2025 predictions, recycled railroad ties, 3D printing for anyone: Machinery Minutes, Jan. 27, 2025

In this week's Machinery Minutes, senior reporter Bruce Geiselman updates you on a roundtable in which the PMM staff discusses what may lie ahead for machinery makers in 2025. Are they optimistic that interest rate cuts will boost business, or do they see continued tough times ahead?

Another vision of the future comes from Slant 3D president Gabe Bentz, who wants to revolutionize manufacturing in a way that allows anyone to turn an idea into a part.

We also have news on a manufacturer of recycled plastic railroad ties that has attracted an investor. 

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 – What lies ahead for machinery makers in 2025?

Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing editors and reporters in a recent podcast discussed the publication’s annual machinery buying survey and what outlooks plastics processors and machinery makers shared with the staff.

High interest rates and potential tariffs from the incoming Trump administration have processors and OEMs concerned, and those concerns threaten to slow down equipment sales, Managing Editor Lynne Sherwin shared with listeners. Sixty-four percent of respondents said the economy and interest rates have had a negative effect on their business. Meanwhile, 39 percent of the processors responding said they plan to spend less on equipment in 2025. On a positive note, 66 percent of respondents plan to buy at least some new primary equipment this year, which is about average for the six years PMM has conducted the survey.

At least one OEM expressed optimism that equipment sales might see an uptick now that uncertainty regarding the outcome of the presidential election is over. Meanwhile, staffing problems among plastics processors appear to be easing somewhat but not going away entirely.

These are just some of the insights shared during our recent PMM Insight podcast titled: “Our 2025 Outlook for Plastics Machinery Sales.” Look for it on our website or subscribe to PMM Insight through your favorite podcast platform.

No. 2 – Sumitomo Corp. of America has purchased a minority stake in Evertrak LLC, a manufacturer of composite railroad ties.

The amount of investment was not disclosed, but Evertrak founder Tim Noonan said Sumitomo acquired a minority stake in the St. Louis company, which has 30 employees.

Evertrak buys recycled high-density PE and PP flake to mix with glass fiber from Owens Corning to make composite railroad ties as an alternative to wood ties. They perform reliably in-track for 50 years in high-rot regions, according to the company.

Learn more by reading the story headlined: “Recycled plastic railroad ties draw investor interest.”

No. 3 -- Slant 3D President Gabe Bentz envisions a future in which his lights-out-capable print farm rivals corporate monoliths like Amazon and Foxconn.

Bentz wants to revolutionize manufacturing in a way that allows anyone to turn an idea into a part, using platforms like Etsy to communicate orders for one-off print jobs. Other print farms have come and gone, but Slant 3D — which uses proprietary machines that can print most of their own replacement parts — is still standing.

Bentz recently spoke with Karen Hanna, Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing senior staff reporter, about giving injection molding a run for its money. Read her story: “Gabe Bentz brings 3D printing power to the people.”

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