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2024 Moldmaking Insights: A Year in Review Part 2

A look back at the top moldmaking trends of 2024, as revealed through MMT's analytics. This review highlights the most popular technical articles, case studies, tips and best practices that captured the industry's attention over the past year.

Moldmaking Opportunities and Challenges Within the Current Economic Cycle

Report analyzes moldmaking trends, pricing, labor shortages, capital costs, competitiveness strategies and construction spending challenges.

Plastics Industry Association Releases 2024 Global Trends Report

The Plastics Industry Association will release the 2024 Global Trends Report, predicting both a plastics trade surplus and possibility for significant supply chain disruptions.

Moldmaking Industry's Path Amid Economic Shifts

Entering the second half of 2024, moldmakers navigate challenges and opportunities with plastics industry resilience and potential economic surprises providing hope.

Capital Expenditures Exponentially Impact the Plastics Industry

PLASTICS releases an analysis of the exponential growth of capital expenditures, which continue to impact the plastics industry — and, by correlation, the moldmaking industry.

Shift in U.S. Mold Imports: Emerging Countries Gain Ground in Market Share

The dynamic nature of the U.S. mold industry's global trade landscape offers challenges and opportunities for growth.

Advancing Moldmaking and Plastics: Trends in 3D Printing, Automation and Sustainability

NPE 2024 showcased the latest trends and technologies in innovation, efficiency and sustainability for moldmakers and molders, featuring advancements in 3D printing, automation, design and virtual reality/augmented reality/artificial intelligence.

PLASTICS Issues Plastics Equipment Statistics for Q1 2024

Covering injection molding and extrusion shipment data, the report indicates a decrease in shipment value, though PLASTICS’ chief economist says growth is still inevitable.

More Than 50,000 Registrants Attended NPE2024

All last week, the plastics community was brought together to learn, network and hear about several new announcements.

NPE 2024 Set to Showcase Solutions for 6 Key Moldmaking Trends

The moldmaking and plastics industries have undergone some changes in the past six years, all of which emphasize the importance of innovation and adaptability for competitiveness.

NPE2024 and the Economy: What PLASTICS' Pineda Has to Say

PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda shares his thoughts on the economic conditions that will shape the industry as we head into NPE2024.

Four Industry 4.0 Tech Adoption Insights from Indiana Plastics Manufacturers

As more plastics manufacturers step into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, insights have emerged about how best to approach the digital transformation journey.

Recycling Partners Collaborate to Eliminate Production Scrap Waste at NPE2024

A collaboration between show organizer PLASTICS, recycler CPR and size reduction experts WEIMA and Conair will seek to recover and recycle 100% of the parts produced at the show.

Michael Cicco Announced as Second Keynote Speaker for NPE2024

FANUC America president and CEO Michael Cicco presents his show opening keynote, “Unlocking the Potential: Robotics, AI and Automation in the New Tech Era,” at NPE2024.

Alliance Specialties Initiates Community Service Event at NPE2024

On May 8 during the plastics event, NPE attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the packaging of essential meals with Alliance and U.S. Hunger.

NPE2024 Announces Speaker for First Ever Women in Plastics Breakfast

The Plastics Show, produced by The Plastics Industry Association, will host its inaugural Women in Plastics Breakfast featuring speaker Kerrie Greenfelder, PE.

For PLASTICS' CEO Seaholm, NPE to Shine Light on Sustainability Successes

With advocacy, communication and sustainability as three main pillars, Seaholm leads a trade association to NPE that ‘is more active today than we have ever been.’

Navigating Economic Resilience and Consumer Trends

Consumer behavior provides mold builders insight into the evolving market dynamics of goods and services that helps strategic planning.

MMT Chats: A More Modern NPE “Made for You”

The Plastics Industry Association is making NPE 2024 a “can’t miss”’ experience with more of everything – education, exhibitors and networking! The PLASTICS Industry Association Chief Operating Officer Glenn Anderson and Director of Trade Show Marketing Damaris Piraino share what’s in store for attendees of next year’s May 6-10, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.

Resilience and Reflections: Moldmaking in the Evolving Economic Landscape

As moldmakers navigate this complex year marked by fluctuating business activities, and approach the upcoming year with cautious optimism, three key considerations should guide their decisions.

PLASTICS Opens William R. Carteaux Leadership Award Nominations

The award, named in honor of the organization's late former president and CEO, will be presented in May 2024.

Editorial Advisory Board 2023-2026: Camille Sackett, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Accede Mold & Tool

The 2023-2026 version of MoldMaking Technology's EAB features a new crew of industry professionals. Meet Camille Sackett

PLASTICS Presents NPE2024 Education Sessions

NPE’s academic program has been redesigned to aid advancement within the plastics industry.

