S. economy C — early consolidation/con- My current prediction is the next in both sectors. Durable goods cat- markets are highly sensitive to failed to perform in the “usual” traction. troughs in these graphs will occur egories include important end mar- changes in both incomes and inter- manner during the past 10 years, D — late consolidation/con- in the rst half of 2020, and the kets such as automotive, applianc- est rates. Thus, the rate-of-change and I have no doubt this will be traction. declines will be shallow. The low es, medical, electronics, machinery graph should be higher at the the subject of numerous books These areas are de ned by the points for both graphs should stay and building materials. Nondura- peaks and deeper at the troughs. and case studies in the future. high and low points on the graph. above -5 percent. The U.S. is cur- bles includes the end markets for This is easily seen during the last But my immediate interest is the Another important consideration rently enjoying solid growth in con- most plastic packaging products. recession in 2009 and the rst year chart pattern of the past three or is whether the graph is above or sumer incomes and spending, and The second reason is that the of the recovery in 2010. four years. Speci cally, it is start- below the zero-line. If the graph is 2020 is an election year. These fac- cyclical patterns of these sectors Nondurables are mostly con- ing to look kind of “normal” again. above the zero-line, it means that tors will buoy the new orders data. have historically varied in pre- sumer staples: energy, food and To be sure, the latest cycle total new orders for the past 12 The downward pressure on the dictable ways. For instance, the clothing. These categories are is longer and less volatile than months have expanded when com- data appears to be the result of durable goods graph is usually usually less sensitive to changes most of the cycles of the past, pared with the previous 12 months. recent foreign trade policy, and more volatile. The conventional in incomes and interest rates. But but the pattern is undeniably fa- A graph below the zero-line indi- this could get much better — or wisdom has always been that dura- the conventional wisdom did not miliar. If this a return to normal, cates that new orders in the most much worse — in the coming ble goods are more expensive than hold during the cyclical trough in then the four letters on the chart recent 12 months have contracted year. Stay tuned. Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • 9
and a head injury,” Hart said. She Hart suffered a collapsed lung. Lost a lot of blood. Continued from Page 1 They ew her to a trauma cen- butter — with just one arm. ter in Seattle and called her fami- Employees need to think safe- ly. She was there for two months. ty all day, every day. “But do we “That day I made some choic- always do it? and ‘always’ really es. That day I did some things being the key word here. Because that caused a ripple effect that safety can’t be most of the time. hurt people that I care about,” We know that. Safety can’t be Hart said. ‘almost always.’ It really does re- Her parents made the three- quire a 100 percent commitment,” hour drive, and her father stayed Hart said. “I think it boils down to with her the whole time. He kept us. We are the people who make saying how sorry he was. “The those day-to-day decisions that hardest thing for me to hear my really dictate our own personal dad say is, he said, ‘Kina, I am so safety. And I think safety means sorry that I didn’t just get a bet- something personal.” ter job and pay for your school. That’s what I should have done.’ So now this man — someone who Hart’s story has worked so hard his entire life “This picture was taken Hart knows just how personal — now thinks it was somehow not June 23, 1990, at about safety really is. Attendees at the good enough.” 8 o’clock in the morning. conference already knew how the All the people she worked with By 8:40 this very same story ended. Hart doesn’t wear a at the salmon plant that day quit morning, I had already lost prosthetic arm. She gets phantom and went back home. my arm,” said Kina Hart, pains common to amputees. A few years ago, Hart went back who now speaks at safety “To me, this is very ugly. It’s pain- to Alaska to the factory where she conferences. ful frequently. But the worst part of lost her left arm, to do some safe- Photo courtesy of Kina Hart what happened to me was it was ty training with employees. She 100 percent preventable. It did not asked about Joe, the foreman who even have to happen,” she said. ally isn’t anything that could have worker. And a hard worker. And gave her the chance. She graduated from high school prepared me for what was about that I wouldn’t let him down. I did ‘The next thing I “This impacted Joe’s life in a in 1988, she said, showing the au- to happen. So I’ll tell you that day, not want to be the person to tell did is something very negative way. This pretty dience a slide of her ’80s-style, that changes your life forever, Joe really, two things: One, I don’t much destroyed the man that Joe big-hair days as a cheerleader. starts out like every other day. know what I’m doing. And two, I’m I hope none of was,” she said. Her father was a logger in forests Just a normal day.” scared. I’m scared that this might Joe died about ve years ago, of the Northwest; her mom stayed Hart and her friend went down hurt me. So I just kept cleaning.” you never do and and she never got to see him home to raise the kids. They told to a large building full of large These are the types of conver- I hope none of again after the accident. “I want- their children that college was a conveyor belts and machinery. sations factory workers can have ed to tell him that I was OK and good idea, but they couldn’t help Joe the foreman handed a sponge with themselves. They want to do your employees that he could nally forgive him- to pay for it. and a bucket to each member of a good job. ever do. And self,” she said. Hart got some scholarships and the ve-worker cleanup squad. “The next thing I did is some- Now Hart speaks at safety con- went off to college. But needing “He said, ‘I need you guys to thing I hope none of you never that is, I just ferences. She meets people who money, Hart and her girlfriend de- clean these conveyor belts. I want do and I hope none of your em- say, ‘Well, they didn’t train her; cided to head to Alaska between you to clean the top and the bot- ployees ever do. And that is, I just completely gave they didn’t lock out the machine.’ their sophomore and junior years. tom and everywhere in between.’ completely gave away my safety,” away my safety.’ “But I knew it was dangerous They got hired at a salmon plant. The night before, a load of salm- Hart said. “Because I was think- and not quite right. If it was today, Back then, the agreement was the on had come through, so really, ing, ‘Well, I don’t really know what Kina Hart I would ask. I would not give up factory would pay airfare, housing we were just tasked with cleaning I’m doing, but they all know what my safety. So I have to take some and food and the college students that salmon debris off the belts they’re doing. And they wouldn’t responsibility for that ripple effect would pay them back for those ex- for the new load coming in later ask me to do this if it was danger- “Now this time, obviously, that I helped to create,” Hart said. penses at the end of the summer. that day,” she recalled. ous.’ So without my coworkers it wasn’t my sponge that was Her goal of becoming a dentist They spent the rst three days Joe left the building and they even knowing it, I was counting on caught. This time it was my entire was over, and for a while, she wal- hiking and exploring. But their started working on the rst ma- them to take care of me,” she said. arm. Literally just a second, that’s lowed in self-pity. She got her de- names weren’t showing up on the chine. Hart cleaned the underside. “Not something I’d do again, but all it took. My arm went up and gree and became a science teach- roster that the foreman, Joe, post- Here comes the trusting-your-gut that’s exactly what I did that day.” around that roller.” Her head hit er near Spokane, Wash. ed each day for work. “And that moment that never came to this Joe walked back into the build- a bar and she grabbed with her Hart feels lucky she got a second was making me nervous,” she young woman: “So I was under ing. He told the workers to split right hand and held on as tight as chance. “Every single day, I have a said, “because I kept a list of how there cleaning near one of those up. Somebody get on this other she could. “I knew that was prob- very physical reminder to give my much I owed this company, it was two-inch rollers with a little green machine. “I ran over there be- ably the only thing from keeping life some purpose,” she said. getting pretty close to $2,000. And sponge. And that sponge kept get- cause I was still trying to impress me from being pulled in, all the She spreads her message: “I I thought gosh, at this rate, I’m ting pulled into the roller. And I’d Joe. ‘I’ll do it!’ He said, ‘OK, Kina, way. That machine had a hold of read not too long ago we have 7.5 not going to get to go to school. wait for it to come out the other don’t forget to clean underneath.’ my jacket, which was across my billion people on our planet. But I’m not even going to leave Alaska side, and I’d grab it. and I’d clean He left the building again at the neck, so I couldn’t even yell for there’s only one of you. That’s — I’m going to stay here and just a little bit more and it’d get pulled machine he was pointing to, by far help,” she said. why I think it’s very important pay back expenses.” in again. And I’d wait for it to come the largest conveyor belt in the Hart remembers almost every that we try to make safety a very So Hart went into Joe’s of ce, out the other side and I’d grab it room. So I thought, ‘OK, I’ll clean detail from that horri c day — personal priority. It has to be explained she was paying for her again. This happened probably the bottom part rst. It’s the hard- down to the boots and clothes about you.” school all by herself and needed ve or maybe six times. What I re- est part to clean. I’ll come around she was wearing. to work. “And I told him, I said, member thinking: This, what I’m the top and I’ll be done with this ‘Joe, I’m a really good worker. And doing, this seems a little bit dan- in 45 minutes, no problem.’” ‘But I knew it I‘m a hard worker. And if you just gerous. And what do we all know Then fate intervened. Hanging on for life was dangerous give me a chance, I’m not going to about that, if something seems “So I walked around the ma- “But I wish I could forget the let you down.’ dangerous, it is dangerous.” chine, I got on my hands and sound that machine made. Or and not quite “We talked a little bit more. And But she ignored her inner knees and I crawled underneath the sound my arm made when right. If it was I think mostly, I just bugged Joe, voice and kept on working. “My and I started cleaning near it broke. And the thoughts go- until Joe nally said, ‘OK, Kina, next thought was, ‘I wonder if that end roller,” Hart said. She ing through my head, and really, today, I would I’ll give you a chance. I’ll let you I should say something? I won- switched to her left hand because how afraid I was, thinking, I hope start tomorrow. You can be on the der if I should ask?’ Say, ‘I’m not her right hand put the conveyor’s somebody nds me, soon. I hope ask. I would cleanup crew.’ And that made me sure we should be cleaning this roller too close to her face. somebody turns this machine off. not give up my pretty happy,” she said. machine while it’s running? I A normal day at work. Until it I hope somebody saves me. But A photo taken just before they saw how it pulled my sponge out wasn’t. all the time knowing that this, this safety. So I have started work showed Hart and and I thought, what if it pulled “I put it in my left hand, and was probably going to kill me. So I to take some her friend sporting raincoat-style my nger? That might pinch me, that way when I reached up to just hung on.” gear and smiling proudly. and that would hurt. I wonder if I clean, I could lean out of the ma- Finally, somebody shut it down. responsibility for “This picture was taken June should ask?’” she said. chine, just a little bit. The very “My arm had gone through 23, 1990, at about 8 o’clock in the “I talked myself out of asking second I reached up with my left that conveyor belt and it was that ripple effect morning. By 8:40 this very same really fast, ‘cause remember, just hand to start cleaning, near that crushed. It broke at the shoulder. that I helped to morning, I will have already lost the day before, I was the one beg- end roller, somebody turned that And that conveyor belt just con- my arm. So not even an hour on ging for this job. Just the day be- machine on,” she said. tinued to pull until it just literally create.’ the rst day,” she said. “When I fore I was telling Joe that I would The guy was going to hose down just ripped it off. Broke my collar Kina Hart see this picture, I think, there re- do any job. And that I was a good the top of the conveyor belt. bone. I had a severe neck injury 10 • Plastics News, August 12, 2019
