Based Polyfab

Hoskins sees medical Commodity resin prices market growth for Ernie stay heated in July PAGE 20 Green Industries PAGE 8

August 10, 2020  PlasticsNews.com $5

Japanese SPECIAL REPORT: WORKPLACE SAFETY Nolato buying

Staff for blow molding GW Plastics fi rm buys machinery maker Bekum show new technology at K 2019. to build Automation and an increased Wisconsin- focus on safety have led to a record low injury and illness its North rate at U.S. plastics companies. based Plastics News photo by Caroline Seidel American Polyfab operations By Don Loepp and Rhoda Miel By Don Loepp Plastics News Staff Plastics News Editor The CEOs of Nolato AB and Polyfab Corp., a 49-year-old She- GW Plastics Inc. say the two com- boygan, Wis., injection molder, has panies are an excellent fi t, with a new owner that is eager to expand complementary medical and au- its business in North America. tomotive molding businesses and The buyer is the U.S. subsidi- similar corporate cultures. ary of Daiho Industrial Co. Ltd., “Over the years, GW has been an Osaka, Japan-based injection approached by a lot of compa- molder that serves the home elec- nies. The one that resonated, tronics, automotive, offi ce equip- even when we were not interest- ment and housewares markets. ed in selling, was Nolato,” Brenan “Daiho is a custom thermoplas- Riehl, president and CEO of GW tics injection molder that’s looking Plastics, said in an Aug. 6 tele- to expand its U.S. opportunities,” phone interview. Polyfab President Scott Doleshaw SAFETY “The way they treat their work- said in a telephone interview. Terms force, the similarities between of the deal were not disclosed. our companies and cultures, the Polyfab is being renamed Poly- Plastics industry safety way we do business,” Riehl said. fab LLC, but no immediate chang- record improving, but Nolato President and CEO Chris- es are planned for either compa- FIRST ter Wahlquist summed it up by ny, and the contracts, services smaller fi rms lag saying both companies have a cul- and resources available to Poly- ture built on trusting employees. fab’s customers and suppliers will By Steve Toloken bor Statistics also points to The rate can fl uctuate from “When you trust people, great not be affected. Plastics News Staff a troubling disparity in inju- year to year, but the general things will happen,” Wahlquist Polyfab was started in 1971 ry and illness rates between trend in BLS data for the last said in the same phone interview. by John and Mildred Gill. They Injury and illness rates in smaller and larger plants. 20 years has been downward. Torekov, Sweden-based injec- bought a small cheese factory in plastics processing plants Smaller plastics processing From 2009 to 2012, for ex- tion molder Nolato announced its Sheboygan, which they expand- dropped about 20 percent plants, those with between 50 ample, the rate was between big move for growth in the U.S. ed several times before buying a in the last decade, but and 249 workers, had signifi - 4.6 and 5.1. But from 2016-18, market on Aug. 6, buying Bethel, warehouse and converting it into smaller factories remain cantly higher injury and ill- the workplace injury and ill- Vt.-based GW Plastics Inc. a manufacturing plant in 1995. much more dangerous plac- ness rates than larger plants, ness rate dropped down to a The deal for 2 billion Swed- The plant doubled in size in 2015. es to work than larger fa- particularly those with more range between 3.8 and 4.0. ish krona ($224.8 million) will The sellers are the second gen- cilities, government safety than 1,000 employees. The 2018 rate of 3.8, in fact, give Nolato Medical Solutions, eration of the Gill family: former statistics show. In some cases, workers in is a record low for the plas- the company’s medical business CEO Rick Gill, who recently re- Experts point to a number smaller molding, extrusion tics processing sector. It’s unit, a stronger position in North tired; Chief Financial Offi cer Carol of factors for the improve- and other processing plants down considerably from the America. GW Plastics has both Janssen; and Toolroom Supervi- ment across the industry as were nearly twice as likely to mid-1990s, when the industry plastics and liquid silicone rubber sor John Gill. a whole, from more technolo- be injured on the job, accord- rate was over 12. medical molding operations. Rick Gill said no one in the third gy and automation to reduce ing to the government data. Marie Gargas, senior tech- Riehl added that the compa- generation was interested in tak- hazards, to more focus on nical director of regulatory nies have complementary auto- ing over the business. safety within companies and affairs for the Plastics Indus- motive molding businesses, too. “We wanted to exit while we were efforts to analyze accidents Overall rate down try Association in Washing- The deal is expected to be com- still improving as leaders,” he said. and near-accidents. The processing industry’s ton, said there are many fac- pleted in September. “We hired Scott [Doleshaw] as a The plastic product man- overall rate of injury and tors behind improving safety Most of GW’s operations, a little replacement, and he has been run- ufacturing industry’s injury illness in the U.S. fell to 3.8 rates. She said the associa- more than four-fi fths, will report ning the business during the sale and illness rate in 2018, the cases per 100 full-time equiv- tion could not comment on to Nolato’s medical business unit, process and doing very well.” last year statistics are avail- alent workers in 2018, down specifi c data but can point to with the rest becoming part of its Polyfab offers injection mold- able, fell to a record low of 3.8. from 4.0 in 2017. general factors. Industrial Solutions operations. ing, design and value-added While that is progress, the It’s a sizable drop from She highlighted strategies Prior to the acquisition, See Polyfab , Page 17 data from the Bureau of La- 2010, when the rate was 5.1. See Safety , Page 9 See Nolato , Page 19

Being a good neighbor means something. That’s why at Shell Polymers, we make it our business to care for and give back to our community. Whether it’s doing things like providing reliable meals to children in need or care-packages to families who’ve been impacted by these difﬁcult times, we Break the Mold by always putting people ﬁrst.

To learn more about how we lend a helping hand to our community visit shell.us/polymers. Plastics News, August 10, 2020 • 3 Creditors taking over exterior building ARaymond to close Ohio molding plant Brunswick, Ohio — ARaymond North America is closing a plant products maker Associated Materials in Brunswick that injection molds automotive and industrial fas- teners, affecting 53 employees. Crain’s Akron Business Associated Materials Inc. makes ARaymond will transfer plastics production to its facility in vinyl siding and windows and Rochester Hills, Mich., spokesman Mike Foresman said in an Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio — Asso- other construction products. emailed statement. ciated Materials Inc., a Cuyahoga Associated Materials Inc. photo “A small number of layoffs in sales are planned for October, with Falls-based maker and distributor plant manufacturing staff layoffs taking place in November and De- of exterior building products in- cember,” Foresman said. cluding vinyl windows and siding, ARaymond, which is based in Grenoble, France, will provide sever- will apparently soon be owned by ance packages and outplacement services for all affected employees. its creditors. “This realignment is aimed at accelerating our cost competitive- The privately held company ness and better serving the long-term needs of our customers,” reported Aug. 3 that it is entering Dan Dolan, president and CEO of ARaymond’s automotive busi- into a “series of recapitalization ness unit, said in a news release. transactions that will signifi cant- The decision to close the plant was made due to the economic ly de-lever its balance sheet and issue $250 million of new debt, sand tubing processors in North impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and soft automotive sales fore- enhance its liquidity position” the proceeds of which primarily America, AMI was No. 15 with an casts for coming years, the release said. by swapping $675 million in pre- will be used to provide liquidity estimated $320 million in PPT re- The Brunswick plant was formerly part of Tinnerman Palnut En- ferred notes for equity. on its balance sheet.” lated sales in the region. gineered Products, which ARaymond bought in 2009. “Under the transactions, hold- After the transactions, the com- Bloomberg Law reported July ers of over 99 percent of the company, which reports having annu- 31 that Associated Materials’ fi - pany’s $675 million 9 percent se- al sales of more than $1.3 billion, nances had “fallen into disrepair Lubrizol buys Colorado 3D printer nior secured notes due [in] 2024 will have liquidity in excess of with the company approaching Wickliffe, Ohio — Materials fi rm Lubrizol Corp. has acquired 3D … will fully convert those hold- $200 million and a debt to EBITDA the end of the grace-period to pay printer Avid Product Development LLC for an undisclosed price. ings into substantially all of the ratio of 2.1, it also stated. a missed interest payment.” In an Aug. 4 news release, offi cials with Wickliffe-based Lubrizol common equity securities of the The company is the parent for The company had until the said Loveland, Colo.-based Avid “offers a unique blend” of 3D print- company, and the company’s con- several subsidiaries in the build- end of the day on July 31 to ing capabilities, including design for additive manufacturing and vertible preferred equity will also ing products market, including Al- make good on obligations to the prototyping. Avid also offers production using powder bed fusion, be canceled in exchange for a por- pine Windows and Alside, which holders of its 9 percent debt, fused fi lament fabrication and stereolithography, with expertise in tion of the new common equity of makes siding and cladding sys- Bloomberg Law reported. various post-processing technologies. the company,” Associated Materi- tems for homes. Now that it’s apparently struck The acquisition “greatly enhances our ability as a 3D printing als said in announcing the moves. In the most recent Plastics a deal with those creditors, the solution provider, offering complete product solutions from mate- The company said it “will also News ranking of pipe, profi le- See Associated , Page 18 rial development to printing and post processing services, deliv- ering end-use products for our key markets,” Lubrizol 3D Printing Solutions General Manager Gert-Jan Nijhuis said in the release. Avid founder Doug Collins said that, as a result of the acquisi- DuPont continues to idle some nylon production tion, his fi rm “will have vast opportunities to demonstrate our capabilities in engineering, design and manufacturing with the sup- By Frank Esposito “We took quick, decisive action al auto production to shut down port of an industry leader in materials development, applications Plastics News Staff to manage our working capital and for parts of the fi rst and second and testing.” to better align our production vol- quarters, although many plants Avid serves the footwear, consumer goods, industrial and med- About half of DuPont Co.’s global umes with the demand we expect now have reopened. ical markets. The fi rm won the 2019 Colorado Company to Watch nylon resin capacity remains idle in the near term,” Chairman and Sales in DuPont's Safety and award. Recently, Avid designed and printed personal protective as a result of a soft automotive mar- CEO Ed Breen said at that time. Construction unit, including Tyvek- equipment for health care workers and essential businesses ket tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second quarter, DuPont brand polyethylene fi lm, have fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. “In the third quarter, we expect took a $2.5 billion noncash impair- better in 2020, falling only 7 per- our idled polymer capacity to be ment charge in its Transportation cent for the second quarter and 4 approximately equal to where it and Industrial unit, which includes percent for the half. Offi cials said Pack Expo canceled; virtual event planned was in the second quarter,” a com- nylon, as a result of the global that Tyvek garment demand was Herndon, Va. — Pack Expo, which had been planned for Nov. pany spokesman said in an Aug. 3 slowdown in the auto industry. Of- up more than 60 percent during the 8-11 in Chicago’s McCormick Place, is the latest trade show to fall email to Plastics News. “We expect fi cials announced the charge in a quarter. Tyvek is used extensively victim to the coronavirus pandemic. to bring those facilities back on July 30 earnings release. in surgical gowns and other protec- The Herndon-based Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Insti- line as demand requires and typi- For the quarter, DuPont’s over- tive garments needed to prevent tute, the trade group that owns the show, announced the news cally need two [to] three weeks to all sales were down almost 13 per- the spread of COVID-19. Aug. 5. ramp back to full rates.” cent to $4.8 billion. First-half sales Like many public fi rms, Du- “The PMMI board determined that due to the evolving COVID-19 He added that most of DuPont’s declined more than 8 percent to Pont’s per-share stock price has pandemic and the current state and local regulations, it was not nonresin nylon production facili- just over $10 billion. been battered in 2020 by the ef- possible to have a safe and productive event for attendees and ties “continue to operate at near In the T&I unit, second-quarter fects of COVID-19. The price began exhibitors,” the group announced. normal rates.” sales plummeted more than 34 the year above $60 and fell close Instead, the group will launch a live, web-based event, Pack Expo Offi cials with DuPont in Wilm- percent to $832 million. First-half to $30 in March. It’s recovered Connects2020, that will take place Nov. 9-13. ington, Del., confi rmed in early sales for the unit slumped almost since then and closed near $52.50 This marks the fi rst time in the 60-year history of Pack Expo that May that they had idled nylon res- 24 percent to just under $2 billion. on Aug. 3, down about 17 percent it has been canceled. Before COVID-19 travel restrictions, PMMI in production. The pandemic caused much glob- from its Jan. 1 price. had expected 45,000 attendees from more than 125 countries to attend the show, which would have featured 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space. MONTHLY PLASTICS M&A Tekni-Plex rebuilding Italian fi lm plant VOLUME BY GEOGRAPHY Wayne, N.J. — Tekni-Plex Inc. is rebuilding a Gallarate, Italy, CROSS-BORDER plant that makes thin PVC fi lms for adhesive tapes that was damaged in a March 21 fi re. 50 DOMESTIC The fi rst of two 80-ton calenders that are replacing those dam- 42% 43% aged in the fi re arrived July 23. The 5-meter-tall calender arrived 38% 41% 40 4% 37% INTERNATIONAL on a special fl atbed truck in the middle of the night to avoid caus- 8% 2% 6% 35% ing traffi c delays, the company said in a news release. 32% 32% 3% 31% The second calender is scheduled to arrive early next year. 30 3% 13% 30% 2% 23% 27% 26% 26% 27% 5% “We are making signifi cant progress in rebuilding our PVC tape 15% 5% 24% 18% 22% 5% 3% 4% 15% manufacturing plant after the fi re,” said Nino Crisafulli, general 15% 7% 14% 6% manager of Tekni-Plex Gallazzi. 20 12% 6% 12% 16% All employees were safely evacuated during the March 21 fi re, 16% 14% 8% and no injuries were reported. The site employs 70. 16% 20% 15% 10 16% 15% 17% Wayne-based Tekni-Plex makes plastic and rubber products in- 15% 13% 15% 17% 14% 8% cluding packaging materials, medical compounds and medical tub- 6% 8% 10% 5% ing. The Tekni-Films business has manufacturing plants on three 0 continents — North America, Europe and Asia — and a contract JAN-19 FEB-19 MAR-19 APR-19 MAY-19 JUN-19 JUL-19 AUG-19 SEP-19 OCT-19 NOV-19 DEC-19 JAN-20 FEB-20 MAR-20 manufacturing facility in South America. Graphic by Amy Steinhauser; source: Stout and various sources

