Machinery outlook for 2025, Proco's cobot business, Geiss thermoformer: Machinery Minutes, Jan. 13, 2025

In this episode of Machinery Minutes, learn about the results of our annual survey of processors' machinery investment plans, and what OEMs anticipate for the market in 2025. 

You'll also hear about a new cobot-centric spinoff business of blow molding automation provider Proco Machinery, and an upgraded control system for the Geiss T11 thermoforming machine.

Subscribe to the PMM Insight podcast on your favorite platform so you get Machinery Minutes every Monday, as well as interviews and commentary episodes on Thursdays. 

Transcript

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

No. 1 – Respondents to a recent Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing survey were divided as to whether the machinery market would rebound in 2025.

OEMs cited ongoing economic uncertainty as a concern.

While previous fears about the pandemic, broken supply chains and a shortage of skilled workers seemed to fade, survey respondents cited a new worry – that the resurgent economy would crash into recession.

Of the plastics processors who took our survey, 58 percent expect business to be better in 2025. That’s a 2 percent increase from the year before. Those who expect it to remain about the same also rose by 2 percentage points to 33 percent. Sixty-six percent of respondents plan to purchase primary processing equipment in 2025, with 39 percent expanding capacity and 29 percent replacing existing equipment.

How much do they plan to spend, and what do OEMs think the new year will hold for equipment sales? To find out, read our story headlined: “Will the plastics machinery market rebound in 2025?”

No. 2 – Proco Machinery, a Mississauga, Ontario, automation company serving the blow molding industry, has created a sister business that automates businesses using collaborative robots.

Cobots Inc., also based in Mississauga, aims to serve the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses across the packaging industry.

John McCormick, Proco president and director of Cobots Inc., said demand for cobots is strong in the blow molding industry, due to manufacturers’ need for automation, and the efficiency, adaptability, flexibility and simplicity the compact technologies offer.

For more, read the story headlined: “Proco Machinery spins off cobot business.”

No. 3 – Geiss LLC’s latest thermoforming machine, the T11, includes a revamped user interface that allows operators to choose the key parameters they wish to see.

 It gives them a clear overview of ongoing production, according to the company.

The T11, designed for high throughput applications, can be integrated with Geiss automation and robotics. The interface is designed to be as easy to use as a smartphone, requiring minimal operator intervention, according to the company.

The T11 also is designed to be energy efficient. It can be used for vacuum forming, pressure forming and twin-sheet forming.

More information is available by reading the story: “Geiss thermoformer has upgraded control.”

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