Know what OSHA wants before OSHA even arrives By Bill Bregar room knows the top three concerns “Have there been in- horne said. “Those are really critical items. Plastics News Staff that they have at their facility,” said spections in the past at “So, in terms of em- A lot of times when we see these Whitehorne, director of health and your facility? Do you ployee complaints, one complaint inspections, what’s oc- Columbus, Ohio — Preparation safety with U.S. Compliance, an en- know what sites have of the biggest things curring is they’ve been brought up and knowledge of your company’s vironmental health and safety rm had past violations? And to really eliminate the by the safety committee. They’ve past safety issues are important in Excelsior, Minn. most importantly, do you potential for OSHA vis- been brought to the supervisor, before the Occupational Safety and He said it’s a good idea to iden- understand and make iting is to address your and they’ve fallen on deaf ears. No- Health Administration shows up tify the top three to ve concerns sure your facility has employee’s concerns. body responds to them. Eventually at your factory, Chris Whitehorne and work on xing them. addressed them and re- That’s what it comes they come to a point where they’re said at the Environmental Health Whitehorne recommended sponded to them correct- down to,” he said. “Do so disgruntled — concerned, really, and Safety Summit. knowing the company’s history ly?” he asked. you know what their con- about their own health and safety “Before you have OSHA knock- with OSHA and checking the agen- Employee complaints Whitehorne cerns are? Do they have — that they notify OSHA.” ing on your door, you want to be cy’s website, where you can search are the most common complaints? If they’re Whitehorne said better com- prepared in advance. Most impor- all factory locations and see any trigger for an OSHA in- voicing them, are you munication is important: “The tantly, know your risks and address citations. Pay special attention to spection, if OSHA determines work- tracking them? Are you address- biggest thing you can do is make them. I think everybody in this repeat violations. ers are in imminent danger, White- ing them in a timely manner? sure you have systems in place for employees to voice their con- cerns, and make sure you actively respond to those.” Company safety of cials also The World’s No. 1 Trade Fair should check OSHA’s national and local emphasis programs. for Plastics and Rubber Right now, Whitehorne said there are nine national areas, including hazardous machinery and ampu- tations. He said OSHA can look up your company’s SIC code, then come by for an inspection on those areas. That means compa- nies should look at these areas in advance. Lockout/tag-out and ma- chine guarding are another com- mon area for inspections. Another recommendation is to eliminate or control “red ags” ahead of time. “Most of the time, when OSHA comes on-site, if there’s good housekeeping, there’s proper light- ing, clear aisles, clear access to all your emergency equipment and overall the facility’s in good con- dition; that goes a long way to an inspector. That rst impression’s pretty critical. If they walk out in the facility and there’s forklifts parked in the aisle in front of a re extinguisher, there’s oil on the oor, For People, and it’s just a total mess? Obvious- ly, they sharpen their pencils a little bit as they start digging deeper in those areas,” Whitehorne said. Planet & Plastics. When OSHA does come knock- ing, “get ahead of the game,” he said. Make sure the front desk K 2019 receptionist knows who to notify — and doesn’t let the inspector in before the right person shows up. Make sure your key contact people have backups, in case somebody is on vacation with OSHA arrives. Make sure important records are The future begins at K 2019. And the focus is more than quickly available. And Whitehorne said company leaders should know ever on pioneering concepts, technologies and recycling why OSHA is on-site and bring the inspector to just the speci c areas processes aiming at a successful and sustainable circular of concern — even if that means walking around the outside of the economy. Around 3,200 international exhibitors at K 2019 building to get to the warehouse will be showing you the latest developments and to check out a complaint about forklift traf c there. You don’t need groundbreaking innovations on all the trending topics in to go through the production area. “Just be aware, even if OSHA t he plastics and rubber industry. Welcome! comes on-site for an employee complaint, or an emphasis pro- www.k-online.com/ticketing gram, they can extend the scope if they see open and obvious safe- ty concerns,” he said. Accompany the inspector at all times, take good notes and shoot the exact same photos the inspector does. Fixing things right away, like a blocked re extinguisher, can show good faith and may avoid a For show information: Messe Düsseldorf North America ne, he said. Tel. (312) 781-5180 _ [email protected] Answer questions directly, www.mdna.com Whitehorne said, but don’t guess For hotel and travel arrangements: TTI Travel, Inc. at information or give estimates. Tel. (866) 674-3476 _ [email protected] “You can provide that informa- tion later if they request it,” he said. Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • 11
Speaker: Poor shop conditions most Safety summit speaker talks likely cause of minor injuries drugs, medical marijuana By Bill Bregar 17-18 in Columbus, was spon- By Bill Bregar or failing to lockout and tag-out “Knives should be kept as sharp Plastics News Staff sored by the Manufacturers As- Plastics News Staff the machine before entering the as possible at all times,” he said. sociation for Plastics Processors, mold area. He added that a stainless-steel Columbus, Ohio — An Ohio the American Mold Builders As- Columbus, Ohio — Rick Barnes Improper cleaning of buildup butcher’s glove is the best chemical dependency counsel- sociation and the Association for brought his 45 years of plastics ex- of plastic from injection nozzles protection for the hand holding or had a message about medical Rubber Products Manufacturers, perience to Columbus, where he can cause leakage that over time the part. marijuana for manufacturing all based in Indianapolis. detailed safety around injection creates a crusted-on residue nick- A worker can get cut on sharp of cials at the Environmental The drug epidemic is hitting the molding machines at the Environ- named a “doughnut,” or a “bon- edges on equipment as well as Health and Safety Summit: “We workplace. mental Health and Safety Summit. net.” He showed a photo of a guy some mold components. Barnes are de nitely headed into un- “Seventy- ve percent of habit- Barnes retired in 2015, then be- burning off the material — a dan- said the ejector pin should be re- charted territory.” ual drug abusers are on the job. came a senior instructor at the gerous practice as it ames up. tracted back into the mold before In Ohio, you can’t smoke They’re not homeless, they’re not Paulson Plastics Academy, which Cuts are a common hazard, working on the tool. medical marijuana, but you can underneath the bridge, they’re is part of Paulson Training Pro- particularly at “Ejector pins have very sharp vape. And Ruth coming to work every single grams Inc. The plastics veteran small molding edges and they are very small,” Bowdish said day, and that’s according to the said most minor injuries in fac- shops, where he said. Sliding mold cores are employees could U.S. Bureau of Labor Statis- tories come from four main pri- parts get hand perfectly square, so they have be vaping in your 21M tics,” Bowdish said. AMERICANS ARE LIVING mary causes: poor training, poor trimmed, “razor-sharp edges,” he added. factory right now, WITH SUBSTANCE She added that housekeeping, poor enforcement Barnes said. Removing a cold slug from a using either med- USE DISORDER the Food and Drug and poor maintenance. Dull knives frozen nozzle should be treated ical pot or recre- Administration’s In his presentation, Barnes cause the with caution and proper safety ational weed, and you 1997 decision to looked at general machine safety: worker to bear gear, according to Barnes. There won’t even know it. allow drugmak- OF THOSE cuts from knives and sharp mold down more. can be an explosion of built-up “A lot of times when PEOPLE ARE ers to advertise components; slips and falls from That can cause molten plastic. we think about marijua- EMPLOYED directly to con- clambering over obstacles, climb- lacerations. Even compressed air hoses na, especially on the job, sumers was a land- ing on equipment and oil and Barnes can be dangerous. Never drive we also associate it with mark change that spilled resin; and burns. a forklift over an air line, since that very strong and skunky also has contributed to Barnes showed a Paulson The plastics it could rupture. And never use odor. And when I do reasonable the legal marijuana boom today. video that said the heating bar- veteran said most the hose to “clean yourself off,” suspicion training for employ- “As soon as we started seeing rel is the hottest part of the in- Barnes said, because you could ers, one of the things that I tell these advertisements, drug use, jection molding press, ranging minor injuries accidentally bring the air across them to look for is that odor,” substance use, prescription drugs, from 350°F-800°F, depending on in factories your ear and rupture an eardrum. Bowdish said. “Well, sorry, guys, it became the norm,” Bowdish said. the type of plastic being mold- He said the compressed air also the game has changed because Today, seven out 10 Americans ed. Other hazard points include come from four could force dust into your skin, now the electronic or liquid mar- are taking some type of prescrip- high-pressure areas like loose causing infections. ijuana, you can get it in a variety tion drug, she said. “An increase in hydraulic hoses and hot runner main primary But he described something of avors.” advertising has made us apathetic plugs and mold plates, as well as causes: poor even worse, such as a deep The old days are over — both to drug use.” electricity from wires coming off scratch or shallow cut that can in today’s pot with much higher Social media paved the way heater bands. training, poor allow the compressed air to en- THC and the way it’s smoked. for us to hear about herbal rem- Barnes said employees must be housekeeping, ter the skin, in ating the muscle “Instead, you really have to edies and supplements and also trained and aware of pinch points underneath and causing excruci- start to pay more attention to led to people self-diagnosing that are in the clamp system, the poor enforcement ating pain. behavior on the job and some their illnesses. injection unit and ejector plates In a factory, there are better of the physical signs and symp- “Marijuana is the most abused in the mold. and poor ways to clean yourself off that toms of marijuana. Because drug in America,” Bowdish said. A big danger is reaching past maintenance. won’t risk turning your arm into just the odor of it, if you see “That shouldn’t be a shock to any- or under the press safety guards, one like Popeye’s, Barnes said. someone with a joint, you kind body. But look at No. 2: Prescrip- of know that they’re using. If tions are the second-most abused you see someone with an elec- drugs in America.” tronic cigarette, how are you Now there’s a pill for everything. Automation Plastics wins top rm in safety practices going know? That’s the prob- Prescription use shot up 85 percent lem,” she said. from 1997 to 2016, she By Bill Bregar standardizing systems and pro- tem in 2017 to make it a primary Right now, Ohio law said. People love instant Plastics News Staff cedures. Employees on all levels focus. Its new safety coordinator allows employers to grati cation. share ideas for improvement, has experience as a re ghter, ban all marijuana from “Everything that we Columbus, Ohio — Four plas- cleaning up spills and putting emergency medical technician the workplace, includ- want, we want it now. tics processors won Safety Best away tools and equipment. and maintenance person. Curri- ing medical, through And this is America right Practices Awards from the Man- After the changes, the compa- er also standardized safety be- company policy. now. So it’s no wonder
ufacturers Association for Plas- ny reported that people see and havior observations by employ- “Zero tolerance can 2013 2017 that we’re looking at tics Processors. report safety issues easier and ees and incident reporting. Each really mean zero toler- pills for the answer. That Automation Plastics Corp. accidents declined. employee goes through a formal ance,” said Bowdish, we’re looking at sub- won rst place. Second place • Denver-based Intertech made orientation that includes safety. whose counseling stances for the answer,” went to Intertech Plastics Inc., improvements to forklift and pe- • Management gets out from practice is in Austin- Bowdish said. and two companies tied for destrian safety. The company add- behind desks and sees what the town, Ohio. She rec- Regardless of your third: Currier Plastics Inc. and ed wirelessly monitored forklift safety issues are at PolyFlex Prod- ommends giving work- personal opinion of mar- PolyFlex Products Inc. impact sensors, collision-avoid- ucts of Farmington Hills, Mich. ers who test positive 25% ijuana, there are still lots Indianapolis-based MAPP an- ance devices, LED warning spot- One example is adding plat- for drugs one second of unanswered questions nounced the winners at the 2019 lights and pedestrian walkways forms for employees tasked with chance, instead of immediate when it comes to safety in the Environmental Health and Safe- with guardrails. cleaning lters on hoppers, af- ring. workplace, she said. ty Summit in Columbus. MAPP The eet of seven forklifts ter material handlers were seen However, medical marijuana “We don’t know enough about it. members picked the winners were upgraded with telemetry standing on top of the injec- rules vary from state to state, We don’t have the studies to back from 25 entries. sensors that detect impacts and tion side of the molding press. she said. up how much it’s affecting us on Here is a recap of the winners: send operator performance re- The company got material “And because this is a hot-but- the job. We don’t know how long it’s • Automation Plastics of Auro- ports so managers can reinforce handlers involved in the prob- ton issue, things are changing,” going to impair us. We don’t have ra, Ohio, implemented a cultural safe operating behavior. lem-solving. PolyFlex also par- Bowdish said. that information. And so, without change by improving the physi- • Currier Plastics of Auburn, ticipates in a voluntary OSHA The Environmental Health that information, we’re nding our- cal appearance of its plant and N.Y., reevaluated its safety sys- walk-through. and Safety Summit, held July selves in problems.” LIVE CONSUMER PANEL HOSTED BY NOVA CHEMICALS IN COLLABORATION WITH OSTERMAN AND COMPANY WATER TOWER AB SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 2:00pm - 5:00pm
WELCOME SEPTEMBER 9-11 • CHICAGO, IL RECEPTION SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 In Exhibit Hll 5:30pm - 7:00pm
REGISTER NOW NOVA CHEMICALS PLASTICSNEWS.COM/CAPS RECEPTION SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 Vu Rooftop Bar 6:00pm - 8:00pm
See the full agenda online #pncps Sponsored by PLATINUM PADFOLIO SHOW GUIDE NAME BADGE FOOTSTEP KEYCARD DISPLAY LIVE CONSUMER PANEL HOSTED BY NOVA CHEMICALS IN COLLABORATION WITH OSTERMAN AND COMPANY WATER TOWER AB SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 2:00pm - 5:00pm
WELCOME SEPTEMBER 9-11 • CHICAGO, IL RECEPTION SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 In Exhibit Hll 5:30pm - 7:00pm
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See the full agenda online #pncps Sponsored by PLATINUM PADFOLIO SHOW GUIDE NAME BADGE FOOTSTEP KEYCARD DISPLAY 14 • Plastics News, August 12, 2019