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Toyota uses plastic to lighten the load in the 2021 Sienna

By Sarah Kominek the folded third-row seat from leaf spring, Plastic News’ sister Plastics News Staff its stored area in the floor to its publication Automotive News upright position. reported. The component is In redesigning its Sienna Min- “The weight of the seat real- used mostly in the suspension ivan, Toyota Motor Corp. want- ly impacts … customer experi- systems of heavy trucks. The ed a lighter material to help its ence,” Muck said at the Center spring weighs up to 75 percent customers who wanted an eas- for Automotive Research’s Man- less than a typical multileaf ier way to adjust seats. It also agement Briefing Seminars Aug. steel spring. happened to create an industry 5. “This was a win-win, not only DuPont Co.’s Betaseal X2500 first, which won a lightweight- lightweighting the vehicle but adhesive, which joins thermo- ing award. actually affecting the customer’s plastic inner and outer panels, The automaker’s new injec- efforts directly. was runner-up. tion molded two-occupant seat “Our new design has made lift- A Future of Lightweighting back frame in the 2021 Sienna ing the seats much easier,” he award went to Marelli for its sheet minivan, which goes on sale lat- said. “With the previous design, compression-molded suspension er this year, won the 2020 Altair it would take more than 24 kilo- steering knuckle, which reduces Engineering Enlighten Award in grams [53 pounds] of force to weight by 25 percent over the alu- the module category. raise the seat. The new design minum version and by 50 percent The project, led by Todd requires less than 9-kilograms over steel knuckles. Muck, senior principal engineer [19 pounds] of force.” Nissan took runner-up honors for body design at Toyota, with Toyota selected plastics out of for an aluminum and carbon-fi- help from its supplier partner a competitive list of materials to ber body panel design that can BASF, reduced the normally develop the part, Muck said. reduce weight by about 50 per- 15-piece steel folding third-row “Magnesium is a very good cent over steel panels. seat back to one component, product for its applications but Altair, a suburban Detroit soft- according to an Aug. 5 news re- the post-processing, the tooling ware engineering firm specializ- lease by Toyota. It also cut pro- span … those types of things re- ing in product development, has duction costs by 15 percent and ally impacted the cost,” he said. granted the awards for the past reduced weight by 30 percent. “The injection molding was a lit- seven years. “Reducing the seatback’s mass tle more … easy to incorporate "I am proud to see that the Al- provides the customer with sev- many more parts, including the tair Enlighten Awards have be- eral benefits,” Muck said. “Less nut inserts for instance.” come a sought-after recognition weight can improve fuel econ- “This will change the seating that acknowledges the world's omy. Or, we can use that saved at Toyota for a while,” Muck greatest automotive lightweight in other areas, such as added. weighting innovations while adding new features like the Attendorn, Germany-based inspiring interest from indus- built-in refrigerator.” lightweight component sup- tries, engineers, policymakers, The most apparent benefit, plier Mubea won an Enlighten educators, students and the Muck said, is the reduced effort Award for Enabling Technolo- public,” Altair CEO James Scapa it takes for customers to raise gy for its glass-fiber-reinforced said in a statement. VIRTUAL EDITION NOVEMBER 17-19, 2020 ANNOUNCING VIRTUAL PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS FREE, TIME-LIMITED!

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Premier Sponsor Leadership Panel Sponsor Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsor Partner 6 • Plastics News, August 10, 2020 : DON LOEPP It’s not so easy to build a resin plant in 2020 ou might expect a company announcement to 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48207 build a $9.4 billion com- Tel. 313-446-6000 www.plasticsnews.com Yplex in a community would be met with fi reworks and Vice President/Group publisher a parade. But that’s not the cli- Brennan Lafferty mate for resin plants these days. St. James Parish, La., is the lat- EDITORIAL est community to see organized 313-446-5869 Editor Don Loepp, 313-446-6767 opposition to a big plastics in- [email protected] vestment. Local activists are Assistant managing editor trying to stop Kaohsiung City, Rhoda Miel, [email protected] Assistant managing editor Taiwan-based Formosa Plas- Steve Toloken, [email protected] tics Group from building a $9.4 Art director Amy Steinhauser billion industrial complex to Senior staff reporter produce polyethylene, polypro- Frank Esposito, 330-703-7290 pylene and ethylene glycol on Special projects editor Jordan Vitick Web producer Erin Sloan a 2,400-acre site. The project is Staff reporters Catherine Kavanaugh, 313-446-0346 expected to create about 1,200 Sarah Kominek, 207-271-7782 jobs in the region. Editorial research coordinator “There's a fi erce opposition” Hollee Keller, 330-633-2192 Correspondents Dave Hutton, Stephen Downer, to the project in the St. James Rebecca Kanthor, Kent Miller, Anna Flávia Rochas, Parish com- Gurdip Singh, Satnam Singh, Kate Tilley munity, Pam Editorial cartoonist Rich Williams Spees, a senior Economics editor Bill Wood staff attorney INTEGRATED MARKETING at the Center 313-446-5869 for Constitu- Director, Events & Marketing Debbie Hershfi eld tional Rights, Conference director Joe Pryweller told Plastics Plastics News editorial cartoon by Rich Williams. Cartoons are available for purchase at www.plasticsnews.com/data-lists/cartoons Events specialist Colleen Jones News’ Sarah Graphic designer Hadi Shehadeh Kominek. Email marketing specialist Meaghan Crawford Activists on nity,” Spees said. “That is not an At the moment, environmen- jobs vs. the environment. There Audience development specialist Alliya Samhat the Gulf Coast overstatement with a facility that tal groups are challenging the should be a balance. Plastics Reprint account executive Lauren Melesio Loepp have tried to massive in an area like that; it real- state’s air permitting process. manufacturing needs to be part of ADVERTISING stop chemical ly does spell the end of a communi- Edwards thinks the permits, a safe, sustainable economy. 313-446-6783 plant projects before — that ty that's already been struggling.” which have already been ap- The plastics industry is glob- Display and classifi ed ads [email protected] part is not completely new. They Let’s take a deep breath for a proved, will be upheld. al, and if resin plants aren’t built Group sales director Patrick Cannon, charge that the chemical indus- second and use some common “You have standards in place, in the United States (or Canada, [email protected] try pollutes the air and water sense. Leaving bags of pellets and, if an application is put in that which is also seeing some resis- Advertising and marketing specialist Kristin Rentschler and harms the health of local and notes on someone’s door- meets the applicable standards, tance to new investment), they Regional managers Peter Bianchi residents, including communi- step might not be the most po- then you permit it,” Edwards told will be built somewhere else — 312-265-6484 [email protected] ties of color. lite way to get their attention, the newspaper. “I mean, that’s the maybe somewhere that doesn’t Catherine Clipper One new wrinkle with the FPG but it doesn’t warrant criminal way this works, and, if [environ- have the same level of scrutiny 313-446-6063 [email protected] John Hickey project involves pellet pollution. charges, not to mention a long mentalists would] like to change over pollution and safety. 260-437-8502 [email protected] Activists point to another com- prison sentence. How about lit- the standards, then that’s some- I suspect that Edwards is cor- Linda Hickey 330-576-6536 cell 330-592-4857 pany’s agreement to pay $50 mil- tering, instead? I think both sides thing that EPA needs to look at,” rect and FPG will be allowed to [email protected] lion to settle a lawsuit over pel- would appreciate the irony in he said. move ahead in St. James Par- Diane Owen lets allegedly discharged from its that charge. We might see the Environmen- ish. But I’ve been surprised be- 313-446-0445 [email protected] Bruce Miller facility that polluted a waterway Will the environmental advo- tal Protection Agency take a clos- fore. Who else remembers the 313-737-6665 [email protected] in Texas. cates cause FPG to cancel the er look at resin plant permits in small community in Ireland that Sales representative Betsy Connolly Two environmental activists project? Gov. John Bel Edwards the future. That’s included in the stopped a U.S. compounding (Non-Endemic and Processor sales) 248-770-8315 [email protected] left containers of pellets collected doesn’t think so. He told a local Break Free From Plastic Pollution plant from locating there? Benelux, France & Scandinavia from the Texas plant on the front newspaper last week that the state Act, introduced in Congress ear- We’re seeing new levels of scru- Arthur Schavemaker/Kenter & Co. porches of the homes of plastics can have economic development lier this year by Sen. Tom Udall, tiny on plastics plant investments tel. 31-547-275005, [email protected] Greater China Lago Poah Yang industry lobbyists in Louisiana. and still protect the environment. D-N.M., and Rep. Alan Lowenthal, in 2020, and I don’t think it’s going M +86 138 1643 7421 The activists ended up being “I believe we can strike the right D-Calif. That’s one of several plas- to get any easier in the future. It’s [email protected] Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Eastern Europe charged with terrorizing, a felony balance between public safety, on tics bills that Congress is consid- just another reason why plastics Randy Krings/ EuroMedia Connect Ltd. that could carry a sentence of up the one hand, and economic de- ering right now. It’s too soon to need to work on becoming a real tel. 49-611-5324-416, [email protected] to 15 years. velopment, on the other, and the say if it will have any legs, but it’s link in a circular economy. India representative Bhupal Potdar tel. 91-98211-51035, [email protected] “They've been trying to raise job creation and economic impact signifi cant that plastics are get- Italy representative Fabio Potesta awareness about the existential that comes from all of that,” Ed- ting this kind of attention. Loepp is editor of Plastics News tel. 39-10-5704948, [email protected] threat that a facility that this size wards told The Advocate newspa- The plastics industry doesn’t and author of the Plastics Blog. Fol- Japan representative Yutaka Mogi/Tandem Inc. tel. 81-3-3541-4166, [email protected] and type poses to their commu- per in Baton Rouge, La. like framing these debates as low him on Twitter @donloepp. Classifi ed sales manager Lynn Calcaterra 313-446-0446 [email protected] Administrative assistant Lindsay Crawford Media services manager Patrick Alfes The CEO issue: SUBSCRIBE ON PLASTICSNEWS.COM

