Good morning! We're always interested to learn the paths people take into their careers in the plastics industry. For John McCormick, that path was littered with earthworms and cherry pits, as he rose from an apprenticeship to found automation supplier Proco Machinery. Intrigued? Read on.

PLASTICS released its Global Trends report, which had some good news (an overall trade surplus for the U.S. industry) and not so good (plastics machinery consumption fell, and is operating at a trade deficit).

We also have news on the acquisition of Barnes Group, and a new product from Progressive Components.

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Lynne Sherwin, managing editor