Lockout/tag-out violations mean costly OSHA citations By Bill Bregar Plastics News Staff APPLICATION OF LOCKOUT/TAG-OUT STANDARD Columbus, Ohio — OSHA is hitting hard » OSHA does not consider “setup” of dies “normal operation.” at the issue of lockout/tag-out and machine » When dies are being set up, OSHA will expect the machine to be locked out. safety guarding and putting a laser focus on » While the employer may argue that die setup is not servicing or maintenance of equipment, OSHA will take the amputations that could result from failure to position that setting up equipment, with the exception of the short time needed to “jog” the equipment to check disconnect all energy before servicing and if it works properly, presents a hazard of amputation and other hazards to the degree that lockout is required. maintenance of industrial machines. That was the message from two lawyers who spoke at the Environmental Health and according to William Wahoff, a lawyer at Safety Summit. the rm. “If it is the tip of the nger with- “When do most often amputations occur? out any bone damaged, you still have to LOCKOUT/TAG-OUT GENERAL INDUSTRY When someone forgot to lockout/tag-out and report it for OSHA.” » Ensure that lockout/tag-out devices identify the individual users. when there’s a lack of a guard. That’s when And Wahoff said amputations are likely to » Policy that permits only the employee who applied a lockout/tag-out you’re going to see an amputation,” said Nel- lead to OSHA inspections: 65 percent of re- device to remove it. va Smith, of the Steptoe & Johnson law rm. ported amputations resulted in inspections, » Inspect procedures annually. The Occupational Safety and Health Ad- compared with in-patient hospitalizations, » Provide training for all employees covered by the standard. ministration revised its reporting rule on which lead to inspections in around 35-40 Jan. 1, 2015, so employers now must report percent of the cases. within 24 hours any amputation injury, even Smith and Wahoff gave an hour-long pre- Smith and Wahoff said manufacturers must is, can we argue certain things are normal if there is no loss of bone, as well as eye inju- sentation about lockout/tag-out and machine have an energy control program and speci c production and I don’t have to lockout/tag- ries and all in-patient hospitalizations. OSHA guarding during the health and safety confer- procedures for each machine. They recom- out, because it can be a very complicated kept its ongoing rule that fatalities must be ence, held July 18-19 in Columbus. Both law- mend posting the step-by-step procedure procedure to disconnect all of the sources reported within eight hours. yers are based in Columbus. for lockout/tag-out right on the machine, of energy,” she said. Minor tool changes and Smith said OSHA is increasing nes every OSHA uses the term “control of hazardous making it visible for employees and OSHA adjustments and other minor servicing activ- year for amputations. energy,” for what’s commonly called lockout/ inspectors. OSHA will ask about the hazard- ities are OK, “if it’s routine, it’s repetitive and “Now you can go up to $139,000 for a max- tag-out, Smith said, covering sources of ener- ous energy policy, even if they are on-site for integral to the use of the machine, and you imum for a willful and a repeat [violations],” gy such as electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, another type of complaint, the lawyers said. use alternative measures to protect that em- she said. “So you can easily get one citation pneumatic, chemical and thermal. Wahoff said that companies train plant em- ployee,” Smith said. for $139,000. Imagine if you got ve citations? “Why do we need to do it? Because during ployees and maintenance staff; they should But Wahoff said OSHA does not consider How much is that? Over a half million dol- the servicing and maintenance of these ma- use OSHA’s hazardous energy control termi- the setup of dies to be “normal operation.” lars. And again, there’s a pattern. They’re re- chines and equipment, that’s where the in- nology, at least part of the time, so they know Smith laid out the way to think about it: ally hitting the lockout/tag-out and machine juries do occur, more often than not,” Smith the right wording when an inspector ques- “If you want to make an exception to the guarding.” said. “The unexpected startup or release of tions the workers. lockout/tag-out procedure, am I putting Plastics machinery, such as injection stored energy will usually result in a serious Smith added that the person who puts the an employee in a zone of danger? Are they molding machinery, can cause serious inju- injury or death. Usually these are very com- lock tag on the machine must be the one who having to put themselves in a machine? Are ries from pinching and crushing, especially plicated big machines, with a lot of working takes it off when the work is completed. we having to bypass a guard? Is that really in the mold clamping area. parts, a lot of sharp edges and pinch-points What about during “normal production”? ‘normal production’?” “It’s to prevent serious injury or death. You and that sort of thing. And if you’ve got a Smith said that should be aware of the standard and what maintenance person working on a machine is not covered your requirements are under the standard,” and a fellow employee doesn’t know it’s not by lockout/tag- OSHA looking at new technology Smith said. locked out and just says, ‘Oh, I’m gonna hit out. OSHA de nes “amputation” broadly and the start button; I don’t see anybody.’ This is “The prob- for lockout/tag-out is stricter than workers’ compensation, where it happens.” lem we run into By Bill Bregar part of the U.S. Department of Plastics News Staff Labor, is seeking comments, information and data to deter- SPONSORED BY: The Occupational Safety mine which conditions, if any, and Health Administration is control circuit-type devices considering whether to update could be used. its lockout/tag-out standard to OSHA also is considering EDITORIAL-DRIVEN modernize it without compro- changes to lockout/tag-out mising worker safety during rules for robots “that would re- LIVESTREAMING the serving and maintenance of ect new industry best practic- machines. es and technological advances OSHA rst adopted the stan- for hazardous energy control dard in 1989. Lockout/tag-out, in the robotics industry,” the which OSHA also calls “the agency said. Part of the reason August 14, 2019 control of hazardous energy,” is the advent of collaborative • 2PM EDT currently requires the energy robots, or “cobots,” that work sources to be controlled using alongside human employees. energy isolating devices (EID). The Plastics Industry Associ- Circuit control-type devices ation is preparing comments to were speci cally excluded meet the agency’s Aug. 19 dead- INSIDE THE from the standard. line. The Washington-based CAR “Nevertheless, OSHA rec- trade group issued a statement In our August Plastics News Live, we’ll talk about automotive trends, the hot topics ognizes that there have been encouraging plastics proces- that executives discussed at the Automotive Management Briefing Seminars in safety advancements to con- sors to give OSHA their input, Traverse City, Mich., and how they impact the plastics supply chain. trol circuit-type devices since as lockout/tag-out primarily OSHA adopted the standard in impacts the users of plastics 1989,” the agency said in its ex- machinery — rather than just planation. “Accordingly, OSHA machine manufacturers. is revisiting the lockout/tag-out “Safety is paramount for the standard to consider wheth- U.S. plastics industry — for er to allow the use of control the thousands of companies it circuit-type devices instead of consists of and the hundreds EIDs for some tasks or under of thousands of workers that certain conditions.” make it what it is. [The Plas- OSHA said, “Over the years, tics Industry Association] some employers have stated supports a modernized reg- that they believe that control ulatory standard that allows circuit-type devices that use the use of effective technolog- Don Loepp Audrey LaForest approved components, redun- ical advancements to control Editor Staff Reporter dant systems, and control-re- hazardous energy, and is ea- Plastics News Plastics News liable circuitry are as safe as ger to assist OSHA now and in EIDs.” They could lead to less future rule-making,” the trade downtime, the agency said. association said in the pre- REGISTER NOW: PLASTICSNEWS.COM/LIVE/CAR Washington-based OSHA, pared statement. Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • 15 Columbia Gas settles with explosion victims for $143M
By Catherine Kavanaugh ments with the family of the young cast iron pipe “compromised” Plastics News Staff man who died and a family that miles of the system and it took had several members injured. more than three months to re- Columbia Gas of Massachu- The $143 million settlement an- place the damaged areas, McDon- setts and its parent company, Ni- nounced July 29 stems from a vol- ald said. Source Inc., will pay $143 million untary mediation process cover- McDonald was retained by more to settle all class-action lawsuits ing multiple class-action lawsuits than six law rms representing the stemming from damages related to and is subject to court approval. deceased victim, injured victims gas explosions that rocked three The money will be placed in and those that suffered property cities and set off res last year. a settlement fund to help home losses. He said he believes Co- The deadly incident happened and business owners who did not lumbia Gas has taken complete Sept. 13, 2018, during a project suffer physical harm but were dis- responsibility in terms of paying to upgrade century-old cast iron placed or signi cantly affected by compensation at many levels. pipes with high density polyeth- re and damage to boilers, furnac- “While we need to hold Colum- ylene pipes. es, ranges and dryers. At its peak, An aerial view of the house where a chimney collapsed onto a vehicle, bia Gas responsible for this man- Because of a contractor error more than 8,000 people in 2,200 killing a Boston area resident in 2018. National Transportation Safety Board photo made disaster and act to learn involving a sensor line, high-pres- families relocated to 4,000 hotel from these mistakes, I do believe sure natural gas was released into rooms, 160 apartments and about Columbia Gas responded more the low-pressure gas distribution 200 RVs. were slated to be abandoned. to U.S. customers, and much of it than appropriately in this case in system, causing widespread dam- The National Transportation As the system is updated with is archaic in places like New York, terms of timely compensation for age that killed one person and Safety Board continues to investi- HDPE pipe, the Massachusetts De- Boston, Philadelphia and Wash- those affected to help heal the injured about two dozen in neigh- gate the incident. Its preliminary partment of Public Utilities is pro- ington, D.C. PE pipe is a popular wounds created, in a very timely borhoods just north of Boston. report says a Columbia Gas con- viding oversight of the installation replacement product because it fashion,” McDonald said. Five homes exploded and 125 tractor deactivated a cast iron to ensure that all work complies is exible and lightweight; resists The $1 billion set aside for set- structures were damaged in Law- main installed in the early 1900s with state and federal safety regu- corrosion, chemicals and abra- tlements also includes $80 million rence, Andover and North An- without realizing the pressure sen- lations. sion; and is easy to install by using to reimburse the three cities for dover. Most of the damage was a sors were still active. The system Mark McDonald, president of heat fusion or mechanical ttings. curb-to-curb repairs of roadways result of structure res ignited by sensed pressure was falling and NatGas Consulting in Boston, a If the Columbia Gas system had and restoration work at homes gas-fueled appliances. A teenager allowed the full ow of gas into the rm that offers independent as- already been converted to HDPE and businesses needing 18,500 was killed when a chimney col- lines. There were no relief valves sessments and witness services pipe, overpressurization still prob- new appliances. lapsed on him. to relieve the overpressurization, for natural gas, propane and car- ably would have occurred because “What happened last Septem- The disaster left thousands and gas streamed into buildings. bon monoxide incidents, said all it appears the failure points were ber was tragic, and we will always of homes and businesses with- “As a result, natural gas was de- parties need to recognize gener- at the end user’s equipment de- be mindful of its impact on our out gas heat or hot water, some livered to customers at a pressure ally accepted good engineering signed for low-pressure gas, Mc- customers and everyone in the for months. People used tempo- well above the maximum-allow- practices. Donald said. communities we serve, including rary housing while Columbia Gas able operating pressure, which led “In my opinion the big lessons However, the damage and out- those represented by this settle- replaced pipeline damaged by to the ignition of res and explo- are to ensure gas companies do age time would have likely been ment,” Joe Hamrock, CEO and over-pressurization. sions in homes,” the report says. their due diligence on replacement limited, he added. president of NiSource, said in a The new system consists of NTSB also discovered that Co- programs, as well as have the cor- “If the infrastructure was plas- July 29 statement. “Today marks high-pressure HDPE mains with lumbia Gas omitted steps in its rect professionals on-site when tic as opposed to cast iron, the another important step forward, regulators at each service meter project work ow process that working in close proximity to crit- outage would have likely been as we continue to ful ll our com- to reduce the line pressure from could have prevented “the error ical infrastructure such as district only days as opposed to months,” mitment to residents and busi- the main when needed. that led to the accident.” The en- regulator stations,” McDonald said McDonald said. “Cast iron is only nesses. We are pleased that we In all, NiSource has set aside gineering plans used for the job in an email. designed for lower-pressure use. have reached a resolution so swift- about $1 billion to address the didn’t document the location of A 2.1 million-mile system of dis- Plastic can be used for all distribu- ly, and we thank the mediator, as needs of customers and commu- regulator-sensing lines in the nat- tribution and service pipelines de- tion pressure.” well as all involved who helped us nities, including previous settle- ural gas distribution pipes that liver huge volumes of natural gas The over-pressurization of the achieve this result.”