Chairman Keith E. Crain Vice Chairman Mary K. Crain Share your stories President KC Crain Senior Executive Vice President Chris Crain Secretary Lexie Crain Armstrong By Don Loepp dates both inside and outside Chief Financial Offi cer Robert Recchia Plastics News Editor of North America. And diversity Founder (1885-1973) G.D. Crain Jr. Chairman (1911-1996) Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr. is strongly encouraged. Plastics News is seeking inter- This year we’re adding some Plastics News is published by Crain Communications esting CEOs to feature in our questions about how CEOs are Inc. For new subscriptions or address changes, write sixth annual CEO issue, which dealing with the coronavirus Circulation Department, Plastics News, 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2912; tel. 877-320-1723 will be published Sept. 7. We pandemic and their expecta- or 313-446-0450; email customerservice-pn@crain. want to profi le current and tions for 2021. That’s in addition com. Subscription rates: For U.S., $94 for one year, $170 for two years, $5 per copy, $19.95 for rankings, retired industry CEOs, similar to asking CEOs to share their $39.95 for special reports and $79.95 for the Market to our recent Women Breaking stories about how they ended Data Book. For Canada, $144 for one year, $260 for two years (includes GST). All subscriptions served the Mold and Rising Stars spe- up in plastics, to talk about men- outside the U.S. and Canada, air mail delivery only, cial issues. tors who have helped along the KICKSTART $297 for one year. All prices in U.S. funds. We’re looking for people with way and to share their advice president or CEO titles at plas- with workers considering a ca- San Francisco-based Rothy's has started tics companies. While that’s reer in the industry. using the same post-consumer recycled a pretty exclusive list, we’re Go to www.plasticsnews.com/ PET it already uses in shoes and bags to casting a wide net. Processors CEO to fi ll out the survey. Sub- make washable, reusable face masks and supplier company CEOs missions must be received by are eligible, as well as candi- Aug. 17. ASK THE EXPERT Improving Operations Series Lunchtime Livestream Series Where the Experts Answer Your Questions

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A series about executive insights by Brennan Lafferty, Plastics News vice president/group publisher. Invite Brennan to visit you by emailing him at [email protected]. Hoskins sees medical market growth for Ernie Green Industries

By Brennan Lafferty Plastics News Publisher

Ernie Green Industries Inc. serves multiple end markets. However, the medical industry has a global spotlight and, there- by, a positive impact of this Co- lumbus, Ohio-based plastics processor with locations throughout North America. Chief Commercial Officer John Hoskins drives the business side of Ernie Green and recently talk- ed with Plastics News Publisher Brennan Lafferty to discuss his outlook on 2020 and beyond. What follows is an edited tran- script of their conversation. The full interview is available online at www.plasticsnews.com/audio Above: John Hoskins, chief as part of our new “What Keeps commercial officer of Ernie Green You Up at Night?” podcast. Industries Inc. Q: You have plant locations all over the U.S. Is everyone Right: Ernie Green Industries healthy? Is everyone working? Inc. is a Columbus, Ohio-based Hoskins: Everybody is healthy, plastics processor with locations and I think happy that they’re still throughout North America. working. We have 10 facilities in Canada, the United States and in the Caribbean. Our medical facili- Ernie Green Industries serves ties have been up throughout this to me that medical will only get ‘I think the most the medical device, drug entire event. bigger, especially in the short delivery and pharmaceutical Q: I know you are not one to sit term. Is that your view as well? important thing packaging industries. on your hands and wait out some- Hoskins: Yes, there’s a couple is still putting Ernie Green Industries Inc. photos thing even as big as a pandemic. of things at play. Obviously, the What’s EG working on these days? pandemic brings laser focus to the patient first. Hoskins: A lot of it stems the medical industry in the med- around coming back up, right? ical profession and the devices We’re in medical We are taking the time to work and keeping supplies stocked. devices; we’re here on systems or processes. We are But I think the other thing we building a strong strategy and have to look at is our aging pop- for patients. Now tactics about how we are going ulation. The medical industry has more than ever, that to reengage with our customer been in a growth period; I think base, our supplier base. We’re go- we’ll continue to stay in it. I think means something ing into a world where the norms you’re going to see a lot of new are going to change. And at the technologies also come out of the that we’ve taken same time making sure the med- medical industry. Robotic surgery that whole patient- ical device manufacturers that we has been growing at a great rate, supply critical parts to are being and I think it’s going to continue centric focus to an serviced. We’re focused on the fu- to do that as well as telemedicine. entirely new level.’ ture. How can we improve? How I think there’s going be growth, can we make sure that we’re pre- but not necessarily in the call it John Hoskins pared for another event like this, the traditional areas. I think it’s Ernie Green Industries Inc. be stronger, better, smarter than going to open up a new group of we were going in? areas for us to all walk into as well. Q: What are the big medical Q: Are there other bright spots and reach out and help revitalize clients saying? What do they in other end markets that you our business. We’re reaching out to need right now from EG and oth- can point to? everybody because we want to find er suppliers? Hoskins: The consumer and out their opinions. We’re doing a se- Hoskins: Unfettered support and industrial markets haven’t fluc- ries of surveys so we can better un- knowing that our facilities are go- tuated a great deal. I think like derstand the world around us. And ing to be there to run and support everyone, they’re excited for our then around that, working closely, them throughout this time. Their country to open back up. Going making sure that we’re emailing supply chain has been significantly into the summer, for certain con- and talking to all of our strategic interrupted with the shutting down sumer goods, that’s a better time partners on an almost daily basis. of our borders and the issues going of the year. The rest of our customer base we’re on in Asia. That we have protocols Q: Let’s talk a little bit about making sure that we’re in touch with and procedures in place to pro- your role: chief commercial of- them at least once a week. running and that we need to make thing is still putting the patient tect them and their product lines. ficer. How do you keep a sales Q: What keeps you up at night? sure that we keep our people em- first. We’re in medical devices; As elective surgeries have gone team engaged with their custom- Hoskins: The funny answer ployed. We’ve got to find our way we’re here for patients. Now more down, our surgical business, like ers when they’re not allowed to would be that my dog who de- back from this. We’ve got to over- than ever, that means something everybody’s, has been affected. go visit them? cides to wake up at two o’clock in come this. And we’ve got to have a that we’ve taken that whole pa- Although, I think we’re all looking Hoskins: One of the things that the morning barking, that’s what clear, clean, sane, data-driven and tient-centric focus to an entirely towards a pent-up demand coming we’re doing as an organization, we keeps me up. science-driven judgment to take new level. I guess I worry that af- through as this reopens. call it EGnight 2020. We can reinvig- But the reality is that we keep care of this and make sure we can ter this is all over, we go back to Q: Medical has always been a orate, reengage and kind of restart focused on what’s important, that move forward as a country. the way we were. That we didn’t major market for plastics. It feels our relationships with everyone we have a country that needs to be I think the most important learn something from this. Plastics News, August 10, 2020 • 9 SPECIAL REPORT: WORKPLACE SAFETY Plastics product manufacturing, recordable injury and The NSC points to workers’ compensation Safety illness rates per 100 full-time equivalent workers laws, government oversight through Continued from Page 1 like more focus on identifying and 15 agencies like OSHA, safety training and Prior to 2003, data is SIC code 308, addressing “near misses,” and plastic products attempts to promote safety culture pointed to the National Safety 12 Council effort launched last year, in organizations for the reduction in the Work to Zero 2050 initiative. A 9 workplace injuries. key focus for that project is to analyze near-miss incidents and try to prevent them. 6 “Our members have focused full-time workers reported by “Larger companies can be more on this, with one site sharing that 3 factories with more than 1,000 automated,” he said. “Robotics submissions of near misses in- employees. can really help, but you absolute- creased 75 percent,” Gargas said. 0 The gap persisted, however, ly need the money to invest.” NSC said that for every major to a lesser degree for midsized To help firms make invest- workplace injury, there are 29 OSHA recordable cases of injuries and illnesses per the equivalent 100 full-time workers for the plastics products manufacturing sector 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 facilities with between 250 and ments, BWC has dramatically minor injuries and 300 incidents 999 employees. They reported 3.5 increased funding for its safe- that didn’t result in injuries but incidents per 100 full-time equiva- ty grant program, from $4 mil- could have. lent workers. lion in 2012 to $35 million this “If organizations focus on pre- Data for manufacturing as a whole, NAICS codes 31-33 In 2017, the gap between the big- year, said BWC spokesman Tony venting the noninjury incidents, gest and smallest was more pro- Gottschlich. Companies apply then the minor and major inju- (including plastics) nounced. Factories with between for the funding for specific help,

