Supply chain issues linger; Engel unveils new IMM; Rethink names management team: Machinery Minutes, Dec. 9, 2024

On this week's Machinery Minutes podcast, you'll hear how the supply chain issues of the past several years continue to ripple through the market. It's part of our 10th anniversary series.

Engel has unveiled its energy-saving e-mac 500 injection molding machine, featuring its new High clamping drive.

And cobot pioneer Rethink Robotics has announced a new management team, which among other duties will oversee the relocation of robot production from Europe to the U.S.

Listen here, or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to get a new episode of Machinery Minutes every Monday.

Transcript

Welcome to Machinery Minutes, where at the beginning of each week I share with you three things you need to know in three minutes. You can read the complete stories on plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com.

No. 1 – The past couple years have been a bumpy ride for suppliers, processors and customers, as disruptions have rippled through the supply chain, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Later, Hurricane Ida caused widespread refinery closures in the Gulf Coast area, driving up the price of resins and plastic parts.

However, the supply chain appears to be stabilizing.

The year-to-year increase in supply chain disruptions began slowing by mid-2023, according to Resilinc, a Milpitas, Calif., company that provides data regarding supply chain trends.

Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing examined ongoing supply chain issues as the publication marks its 10th anniversary, and the staff looks at the events and issues that shaped our coverage over our first decade.

To learn more, read our story headlined: “Supply chain disruptions still rippling through market.”

On our homepage, check out the other trends from the decade we've been covering.

No. 2 – Engel has unveiled its new e-mac 500 injection molding machine.

The e-mac 500 features the company’s new High clamping drive, and energy consumption is about 30 percent lower than hybrids or hydraulics. With a clamping force of about 562 tons, the e-mac 500 is now the largest model in Engel’s series of compact all-electric injection molding machines.

For details, read the story: “Engel e-mac 500 enables fast, efficient production.”

No. 3 – Rethink Robotics’ leadership is changing.

The Boston-based automation company has appointed Julia Astrid Riemenschneider as CEO and Franziska Lorenz as COO.

They will oversee the installation of the North American headquarters and expansion of the team. By the end of 2025, the company plans to relocate robot production from Europe to the U.S.

Rethink Robotics was an early cobot pioneer that recently relaunched with several new automation lines.

See our story headlined: “Rethink Robotics names leadership team.”

Those are my Top 3 items you need to know for this week. We will have a new list every Monday.