PEOPLE WATCH
ARBURG GMBH + CO. KG — The FKUR KUNSTSTOFF GMBH — The for its BKG pelletizing systems in injection molding machine maker in custom biopolymers producer in Wil- Shanghai. Lossburg, Germany, presented Arburg lich, Germany, named Patrick Zim- Awards to Hannes Löwe and Maria mermann to its management team SACMI IMOLA S.C. — The machinery Gabriele Bauer. The awards honor out- responsible for sales, marketing and maker in Imola, Italy, named Giulio standing dissertations and master’s market development, Niklas Voss as- Mengoli general manager. theses for scholars at the Technical sociate sales director and Denise University of Munich. Martha head of its marketing team. SRG GLOBAL INC. — The manufac- Frey Rowland turers of chrome-plated plastic parts DRI-AIR INDUSTRIES INC. — The dry- FLEXIBLE PACKAGING EUROPE — in Troy, Mich., named Merritt Gaunt er manufacturer in East Windsor, Conn., The trade group in Düsseldorf, Ger- president, succeeding Dave Prater, named Ly Ung design engineer. many, elected Alexander Baumgart- who is retiring. ner, CEO of Constantia Flexibles, ENSINGER GMBH — The plastics chairman. SUN PLASTECH INC. — The purging processor in Nufringen, Germany, compound manufacturer in Parsippa- named Oliver Frey managing director MOTION INDUSTRIES INC. — The ny, N.J., named Phani Nagaraj vice of Ensinger GmbH and the Ensinger distributor of industrial maintenance, president. Group. Martha Wang repair and operation replacement parts in Birmingham, Ala., named SURFRIDER FOUNDATION — The FERRY INDUSTRIES INC. — Ann Row- Jeremy Barton West group vice San Clemente, Calif., nonpro t orga- land, international sales manager of the president. nization dedicated to the protection rotational molding machinery supplier of clean water and healthy beach- in Stow, Ohio, has received the Associ- NORDSON CORP. — The precision es named Jennie Romer a legal ation of Rotational Moulders Australasia dispensing equipment manufacturer associate for the organization’s Plas- Industry Icon Award, given in recognition in Westlake, Ohio, named tic Pollution Initiative. Founder of of the consistent dedication and extraor- Marc Delplace regional sales PlasticBagLaws.org, Romer has pre- dinary accomplishments of individuals manager for plasticating and melt viously led coalitions in support of who have contributed to the growth of Mengoli Nagaraj delivery components in Austintown, plastic bag legislation in California the rotational molding industry. Ohio and Inno Wang sales engineer and New York.
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Rates e ective 1/1/171/1/19 -- 12/31/1712/31/19 COLOR CHOICE COST PER COLUMN INCH Advertise in Classifieds 2 standard color $39 $41 INQUIRE TODAY! 3 standard color $56 $58 BROOKE STENDER, Classied Sales, (330) 865-6117 or [email protected] 4 color $100 $104 LYNN CALCATERRA, Classied Sales, (313) 446-0446 or [email protected] and Get Results 18 • Plastics News, August 12, 2019 Nelipak Continued from Page 1 driven by Amcor’s deal. “Not too long ago, there were two major public companies in both food and medical pack- aging: Amcor and Bemis,” said Schmitt, managing director of Montesino Associates LLC in Wilmington, Del. “Indeed, they split the assets of Alcan when Alcan’s packaging division was divested. Now they are merg- ing.” Bemis and Amcor grew signifi- cantly when they split the for- mer Alcan Packaging business in 2010, which had been owned by metals and mining firm Rio Tinto plc. But when Bemis and Amcor agreed to merge, competition authorities in the United States and Europe asked the two to divest big chunks of their med- ical packaging business — and private equity firms pounced on the opportunity. First, Wayne, Pa.-based Tekni- Plex Inc., which is owned by Gen- star Capital, bought three manu- Nelipak’s medical packaging operations are growing with the addition of Bemis Healthcare Packaging Europe. Nelipak Corp. Inc. photo facturing plants from Amcor’s Flexible Packaging business unit for $215 million to broaden its and we will see some interesting in Londonderry, Northern Ire- across complementary product ‘The question is, will portfolio of sterilizable medical moves in the future,” Schmitt land; Clara, Ireland; and Brigg, offerings.” device packaging. That deal in- said. England, represented the entire Roger Prevot, operating part- Amcor be able to cluded three U.S. plants. medical packaging business of ner at Kohlberg, added: “This Now Kohlberg-backed Nelipak Neenah, Wis.-based Bemis, and combination provides attrac- focus on both food has done the same with three Nelipak by the numbers have a combined annual sales of tive opportunities for revenue and medical, and use Bemis plants in Europe. Prior to the merger, Nelipak, around $170 million. growth from cross-selling and Schmitt said the private equi- which has been in business for geographic expansion. Mike and its size and brand ty firms are building a portfolio 60 years, employed more than his team will be better equipped strength to grow its of packaging companies focused 800 at seven production sites. In Kohlberg highlights to serve the company’s custom- only on medical devices or addition to its headquarters in ers as a comprehensive partner position? Or will this health care, not food. Cranston, R.I., the company had synergies for their packaging needs.” “The question is, will Amcor plants in Whitehall, Pa.; Phoenix; Kohlberg of cials highlighted Kohlberg bought Nelipak from new map of strong be able to focus on both food Humacao, Puerto Rico; San José, how combining the two busi- Milwaukee-based Mason Wells and growing sterile and medical, and use its size Costa Rica; Galway, Ireland; and nesses gives Nelipak global on July 2. and brand strength to grow its Venray, the Netherlands. scale and a wider range of plas- Nelipak’s products include medical packaging position? Or will this new map of With an estimated $90 mil- tic packaging products. thermoformed trays and blisters companies led strong and growing sterile medi- lion in sales, Nelipak Healthcare “Our recent acquisition of Ne- used to product Class II and cal packaging companies led by Packaging ranked No. 25 among lipak represented a platform for Class III medical devices and by private equity private equity challenge Amcor North American thermoformers, growth and consolidation,” Seth pharmaceuticals as well as trays in the medical arena? according to the latest Plastics Hollander, a partner at Kohl- for surgical procedures, such challenge Amcor in “Additional consolidation ap- News ranking. berg, said in the release. “The as orthopedic and cardiac im- the medical arena?’ pears to be likely. Add to that The Bemis Healthcare deal Bemis acquisition provides a plants, and handling drugs, such the uncertainty of both trade adds three more plants and 600 unique opportunity to create as auto-injectors, pre- lled sy- Peter Schmitt wars and a possible recession employees. The three plants, global scale and diversi cation ringes and vaccines. Montesino Associates LLC coming or what they’re going to ‘We’re looking every day at expansion in Mailbag CSP need. The trend has been — for r&d, at least for me — to see that Europe to be closer to the customer and Continued from Page 6 Continued from Page 7 the OEMs have done a lot more “hot work” are required, includ- meet new standards. joint development than we had provide service there. We’ve always had ing the risk of ignition of pow- But in the U.S., we’ve done bat- in the past. Historically, we would some business with the European OEMs, der layers or clouds by hot tery covers here for a while. We come up with something, throw surface, welding torch, sparks did the Chevrolet Spark and the it over the wall and say, “Hey, but we’re really trying to expand that and from cutting, and so on. Volt for GM and those were just what do you think of this?” Now build relationships there.’ traditional SMCs, so they didn’t they’re saying, “Okay, here’s our have a high ame-retardant re- problem: We know you have this Mike Siwajek Emergency planning quirement at the time and those capability. We have this idea. Can Continental Structural Plastics Inc. kind of challenges. But the more we work together to develop it?” and response that we get into this market in the And that may be us directly with Emergency planning and U.S., you’re starting to see those an OEM. It may be us and a mate- you’re just developing and then closer to the customer and pro- response should feature in requests come through from the rial supplier and an OEM, or even hoping someone buys it. vide support there. We’ve always post-DHA work. Simple things U.S. automakers. I think what multiple companies. That’s kind That’s how the CarbonPro box had some business with the Euro- like using the wrong re extin- we’ll do is just translate what of a fun way to go about things. came about. Teijin had a long- pean OEMs, but we’re really try- guishing medium could actual- we’ve already learned in China Some of these projects are gov- term development program with ing to expand that and build rela- ly create a dust explosion out and Europe and bring it to the ernment-funded — DOE (Depart- GM where they had a secret facil- tionships there. And then Asia is of a re if smoldering powder U.S., and that’s really what we’re ment of Energy), IACMI (Institute ity in Auburn Hills that they were just, it’s a huge market. But then is raised though re ghting. doing. for Advanced Composites Manu- working at for a couple of years all of those locations can support And there are some powders Q: With your setup in Asia, the facturing Innovation) — they do just to develop the material and other peripheral locations, so where water should never be company has a good foundation some funding, where there will be develop the process. Once CSP that’s where we’re at right now. used to ght re. to implement that strategy right development programs with pro- got involved through Teijin’s ac- With Teijin, I think they’re taking in the U.S. as the EV market duction intent, but no production quisition of us [in 2017], it just a great interest in what we do. grows. What is the big-picture promise. But if you prove along went the next step to where we They’re trying to build capabili- Incident Investigation strategy for the region? the way that this is a really viable became the Tier 1 for it and now ty within their own organization After an incident, an inves- Siwajek: In the U.S., we’ve al- technology, and it makes sense it’s in production, so that was a in Japan where they can mim- tigation by quali ed persons ways had really close relation- for everybody, it will develop into perfect example of that kind of ic some of the things we can do should always be carried out ships with all our customers a production program. We’ve had development process. in the U.S. or in Europe, so they to establish root cause and here. We work directly with their a couple of those happen already, Q: Is there anything you’d like can support out of Japan as well. to develop procedures that engineering teams, with their and we’re working on a few more. to add? I think that’s just going to help ensure a repeat could never materials teams, so we generally It’s really an exciting way to de- Siwajek: We’re looking every grow our business within our par- happen. will know ahead of time what’s velop because you don’t feel like day at expansion in Europe to be ent company. Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • 19 Rodon Group sees window of opportunity with new product line By Audrey LaForest Plastics News Staff Rodon Group LLC, a custom in- jection molder out of Hat eld, Pa., is setting its sights on a new prod- uct line that it says could have a signi cant impact on sales and pro tability for the company in the years to come. The product, called SillDry, is a patented one-piece sill pan ash- ing that is designed to protect vulnerable areas of windows and doors from water intrusion. The expandable, waterproof design has a raised back dam with a built- Above: SillDry features an in slope and features an accordi- accordion-style construction, on-style expansion capability. enabling the part to expand and The part is made of thermoplas- retract to t around window and tic polyole n and can be molded door openings. Sill Dry Industries LLC photo in a cycle time of 30-60 seconds depending on the size, which can Right: Rodon Group’s new 720- range from “18 inches to in ni- ton Nissei injection molding ty,” according to co-inventor Joel machine is molding SillDry, a Glickman. The largest size so far patented one-piece sill pan has been 12 feet, he said. ashing that is designed to “And it solves a problem where protect vulnerable areas of there are builders out there who windows and doors from water have gone out of business because intrusion. Rodon Group LLC photo they’re being sued for what the SillDry pan protects against, which is the windows leaking,” Glickman said in a phone interview. ever they’re building.” existence, and I imagine it’ll out- est-tonnage press to date and runs out of room. When that hap- “The house settles, and the win- Glickman invented K’Nex in last me,” he added. “But SillDry joins 118 other injection molding pens, he estimated the second fa- dows crack in the corners. They 1991. The company, founded in represents a much, much larger machines housed at the compa- cility could house between 35-50 can’t help it, so water gets in, 1992, makes the widely known opportunity nancially.” ny’s 125,000-square-foot head- injection molding machines. seeps down under the window and construction sets based on inter- quarters and manufacturing fa- And with SillDry, the company rots out the sill underneath it,” he connecting plastic girders and cility. Clamping forces now range is expecting “big things,” Glickman said. “The SillDry sill pan takes the supports that can be assembled Large opportunities, from 46-720 tons. said. water that could conceivably seep into various structures. The company has also pur- “I think it will be signi cant in through there and disperses it into K’Nex Brands’ assets were sold big potential chased another 125,000-square- that there are 60 million windows and out of the building.” to Basic Fun, a toy and novelty SillDry became commercially foot building about a mile from its and doors made in the United Glickman is chairman and CEO company in Boca Raton, Fla., in a available a few months ago after headquarters. The building — a States,” he said. “Rather than sell- of Rodon Group and the inventor January 2018 auction, but Rodon more than three years in the de- mirror image of the current facili- ing something for a nickel, the sill of K’Nex construction toys. He’s still molds the components, Glick- sign phase, Glickman said, but it ty — is valued at about $9 million, pans that we’re selling, the ball- also now principal at Sill Dry In- man said. has already led to big investments Glickman said, and has 11 loading park range is somewhere between dustries LLC alongside Kieran Mc- “I made a decision that we by Rodon as the company puts a docks. It’ll be up and running with- $8 and $10 a running foot.” Mahon, a construction industry couldn’t nance both businesses strategy in place for future — and in the next week or two, and it will A typical 3-foot unit could be in veteran who originally presented appropriately,” he said of K’Nex larger — growth. employ about 10 people. the mid-$20 range for a part, he es- the window-leaking problem to and Sill Dry. Most recently, the company in- “What we’ll do is use the sec- timated. Glickman. Glickman said he had been con- vested around $750,000 in a 720- ond building for our warehouse “Multiply that by 60 million, you “People come to us with prob- templating expanding into SillDry ton Nissei injection molding ma- and shipping and use the space see what the potential of the com- lems — they require something and, ultimately, determined it had chine that is being used to mold that we’ve cleared out — the ware- pany is,” he said. — and we help them solve them,” more potential. “You’re talking sig- the large SillDry parts. The Nissei house in the original building — to Rodon Group is No. 160 on Plas- Glickman said. “They need a prod- ni cant dollars,” he said. press is equipped with a high- add additional presses,” Glickman tics News’ most recent ranking of uct, and we help them design “K’Nex is and continues to be a speed, full-servo robot from Star said. “That’s our plan.” injection molders in North Ameri- something that’s both manufactur- wonderful product. It’s now been Automation Inc. All of the molding will still be ca, with estimated injection mold- able and what they need for what- almost 30 years that it’s been in The machine is Rodon’s larg- done at its headquarters until it ing sales of $40 million in 2018. CPI adds cooling tower production site for Tower Tech By Frank Esposito foot facility. The ex- ‘Having our new facility Plastics News Staff pansion on the CPI campus created 20 near our major suppliers Creative Pultrusions Inc., a additional jobs. CPI maker of ber-reinforced polymer currently staffs 180 allows us to serve our ever- products, has added a building employees, and of- growing customer base.’ on its campus to include its Tow- cials said that job er Tech cooling tower business. growth is projected Shane Weyant A grand opening and ribbon- to continue. Creative Pultrusions Inc. cutting ceremony for the new “Having our new fa- building is set for Aug. 13 in Alum cility near our major Bank, Pa. Guided tours at the suppliers allows us to serve our the same place for the rst time event will showcase the manufac- ever-growing customer base,” in its 35-year history. “This grand turing process of the Tower Tech CEO Shane Weyant said in the opening is the beginning of many cooling towers, of cials said in a release. “Bedford County and exciting product improvements, news release. the surrounding areas have been offerings and growth for Tower CPI, which acquired Tower good to Creative Pultrusions, so Tech going forward,” he said. Workers for Tower Tech assemble a cooling tower inside the new Tech in 2017, makes the walls for we are excited to add additional After being acquired by PCI, Pennsylvania facility. Tower Tech/Creative Pultrusions Inc. photo the cooling towers, and company employment opportunities to the Tower Tech moved its produc- of cials said centralizing manu- immediate area.” tion from Oklahoma City to Penn- facturing improves ef ciency and Tower Tech President Mathu sylvania. I-beams, tubes, rods and sheets, parts maker Composite Advan- saves cost on freight. Solo added that the new building CPI has designed and pro- as well as bridges, boardwalks tage LLC of Dayton, Ohio. The CA Local contractor Corle Con- allows his rm to have its core duced standard and custom - and panels, since 1973. Late last deal was CPI’s fourth acquisition struction built the 36,000-square- manufacturing and assembly in berglass pro le shapes such as year, CPI acquired composite since 2016. 20 • Plastics News, August 12, 2019 PTI study focuses on preforms, humidity By Jim Johnson deformation” using vacuum oven Plastics News Staff drying. Research found that this ap- Time is not just the enemy of proach takes about 50 days to mankind as new research shows lower the moisture content us- older PET preforms are more ing 22° C (71.6° F) for the rst 15 dif cult to process into new con- days and then increasing to 40° C tainers. (104° F). That’s not a viable time The work by Plastic Technolo- frame, PTI said. gies Inc. of Holland, Ohio, looks There also is not equipment at preforms for both 20-ounce available to dry large quantities and 2-liter bottles stored for of preforms in a vacuum oven more than a year. simultaneously. Using tempera- The bottom line is that PET tures higher than 40° C also might preforms, because they absorb deform preforms that would then moisture while being stored, cre- cause blow molding problems. ate more problems as time pass, PTI undertook the research the research and development after frequently receiving ques- rm said. tions about how long preforms New preforms have close to 0 can be stored. parts per million of moisture, but “The older the preform, the preforms stored over time or in more dif cult it will be to pro- what PTI calls “extremely humid cess so that the container meets conditions” can contain up to performance criteria,” PTI said 10,000 ppm of moisture, PTI said in its white paper. “The time of in a new white paper examining year the preforms were injection the issue. molded, along with the environ- PTI studied preforms with mental conditions in which they 3,000 ppm, which is typical in are kept, also will impact perfor- preforms that are stored from mance.” three to six months in moderate Buyers might think they are humidity conditions. making a good economic deci- A PTI study looked at the performance of older preforms in the blow molding process, nding that the older “Our plant support personnel sion by buying and storing pre- the preform, the higher the likelihood it will be harder to process. Plastic Technologies Inc. photo were frequently being asked what forms in larger quantities to save storage duration was acceptable money, PTI said. for preforms and what problems But, it added, “the downside Over-engineering preforms said, “acts as a plasticizer allow- smaller-diameter units. can present themselves during of this strategy is that older pre- to withstand the rigors of stor- ing for more stretching and less PTI’s white paper, “Preforms: longer storage periods,” Sumit forms do not process the same. age also does not make sense strain hardening.” The added what you need to know about Mukherjee, PTI chief technology This means that the blown con- because of the added weight or moisture also allows preforms storage time/conditions,” is of cer, said in a statement. tainers don’t meet performance orientation needed compared to absorb more heat during pro- available at https://s27935.pcdn. The company’s goal was to low- specs unless the processing con- to when preforms is used in a cessing. co/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ er the moisture level to 200 ppm ditions are tweaked suf ciently timely manner, the white paper The work also found that larg- The-Impact-of-Time-and-Environ- with “relatively low temperature or have a reasonable factor of reports. er-diameter preforms are im- mental-Conditions-on-Invento- to minimize preform dimensional safety.” Moisture in preforms, PTI pacted more by moisture than ried-Preforms-06.28.2019.pdf. Dunkin’ to switch to Performance Pipe earns PP for lids by 2020 safety star status from OSHA By Jim Johnson substrates. By Catherine Kavanaugh Plastics News Staff PP has emerged in recent years in popu- Plastics News Staff ‘As a VPP Star Site, larity, and the overall trend in the recycling our Plano of ce The middle of 2020 is an important time markets is to capture more and more of that Performance Pipe’s manufacturing op- for fast-food restaurant Dunkin’ as two ef- material. PP still has a long way to go to eration in Plano, Texas, earned a Star Site has undergone a forts directly impacting the company’s use meet the recycling tonnage posted by both designation from the Occupational Safe- transformational effort of plastics expect to be fully rolled out. PET and high density polyethylene. ty and Health Administration (OSHA) for The Canton, Mass.-based company, “For plastic, increasing the recyclabili- operating 13 years without a recordable to engage employees which recently dropped the “Donuts” from ty and reducing our consumption is a top injury. its name, is out with a new plan to transition priority. We remain committed to nding a The high density polyethylene pipe through diverse safety from polystyrene to polypropylene lids by longterm sustainable alternative to our sin- producer is a division of The Woodlands, tools that raise general mid-2020. gle-use plastic packaging, including straws, Texas-based Chevron Phillips Chemical That’s the same time frame for naliza- that meets our guests’ expectations and re- Company LP, which now counts all 18 of safety awareness.’ tion of the company’s switch from expand- duces environmental impacts,” the compa- its eligible U.S. locations as holding the Mike Zeglin ed PS cups to double-walled paper cups for ny said in the report. safety distinction for maintaining some of Performance Pipe hot drinks in the United States. International locations also are transition- the industry’s lowest recordable incident The EPS cup had long been an iconic part ing to paper cups, Dunkin’ said. rates. of the Dunkin’ experience, but the company “The majority of Dunkin’s international The recognition follows participation eligible sites VPP Star certi ed,” Holzhaus- signaled a few years ago that it wanted to markets are currently using paper cups, and in OSHA’s voluntary protection program er said in a news release. “This remark- move away from that material due to recy- we will work with our franchisees/licensees (VPP), which was started in 1982 to en- able achievement re ects our relentless clability concerns. to eliminate any remaining foam cups by courage safe and healthy working condi- focus on safety performance and reinforc- That’s the same rationale Dunkin’ is citing our 2020 goal,” the report said. tions. es one of the main goals of our operational for replacing PS lids with PP lids. The change from EPS to paper cups elimi- With sales of $450 million, Performance excellence strategy: Eliminate high-sever- Double-walled paper cups already are in nates the use of 19 million pounds of PS, the Pipe ranks No. 9 among North American ity/high-potential process and personnel many markets around the country as the company said. pipe, pro le and tubing extruders, accord- safety events.” company continues to roll out their use. While Dunkin’ is positioning its move to ing to Plastics News’ latest ranking. Companies trying for the Star status Along the way, the company also tested use PP lids as part of a sustainability push, a Between its manufacturing and admin- must exceed minimum OSHA standards of expanded polypropylene cups but ulti- group called The Last Beach Cleanup ex- istrative facilities, Performance Pipe far and continue to develop improvement mately opted for paper. pressed concerns. outperforms national averages for the programs. “Our transition to paper cups will remove Jan Dell, an independent engineer with pipe- tting sector when it comes to RIR, “As a VPP Star Site, our Plano of ce has 1 billion foam cups from the waste stream the environmental group, raised questions Bureau of Labor Statistics data show. undergone a transformational effort to annually,” said Karen Raskopf, chief com- about the availability of PP recycling in The honors for the Plano operation engage employees through diverse safety munications and sustainability of cer in the communities and whether there is enough build on Chevron Phillip’s initiative called tools that raise general safety awareness,” company’s newly released sustainability interest from material recovery facilities to “Our Journey to Zero” to maintain top Mike Zeglin, Performance Pipe general report. handle them. safety results, according to Kate Holz- manager and president, said in the release. EPS has come under increased scrutiny, “While Dunkin’ may not have another ma- hauser, the company’s vice president of “I could not be prouder of their hard work especially in the foodservice sector, be- terial ready for use as lids yet, they should environment, health, safety and security. and enthusiasm to reach this outstanding cause of the relative dif culty to recycle not perpetuate the myth that the PP ... lids “Thanks to them, we are now one of a goal to keep our people, contractors and the material, compared with our resins and are ‘recyclable,’” she said in a statement. handful of U.S. private employers with all neighboring community safe.” Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • 21 Reserve your ad space for the K 2019 SHOW DAILIES 20161024-SHOW--0001-NAT-CCI-PN_-- 10/23/2016 11:19 AM Page 1 20161022-SHOW--0001-NAT-CCI-PN_-- 10/21/2016 10:04 AM Page 1 ©Entire contents copyright 2015 by CrainMonday, Communications October 24, 2016 Inc. All PlasticsNews.com rights reserved. 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All rights reserved. ‘We have to give them help’ Turkey’s plastics industry starts training program for Syrian refugees photo by Caroline Seidel Caroline by photo SHOW ne Seidel li The next By Steve Toloken Plastics News Staff aro Gaziantep Chamber of Industry C DAILY Plastics News Plastics Hall 8b/E71-7 Gaziantep, a Turkish city of 1.9 million photo by generation people with a sizable plastics sector, is about to start an injection molding and who have fled fighting in their country. extrusion training program to help Adnan Ünverdi, a local plastics indus- Bekum builds its future on refugees from the Syrian conflict. try exec utive and vice president of the Plastics News knowledge gained from LyondellBasell The program, funded by local industry board of the Gaziantep chamber, said the program is both a humanitarian effort to and United Nations grants, plans to start By Catherine Kavanaugh early next year and will train 150 people help the refugees and a way to help local Plastics News Staff at a time in three month classes, about 90 companies overcome labor shortages. material an auto Syrians and 60 Turkish citizens, accord- “We are starting the training program A small blow molding ma- its past ing to plastics industry executives with because the Gaziantep industry needs chine built in 1958 by Gottfried quality workers, and the Syrians need ed- Mehnert put Bekum Maschinen- the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry (Hall MaschinenfabrikenBekum GmbH ucation,” he said. fabriken GmbH (Hall 14/C3) on By Kerri Jansen 8b/E71-7) at K 2016. the path to success in its found- interior alternative Gaziantep, in Southeast Turkey about The training program will have one ex- ing year with the world’s first Hall 14/C3 Plastics News Staff trusion line and one injection molding 60 kilometers from the Syrian border, is neck-rim calibration, which currently home to about 400,000 Syrians machine, both donated by industry, and helped produce perfe Now almost 60 years later, photo by Marco Stepniak bottles. the distinguished inventor’s See Adnan Ünverdi, Gaziantap Chamber of Industry vice president, said the organization is starting ews Refugees, Page 38 youngest son, 34-year-old N a program to train Syrian refugees. Numerous patents and devel- cs A new material from LyondellBasell Industries NV (Hall ct plast Michael Mehnert, is getting opments followed, changing the ic 6/D24) offers an alternative to fabric-wrapped trim for the auto- industry and solidifying the ready to make his mar Plasti motive market. Berlin-based company’s posi- company that has grown to 300 PATRICK Softell Textile, a glass-reinforced polypropylene, is a single- employees and almost 100 mil- tion as a k on the material solution designed to mimic thef mold look texturing of a fabric- and car- blow molding pione technology. lion euros of annual sales. wrapped part but with fewer manufacturing steps and im- er in extrus Appointed to managing part- combination o Arburg t akes on high-volume cube molding ner in the spring, Michael Mehn- proved cleanability. The textile effect is achieved through a ion bon fiber flecks in the resin itself. ert took over management of The material has already been select- LynondellBasell By Bill Bregar ed for interior trim parts in production s photo by Caroline Seidel Industries NV Plastics News Staff Arburg GmbH + Co. KG screw-on base is red and the flip- See vehicles. Bek top is blue. um, Hall 6/D24 “During the past, A, B, C, D pillars Every weekday at K 2016, except for the last day, Dow is hosting a fashion show featuring designs made from plas- Arburg GmbH + Co. KG is moving Hall 13/A13 Solvay plans facility,Page 19 partnership in Mexico “It’s a typical part where the Gottfried Mehnert and his son Michael Mehnert. Plastics New into high-volume cube molding, tics created by students at Southampton Solent University in England. cost-per-part counts,” said Gerhard where a revolving four-faced mold have all been textile covered,” said Erik Licht, manager, busi- Böhm, Arburg’s managing directorBy Frank Esposito spins between cle. The clamping force is 290 met- ness development at LyondellBasell PP Compounds Europe. two injection units, of sales. “They run such programsPlastics News Staff turning out a multicomponent part. ric tons. Arburg also is offering an “Now, for most of the OEMs and most of the models, only the WORK Allrounder Cube in 460 metric tons. for several years. Once they A-pillar, maximum the B-pillar, is fabric-covered, while the oth- For proof, visit Arburg at Hall change to such Solvay Group is venturing into worked for months con- 13/A13. Arburg is running a cube mold a part, forMexico example, with a nylon compound- er ones are plain PP,” commonly for ieconomics scratch resistantreasons. and eas- Students from Foboha GmbH in Haslach, they run it for six or seven years Solvay Group CANNON Softell Textile offers a potential solution for automakers to cater Arburg has been able to produce ing unit aimed at the a MAKE IT ceptualizing and creating garments Germany, a city less than an hour’s continuously.” parts with cube molds for about market. to customers looking for luxury touches in lower-cost vehicles. One Hall 6/C61 ile, Page 37 from all types of plastics provided five years. But the K 2016 All- drive from Ar burg headquarters in injection unit is mounted on On a practical level, the material Text the machine base. The otherThe plantrides in San Luis Potosíutomotive See Students, Dow join forcesDow Chemical to turn Co. plasticsby Dow into with fashionthe idea that a fashion rounder Cube press is a major de- Lossburg in the Black Forest. will be co-located with Chunil En- auto value chain moving to Mexi- The Mexico plant is set to be op- ier for car buyers to clean than a fabric-wrapped part. on the clamp. Shot capacities are show would be one of the focal parture into very high-volume The part being molded at K 2016 gineering Co. Ltd., a South Kore- co,” engineering plastics General erational in July. “With the Softell Textile, you just wipe it, it’s clean,” Licht By Jim Johnson Hall 8/K48-1 eight ounces and 16 ounces. points of the company’s display molding: Turning out two-compo- is a flip-top cap for a bottle of Pril, an Tier 1 supplier and a major Manager Peter Browning said in Solvay (Hall 6/C61) also in- Plastics News Staff Friedrich Kanz, president of Arburg Inc., showing off one of The machine is a hybrid press that tends to increase its sulfone poly- (Hall 8/K48-1) this year. nent closure caps on a 32-by-32 the popular German brand of hand Solvay customer. The unit will an Oct. 21 interview at K 2016. He Thompson and fellowthe student company’s machine displays. uses electric power haveand servo-drivenannual production capacity added that the unit is a turnkey mer production capacity by 35 cavity mold, on an 8.5-second cy- dishwashing soap. B oth compo- mote plastics and provide a learn- Charlotte Logue teamed up to cre- nents are polypropylene, but the of around 22 million pounds and operation acquired from supplier percent over the next five years When 15 models strut theirdesigns. stuff at sites in ing experience, but also gain some- ate four garments in the show, in- SeewillAr createburg, Page30 new 37 jobs. Coperion. in one corner of a hall at the K need for new capacity is being thing in return. cluding maybe the most detailed “This is being driven by the The model of co-locating with a Ohio and India. The CALLshow, it is all about the Every weekday at K 2016, TOexcept piece on display, a dress made BOOK TODAY!customer could be used by Brus- driven by demand from medical Page 37 But this is also about so much shion, sels-based Solvay in other parts and plumbing markets, where the Solvay’s for the last day, Dow is hosting a from an estimatedSee F a 5,000 white more than fashion. fashion show featuring designs VISIT THE of the world, such as Russia or materials are used for filtration, Peter photo by Caroline Seidel Caroline by photo For Lily Thompson, it is a chance made from plastics created by stu- Sumitomo Demag Southeast Asia, Browning said. Senior Executive Vice President Browning to prove people wrong. dents at Southampton Solent Uni- R&D investment PLASTICS Jens Hoeltje said at K 2016. showing a For Sharon Lloyd, it is a chance INSIDE Recently, Solvay has had suc- new product versity in England. increasing capacity to see her students grow and learn. cess with high-heat grades of at K 2016. Plastics News Plastics pays off for Illig NEWS And for Dow Chemical Co., it is Plastics VISIT THE for machines photo byNews an opportunity to not only pro- MONDAY in orders, sales Caroline Seidel PAGE 4 BOOTH