ries will decrease as well,” NSC 50-249 employees had almost he said. said in its February “Safety Tech- 6 twice the recordable injury and ill- A BWC report analyzing some nology 2020” report, issued as ness rate of the largest firms. previous grants in the plastics in- part of the initiative. 5 Small facilities with fewer than dustry found that automation had The report mentions a few 4 250 workers had 4.8 incidents a strong impact in reducing injury areas of near misses to target per 100 full-time equivalent work- risk in a number of areas, includ- — such as lockout/tag-out to 3 ers in 2017, compared with 2.5 ing flash trimming, assembly of control hazardous energy and incidents in factories with more plastic window frames and mate- machine guarding — that are 2 than 1,000 employees, and 3.2 in- rial handling. frequently cited violations in cidents per 100 FTE in factories Gottschlich said the agency, plastics indus- 1 from 250 to 999 employees. which provides free safety con- try Occupa- Industry officials and safety ex- sultation to companies as part tional Safety 0 perts pointed to several general of their workers’ compensation and Health Ad- factors to explain the disparities premiums, has seen a 70 percent 100 full-time workers for the plastics products manufacturing sector ministration OSHA recordable cases of injuries and illnesses per the equivalent 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 — larger companies are more increase in company requests inspections. likely to have full-time profession- for its services, which it inter- Injection Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Graphics by Amy Steinhauser al safety staff, and larger firms prets as a greater focus on safe- molder Plas- usually have more resources to ty from companies. tikos Inc. in invest in automation and technol- Gargas said the plastics asso- Erie, Pa., said ogy to reduce injuries. ciation also works in areas like the company’s OSHA, safety training and at- anced when you start to break the “To me, some of it seems to be machinery safety standards and safety com- tempts to promote safety culture data down by factory size. economically driven,” said Dean wants to help smaller firms that Katen mittee takes in organizations for the reduction Within the industry, the BLS data Bidlack, an industrial safety con- may have more challenges. that approach in workplace injuries. indicates that smaller factories sultant with the Ohio Bureau of “We facilitate the develop- of analyzing have much higher rates of work- Workers Compensation who has ment of ANSI-accredited ma- situations where a serious prob- place-related injuries and illnesses. done a lot of work in the state’s chinery standards and work lem may have been averted to Smaller factories, Here are some numbers: In plastics facilities and attended with members, including small- determine “how do we prevent higher rates 2018, processing plants with be- specialized safety training for er companies who may need this near miss from becoming a tween 50 and 249 employees re- plastics factories. more help, to share challenges, bigger accident,” said President While the overall injury and ported 4.1 incidents per 100 full- Smaller firms often don’t have practices and resources,” she Phil Katen. illness rates have been trend- time workers. full-time safety staff and may be said. “There’s a tremendous He believes a focus on safety ing down for plastics processing That’s about 60 percent high- less able to afford technology that amount of expertise and peer has helped Plastikos appear reg- plants, the picture is more nu- er than the 2.6 incidents per 100 can reduce injuries, he said. support in our industry.” ularly on the Plastics Industry Association’s list of safer plants within the industry. Gargas said safety initiatives within plastics companies have focused on areas such as lockout/ MSPQR?LB?PBGQ tag-out, material handling and hand safety. She said there are some common themes in effective safety UCECRGRPGEFR programs in the industry, including management support, good communication and securing the participation of all employees. That can include requiring behavior-based safety obser- vations and inviting workers to write safety alerts that are sent to the entire factory. As well, the structure of safety committees can have an impact, Gargas said: “There’s a real em- phasis on cross-functional teams.” The falling accident rate within plastics firms mirrors that of the private sector as a whole. Manufacturing across the board has fallen from 4.3 to 3.4 between 2009-18, and the NSC report notes that injury rates have dropped 67 percent across all private sector firms in the last quarter-centu- ry, although NSC said workplace deaths have not declined nearly as much as injuries. CVRPSBCPQ`QWQRCKQ`QAPCUQ The NSC points to workers’ compensation laws, government oversight through agencies like 10 • Plastics News, August 10, 2020 SPECIAL REPORT: WORKPLACE SAFETY Calls grow for COVID-19 workplace rules as states move

put together a COVID-19 model stay away from work for 10 days DuPont Co.’s Spruance action plan and helped organize or have two negative test results. manufacturing site near donations of personal protec- It also has requirements around Richmond, Va. “Keeping the tive equipment. social distancing, protective workplace safe, which has “[Virginia’s Department of La- equipment, record keeping, infec- always been a cornerstone of bor and Industry] does not have tious disease preparedness and our operation, has taken on information to assess or under- training. It will initially be in effect new meaning during the past stand the implications this pro- for six months. six months,” plant manager posal will have on manufacturers Labor groups including the David Johnson wrote. or its supply chain,” VMA said. AFL-CIO praised Virginia’s action. DuPont Co. photo “Employers, now three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, have already put into place pro- OSHA says current cedures and controls that may rules fi ne be entirely undone … creating additional regulatory uncertain- But offi cials in the Donald ty that is impractical.” Trump administration have ar- DuPont, which makes PET gued that additional standards fi lms, Tyvek-brand nonwoven are not needed. high density polyethylene, nylon Loren Sweatt, deputy assis- and other materials in Virginia, tant secretary of labor at the said it supports the need for Occupational Safety and Health extra precautions and “critical Administration, told Congress in measures” to protect employ- late May that inspectors can use ees, but it argued that Virginia’s existing standards in respirato- new regulations “create con- ry and protective equipment, cerns for many employers.” sanitation and other areas for The company gave state of- COVID-19 enforcement, as well fi cials a detailed list of what it as the general duty clause in fed- called problem areas in the regu- eral safety law. lations, such as overly broad de- “Some have tried to argue that By Steve Toloken gear and quick employee notifi ca- manufacturing groups and resin scriptions of COVID-19 symptoms because OSHA is only issuing Plastics News Staff tion if a co-worker tests positive. maker DuPont Co., which oper- that could lead to “just about ev- COVID-19 guidance, employers Similarly, Oregon wants its own ates three plants there employ- ery illness” being treated as a sus- have no compliance obligations,” While manufacturing compa- rules in place by September. ing 2,000 people, questioned the pected case of the virus. Sweatt said. “This is not accurate.” nies have taken steps to rework There’s also a push in Washing- state’s July 15 action. It suggested Virginia base its She said at the time that OSHA their factories to reduce the ton to set national rules as part of The Virginia Manufacturers symptoms on a Centers for Dis- had received 4,200 COVID com- spread of the coronavirus, there’s the next round of COVID-19 legis- Association echoed arguments ease Control list “to avoid abuse.” plaints, doubling its regular work- a small but growing push to go lation, before Congress recesses made by the Trump adminis- “Keeping the workplace safe, load. But she also told the con- further and have states and Wash- Aug. 7. Mostly it’s been Demo- tration that existing rules and which has always been a corner- gressional panel that the agency ington mandate rules. crats calling for that, but a few industry-specifi c guidance give stone of our operation, has taken had issued only one specifi c On July 15, Virginia become the Republicans in recent days have government proper enforcement on new meaning during the past COVID-19 citation under the gen- fi rst state to adopt emergency signed on, too. authority and that new regula- six months,” David Johnson, plant eral duty clause. COVID-19 regulations for all work- In Virginia, the state govern- tions are not needed. manager of DuPont’s Spruance fa- In Washington, the debate places, setting legally enforceable ment said it was taking action to VMA said it’s worked to de- cility in Richmond, wrote to state around national standards had rules for things like protective fi ll a void from Washington, but velop industry best practices, offi cials in comments. been largely along party lines, with mostly Democrats urging OSHA to write emergency rules. Rules ‘key to But a few Republican lawmakers economic recovery’ joined that call. A group of 10 Republican Virginia offi cials said that while members of Congress wrote to many companies have adopted their party’s leadership in the similar safety provisions in their House July 14, urging that up- own operations, others have not coming coronavirus legislation done enough voluntarily, so they direct OSHA to write emergency need to act. COVID-19 standards. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam “While OSHA has issued indus- said the new rules would help Vir- try-specifi c guidance for various ginia’s economy and better pro- sectors, the guidance is suggested tect workers from a new threat. and not enforceable,” they wrote. “In the face of federal inaction, “Issuing an emergency standard Virginia has stepped up to protect would protect the health and workers from COVID-19, creat- safety of millions of Americans ing the nation’s fi rst enforceable and reduce the size of a ‘second FEATURING workplace safety requirements,” wave’ of infections as the econo- Northam said. “Keeping Virgin- my reopens.” FRANK ESPOSITO ians safe at work is not only a crit- Such a standard would also ical part of stopping the spread of help the economy by protecting this virus, it’s key to our econom- companies from some lawsuits re- ic recovery.” lated to COVID-19, the Republican The head of the Virginia agency lawmakers said. Tuesday August 18th | 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT that drafted the rules said it want- “Offering protections against ed to work with companies that frivolous lawsuits will give busi- are not in compliance. nesses peace of mind and help “Many employers have already the economy rebound,” they enacted these evidence-based wrote. “Instituting reasonable Resin is the single largest component cost of practices, and we are committed OSHA standards could help to working collaboratively with achieve this goal.” many plastic products. Take a look at topics those who have not to ensure That liability protection for they are in compliance with the businesses has been one of many affecting resin supply, demand and pricing with new emergency temporary stan- sticking points in any upcoming Plastics News dard,” said C. Ray Davenport, coronavirus legislation. Senior Reporter Frank Esposito. commissioner of the Department As lawmakers debated extend- of Labor and Industry. ing enhanced unemployment Presented to paid Plastics News subscribers only More specifi cally, Virginia’s benefi ts, aid to state and local rules require that all employees governments and other mea- be notifi ed within 24 hours if sures ahead of their planned ad- a worker tests positive and re- journment, any mandated safety quires that all workers who are rules have yet been made part of REGISTER NOW: PLASTICSNEWS.COM/POLYMER-POINTS-LIVE positive or suspected cases must any legislation. Plastics News, August 10, 2020 • 11

Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions Inc.’s $1 million investment in Indiana will help it continue its growth in the region. Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions Inc. photo

Jaeger-Unitek launches new extrusion line at Indiana facility By Sarah Kominek of-the-art, high-capacity, multi- neering know-how via the extru- Plastics News Staff material central drying system. sion process to serve all those It also complements the exist- different markets,” Phelan said. Hanover, Germany-based Jae- ing drying system where we can Kevin Casey, president and ger-Unitek Sealing Solutions Inc. share different materials back CEO of Jaeger-Unitek, said new launched a $1 million four-com- and forth to be very efﬁ cient and and existing customer growth ponent extrusion line in its La quick-changing.” that sparked demand for the Porte, Ind., facility to serve its Young said the project took new extrusion line came from the growing customer base. about a year to bring togeth- company’s automotive base. The investment, now run- er, including procurement of “We build on our core seg- ning at full production, includes equipment. ment,” Casey said. “We have three new extruder machines Colton Phelan, sales manager core competencies of material ranging from 3.5 to 1.75 inches, at Jaeger-Unitek, said the com- selection, part design, and we as well as infrastructure to sup- pany’s roots in the automotive apply those materials into new port future extruding produc- sector boosts the quality of prac- segments including RV, industrial tion line growth, Ray Young, vice tices across the board. and HVAC. president of engineering at Jae- “We were onboarding new “We have a little bit of medical ger-Unitek, told Plastics News. OEMs or tiers in the automotive business we have expanded in,” “As we add these new extrud- sector, and now we’re fully pre- he added. “We have a proprietary ers, we upgraded control sys- pared to do more,” Phelan said. product line now, making prod- tems and automation,” Young “We were able to use a lot of ucts for the aftermarket in some said. “From the extrusion and our automotive know-how from of our customer segments.” through into the downstream material selections to applying Casey said that growth “ulti- We can help equipment like lamination, we adhesives and slip coats,” he mately” becomes a “new invest- added a lot of customizable ma- said. “Heavy trucks and trailers ment in the community.” you reach your chinery that we had innovative have very similar applications to Jaeger-Unitek expects a 20 per- ideas for. That adds a lot of value automotive, so we’re hoping to cent workforce growth at the La sustainability to our products.” sort of copy and paste those ap- Porte facility in 2021, which cur- He said the line also includes plications into those segments.” rently has about 100-120 employ- and safety infrared cutting, printing and dis- Jaeger-Unitek has also moved ees, he said. goals! pensing operations. into agriculture, medical and “Our greatest strength is our “We think it complements our wastewater treatment produc- people and how we apply unique existing lines tremendously from tion, he said. materials knowledge to help our both effectiveness and adding “It’s a pretty wide variety of customers improve performance Protect your brand, employees, capacity with new technology,” products that we’re able to use and reduce total costs,” Casey stock, and the environment he added. “We’re adding a state- our quality systems and engi- said in a June 29 news release. 800.759.7090 www.rdindustries.com

