NEWS


US plastic machine sales decline in third quarter


North American sales of plastics processing machin- ery fell again in the third quarter of last year. The Plastics Industry


Association’s Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES) said machinery sales were US$319 million for the quarter – a 9% fall on the same period in 2023. However, it was around 42% higher than the second quarter of the year. Sales of single-screw


extruders fell nearly 28% year-on-year – but were about 32% higher than the previous quarter. Twin-screw extruder sales rose 43% year-on-year and by nearly 150% on the previous quarter. For comparison, sales of injection moulding


350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0


320 265 350 350 225 2023-Q3 2023-Q4 2024-Q1 2024-Q2 2024-Q3


Primary plastics machinery sales, US Source: CES, Plastics Industry Association


machines were down 11% year-on-year, but up around 34% compared to the previous quarter. “The rebound in primary plastics equipment in the third quarter shows that growth prospects remain, aligning with the positive outlook for the broader


plastics industry – not just equipment,” said Perc Pineda, chief economist at the association. “With baseline demand for plastic products holding steady, demand for plastics equip- ment is likely to grow over time.” � www.plasticsindustry.org


Cosmo First raises sales in H1


India-based flexpack supplier Cosmo First raised sales and profitability in the first half of the year. The company reported


sales of 1450 crore Rupees (around US$166 million) – up 9% on the same period


of the previous year. At the same time, profitability (EBITDA) rose by one-third, to reach 191 crore Rupees (around US$22m). The profit rose thanks to higher volumes and BOPP film margins, it said. BOPET,


which accounts for around 9% of sales, also saw higher margins. “In film, our focus remains on speciality film and cost rationalisation,” said Pankaj Poddar, CEO of Cosmo First. � www.cosmofirst.com


Plastics


output falls in Europe


Production of plastics in Europe fell more than 8% in 2023.


Plastics Europe, which


represents resin manufac- turers, says the sharp decline – to 54 million tonnes – contrasted with the 3% global increase in plastics production. This puts Europe’s share of plastics production at 12%. At the same time, exports of plastic resins from Europe declined by more than 25% between 2020 and 2023. Production of mechani-


cally recycled post-con- sumer plastics also dropped by nearly 8%, to around 7 million tonnes. “The EU’s transformation


to a circular plastics system is in danger from imported plastics which do not always meet EU standards,” said Marco ten Bruggen- cate, president of Plastics Europe. “The circularity transition will only be successful if policymakers urgently implement the framework conditions needed to regain our competitiveness.” � https://plasticseurope.org


Amcor and Berry plan merger agreement


Amcor and Berry, which have com- bined revenues of $24bn and adjusted EBITDA of $4.3bn, have entered into a definitive merger agreement. The merger will bring together two worldwide production and commercial networks to create what they said is “a global leader in consumer packaging solutions, with a broader flexible film


8


and converted film offering for custom- ers, a scaled containers and closures business, and a unique global health- care portfolio”. The combined group would serve


more than 140 countries through approximately 400 production facilities. The transaction has already been unanimously approved by both boards


FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | January/February 2025


and is expected to close in mid-2025. Peter Konieczny will serve as CEO, Graeme Liebelt as Chairman and Stephen Sterrett as Deputy Chairman. The new entity will be named Amcor and its global head office will remain in Zurich, Switzerland. � www.amcor.com � www.berryglobal.com


www.filmandsheet.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44