By Bruce Geiselman
Here are my picks for five things you need to know this month. You can read the complete stories on plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com. And subscribe to PMM Insight on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.
1. A shortage of skilled workers is fueling demand among plastics processors for equipment that includes artificial intelligence and process monitoring.
AI can reduce the need for skilled workers to detect emerging problems and adjust processing parameters. In some cases, operators can now start up machines with just a push of a button and rely on AI to make adjustments.
“It’s able to help operators run the machine,” said Gabriele Peccetti, marketing and communications director at extruder-maker Colines. “Just push one button, and the line in 20 seconds can go to the target with very low tolerance of the thickness and without touching the die.”
Learn what manufacturers Colines, Reifenhäuser, and Collin Lab & Pilot Solutions are doing with AI in my story.
2. Illig, a German-based thermoforming systems manufacturer, says a buyer has been found for the financially troubled company.
Illig, which recently entered insolvency proceedings in self-administration, is being purchased by a German investor. Plans call for the loss of about 200 jobs.
Details can be found in this news item.
3. How’s the economy? What does the future hold? Will inflation hurt plastics processing equipment sales or will the second half of 2024 and early 2025 usher in stronger equipment sales?
PMM reporters at the recent NPE conference asked industry experts to peer into their crystal balls.
Read the story by Ron Shinn here.
4. Mold Master’s new temperature controller aims to make the production floor less cluttered by eliminating the need for conventional mold power and thermocouple cables. It can also reduce costs. Intrigued? Find out more in this Product Innovation by Karen Hanna.
5. Two American extruder manufacturers have brought new medical extruders to the market. One of them, from US Extruders, features a new screw design that can process a variety of plastics used in producing medical tubing – something that can be a challenge.
Meanwhile, Graham Engineering says its new stainless steel Compact Modular MD extruder is designed for medical and pharmaceutical clean-room applications where wipe-down surfaces are required.
Come back to PMM Insight on the first Thursday of every month for a new list of five things you need to know.
Bruce Geiselman | Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Bruce Geiselman covers extrusion, blow molding, additive manufacturing, automation and end markets including automotive and packaging. He also writes features, including In Other Words and Problem Solved, for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. He has extensive experience in daily and magazine journalism.