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SIlVER SPONSORS PARTNERS 14 • Plastics News, August 10, 2020 Armstrong World Industries acquires Turf Design Plastics News Report disclosed, but Lancaster-based AWI “Felt is one of the fast- ‘Felt is one of the fastest-growing specified said in a news release that it funded est-growing specified Lancaster, Pa. — Armstrong the transaction with available cash products in the architec- products in the architectural specialty product World Industries Inc., a manufac- and its revolving credit facility. tural specialty product turer of tiles and panels for ceilings AWI sold more than $1 billion of space. Turf is the catego- space. Turf is the category leader that architects and walls, has acquired Turf Design commercial and residential ceil- ry leader that architects and designers have come to depend on to bring Inc., a felt ceiling and custom wall ing, wall and suspension systems and designers have come maker in Chicago with annual sales in 2019. to depend on to bring their creative designs to life.’ of about $25 million. The Turf acquisition enhances their creative designs to Vic Grizzle Turf’s products are used in com- AWI’s sustainability commitment, life. Turf also has a strong Armstrong World Industries Inc. mercial interior design applica- design and manufacturing capa- profit profile that will be tions and are primarily made from bilities, and portfolio of architec- accretive to our architec- will remain intact to complement tributable to a commitment to recycled PET from water and soda tural specialty ceilings and walls. tural specialties segment,” Grizzle AWI’s current sales model. inspirational design, innovation bottles. The business operates Turf’s felt contains up to 60 per- said in a news release. Turf rapidly developed the felt and customer service by every from an 8,000-square-foot inno- cent recycled content. Turf will continue to operate category and established itself member of their team. We look vation center and design show- AWI wanted to expand into felt from its current facilities and re- as the innovative leader in the forward to growing with them and room in downtown Chicago and offerings to meet increasing de- tain its company name, brands space, according to AWI Ceiling to building upon their success by a 75,000-square-foot fabrication mand for acoustical and sustain- and organizational and go-to-mar- Solutions Senior Vice President leveraging the brand, scale and facility in Elgin, Ill. able interior products, according ket structures. Also, the Turf inde- Charlie Chiappone. market reach of Armstrong,” Chi- Terms of the acquisition were not to AWI CEO Vic Grizzle. pendent representative network “Turf’s success is clearly at- appone said in the release. New name for Sun Plastech

By Frank Esposito Who needs data? Your business! Plastics News Staff Purging compound supplier Sun Plastech Inc. has changed its name to Asahi Kasei Asaclean Americas. Parsippany, N.J.-based SPI joined Asahi Kasei Group of Tokyo nearly Check out the Plastics News Data Store for scores of rankings 25 years ago. It was one of Asahi Kasei’s original American entities. and lists that can help you run your business today. SPI makes and distributes Asa- clean-brand purging compounds. In a news release, officials said the new name reflects the close relationship to its parent company. HERE ARE THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO THE STORE: “This is an exciting new chap- ter in our history,” Vice President Medical Processors: This list of the top medical Phani Nagaraj said. “We are incred- ibly proud to be a part of the Asahi processors in North America are culled from six of Kasei family, and this change brings Plastics News’ annual rankings. Companies are ranked us to closer to the values and ide- als that make us the Best Place to by sales across their respective North American Work in the plastics industry.” operations. We believe our new brand will emphasize our technical expertise and our global focus on product All of Plastics News development and R&D, which Asahi Kasei is so well known for,” he added. “Asahi Kasei Asaclean Americas information on 796 North American plastics processors will continue to focus on providing ultimate value for our customers.” Officials said that the name change and rebranding won’t have any impact on Asaclean products. 2020 Pipe, Profile & Tubing Extruders Ranking: “Our production, development, Plastics News' annual ranking of North American customer support and distribution have not changed in any plastics pipe, profile and tubing extruders is your way,” he added. premier source of competitive intelligence on 196 The Asaclean product line features mechanical and chemical leading PP&T processors with 524 plant locations grades that are scientifically en- included. gineered for optimal performance based on process and resins. The materials are optimized for injection molding, extrusion, profile and sheet, blow molding and blown film applications. SPI ranked No. 1 on Plastics News’ These and so much more are online today. Don’t wait. Visit: Best Places to Work list for 2020. The 27-employee firm has been ranked on that list for six straight plasticsnews.com/data-lists years. Nagaraj said earlier this year that SPI believes in “hiring the right people and focusing heavily on fos- tering an environment where em- Need rubber data? ployees are empowered to make the right decisions.” Need customized data? Asahi Kasei was founded in 1922 and employs more than 40,000 worldwide in the material, homes and health care industries. Plastics News, August 10, 2020 • 15 Tubi USA produces pipe with mobile extrusion plants

By Catherine Kavanaugh Plastics News Staff

Tubi USA Inc. is on a roll with mobile extrusion factories that can be packed onto fl atbed trucks, hauled to project sites and set up within 72 hours to manufacture polyethylene pipes for drinking water, sewers, natural gas distribution, and oil and gas gathering. The subsidiary of Tubi Ltd. in Australia has two mobile plants in Bartow, Fla., one in Odes- sa, Texas, and a fourth is being built by extruder manufacturer Battenfeld Cincinnati for mining work in Arizona. Tubi’s patented portable plants can extrude 4- to 26-inch pipe in lengths of 500 feet or more right where it needs to be installed. This eliminates the need for dozens or even hundreds of trucks to deliver heavy, bulky materials to a job site. And the longer pipe lengths reduce the need for 90 percent of the conventional weld joints, which cut down on installation time, labor and future maintenance. Tubi pipe can be produced in long-length sticks or on coils. The company developed coiling technologies for large-bore reeling and Founded in 2009 in New South Wales by Tubi CEO Marcello Russo, a stringing that can handle a mile of second-generation pipe maker, the company invests about $6.5 million 4-inch pipe on one reel. into each mobile, modular extrusion factory, which has 20 million Founded in 2009 in New South pounds of annual capacity each. Tubi Group Inc. photos Wales by Tubi CEO Marcello Rus- so, a second-generation pipe maker, the company invests about outlet, which points to statistics er Group project manager, who $6.5 million into each mobile, kept by the Texas Railroad Com- said minimizing truck traffi c was modular extrusion factory, which mission, a regulatory agency for a a big consideration. has 20 million pounds of annual variety of state industries. The irrigation pipe was pro- capacity each. Most of Tubi’s work in the duced on site in 100-meter lengths “While most pipe companies Permian Basin dried up and com- (328 feet). The portable plant was are cutting production because of pany offi cials looked for a new moved three times along the in- the down market we are in, we’re place to set up shop. stallation route. quadrupling to 80 million pounds “Competitors with convention- To ensure all pipe meets in- of capacity,” Tubi Chief Operating al manufacturing plants can’t go dustry standards, a mobile test nated the need for more than 450 extrusion. The larger the pipe, the Offi cer Wes Long said in a phone anywhere. They’re stuck in that lab is part of Tubi’s operation trucks to transport pipe from a bigger the freight advantage is. interview. “The country needs bad market, and they have had to as well as in-line monitoring. traditional factory, Long said. And, it can eliminate thousands innovation and new technology, furlough people. We didn’t,” Long The portable plant is equipped Fewer trucks means fewer diesel of welds and hundreds of days and we feel like we can fi ll that said. “We’re fortunate. We can with Sikora AG technology to emissions, less traffi c congestion of installation time. The cost sav- void by saving money for the pick up our plant and move.” measure the dimension of every and no safety hazards related to ings are tremendous. I think it’s a owners and construction compa- lineal foot of pipe produced, in- unloading the big, heavy infra- game-changer.” nies, eliminating the risks of han- cluding the inside diameter, out- structure products. dling big pipes and being good Going mobile side diameter, wall thickness, Tubi’s other mobile extrusion for the environment by reducing Tubi’s Russo worked with Bat- eccentricity and ovality. plant is servicing pipe distribu- truck traffi c.” tenfeld Cincinnati experts to de- “This helps from a quality as- tors throughout Florida. The dis- Publicly traded in Australia, velop modules or containers to surance standpoint,” Long said. tributors send trucks to pick up Tubi generated sales of $31.2 keep his patented mobile extru- “We can give customers a report pipe at Tubi’s site, which Long million in 2019, which is up from sion technology in climate-con- for every length of pipe on their said is within two hours of major $17.3 million in 2018 with the in- trolled spaces that can be easily order. It shows every dimension customers in the Southeast. crease attributed to additional moved, according to Long. of the pipe so they can see there’s “We’re right in the center of the work in the United States, ac- The modular factory fi ts into never any potential for thin- biggest market in the Southeast cording to the 2019 annual report containers that are lifted by crane walled pipe or anything that can for PE pipe,” Long said. “Florida THE TO for the fi scal year that ended onto 20 fl atbed trucks for trans- go wrong in a process.” is a good market on the industrial June 30, 2019. port, while the silos of feedstock, side and the municipal side be- COUNT ON. Tubi entered the U.S. market which are equipped with wheels, cause HDPE pipe is widely used in early 2018 with one mobile ex- are towed along. Leasing site in Florida for trenchless technology, direc- trusion unit in Odessa to produce “We can move to anywhere. Tubi offi cials kept a mobile ex- tional drilling and pipe bursting When it comes to PET pipe in the Permian basin. It may be to a strategic location trusion plant in Odessa for future for drinking water, wastewater, re- Resin, DAK Americas, an “At the time, demand far out- where we have a freight advantage projects in the western U.S. They claimed water for irrigation, sew- Alpek Polyester Business, weighed the supply of pipe. We or to a hot market,” Long said. picked Florida as their next place ers and natural gas distribution.” is the One to Count On. did well in 2108 and for the most “This gives us a lot of fl exibility to do business for their two oth- Tubi has a long-term lease in part 2019, but at the end of last compared to conventional legacy er portable plants. The compa- Florida, giving it a strategic and From virgin PET Resins to year, you saw the oil and gas gath- brick-and-mortar factories.” ny had a job in Bartow and then fl exible home base. integrated recycle content... ering market slow,” Long said. Tubi crews follow a template to leased space from the customer, “We can move one of those our Laser+® PET Resins “Companies wanted a return on set up the facilities. The process Mosaic Co., which is the largest plants anywhere to do a tempo- have been designed to meet their investments and capital goes quickly, Long said. fertilizer producer in the world. rary project and then return to the needs of today’s top spending slowed quite a bit. Then, “We can be making good pipe in Mosaic is using Tubi pipe for Florida,” Long said. consumer brands for Water, oil prices plummeted and then we 72 hours plus whatever the travel processing wastewater from phos- He previously worked for Plano, CSD, Heat-Set and Custom got hit with COVID-19.” time was,” he said. phate mining. Tubi is producing Texas-based Performance Pipe. Containers for bottling The pandemic resulted in travel For one project in New Zealand, the pipe in 500-foot lengths. Long retired after 30 years and and packaging. bans and lockdowns that closed the other country where Tubi “No one has done that on land then was lured back to work by schools and nonessential busi- operates, the company’s mobile before. Maybe on the ocean, but the prospects for Tubi. dakamericas.com nesses around the world, reduc- manufacturing unit produced 105 we’re the only ones who can do it “To me, nothing had really 1.888.738.2002 ing demand for oil and gas. miles of HDPE pipe to irrigate on land,” Long said. changed in the world of pipeline In Texas, since the start of 2020, 20,000 hectares of farmland. The Tubi also has successfully pro- innovation in terms of what is total oil production has dropped logistics of getting that much pipe duced 1,000-foot lengths of 16- the next step to do things better, 30 percent and total natural gas to the rural area would have been inch pipe, he added. smarter and save money for cus- production has fallen 20 percent, “spectacularly diffi cult,” accord- For the Mosaic project, Tubi’s tomers,” Long said. “Then, I saw according to The Texan news ing to a testimonial from a Down- mobile extrusion facility elimi- this new technology for mobile 16 ● Plastics News, August 10, 2020

