Trump expectations, Netstal in Mexico, Wasp's large-format 3D printer: Machinery Minutes, Jan. 20, 2025

This week's Machinery Minutes podcast, summarizing three important stories from the plastics machinery world, begins with our take on the story everyone's talking about: the beginning of Donald Trump's second term and what it might mean for the industry.

We also report on Netstal's new subsidiary in Mexico, following a trend among injection molding OEMs, and a large-format 3D printer from Wasp that was designed for boat builders.

Join us every Monday for Machinery Minutes, and be sure to subscribe on your favorite platform.

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 – The United States has a new president beginning this week. More accurately, a former president, Donald J. Trump, is returning to the White House for another term.

His election and inauguration is buoying the hopes of some OEMs and plastics processors as they weigh the costs and benefits of potential tariff increases and other policy changes proposed by the new administration. We heard from several OEMs and processors immediately after the election, and more as we gathered reactions to our annual machinery investment survey.

For example, Sonny Morneault, president of Wittmann USA, says he expects an increase in new equipment purchases early this year for all the customers who were holding back to see what happened with the election, the economy and inflation.

““Ironically, history shows us that the election has zero impact, regardless of how they go, on decision-making but always prevents those decisions until after the election,” he told PMM.

Read what other processors and OEMs think and see if their expectations line up with yours. The story is headlined: “Trump election buoys some manufacturers' hopes.”

No. 2 – Injection molding machine maker Netstal has founded a subsidiary in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico.

It is taking over the employees, facility and operations of iTech Latinoamérica, which had represented the brand in Mexico as an independent agency. Netstal said the move will allow the company to better serve its customers by leveraging the exceptional expertise of its new team members in PET, closures, packaging, and medical applications.

Netstal is the latest OEM to increase its presence in Mexico. Engel and Haitian both have been expanding their presence south of the border. Last year, Engel announced an investment in Queretaro, Mexico, of about $31 million to build its 10th production facility, to complement its North American headquarters in York, Pa. Meanwhile, in 2023, Haitian opened its newest plant, in Acatlan de Juarez, in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Mexico.

You can read the story: “Netstal establishes subsidiary in Mexico.”

No. 3 – Wasp, an Italy-based 3D printer manufacturer, has developed the Power Wasp 45 HDP, a large-scale fused-granulate-fabrication, extrusion-based 3D printer to meet the needs of boat makers for large-scale, customized parts with complex geometries.

The latest in the Wasp HDP line, the technology represents a jump in the series’ maximum printing volume and boasts a new kinematic system. It can manufacture parts that would not be achievable with a traditional Cartesian or delta kinematics printer.

Learn more by reading: “Wasp printer makes large, customized parts.”

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