NEWS


North America machine sales increase in 2017


Deliveries of US-made plastics machinery has risen – in both the final quarter of 2017, and the year as a whole. Figures from the Plastic Industry Association’s Committee of Equipment Statistics (CES) revealed that total deliveries of primary plastics equipment rose almost 10% in the final quarter of 2017, to reach almost US$400m. For the full year, deliver-


ies rose more than 6% compared to 2016 – and this is unlikely to be bettered in 2018.


“Given the recent trends in the new orders data, the pace of growth experienced in the second half of 2017 in


the shipments data is not sustainable,” said CES. “The annual forecast for ship- ments of primary plastics equipment in 2018 is a gain of 5%.”


CES said that spending on plastics equipment could accelerate in 2018 if demand for plastics prod- ucts grows more rapidly. However, it said that current estimates of growth were not high enough to “spark a large jump in demand for plastics machinery”. The vast majority of the


market is accounted for by injection moulding machin- ery, which saw a 4% rise in order for the year. However, extrusion machinery performed less


well: single-screw extruders saw a 3% decline in sales to around US$83m – despite a 9% rise in volumes. How- ever, CES predicts a 7% increase in sales this year, which would take the annual total to US$89m. For twin-screw machines, sales fell 16% to around US$75m for the year. In 2018, sales are expected to rise by 19%, taking the annual total to US$89m. The monthly capacity


utilisation data for the plastics industry averaged 81.3% in the final quarter of 2017. CES expects this to rise gradually through 2018 and reach a level of 83% by the end of the year. � www.plasticsindustry.org


UK pipe maker enters administration


Plasticon UK, a manufacturer of industrial piping and storage tanks, has gone into administration. The company, which has a £9m (US$12m)


turnover, has a manufacturing facility in Hull in northern England.. Andrew Mackenzie of Begbies Traynor,


one of the joint administrators, said: “The business is highly specialised and has a strong reputation for innovation in the composites field. We are confident that a buyer can be found for it.” � www.plasticon.co.uk � www.begbies-traynorgroup.com


Trim maker expands production


US-based Plastic Trim International, which makes extruded trim and other automotive components, is to invest US$16m at its plant in Baldwin Township, Michigan – creating more than 200 new jobs, says a report on MLive.com. The investment will allow the company to expand its 42,000 sq ft plant and upgrade technologies there. The company has been


approved for a US$1.5m performance-based grant from the Michigan Strate- gic Fund board. Plastic Trim manufac-


tures trim, moulding, decorative parts and other components for a number of automotive industry clients.


It is owned by Minth


Group US Holdings, a China-based manufacturer that makes similar products. John Zanti, senior plant manager at Minth, told WNEM: “The project will be complete in February next year.”


Chinaplas 2018 concludes record-breaking event


This year’s Chinaplas show has concluded, with organiser Adsale saying that this year’s show hosted 3,948 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions. The event, held this year on 24-27 April, has been running since 1983. “For the first time, Chinaplas’ scale exceeds 300,000 sq m – an indicator of the massive demand for new technologies,” said Stanley Chu, chairman of Adsale.” The show was hosted in the National Exhibition and


Convention Center (NECC) in Hongqiao, Shanghai for the first time this year. � www.chinaplasonline.com


www.pipeandprofile.com May 2018 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 5


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