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hard to hire the best people we the pandemic, “and actually our 34 presses in one Polyfab ranked No. 203 in the Polyfab could and to work with them to im- business has increased,” Doles- plant. The largest most recent Plastics News Continued from Page 1 prove our technology, our quality, haw said. The company typically press has 720 tons survey of North American our effi ciency and our people. And runs three shifts fi ve days a week, of clamping force. injection molders. Polyfab LLC photo services to sectors including con- to maintain our customer service, and recently it has been consis- Daiho was sumer packaging, home and com- as it has always been a part of our tently running on weekends, too. founded in 1937 mercial building improvement, in- business culture to take care of the “Our business is strong today, and started mold- dustrial, consumer products and customer even when it takes a lot and we anticipate that to continue ing plastic prod- health care. of extra effort,” Gill said. in the years to come, with poten- ucts in 1940. The Doleshaw said one of Polyfab’s Polyfab has been talking with tial growth rates of 10 percent an- company has specialties is factory automation. Daiho for about a year. The com- nually or greater,” Doleshaw said. plants in Japan, “Our current customers that we panies connected through the “Polyfab is doing very well; mainland Asia have strong relationships with are Investment Banking Group at Chi- sales are up 17 percent,” Gill add- and Europe. using our value-added services with cago-based Stout, which advised ed. “That is due to three things: In a news re- the ability to design, develop and Polyfab on the deal. sales of lids for disinfectant wipes, lease, Daiho of- build our internal automation and “Daiho was a great fi t for us; we are running seven days a week fi cials said they robotics systems,” Doleshaw said. they are a strategic buyer and for four different customers [and] have been eager to expand its over- force,” Shoji Kunitomo, chairman, Rick Gill said Polyfab’s strengths have a business culture very much new projects.” seas business in North America and president and CEO of Daiho Indus- are its technology, quality, effi cien- like ours,” Gill said. “It was import- Polyfab ranked No. 203 in the to diversify its customer base. trial Co. Ltd., said in the release. cy and people. ant to us to fi nd a buyer that would most recent Plastics News survey of “We respect Polyfab’s design “We are excited to work with the “Our parents taught us about build on the legacy we were given North American injection molders, and engineering expertise, in- Polyfab team and are committed respect for our people and continu- and treat our people right.” with 2019 sales of $27.5 million. The house automated manufacturing to becoming a top-ranked global ous improvement. We have worked Polyfab has stayed open through company has 110 employees and technologies and strong sales- plastic manufacturing company.”

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By Frank Esposito ident and CEO Lou Von Thaer Plastics News Staff said that the Battelle CCDS was developed in response to the Makers of personal protective 2014 Ebola outbreak, at the re- equipment are boosting their ef- quest of the U.S. Food and Drug forts as the world continues to Administration. grapple with COVID-19. “In 2020, after COVID-19 hit Sales of garments made of the U.S. and caused exactly the Tyvek-brand polyethylene film, kind of PPE shortage this system including surgical gowns and was designed to address, CCDS containment suits, were up 65 was quickly mobilized as a stop- percent at DuPont Co. in the gap measure to alleviate the N95 second quarter. That business shortage,” he added. now makes up almost 30 percent The Battelle CCDS also has been of all sales for the firm’s Safety found effective in studies conduct- Solutions unit. Wilmington, Del.- ed by Duke University and Massa- based DuPont makes Tyvek gar- chusetts General Hospital. ments at plants in Richmond, Va., Battelle CCDS operations are and Luxembourg. in place at more than 40 U.S. “We are committed to meeting sites. To date, those sites have the needs of our front-line re- decontaminated more than 1.8 sponders and others who need million masks. the protective garments,” a Du- Production of N95 Battelle’s CCDS allows N95 Pont spokesman said in an email masks at 3M’s plant masks to be reused. The process to Plastics News. “We expect de- in Valley, Neb. 3M photo can decontaminate thousands of mand to continue for the fore- N95 respirators using concentrat- seeable future as local, state and ed, vapor phase hydrogen per- federal governments, as well as ates. The firm was able to start has boosted N95 production. while we are making more N95 oxide. The Battelle CCDS can de- institutions such as hospitals, will production in Phoenix and Smith- “3M is making more N95 respi- respirators than ever before, the contaminate the same respirator likely look to rebuild their stock- field in five weeks in a process rators than ever before,” spokes- reality is demand will continue to multiple times without degrading piles of protective garments.” that could traditionally take up man Tim Post said in an email. exceed supply for the foreseeable N95 respirator performance. Honeywell Inc. and 3M both to nine months, spokesman Eric “Our factories in the U.S. and future,” Post said. “This is an in- In the decontamination pro- have increased production of Krantz said in an email. globally are operating 24/7.” dustrywide challenge, not just a cess, health care systems col- N95 masks since the pandemic “Both facilities have produced Since the pandemic began, 3M 3M issue.” lect worn N95 masks each day. hit. Five of the six main com- millions of N95 masks since they has delivered 800 million masks Research organization Battelle The masks then are labeled ponents of 3M’s N95 mask use started production in April,” he globally and 400 million in the U.S. of Columbus, Ohio, recently had with a barcoded serial number some type of plastic. Its straps added. “We’re producing masks The firm has doubled N95 mask its Critical Care Decontamination for tracking chain of custody are made from thermoplastic for the U.S. Department of Health production globally since January System (CCDS) pass filtration effi- throughout the process. This elastomers, the nose foam is and Human Services as well as for and is on track to increase that ciency and fit-related evaluations procedure ensures that the hos- polyurethane and the filter is a number of state and local gov- rate to 2 billion per year globally through 20 cycles for two differ- pital system receives its own polypropylene fiber. The mask’s ernments across the country.” by the end of 2020. ent 3M respirators. respirators back. The entire pro- shell and cover both are made The N95 expansions in Phoenix In July, 3M made N95 masks at According to a 3M technical cess takes three to five days. of polyester. and Smithfield have created more a rate of more than 50 million per bulletin, the firm evaluated mul- Battelle was founded in 1929 Charlotte, N.C.-based Honey- than 1,000 jobs. The plant in the month in the U.S., up from 35 mil- tiple decontamination processes, and ranks as the world’s largest well has added N95 production UAE, which is operated along with lion in March. The firm expects including Battelle’s, reviewing at nonprofit research and develop- at plants in Phoenix and in Smith- aerospace firm Strata, also recent- to hit a U.S. rate of 95 million per least four key aspects of success- ment organization, employing field, R.I., as well as in the United ly shipped mask No. 1 million. month by October. ful decontamination of respirators. more than 22,000 at more than Kingdom and United Arab Emir- St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M also “It’s important to note that In a news release, Battelle Pres- 60 locations.

of providing the building materials Associated industry with market-leading innovation, products and services.” livestreaming conversations Continued from Page 3 The company also reported that company reports it will still be led by Justin Tasso — a portfolio manag- its President and CEO Brian Strauss er and partner with Oak Hill Ad- after the transactions. Strauss said visors, a New York-based investor FIRESIDE CHATS in Associated Materials’ news re- group that invests in high-yield lease that the company’s newly bonds and distressed companies fortified balance sheet will help it to — “is expected to serve as lead Wednesday, August 19 1 pm CT / 2 pm ET weather the coronavirus pandemic. director of the new board.” Tasso “From the outset of the COVID-19 expressed confidence in the com- pandemic, we have aggressively pany going forward. managed and assessed our oper- “As the close of the recapitaliza- ations, capital structure, net debt tion approaches, Oak Hill Advisors USMCA REPLACED NAFTA ON JULY 1 and liquidity position with an eye and the other noteholders are en- What Does it Mean for the Economy, the Plastics Industry, and Your Business? toward strengthening the finan- thused by AMI’s enhanced balance cial foundation of our company to sheet and are excited to participate address unprecedented econom- in AMI’s promising future alongside Featured Panelists: ic challenges while continuing to customers, employees and other serve our customers, support our stakeholders,” Tasso said in the employees and partner with our release. “AMI is a resilient business suppliers,” Strauss said in the re- that has performed impressively lease. “We believe the productive during the COVID-19 pandemic and negotiations with our investors has many avenues towards further will give AMI a capital structure growth and value creation.” that will support our strong operat- Associated Materials and its sub- ing business and set the company sidiaries operate 11 manufacturing up for long-term success. We look facilities in the United States and Lou Longo Alejandro Rodriguez Eugenio Calderón Dwight Morgan forward to working with our new Canada that produce vinyl win- Partner, International Principal, Country Manager VP, International EVP equity holders, and, once our new dows, vinyl siding and accessories, Consulting Practice Leader Mexico M. Holland Co. Corporate Development capital structure is in place, we will and metal building products. It also Plante Moran Plante Moran M. Holland Co. remain focused on serving our cus- runs 122 supply centers in North tomers while adding to our legacy America, according to its website.