See Sol PLASTICS PAGE 8 vay, NEWS HALL 6/ C8 SATURDAYINSIDE Page 18 Left, Erik Licht, manager business development, and Christoph BOOTH Peter Neumann Sondern, president of LyondellBasell, showing a new textile piece. Tennis rackets leaves Engel in serve up an ace for HALL 6/ C8 THE FUTURE OF great shape 313.446.1625 Milacron is S.T. Soffaggio Tecnica INTELLIGENT EXTRUSION Bill Bregar: Don’t making moves PAGE 4 PAGE 3 K 2016 | October 19 – 26, 2016 | Please visit us: talk to me about VISIT THE INSIDE in Europe Hall 17 | Booth A57 American politics PLASTICS PAGE 7 THE FUTURE OF PAGE 10 NEWS FRIDAY BOOTH [email protected] INTELLIGENT EXTRUSION K 2016 | Oct ober 19 – 26, 2016 | Please visit us:INTELLIGENT EXTRUSIONHALL 6/C8 THE FUTURE OF Hall 17 | Booth A57 Hall 17 | Booth A57 K 2016 | October 19 – 26, 2016 | Please visit us: RESIN As of August 8 PRICING CHART www.plasticsnews.com Prices are in U.S. cents per pound for prime resin, un lled, natural color, FOB supplier, Updates unless otherwise noted. Prices are generated from interviews with buyers and suppliers. • An arrow, up or down , indicates a market price change The information provided is based on sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy or in that direction from the previous week. timeliness is not guaranteed and no warranties of any kind are provided. Plastics News Historical resin pricing High-temperature thermoplastics Thermosets Engineering thermoplastics does not intend to specify the price of the materials listed. For price quotes on speci c • A “P” indicates that a price change for that material is pending. Engineering thermoplastics Recycled plastics HDPE, extrusion lm MMW Resin/Grade Volume category: I II Resin/Grade Volume category: I II materials, contact the supplier. PN discourages use of this chart as a single-source index • A bullet ■ indicates a correction in the published price. Resin/Grade Volume category: I II Key: I - Annual volumes greater than 1 million pounds Resin/Grade Clean regrind Large volume average, in cents. for price contracts. PN does not buy or sell resins. II - Annual volumes of about 300,000 to 500,000 pounds or ake Pellets FLUOROPOLYMER POLYURETHANE, ISOCYANATES POLYURETHANE Ester type, injection 189-206 213-222 120 ECTFE P 1250-1422 — Polymeric MDI 105-115 — Highlights ABS Extrusion 216-238 252-270 Plastics News resin pricing for thermosets, certain engineering thermoplastics and Resin/Grade Volume category PTFE P 670-765 — 80/20 TDI 110-120 — I II Mixed colors, industrial 45-49 75-79 Ether type 252-265 297-306 high-temperature thermoplastics are published in the last issue of each month. • Solid polystyrene up 2 cents. PVDF P 720-760 — UREA MOLDING COMPOUND • Polypropylene up 1 cent. POLYCARBONATE Black & brown — 95-100 SAN, general purpose 128-136 140-164 Data can be viewed anytime online at www.plasticsnews.com. ACETAL LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS • PET bottle resin up 1 cent. White & ivory — 105-110 SMA Homopolymer 137-144 148-154 Clear, industrial 86-96 — Injection: Paying PN subscribers also can access historical resin pricing data and graphs from General-purpose — 179-183 20 percent glass — 179-194 Mixed colors, industrial 83-87 91-97 100 Glass- lled 610-980 — VINYL ESTER our website. High-impact 167-178 187-190 Mineral- lled 550-810 — Anti-corrosion — 204-223 Copolymer 115-125 130-139 POLYETHYLENE Flame-retardant 217-225 — 20 percent glass — 160-175 Extrusion 945-1180 — Anti-heat & corrosion — 229-237 HDPE: TPE Commodity Thermoplastics NYLON Natural, post-consumer 51-55 74-78 POLYAMIDE/IMIDE Engineering thermoplastics Polyester — 325-400 Mixed colors, post-consumer 36-40 44-51 30% glass — 1800-2600 Key: I - Annual volumes greater than 20 million pounds II - Annual volumes of about 2 million to 5 million pounds Type 6 137-147 150-154 Key: I - Annual volumes greater than 1 million pounds Ole nic (compounded) 80-115 120-135 Mixed colors, industrial 33-38 45-49 POLYARYLATE 176-210 — Type 6/6 185-193 197-208 80 II - Annual volumes of about 300,000 to 500,000 pounds Styrenic 160-190 220-270 Resin/Grade Volume category Resin/Grade Volume category Resin/Grade Volume category HMW HDPE lm, POLYETHERKETONE Resin/Grade Volume category: I II UHMW-PE 120-124 136-146 III I II I II POLYESTER post-consumer — 38-42 Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) — 4500 PBT, injection 119-124 129-134 ACETAL Recycled plastics LLDPE stretch lm — 29-43 POLYETHERIMIDE (PEI) HDPE POLYSTYRENE ABS 30 percent glass, FR 154-159 164-174 Homopolymer 137-144 148-154 800 880 Resin/Grade Clean regrind Blow molding: Crystal: Injection: LDPE lm: Injection, general-purpose PET, injection 118-123 128-138 20 percent glass — 179-194 or ake Pellets Copolymer (HIC) 63-65 67-69 Injection, general-purpose 102-104 106-110 Medium-impact 120-123 124-125 Clear, post-consumer — 35-39 30% glass 660 720 30 percent glass, FR 155-165 165-175 Copolymer 115-125 130-139 Homopolymer (Dairy) 63-64 65-68 High-heat 106-110 112-113 High-impact 125-126 128-132 Colored, post-consumer 17-21 37-41 60 ABS POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE (PPS) 20 percent glass — 160-175 Pipe ttings 110-111 114-118 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 Mixed colors, industrial 45-49 75-79 Drums 65-67 68-71 High-impact: POLYCARBONATE PET BOTTLES 35% glass, 30% lter 380-390 495-505 High-heat 146-150 155-160 CELLULOSICS Extrusion 109-111 114-116 Blow molding 178-188 209-219 Clear, post-consumer POLYCARBONATE Injection, general-purpose 59-60 62-64 Flame-retardant 151-155 160-175 44-56 68-76 30% glass 595-605 740-765 Acetate — 178 Injection 108-110 114-116 Clear, industrial 86-96 — Injection, general-purpose 162-171 166-191 Green, post-consumer 28-36 33-41 PVC, suspension resin injection GP Extrusion: Extrusion: POLYSULFONE Butyrate — 175 High-heat, injection 112-117 118-120 122-124 127-132 20 percent glass 178-188 209-225 Mixed colors, industrial 83-87 91-97 Film, HMW 65-67 69-72 Pipe, general-purpose Large volume average, in cents. Injection, general-purpose — 450-650 Propionate — 175 139-140 142-144 Structural foam 160-169 196-213 POLYPROPYLENE Film, MMW 68-69 73-75 142-146 148-152 30% glass POLYETHYLENE Flame-retardant Sheet, general-purpose Flame-retardant 193-210 221-231 100 — 386-634 NYLON Pipe, HMW 73-75 78-81 Industrial 31-35 45-49 HDPE: EPS, cups 108-111 — Type 6 137-147 150-154 Pipe, MMW 76-79 80-82 Blends/alloys: Extrusion, sheet 161-170 173-201 Thermosets Natural, post-consumer 51-55 74-78 Unmodi ed 102-105 101-110 — 154-159 POLYSTYRENE Type 6/6 185-193 197-208 Sheet 61-63 65-67 PC/ABS Key: I - Annual volumes of 2 million pounds to 5 million pounds Mixed colors, post-consumer 36-40 44-51 Nylon/ABS — 159-169 Optical media 144-153 154-173 Industrial 19-24 54-70 II - Annual volumes of about 200,000-500,000 pounds POLYESTER Mixed colors, industrial 33-38 45-49 Rotomolding, powder — 74-77 PVC RESIN High-heat, crystal, PBT, injection 119-124 129-134 POLYURETHANE Volume category: HMW HDPE lm, Suspension resin: ACRYLIC, G-P — 125-130 post-consumer 34-40 51-57 80 Resin/Grade I II 30 percent glass, FR 154-159 164-174 LDPE Injection, general-purpose 88-91 91-93 Ester type, injection 189-206 213-222 post-consumer — 38-42 Injection: EPOXY PET, injection 118-123 128-138 Pipe grade 86-88 89-92 PET PACKAGING RESINS Extrusion 216-238 252-270 LLDPE stretch lm — 29-43 General-purpose — 73-75 PVC General-purpose 100-112 — 30 percent glass, FR 155-165 165-175 Dispersion resin: APET 91-93 94-96 Ether type 252-265 297-306 Clear, industrial 22-28 — Lid resin 71-73 75-77 Bottle resin 70.5-72.5 73.5-75.5 Compounds: POLYCARBONATE LDPE lm: Homopolymer, G-P 113-117 119-123 Extrusion: CPET 89-91 — TPE Coils, bushings 105-152 — Blow molding 178-188 209-219 Clear, post-consumer — 35-39 60 Resistors, diodes Colored, post-consumer 17-21 37-41 Coating, paper 71-73 — POLYPROPYLENE Polyester — 325-400 — 227-286 Injection, general-purpose 162-171 166-191 > Continued on page 22 Semiconductor: Film, liner 66-68 69-74 Homopolymer: Ole nic (compounded) 80-115 120-135 20 percent glass 178-188 209-225 PET BOTTLES Clarity lm 64-66 67-70 Injection, general-purpose 64.5-66.5 67.5-70.5 Gas & oil futures Novolac — 212-246 Structural foam 160-169 196-213 Clear, post-consumer 44-56 68-76 Average prices in U.S. dollars* Styrenic 160-190 220-270 Anhydride — 214-297 Flame-retardant 193-210 221-231 Extrusion: Green, post-consumer 28-36 33-41 LLDPE Extrusion, sheet Fiber 63.5-65.5 66.5-68.5 Natural gas Crude oil For pricing information on recycled resins, 40 MELAMINE MOLDING COMPOUND 135-175 — 161-170 173-201 POLYPROPYLENE Butene-1 comonomer: $57 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 Film 64.5-67.5 67.5-70.5 3.0 call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. 75-85 — Optical media 144-153 154-173 Industrial 31-35 45-49 Injection, general-purpose — 54-58 56 PHENOLIC, G-P Extrusion, liner lm 50-53 54-56 Pro les 67.5-70.5 72.5-79.5 Per million Btu PPO/PPE 2.8 55 For pricing information on virgin thermoplastic Entire contents copyright 2019 by Crain Communications Inc. POLYESTER, UNSATURATED POLYSTYRENE Sheet 66.5-69.5 70.5-72.5 Source: Plastics News research Injection, general-purpose — 123-187 19-24 54-70 or thermoset resins, call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. All rights reserved. General-purpose 174-195 — Industrial HAO comonomer: 2.6 54 20 percent glass — 179-272 — 60-62 Random copolymer: Per U.S. barrel High-heat, crystal, Injection, general-purpose 53 Isophthalic 171-195 — Structural foam — 131-207 34-40 51-57 Injection 67.5-69.5 70.5-72.5 post-consumer Lid resin 62-65 68-71 2.4 52 Specialty (bisphenol A, etc.) — 230-265 56-58 60-63 Film 69.5-70.5 71.5-73.5 Extrusion — 148-239 PVC Extrusion, liner lm 51 Rotomolding, powder — 79-84 Blow molding 69.5-70.5 72.5-75.5 2.2 Clear, industrial 22-28 — 50 Impact copolymer: 2.0 High-impact 78.5-82.5 83.5-86.5 SOND J F 0 SON D J F For pricing information on virgin thermoplastic or TPO (in-reactor) 98.5-106.5 105.5-109.5 2019 2019 thermoset resins, call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. Source: Barchart.com Inc., Chicago *As of August 8 RESIN As of August 8 PRICING CHART www.plasticsnews.com Prices are in U.S. cents per pound for prime resin, un lled, natural color, FOB supplier, Updates unless otherwise noted. Prices are generated from interviews with buyers and suppliers. 22 • Plastics News, August 12, 2019 • An arrow, up or down , indicates a market price change The information provided is based on sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy or in that direction from the previous week. timeliness is not guaranteed and no warranties of any kind are provided. Plastics News Historical resin pricing High-temperature thermoplastics Thermosets Engineering thermoplastics does not intend to specify the price of the materials listed. For price quotes on speci c • A “P” indicates that a price change for that material is pending. Engineering thermoplastics Recycled plastics HDPE, extrusion lm MMW Resin/Grade Volume category: I II Resin/Grade Volume category: I II materials, contact the supplier. PN discourages use of this chart as a single-source index • A bullet ■ indicates a correction in the published price. Resin/Grade Volume category: I II Key: I - Annual volumes greater than 1 million pounds Resin/Grade Clean regrind Large volume average, in cents. for price contracts. PN does not buy or sell resins. II - Annual volumes of about 300,000 to 500,000 pounds or ake Pellets FLUOROPOLYMER POLYURETHANE, ISOCYANATES POLYURETHANE Ester type, injection 189-206 213-222 120 ECTFE P 1250-1422 — Polymeric MDI 105-115 — Highlights ABS Extrusion 216-238 252-270 Plastics News resin pricing for thermosets, certain engineering thermoplastics and Resin/Grade Volume category PTFE P 670-765 — 80/20 TDI 110-120 — I II Mixed colors, industrial 45-49 75-79 Ether type 252-265 297-306 high-temperature thermoplastics are published in the last issue of each month. • Solid polystyrene up 2 cents. PVDF P 720-760 — UREA MOLDING COMPOUND • Polypropylene up 1 cent. POLYCARBONATE Black & brown — 95-100 SAN, general purpose 128-136 140-164 Data can be viewed anytime online at www.plasticsnews.com. ACETAL LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS • PET bottle resin up 1 cent. White & ivory — 105-110 SMA Homopolymer 137-144 148-154 Clear, industrial 86-96 — Injection: Paying PN subscribers also can access historical resin pricing data and graphs from General-purpose — 179-183 20 percent glass — 179-194 Mixed colors, industrial 83-87 91-97 Glass- lled 610-980 — VINYL ESTER our website. 