Equipment sales slump; biopolymers on the rise; a rockin' career: Machinery Minutes

Plastics machinery sales are down — again. On this episode of Machinery Minutes, hear more about the latest figures from PLASTICS' Committee on Equipment Statistics and the outlook for the rest of the year. 

Bioresins are growing in popularity as companies emphasize sustainability, but they pose processing challenges. Hear how extrusion and blow molding equipment makers are adapting. 

Artie Riegger, who is 40 years into a career in KraussMaffei's extrusion business, has another talent: he was a drummer in a rock and roll band for 55 years. He told us about his dual careers for this month's "In Other Words" interview.

Transcript

Story Number 1: This may sound familiar -- Primary machinery shipments showed significant declines in the fourth quarter of last year.  

The Committee on Equipment Statistics of the Plastics Industry Association reported the estimated value of shipped primary processing equipment was $288.8 million, representing a 12 percent decrease from the third quarter and a 17 percent drop from the same period last year. 

Plastics industry economist Perc Pineda said that “Weakness in U.S. manufacturing persisted in the fourth quarter, driven by increased economic policy uncertainty amid expectations of a shift in U.S. trade policy after the November elections.” 

Read the story headlined “Plastics machinery shipments fall in Q4 2024.”

Number 2: Stores, restaurants and manufacturers are under pressure to use more biodegradable polymers in single-use applications such as straws, food packaging and grocery bags.  

But it is not an easy switch. There is a shortage of bio-resins, prices are high and the new materials come with significant processing challenges. 

Senior staff reporter Bruce Geiselman interviewed experts at Bekum America, Entek and Magic North America about what machinery manufacturers are learning and how they can help processors. 

Despite challenges, Bekum America applications manager Joe Slenk said, “I don’t think it’s going to go away anytime soon. With all the talk about sustainability, I think this is going to have a niche in the market.” 

The story has lots of useful technical considerations for processors. It is headlined: ”Bioresins make inroads in extrusion, blow molding.”

Number 3: It’s always fun to find out that someone you know has a completely other talent or background. Take the case of Artie Riegger, who is 40 years into a career with KraussMaffeiCorp. 

In his other life, the KraussMaffei regional sales manager for extrusion products, was a drummer in a rock and roll band for 55 years. He ended that gig in 2016 because he said he did not want to lug around all those drums, cymbals and stands. 

“We started as the Vistones in 1964,” Riegger told senior staff reporter Karen Hanna. “Then changed to the Poor Boys in 1966, and as we got older, we changed our name to Raven in 1975.” 

You can read about Riegger’s amazing careers as an extrusion expert at KraussMaffei and as a rock and roller in the story headlined: “Riegger maintains sales rhythm.”