PMM Insight: A Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing Podcast
Episodes
Kiefel reorganizes, cuts jobs; twin-screw extruder sales jump; additive manufacturing: Machinery Minutes, Nov. 25, 2024
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode of our Machinery Minutes podcast, learn about a reorganization at thermoformer maker Kiefel, which will include 100 job cuts at...
Hasco helps hurricane victims; AI-powered robots for recycling; looking back at a decade of coverage: Machinery Minutes, Nov. 18, 2024
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Machinery Minutes, we give you the rundown on these three topics: Hasco, a supplier for tool and mold making, is supporting Hurrica...
A conversation with Nadeem Amin, new president of Netstal in the Americas: PMM Insight
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Injection molding machine manufacturer Netstal builds machines that are precise and have a high degree of repeatability: “We do not take shortcuts a...
Machinery OEMs optimistic after election; 3D printing for drones; meet Fimic's CEO: Machinery Minutes, Nov. 11, 2024
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Machinery Minutes, learn about these stories from plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com: No. 1 – The return of Donald J. Trump to the ...
Hybrid vs. electric IMMs, running them efficiently, new leader at Davis-Standard: Machinery Minutes
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Machinery Minutes, a quick roundup of three stories from Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing. No. 1 – Injection molding machine manufa...
Avoid downtime with a microgrid; Arburg IMM slims down; Wittmann conveyor controller: Machinery Minutes, Oct. 28
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Machinery Minutes, where at the beginning of each week Senior Reporter Bruce Geiselman shares three things you need to know. No. 1 – Coul...
How to save energy in your plastics plant, and get help paying for it: PMM Insight
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Senior reporter Bruce Geiselman discusses with Matt Flanigan, director of APenergy, how plastics processors might be able to trim energy costs by unde...
Sensors to save energy; sustainability at NPE; cuts at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag: Machinery Minutes, Oct. 21
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Machinery Minutes, where at the beginning of each week Senior Reporter Bruce Geiselman shares three things you need to know. No. 1 -- Sens...
How to save energy; Coperion introduces new extruder; molding shop expands capabilities: Machinery Minutes, Oct. 14
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to PMM Insight: Machinery Minutes, a quick look at three important stories from Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing. New episodes drop ever...
Is a microgrid right for your plastics plant? It could save you time and money: Commentary
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The weaknesses of the U.S. electrical grid have never been more apparent, as natural disasters cause outages and EVs, cryptocurrency farms and other e...
Five things to know: The biomaterials market, new equipment from Conair and Rethink
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Senior reporter Bruce Geiselman rounds up five essential stories, including a look at the bioplastics supply chain, new service options and smart tech...
Bioresins can work with existing plastics machinery
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bioresins are currently a small fraction of the resin market, but their use is likely to grow as companies face pressure to improve sustainability. Wh...
Piovan is ready for growth, says North American CEO
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Erkert, Piovan’s regional CEO for North America, expects the plastics industry economy to accelerate in 2025. Piovan is world’s biggest s...
We need to do better with recycling common plastics: Commentary
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Senior reporter Karen Hanna researched biomaterials for our September cover story package. She says that while these new materials may be a solution f...
Top 5 things to know in September
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Senior reporter Bruce Geiselman highlights five of PMM's recent top stories, including innovations in blow molding, Novatec's newest drying and convey...
Blow molders aim to go greener
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Blow molding machinery makers at NPE2024 approached sustainability from multiple angles. Some emphasized energy efficiency, others their capabilities ...
Plastics processors should embrace immigrants: Commentary
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An election year always brings arguments about immigration. If you earn a living in the plastics industry, you should be in favor of opening our borde...
Thermoforming OEMs aim to fill a void
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When SencorpWhite departed the thermoforming market last year, other OEMs saw opportunity. BMG, Illig and Kiefel are now offering solutions to Sencorp...
The changing role of auxiliary equipment makers: Jason Ganim, Conair
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Conair president Jason Ganim talks about the changing role of auxiliary equipment manufacturers, the new collaborative relationship processors expect ...
5 things to know in August
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Senior Reporter Bruce Geiselman shares some of the top stories on our website this month, including innovations in extrusion equipment and news regard...
Remembering Robert Schad
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Schad, founder of Husky and Athena Automation/Niigon, left an indelible mark on the plastics industry and a legacy of philanthropy. He died Jul...
Extruder makers implement Industry 4.0
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence, process monitoring and other digital technologies were a major theme at NPE2024. Senior reporter Bruce Geiselman talked with ...
Sales staff know where economic winds are blowing
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to know the state of the plastics machinery business, don't look to pundits or economists; ask a salesperson. Good ones listen closely to ...
Five things to know in July
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Editor Ron Shinn rounds up five top stories from Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, including a look at Industry 4.0 technology in injection mold...