100 High-impact 167-178 187-190 Mineral- lled 550-810 — Anti-corrosion — 204-223 Copolymer 115-125 130-139 POLYETHYLENE Flame-retardant 217-225 — 20 percent glass — 160-175 Extrusion 945-1180 — Anti-heat & corrosion — 229-237 HDPE: TPE Commodity Thermoplastics NYLON Natural, post-consumer 51-55 74-78 POLYAMIDE/IMIDE Engineering thermoplastics Polyester — 325-400 Mixed colors, post-consumer 36-40 44-51 30% glass — 1800-2600 Key: I - Annual volumes greater than 20 million pounds II - Annual volumes of about 2 million to 5 million pounds Type 6 137-147 150-154 Key: I - Annual volumes greater than 1 million pounds Ole nic (compounded) 80-115 120-135 Mixed colors, industrial 33-38 45-49 POLYARYLATE 176-210 — Type 6/6 185-193 197-208 80 II - Annual volumes of about 300,000 to 500,000 pounds Styrenic 160-190 220-270 Resin/Grade Volume category Resin/Grade Volume category Resin/Grade Volume category HMW HDPE lm, POLYETHERKETONE Resin/Grade Volume category: I II UHMW-PE 120-124 136-146 III I II I II POLYESTER post-consumer — 38-42 Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) — 4500 PBT, injection 119-124 129-134 ACETAL Recycled plastics LLDPE stretch lm — 29-43 POLYETHERIMIDE (PEI) HDPE POLYSTYRENE ABS 30 percent glass, FR 154-159 164-174 Homopolymer 137-144 148-154 800 880 Resin/Grade Clean regrind Blow molding: Crystal: Injection: LDPE lm: Injection, general-purpose PET, injection 118-123 128-138 20 percent glass — 179-194 or ake Pellets Copolymer (HIC) 63-65 67-69 Injection, general-purpose 102-104 106-110 Medium-impact 120-123 124-125 Clear, post-consumer — 35-39 30% glass 660 720 30 percent glass, FR 155-165 165-175 Copolymer 115-125 130-139 Homopolymer (Dairy) 63-64 65-68 High-heat 106-110 112-113 High-impact 125-126 128-132 Colored, post-consumer 17-21 37-41 60 ABS POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE (PPS) 20 percent glass — 160-175 Pipe ttings 110-111 114-118 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 Mixed colors, industrial 45-49 75-79 Drums 65-67 68-71 High-impact: POLYCARBONATE PET BOTTLES 35% glass, 30% lter 380-390 495-505 High-heat 146-150 155-160 CELLULOSICS Extrusion 109-111 114-116 Blow molding 178-188 209-219 Clear, post-consumer POLYCARBONATE Injection, general-purpose 59-60 62-64 Flame-retardant 151-155 160-175 44-56 68-76 30% glass 595-605 740-765 Acetate — 178 Injection 108-110 114-116 Clear, industrial 86-96 — Injection, general-purpose 162-171 166-191 Green, post-consumer 28-36 33-41 PVC, suspension resin injection GP Extrusion: Extrusion: POLYSULFONE Butyrate — 175 High-heat, injection 112-117 118-120 122-124 127-132 20 percent glass 178-188 209-225 Mixed colors, industrial 83-87 91-97 Film, HMW 65-67 69-72 Pipe, general-purpose Large volume average, in cents. Injection, general-purpose — 450-650 Propionate — 175 139-140 142-144 Structural foam 160-169 196-213 POLYPROPYLENE Film, MMW 68-69 73-75 142-146 148-152 30% glass POLYETHYLENE Flame-retardant Sheet, general-purpose Flame-retardant 193-210 221-231 100 — 386-634 NYLON Pipe, HMW 73-75 78-81 Industrial 31-35 45-49 HDPE: EPS, cups 108-111 — Type 6 137-147 150-154 Pipe, MMW 76-79 80-82 Blends/alloys: Extrusion, sheet 161-170 173-201 Thermosets Natural, post-consumer 51-55 74-78 Unmodi ed 102-105 101-110 — 154-159 POLYSTYRENE Type 6/6 185-193 197-208 Sheet 61-63 65-67 PC/ABS Key: I - Annual volumes of 2 million pounds to 5 million pounds Mixed colors, post-consumer 36-40 44-51 Nylon/ABS — 159-169 Optical media 144-153 154-173 Industrial 19-24 54-70 II - Annual volumes of about 200,000-500,000 pounds POLYESTER Mixed colors, industrial 33-38 45-49 Rotomolding, powder — 74-77 PVC RESIN High-heat, crystal, PBT, injection 119-124 129-134 POLYURETHANE Volume category: HMW HDPE lm, Suspension resin: ACRYLIC, G-P — 125-130 post-consumer 34-40 51-57 80 Resin/Grade I II 30 percent glass, FR 154-159 164-174 LDPE Injection, general-purpose 88-91 91-93 Ester type, injection 189-206 213-222 post-consumer — 38-42 Injection: EPOXY PET, injection 118-123 128-138 Pipe grade 86-88 89-92 PET PACKAGING RESINS Extrusion 216-238 252-270 LLDPE stretch lm — 29-43 General-purpose — 73-75 PVC General-purpose 100-112 — 30 percent glass, FR 155-165 165-175 Dispersion resin: APET 91-93 94-96 Ether type 252-265 297-306 Clear, industrial 22-28 — Lid resin 71-73 75-77 Bottle resin 70.5-72.5 73.5-75.5 Compounds: POLYCARBONATE LDPE lm: Homopolymer, G-P 113-117 119-123 Extrusion: CPET 89-91 — TPE Coils, bushings 105-152 — Blow molding 178-188 209-219 Clear, post-consumer — 35-39 60 Resistors, diodes Colored, post-consumer 17-21 37-41 Coating, paper 71-73 — POLYPROPYLENE Polyester — 325-400 — 227-286 Injection, general-purpose 162-171 166-191 > Continued on page 22 Semiconductor: Film, liner 66-68 69-74 Homopolymer: Ole nic (compounded) 80-115 120-135 20 percent glass 178-188 209-225 PET BOTTLES Clarity lm 64-66 67-70 Injection, general-purpose 64.5-66.5 67.5-70.5 Gas & oil futures Novolac — 212-246 Structural foam 160-169 196-213 Clear, post-consumer 44-56 68-76 Average prices in U.S. dollars* Styrenic 160-190 220-270 Anhydride — 214-297 Flame-retardant 193-210 221-231 Extrusion: Green, post-consumer 28-36 33-41 LLDPE Extrusion, sheet Fiber 63.5-65.5 66.5-68.5 Natural gas Crude oil For pricing information on recycled resins, 40 MELAMINE MOLDING COMPOUND 135-175 — 161-170 173-201 POLYPROPYLENE Butene-1 comonomer: $57 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 Film 64.5-67.5 67.5-70.5 3.0 call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. 75-85 — Optical media 144-153 154-173 Industrial 31-35 45-49 Injection, general-purpose — 54-58 56 PHENOLIC, G-P Extrusion, liner lm 50-53 54-56 Pro les 67.5-70.5 72.5-79.5 Per million Btu PPO/PPE 2.8 55 For pricing information on virgin thermoplastic Entire contents copyright 2019 by Crain Communications Inc. POLYESTER, UNSATURATED POLYSTYRENE Sheet 66.5-69.5 70.5-72.5 Source: Plastics News research Injection, general-purpose — 123-187 19-24 54-70 or thermoset resins, call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. All rights reserved. General-purpose 174-195 — Industrial HAO comonomer: 2.6 54 20 percent glass — 179-272 — 60-62 Random copolymer: Per U.S. barrel High-heat, crystal, Injection, general-purpose 53 Isophthalic 171-195 — Structural foam — 131-207 34-40 51-57 Injection 67.5-69.5 70.5-72.5 post-consumer Lid resin 62-65 68-71 2.4 52 Specialty (bisphenol A, etc.) — 230-265 56-58 60-63 Film 69.5-70.5 71.5-73.5 Extrusion — 148-239 PVC Extrusion, liner lm 51 Rotomolding, powder — 79-84 Blow molding 69.5-70.5 72.5-75.5 2.2 Clear, industrial 22-28 — 50 Kautex Impact copolymer: 2.0 SOND J F 0 SON D J F Regloplas touts pressurized Continued from Page 1 High-impact 78.5-82.5 83.5-86.5 For pricing information on virgin thermoplastic or TPO (in-reactor) 98.5-106.5 105.5-109.5 2019 2019 thermoset resins, call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. simultaneously unlocking po- Source: Barchart.com Inc., Chicago *As of August 8 tential value for our sharehold- water bene ts in heating, cooling ers.” Textron of cials also said that no decision regarding By Bill Bregar processing, die-casting and tire The advantages of rapid heating and Kautex has been made. They Plastics News Staff and rubber. added that “there can be no The top-line Regloplas P230S cooling of a mold are becoming more assurance that the process will Of cials of Swiss mold tempera- pressurized water tempera- result in any transaction being ture control maker Regloplas AG ture-control unit, introduced at well known in North America. They announced or completed in the and its U.S. operation, Regloplas NPE2018, can heat pressurized wa- include improved part surface quality and future.” Corp. in St. Joseph, Mich., say pres- ter up to 446° F. Because the water Textron has not set a de ni- surized water is the best method is under high pressure, it remains mechanical properties and reduction of tive timetable for completion for rapid heating and cooling of in- liquid and does not turn to steam, mold stresses that can cause warpage. of its review of strategic al- jection molds, as well as tooling for Brian Pruitt, sales manager for plas- ternatives, of cials said, and composites for aerospace parts. tics and medical North America, “does not intend to make any The advantages of rapid heating said. can cause potential steam injuries. sign phase, a conformal mold could further announcements related and cooling of a mold are becoming The P230S offers high-capacity Oil can use the same channel to be con gured right from the start to its review” unless and until more well known in North Amer- pumping of 10 gallons per minute, heat and cool, but the rate of heat- for Regloplas technology. its board of directors has ap- ica. They include improved part with precise pressure control. ing can be slow. Also, energy use is Mold weight should be as light proved a speci c transaction surface quality and mechanical The mul Flow unit distributes increased because of the oil viscos- as possible and have good thermal or if the rm “determines that properties and reduction of mold pressurized water to the mold. One ity. Regloplas of cials said oil can characteristics. Channels should further disclosure is appropri- stresses that can cause warpage. multiFlow can run four different wa- be a problem in clean rooms for be as close to the surface as pos- ate.” Regloplas claims pressurized ter ows in parallel, each running a medical molding. Electric cartridge sible. In addition to Kautex, glob- water is more effective than oil, different temperature, for speci c heaters consume large amounts of On tooling to make glass- lled al industrial brands owned steam and electric cartridge heat- areas of the mold, Pruitt said. electricity and do not offer cooling. composite parts, Regloplas claims by Textron include Bell, Cess- ers for rapid heating and cooling. Each circuit is set and monitored The heating elements can fail. its system delivers better strength na, Beechcraft, Lycoming and Bene ts include less injection pres- separately, fully integrated with the The mold is the key, the company and structure since it endures a Arctic Cat. The rm employs sure and clamping force required, control system. The technician can said. The goal is the ability to make more homogenous orientation of 35,000 worldwide and had 2018 longer holding pressure even in set the monitoring window accord- very quick temperature changes on glass bers. It also reduces weld sales of just under $14 billion. areas away from the gate, energy ing to the speci ed target values. If the mold cavity surface. lines and warpage, and it improves Kautex was founded in 1935 ef ciency gains and the possibility the temperature or ow rate goes Rapid cycle molding can be ret- dimensional stability and consis- and developed the rst blow of homogenous cooling and fewer outside the respective window, the ro tted and applied to any existing tency of injection molded parts, the molding machine in Europe in scrap parts. It can reduce cycle system will trigger an alarm. mold, if the tool is properly sized company said. 1949. Textron bought the blow times. Regloplas of cials outlined is- and designed. Using conformal in- Reglopas manufactures the molding business in 1996. Markets for Regloplas’ Vario- sues with some competing meth- serts --- where the mold channels equipment at its headquarters in The plastics machinery busi- therm temperature--control prod- ods. Steam has limited precision on follow the contours of the part — St. Gallen, Switzerland. The fam- ness, Kautex Maschinenbau ucts include injection molding, temperature control and requires can direct rapid heating and cool- ily-owned company employs 90 GmbH, split from the blow composites/aerospace, automo- separate cooling channels that ing to problem areas, like a thin in Switzerland and more than 200 molding business in 1977 and is tive, medical, compounding, food need cold water. Also, a line break wall section. Or in the product de- worldwide. not owned by Textron. 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