In the most recent Plastics News ranking FUELED BY PRODUCED BY of pipe, proﬁle and tubing processors in North America, AMI was No. 15 with an

REGISTER HERE WWW.PLASTICSNEWS.COM/MHOLLAND estimated $320 million in PPT related sales in the region. Plastics News, August 10, 2020 • 19

Nolato GW Plastics Inc. has both injection molding Fire damages Indiana Continued from Page 1 and LSR molding with 1,100 employees and six Nolato had only one U.S. plastics plants in North America. plastic lumber factory molding plant: Nolato Contour in GW Plastics Inc. photo Baldwin, Wis. It ranked No. 139 for By Don Loepp ing was not damaged. North American injection molders Plastics News Editor “The overwhelming calls, in Plastics News’ most recent survey, texts, posts, and support is so with estimated sales of $46 million. An Aug. 4 fi re heavily dam- amazing I truly cannot even GW Plastics was the Plastics aged Green Tree Plastics LLC, express in words. Please know News Processor of the Year in 2009. an Evansville, Ind., company it has touched our hearts It was No. 53 in the most recent known for making plastic lum- and is what keeps us pushing Plastics News ranking of injection ber for school groups using caps through!!! We truly love you molders in North America with six and lids collected by children. all!!!” the company wrote. plants in the region, 1,100 employ- The fi re started at about 1 The post links to a GoFund- ees and $178 million in 2019 sales. p.m. from an exhaust fan and Me page with a goal of $5,000 to GW also won the 2015 Plastics ing, which is expertise GW can Romania, two in Malaysia, one in spread quickly when it ignit- help the company rebuild, clean News Sustained Excellence award, share with Nolato. Poland, one in Switzerland and one ed a pile of plastic pellets, ac- up machinery “and help with ev- which honors continued growth The two companies started in England. In North America, in cording to the Evansville Fire erything insurance won’t cover and achievement and is given to a talking seriously about a deal about addition to the Wisconsin plant, it Department. Workers tried un- for them.” past Processor of the Year winner. 18 months ago, Wahlquist said. also has a silicone extrusion plant successfully to put it out with Green Tree Plastics is known GW was founded in 1955 by John “We’ve had GW on our radar for in Andover, N.J. an extinguisher. Ten workers for its A Bench for Caps (ABC) Galvin and Odin Westgaard, who many, many years. We’ve heard Nolato, which is publicly traded, were in the plant at the time. All program, which partners with both had extensive plastics indus- about them from our customers, posted 2019 sales of 7.9 billion krona escaped and no one was hurt. schoolchildren to teach them try experience. They sold to Carbo- and we were intrigued and inter- ($909.6 million) and after-tax profi t “At this time Green Tree Plas- about plastics recycling. rundum Co. in 1973. After a series ested in them,” Wahlquist said. of 703 million krona ($80.9 million). tics is closed for business. We Children’s groups send Green of deals, GW passed to Standard Oil “We’ve met them at trade shows, Riehl said he and existing GW are working with water, power, Tree plastic caps and lids, which of Ohio in 1981. and we initiated discussions about management will stay with the the fi re marshals and the insur- the company uses to make park In 1984, a group of managers one and a half years ago. company. ance agencies at this time to furniture including benches, and investors led by Frederic Riehl “GW has a very strong corporate “It’s important to us that we have start coming up with a plan to tables and trash receptacles. — Brenan’s father and the current culture, very similar to the Nolato a really solid transition. Especially rebuild and move forward,” the Schools from across the country GW chairman — bought the com- corporate culture. The way they to our customers, and of course company wrote in reply to ques- have participated in the project. pany from Sohio. treat people, the way they mold. for our workforce,” Riehl said. “We tions from Plastics News. Green Tree uses 100 percent Wahlquist called GW a well-man- And I have a lot of respect for their both insisted that the organiza- Green Tree offi cials wrote on recycled plastics in its products, aged, well-invested company and management,” Wahlquist said. tions stay the same.” Facebook that part of the build- according to its website. said Nolato does not plan to make Nolato dates back to 1938 and Wahlquist said he had an op- any changes. He said GW’s size and started medical molding in 1950. portunity to visit all the GW sites geographic presence will enable sig- Wahlquist headed the company’s before travel restrictions brought nifi cant market synergies over time. medical molding unit for 20 years. on by the coronavirus pandem- As an example, Riehl said the GW Riehl said GW has been able to ic. The two CEOs laughed when medical business is very strong in grow from a single plant in Vermont asked if COVID-19 made fi nalizing the surgical device market, while in 1984 to seven plants on three the deal diffi cult. Nolato is “extraordinarily strong” continents today. GW’s factories “It’s been a testament to our in diagnostic devices. are in Bethel and Royalton, Vt.; teams that we were able to do “That puts us in a really strong San Antonio, Texas; Tucson, Ariz.; this while having to deal with position with our medical custom- Querétaro, Mexico; Dongguan, Chi- COVID-19,” Riehl said. “We stuck An Aug. 4 fi re damaged ers,” Riehl said. na; and Sligo, Ireland. through with it while we kept our Evansville, Ind.-based Green Wahlquist added that GW is “ex- Nolato has 10 plants in Sweden, workplace safe and our customers Tree Plastics LLC. tremely driven” in scientifi c mold- six in China, two in Hungary, one in secure. It was a lot of hard work.” Green Tree Plastics LLC Facebook photo

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‘Polymer Points’ by Frank Esposito is a monthly column that looks at the resin industry. Commodity resin prices stay heated in July

ost North American Market sources said that North American commodity resin pric- RESIN PRICING es rose for the second PP demand is down 5 percent so far in Mstraight month in July, Average pricing changes for July in cents per pound. 2020, due in part to a drop of about one- as the region made adjustments to 5 life during the COVID-19 pandemic. third in sales to the automotive market. Improving demand and higher 4 feedstock costs sent North Ameri- Many global auto plants closed during the can prices for polyethylene, poly- 3 COVID-19 outbreak. propylene, solid polystyrene and suspension PVC resins up during 2 the month. Regional prices for +6 cents +3 cents +5 cents +2 cents sales to the automotive market. ry,” he said. “If that happens, we 1 PET bottle resin remained fl at. PP Flat PS PE PVC Many global auto plants closed could see monomer and resin Regional prices for all grades of PET during the COVID-19 outbreak. prices coming back down.” PE jumped 5 cents per pound in 0 Other markets, including ex- North American PP supplies July as strong demand combined ports as well as housewares and were improved in late June, when with lower output at some loca- -1 caps and closures, have seen im- Braskem SA completed construc- tions. PE prices in the region had proved demand, owing in part to tion of a new PP resin plant in La moved up 4 cents per pound in -2 consumers spending more time at Porte, Texas. Offi cials with São June. North American PE makers home during the pandemic. Medi- Paulo-based Braskem said that -3 now have a 5-cent increase on the cal uses, such as N95 face masks, the billion-pound-capacity plant table for August. which are needed to protect has global export capacity. -4 “There’s strong demand in es- health care providers, also have sential applications,” PE market -5 led to increased PP demand. analyst Mike Burns said. “Demand PP demand “remains very PS, PVC rise in a lot of areas never went away. strong, and supply is the tight- The 3-cent jump in PS prices “Now there’s a surge in nones- Plastics News graphic by Jordan Vitick est it’s been in all of 2020,” offi - comes after prices moved up 2 sentials as demand is picking up,” cials with distributor/consultant cents in June. Regional prices for added Burns, who is with Resin sponse to the COVID-19 pandemic. several producers — including Blue Clover Polymer Solutions in the material had declined a total Technology Inc. in Fort Worth, Two Formosa Plastics Corp. USA Dow Inc., Enterprise Products, To- Princeton, N.J., said in a recent re- of 10 cents in April and May as Texas. Export markets opened up PE units in Point Comfort, Texas, tal Petrochemicals, Ineos Group search note. They added that re- COVID-19 affected demand. in June and July, adding addition- remain down for maintenance. and Formosa Plastics Corp. USA cent PP outages “lasted substan- The July PS price hike followed al strength to PE demand, he said. — had supply issues on either tially longer than expected.” a large increase for benzene feed- Market sources said that even propylene monomer or PP resin. The regional PP market could see stock, which is used to make sty- with some COVID-19-related slow- PP up 6 cents “There were some big produc- a smaller price increase in August, rene monomer. Benzene prices downs earlier in the year, the North American PP prices tion outages in July, and invento- although recent swings in PGP pric- moved up 39 cents to $1.38 per amount of PE sold into fi lm ap- moved up an average of 6 cents ry was drawn down by 90 million es have led market watchers to be- gallon during July. plications in North America is on per pound in July. Prices had in- pounds,” said Scott Newell, a mar- lieve that’s not a done deal. The regional PS market contin- track to be slightly higher in 2020 creased by 1 cent in June after ket analyst with RTI. “The [PP] RTI’s Newell described August ues to face challenges, according than it was in 2019. being fl at in May. The increase market felt tighter.” as “a transition month” for the to Phil Karig, managing director North American PE supplies was tied to higher prices for poly- Market sources said that North PP market. “Monomer supplies with Mathelin Bay Associates in also have been improved by Dow mer-grade propylene monomer. American PP demand is down 5 should come back, and demand St. Louis. “Unfortunately, nothing Inc.’s restart of two units that had Market sources also told Plas- percent so far in 2020, due in part might slow down if buyers are about the current COVID-19 situa- been down since early May in re- tics News that during the month, to a drop of about one-third in just replenishing their invento- tion that has benefi ted some other polymers will change polystyrene's downward trend,” he said. The 2-cent increase in regional PVC prices for July came after a 3-cent hike took hold in June. Demand for the material has increased as construction markets have begun to recover from COVID-19. Construction-related uses account for around 60 percent of PVC consumption in the U.S. and Canada. A market source told Plastics News that PVC makers have reduced inventory levels to just over seven days — a relatively low level M. Holland is more than a plastics distributor. — which has tightened supply and With a best-in-class commercial team allowed prices to climb higher. Regional PET bottle resin prices offering industry-leading technical and were fl at in July after moving up an regulatory expertise, an extensive network average of 1.5 cents per pound in of world-class suppliers and a full line of June. Market sources said that in- branded products, we are your trusted crease had more to do with higher raw material prices, as demand for source for comprehensive solutions. From the material had been fl at. more than 60 stocking locations across Prices for West Texas Interme- North America, M. Holland brings you the diate oil began July just over $39 You take distribution latest resin and materials solutions to help per barrel and improved slightly to climb to little more than $40 by seriously. So we take it you achieve your business goals. the end of the month for a gain of almost three percent. Learn more at mholland.com. Prices for natural gas — used personally. as a feedstock in North American PE and PVC — began July at $1.75 per million British thermal units but improved to $1.83 by the end of the month for a gain of almost 5 percent. Plastics News, August 10, 2020 • 21

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RESIN As of Aug. 5 PRICING CHART www.plasticsnews.com

Prices are in U.S. cents per pound for prime resin, unﬁlled, 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 • A “P” indicates that a price change for that material is pending. does not intend to specify the price of the materials listed. For price quotes on speciﬁc • A bullet ■ indicates a correction in the published price. materials, contact the supplier. PN discourages use of this chart as a single-source index for price contracts. PN does not buy or sell resins. Highlights • Polypropylene up 6 cents. Plastics News resin pricing for thermosets, certain engineering thermoplastics and high-temperature thermoplastics are published in the last issue of each month. Data can be viewed anytime online at www.plasticsnews.com. Paying PN subscribers also can access historical resin pricing data and graphs from our website.

