10 years, 5,000 products detailed for processors in PMM's pages: Talking Points

Nearly all media has undergone a shift from delivering news and information solely in print to print plus digital. PMM’s monthly print circulation has been steady at about 31,000, and we have about 10,000 unique monthly visitors to our website. That’s a trend we expect to continue.  

Weekly podcasts are another way we now reach an audience who prefers to listen on the go. We have also added webinars and eBooks. 

The brand’s ownership changed. The magazine was founded primarily by Tony Eagan, who was publisher and chairman, and J.A. Lewellen, president and CEO. T. Peter Sullivan was a partner and publishing adviser. Five other staff members also were investors. Ownership changed in 2018 when the brand was sold to Endeavor Business Media, a publishing company that now has more than 90 media brands, 60 conferences and exhibitions and more than 700 employees. 

Our name changed in 2020 from Plastics Machinery Magazine to Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing to better reflect how we cover the industry.  

Several new subjects, such as recycling, energy conservation, cybersecurity and labor shortages, have been added to our regular editorial coverage because they pose challenges to processors.  

A few things have not changed: 

The value we bring to readers is information on equipment. During our first 10 years, we have covered approximately 5,000 new or updated products that processors need to operate their businesses. Capital equipment is a big expense, and we think we can help processors make informed decisions on how they spend their money. 

Each back page of our first 120 issues has highlighted a notable or important figure in the industry in our “In Other Words” stories. We think it is important for readers to hear these people in their own words. 

New products are researched and written primarily by PMM staffers Karen Hanna and Bruce Geiselman. Their articles have always followed the same easy-to-digest format: What is it; what’s new; what are the benefits; how to contact the company for more information.  

Marvin Brown, our associate editor/designer, has produced every cover and every page of the first 120 print issues. His striking covers are recognized throughout the plastics industry. Online you can revisit Brown’s 10 favorite magazine covers. 

PMM has always valued its designation as a Preferred Publishing Partner for the Plastics Industry Association and includes a monthly column written by someone from the trade association.  

We believe we keep our readers well-informed about equipment trends. Our first issue 10 years ago included a story about a new trend among blow molding machinery manufacturers switching from hydraulic to hybrids and all-electric models. That issue also had a story about micromolding, a new 3D printer named “David” from Sculptify LLC, and an interview with the late Robert Schad. 

We decided to mark our 10 years by looking at 10 events and trends we have chronicled, and 10 people who have made a contribution to the plastics industry. We will be publishing these online over the next few weeks, and in our November print issue. 

Some of the trends are equipment-based and easy to identify, such as the rise of artificial intelligence in plastics manufacturing equipment, growing acceptance of hybrid and all-electric machines, additive manufacturing and automation. 

Others are events or changes in manufacturing that processors have faced, such as the failure of the supply chain, severe labor shortages and an increasing anti-plastics movement.  

Our 10 notable people include those who work to represent the plastics industry from organizations that would throttle it, top executives of machinery companies and a couple engineers who have pushed forward the technology of plastics processing.  

This list is not a hall of fame where inductees are selected for their lifetime achievements. We are not characterizing it as the Top 10 movers and shakers. These are interesting people we have written about who have been important to the industry during the past 10 years. I apologize to anyone who thinks he or she should have been included but was not. Send your suggestions to editorial@plasticsmachinerymanufacturing and we may do a follow-up story.  

Finally, a big thank you to all our readers and advertisers for your insights and support. 

What’s in store for the next 10 years? It is impossible to guess how we will deliver the new equipment news by 2034. You, the consumers of our content, will decide that for us. But we intend to continue focusing on processing machinery and the challenges processors face. 

Stay tuned!