The promise and perils of AI for plastics processors
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence can be hard to define, but it's coming to plastics processing. Doug Anger, engineering manager for training provider RJG Inc.,...
Injection molding embraces Industry 4.0 at NPE2024
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From trimming cycle times to optimizing the use of recycled materials, the ability to collect data and tweak production based on it offers molders man...
NPE2024: A view from the show floor
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
PMM Managing Editor Lynne Sherwin attended NPE2024 as a first-timer. Editor Ron Shinn talks with her about her experiences, what she and other PMM sta...
Industry 5.0 incorporates a human touch: Commentary
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of the factory of the future, we often picture a fully automated facility with few workers. But manufacturing gurus are beginning to tal...
What's ahead for the Global Plastics Treaty?
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The recently concluded fourth round of UN talks on a global plastics treaty made some progress in narrowing down the issues still facing delegates, ac...
Get smarter, or get left behind
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Processors who reject smart manufacturing technologies are putting their future at risk, says industry expert Alaa Elwany of Texas A&M. The govern...
Industry 4.0: Start small, but think big
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Manufacturing technologies are evolving quickly, and those who don’t implement Industry 4.0 risk being left behind. Start small, but in a way that a...
How Industry 4.0 will improve manufacturing: Mo Abuali, Wipfli
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A survey of more than 300 manufacturers found that 99 percent say they plan to increase spending in technology and Industry 4.0 in 2024. At the same t...
10 innovations to check out at NPE: PMM Insight
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
PMM Editor Ron Shinn has been to every NPE since 1991. In this episode of PMM Insight, he chooses 10 of the 111 Product Innovations featured in our Ap...
Why you need to go to NPE2024: Commentary
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Editor Ron Shinn, a veteran of dozens of plastics trade shows, looks forward to NPE2024 in May. It's been six years since the last one, and at the rat...
Smart technology for auxiliary equipment
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Auxiliary plastics processing equipment such as blenders, dryers and feeders can now collect and analyze data, make production adjustments on the fly,...
Competing interests threaten Global Plastics Treaty: Commentary
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The need to address the plastics pollution problem is universally acknowledged, but progress has been slow and parties are often working at cross-purp...
How private equity is changing the plastics industry, with John Hart, PMCF: PMM In Person
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Private equity investors are having an impact on the plastics industry. The results are bigger, more sophisticated plastics companies with deeper pock...
Hiring slows, but labor shortage in plastics persists: PMM Perspective
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation, high interest rates and supply chain disruptions have created uncertainty throughout the economy, but whatever the short-term outlook, one ...
Leveraging your data with Kate Brown of Wipfli: PMM In Person
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your manufacturing data is a valuable asset. Find out how to use this information to increase productivity and serve your customers better.
Do we need standards for recyclable bales? PMM Commentary
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Every recycler has horror stories about contaminated bales of recyclable materials, and knowing what's in a bale is essential to meet standards for re...
Processors and equipment OEMs look ahead to 2024: PMM Perspective
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing recently conducted its fifth annual survey of machinery investment plans for the upcoming year. The results, an...
Plastics plant leaders must embrace sustainability: PMM Commentary
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emissions that come from the manufacturing and transport of plastic parts can and should be controlled. When plastics processors commitment to greener...
Arlene Davis on educational opportunities at NPE2024: PMM In Person
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Arlene Davis, director of NPE content and experience for the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), talks with Editor Ron Shinn about the extensive...
Growing leaders from within your workforce: PMM Insight
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How companies handle promotions and professional development can go a long way toward easing challenges they might otherwise face filling job opening...
Laurie Harbour, manufacturing consultant, Harbour Results: PMM In Person
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wages and other costs for the new contract won by the United Auto Workers will trickle down to Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 auto suppliers, including pla...
How artificial intelligence can help plastics processors: PMM Perspective
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From plant design to part quality, artificial intelligence offers manufacturers efficiency advantages. Jimmy Asher, managing director and Smart Factor...
Tim Shestek and Robert Simon, American Chemistry Council: PMM In Person
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Representatives from the American Chemistry Council discuss two issues of growing importance to plastics processors — extended producer responsibili...
Training your workforce for the future: PMM Perspective
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Plastics processors are facing challenges in their workforces as experienced operators retire and new employees need to level up their skills. Senior ...
Matt Seaholm, Plastics Industry Association: PMM In Person
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
PMM Editor Ron Shinn speaks with Matt Seaholm, CEO of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), about the global effort to solve the problem of pl...
How to assess your cybersecurity risk and take action: PMM Perspective
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every plastics processor should take the threat of cybercrime seriously. Senior Staff Reporter Bruce Geiselman details steps you can take to make sure...
Lean manufacturing for plastics processors: PMM Perspective
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Consultants, company leaders and employees tout lean manufacturing as an approach that empowers employees while helping companies run more productivel...
Introducing PMM Insight
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing and plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com, we bring you our podcast! Each month we will provide interviews wi...