Commodity Thermoplastics

Key: I - Annual volumes greater than 20 million pounds II - Annual volumes of about 2 million to 5 million pounds

Resin/Grade Volume category Resin/Grade Volume category Resin/Grade Volume category I II I II III HDPE POLYSTYRENE ABS Blow molding: Crystal: Injection: Copolymer (HIC) 69-71 73-75 Injection, general-purpose 94-96 98-102 Medium-impact 107-110 111-112 Homopolymer (Dairy) 69-70 71-74 High-heat 98-102 104-105 High-impact 112-113 115-119 Pipe fittings 97-98 101-105 Drums 71-73 74-77 High-impact: High-heat 133-137 142-147 Extrusion 101-103 106-108 Injection, general-purpose 65-66 68-70 Flame-retardant 138-142 147-162 Injection 100-102 106-108 Extrusion: Extrusion: High-heat, injection 104-109 110-112 109-111 114-119 Film, HMW 71-73 75-78 Pipe, general-purpose 126-127 129-131 Film, MMW 74-75 79-81 Flame-retardant 134-138 140-144 Sheet, general-purpose Pipe, HMW 79-81 84-87 EPS, cups 108-111 — Pipe, MMW 82-85 86-88 Blends/alloys: Unmodified 102-105 101-110 Sheet 67-69 71-73 PC/ABS — 141-146 Nylon/ABS — 149-159 Rotomolding, powder — 80-83 PVC RESIN Suspension resin: ACRYLIC, G-P — 125-130 LDPE Injection, general-purpose 88-91 91-93 Injection: Pipe grade 86-88 89-92 PET PACKAGING RESINS General-purpose — 79-81 91-93 94-96 Dispersion resin: APET Lid resin 77-79 81-83 Bottle resin 59-61 62-64 Homopolymer, G-P 113-117 119-123 Extrusion: CPET 89-91 — Coating, paper 77-79 — POLYPROPYLENE > Continued on page 22 Film, liner 72-74 75-80 Homopolymer: Clarity film 70-72 73-76 Injection, general-purpose 57-59 60-63 Gas & oil futures Average prices in U.S. dollars* LLDPE Extrusion: 56-58 59-61 Natural gas Crude oil Butene-1 comonomer: Fiber 3.5 $45 Injection, general-purpose — 60-64 Film 57-60 60-63 Per million Btu Extrusion, liner film 56-59 60-62 Profiles 60-63 65-72 Sheet 59-62 63-65 3.0 HAO comonomer: Injection, general-purpose — 66-68 Random copolymer: 40 Injection 60-62 63-65 Lid resin 68-71 74-77 2.5 Extrusion, liner film 62-64 66-69 Film 62-63 64-66 Rotomolding, powder — 85-90 Blow molding 62-63 65-68 Impact copolymer: 2.0 35 High-impact 71-75 76-79 SOND J F S OND J F For pricing information on virgin thermoplastic or TPO (in-reactor) 91-99 98-102 2020 2020 thermoset resins, call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. Source: Barchart.com Inc., Chicago *As of Aug. 5 22 • Plastics News, August 10, 2020 Engineering thermoplastics Recycled plastics Historical resin pricing Polypropylene, Extrusion Film Resin/Grade Clean regrind Key: I - Annual volumes greater than 1 million pounds or flake Pellets Large-volume average, in cents II - Annual volumes of about 300,000 to 500,000 pounds 150 Volume category ABS Resin/Grade III Mixed colors, industrial 45-49 75-79 POLYCARBONATE ACETAL Homopolymer 137-144 148-154 Clear, industrial 86-96 — 120 20 percent glass — 179-194 Mixed colors, industrial 83-87 91-97

Copolymer 115-125 130-139 POLYETHYLENE — 160-175 20 percent glass HDPE: 90 NYLON Natural, post-consumer 51-55 74-78 Mixed colors, post-consumer 36-40 44-51 Type 6 130-140 143-147 Mixed colors, industrial 33-38 45-49 Type 6/6 157-165 169-180 HMW HDPE film, POLYESTER post-consumer — 38-42 60 PBT, injection 119-124 129-134 LLDPE stretch film — 29-43 30 percent glass, FR 154-159 164-174 LDPE film: PET, injection 118-123 128-138 Clear, post-consumer — 35-39 30 percent glass, FR 155-165 165-175 Colored, post-consumer 17-21 37-41 30 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 POLYCARBONATE PET BOTTLES Blow molding 157-167 188-198 Clear, post-consumer 34-46 56-66 Injection, general-purpose 141-150 145-170 Green, post-consumer 18-26 23-31 Polystyrene, Flame Retardant 20 percent glass 157-167 188-204 Small-volume average, in cents Structural foam 139-148 175-192 POLYPROPYLENE Flame-retardant 172-189 200-210 Industrial 31-35 45-49 200 Extrusion, sheet 140-149 152-180 POLYSTYRENE Optical media 123-132 133-152 Industrial 19-24 54-70 High-heat, crystal, POLYURETHANE post-consumer 34-40 51-57 Ester type, injection 189-206 213-222 Extrusion 216-238 252-270 PVC 150 Ether type 252-265 297-306 Clear, industrial 22-28 —

TPE Polyester — 325-400 Oleﬁnic (compounded) 80-115 120-135 Styrenic 160-190 220-270

For pricing information on recycled resins, 100 call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. '10'11 '12'13 '14'15 '16'17 '18'19 '20

For pricing information on virgin thermoplastic Entire contents copyright 2020 by Crain Communications Inc. Plastics News or thermoset resins, call Frank Esposito at 330-703-7290. All rights reserved. Source: research Milacron sales drop 23 percent Shell Chemicals continues By Don Loepp $1.9 billion in November 2019, ner sales for medical projects re- Plastics News Editor in a move that diversified Hil- lated to COVID-19 are expected lenbrand from its traditional to decrease in the fourth quar- reopening in Pennsylvania Quarterly sales for U.S.-based focus on burial caskets. Hillen- ter, and injection molding sales plastics machinery and hot brand is publicly traded. are expected to remain weak.” By Frank Esposito cases among the workforce at Mo- runner manufacturer Milacron In a news release, Hillen- For the parent company, Hil- Plastics News Staff naca, the spokesman said. Twen- dropped 23 percent compared brand President and CEO Joe lenbrand reported sales of $608 ty-one site workers are confirmed with the same quarter a year Raver highlighted the compa- million, up 36 percent compared Shell Chemicals is continuing to to have recovered from COVID-19 ago, parent company Hillen- ny’s efforts to integrate the Mi- with the same quarter a year ago, bring workers back to its plastics and have been cleared to return to brand Inc. reported Aug. 6. lacron business. which was before the Milacron and petrochemicals construction work, he added. The drop was “primarily “Since the Milacron acqui- purchase. Hillenbrand reported site near Pittsburgh. Shell continues to follow and en- driven by lower demand for in- sition, our team has done a a net profit of $24 million, a drop Shell now has around 4,000 workforce COVID-19 guidelines as provid- jection molding and extrusion great job executing of 33 percent. ers on site in Monaca, Pa., a compa- ed by the Centers for Disease Control equipment, largely due to the our strategy in a chal- Hillenbrand is also ny spokesman said in an Aug. 4 email and the Pennsylvania Department of pandemic-related shutdown in lenging environment. the parent compa- to Plastics News. That’s about half Health. Those include social distanc- India and weakness in the auto- We have focused on ny of compounding the number that were working there ing, mandatory masks, sanitizing motive end market,” the compa- leveraging our operat- extruder maker Co- before most work was stopped in stations, temperature screening, and ny reported. ing model to improve perion and auxilia- mid-March over concerns about the lunchroom protocols that use tables “The decline was partially profitability, drive free ry equipment firms spread of COVID-19. with plexiglass dividers with only offset by increased hot runner cash flow, pay down K-Tron and Rotex, After the shutdown, 300 workers two workers per table. sales in the medical and elec- debt and integrate Mi- which are in the firm’s remained at the site. Shell began Shell began construction in Mo- tronics end markets.” lacron,” he said. Process Equipment adding about 300 workers per week naca in late 2017. The 386-acre proj- The company also reported “The integration re- Group. For the quar- during the week of May 4. ect will be the first U.S. petrochemi- a 24 percent drop in adjusted mains on track, and ter, that unit reported “We continue to add workers at a cals project built outside of the Gulf earnings before interest, taxes, we've made signifi- Raver sales of $281 million, measured pace, with decisions made Coast of Texas and Louisiana in sev- depreciation and amortization cant progress toward a drop of 11 percent on a weekly basis, as conditions al- eral decades. Production is expected (EBITDA), and adjusted EBIT- achieving the full stra- compared with the low,” the spokesman said. to begin in the early 2020s. DA margin of 20.5 percent de- tegic and financial benefits of same quarter a year ago. The He added that as Shell adds work- The complex will use ethane from creased 20 basis points. the deal, while accelerating the decline was driven by “lower ers, the facility’s testing lab “is pro- shale gas produced in the Marcellus Blue Ash, Ohio-based Milacron realization of announced syner- demand for capital equipment viding site leaders with a valuable and Utica basins to make around 3.5 has an order backlog of $185 mil- gies and identifying incremental and aftermarket parts and ser- tool that is helping the site to protect billion pounds of polyethylene resin lion, down 3 percent compared opportunities,” Raver said. vice across the segment, par- worker safety and manage COVID-19 per year. The complex will include with the same quarter a year Hillenbrand has a three-year tially offset by favorable pric- challenges.” All workers newly join- four processing units, an ethane ago, driven by lower injection cost synergy target of $75 mil- ing,” Hillenbrand reported. ing or rejoining the workforce un- cracker and three PE units. Most molding and extrusion equip- lion for Milacron and reported The Process Equipment dergo reorientation training that of the resin made in Monaca is ex- ment orders. The order backlog that it is on track to achieve $20 Group’s backlog of $939 million includes an on-site COVID-19 test pected to be sold to Shell customers is down 1 percent compared million to $25 million in cost syn- was roughly flat compared to required to gain badge access. To within North America. with the second quarter. The re- ergies in the current fiscal year. the prior year, but down 4 per- date, the site’s testing lab has con- Shell Chemical is a unit of global sults reported Aug. 6 are for the In reporting its outlook for fis- cent from the second quarter, ducted more than 1,000 tests, with energy firm Royal Dutch Shell. The quarter that ended June 30. cal year 2020, Hillenbrand said “with order softness across the about 1 percent of those COVID-19 business is based in The Hague, Batesville, Ind.-based Hillen- Milacron’s sales are “expected segment due primarily to the im- tests coming back positive. Netherlands, with U.S. headquar- brand acquired Milacron for to decrease modestly. Hot run- pact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” There are 14 confirmed active ters in Houston. November 3, 2020 Huntington Convention Center | Cleveland, OH

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