What Is the 2023 “Customs & Practices of the Moldmaking Industry Guide”?

Are you aware of the updated “Customs & Practices of the Moldmaking Industry Guide”?

PLASTICS Releases Recycling is Real Video

Latest video of the Recycling is Real campaign features Amcor, highlighting its work in producing fully recyclable plastic bottles to address the circular economy of plastics.

Plastics Industry Association Launches Recycling is Real Advocacy Campaign

The campaign will provide content that reflects the true efforts behind plastic recycling to help lead more informed decisions about sustainability and the circularity chain.

NPE2024 Opens Registration

After what will be a six-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, registration is open for the triennial show, which will take place May 6-10, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.

U.S. Economy Indicates Prospects for Moldmakers

An examination of the U.S. economy suggests its resilience against a recession, yet a mixed outlook for moldmaking and plastics persists.

U.S. Economic Fundamentals Impacting Moldmaking

The economy continues to downshift, capping growth in moldmaking.

Internal and External Factors Continue to Impact U.S. Moldmaking

Sustainable growth remains in the forecast as economic conditions continue to progress.

Plastics Industry Association Welcomes New Personnel

PLASTICS names Camille Gallo director of communications and Matthew Glaser senior director of industry engagement.

Plastics Industry Association Releases Global Trends Report for 2022

The Plastics Industry Association’s Global Trends report provides an account of U.S. plastics exports and imports in four categories.

New Recruitment Tool on How Moldmaking Careers Make a Difference

The concept was to allow young professionals currently working in our industry to share their own personal journeys and thereby help educate a future generation of workers about the fulfilling, lucrative career opportunities available in mold manufacturing. We thought the best way to convey these stories would be through a video, so we sought support from key moldmaking organizations to help this idea come to life.

Plastics Industry Association Appoints New VP of Communications

Stephanie Strategos Polis will lead all communication efforts on behalf of the Plastics Industry Association.

Plastics Industry Association Appoints Equipment Council Director

Whitney Taveras directs the activities of a council representing PLASTICS’ largest constituent group, consisting of companies that manufacture and otherwise deal in plastics machinery and molds.

It's About Time! MoldMaking Technology Founder Joe Prischak Inducted Into Plastics Hall of Fame

This week the plastics industry came together to celebrate 16 well-known and respected plastics industry leaders, namely Joseph Prischak — and here’s why that means something special to the MMT Team.

A Three-Step Process to Career Advancement Includes Mentorship

Mentorship is an effective growth strategy for your mold manufacturing career with proper preparation.

Best Practices for Hitting Critical Numbers: Communication and the Shrinkage Factor

Start with an upfront review, discussion and collaboration with the customer and then consider the shrinkage factor.

Seeking Your Help! Moldmaking Customs and Practices Guide

The mold manufacturing industry is continually improving by joining forces on a variety of issues, challenges, technologies and trends. This time it’s updating the industry’s guidelines and practices to standardize and streamline the mold procurement process, and you can help.

2021 Leadtime Leader Award Winner: Westminster Tool—Perseverance with a Plan

Westminster Tool’s latest commitment to the plan—investment in new technologies, processes and capabilities, workforce development/training and sales & marketing—helped them edge out this year’s competition.

Full-Service Class 101 Mold Builder and Turnkey Systems Integrator

Accede Mold and Tool specializes in high-cavitation, stack and two-shot molds and boasts a team that supports project management, design and manufacturing engineering.

2020-2023 Editorial Advisory Board: Meet New Board Member Camille M. Sackett

The 2020-2023 version of MoldMaking Technology's EAB features a new crew of 12 industry professionals. Here's one of them.

Virtual Learning Is Taking Off in Moldmaking

If you were unable to attend Amerimold Connects, you can experience our version of virtual learning by watching all of the recorded live-stream presentations on the Amerimold Expo website.

K Show Report: Next-Level Efficiency and Control

With a show as big as K 2019 with more than 3,000 exhibitors from 63 nations, you may think that identifying a theme among all the technology would be difficult, but after all is said and done, two words come to mind: efficiency and control.

How Do You Define Plastics?

A question asked in an industry forum starts an open-ended discussion about something that affects everyone’s lives.

A Trade Policy Perspective on the Plastics Industry

Now that the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives has been sworn in, it’s valuable to take stock of where things sit for the plastics industry from a trade policy perspective.

Your 2018 Investment Guide

MoldMaking Technology’s annual Technology Review and Sourcing Guide is an accurate, comprehensive, easy-to-read and use guide for researching today’s technology, equipment, products and services.

NPE2018 Video Recap: Exhilaration, Innovation and Inspiration

MoldMaking Technology’s editorial team recaps some highlights from the show floor at NPE2018, including a technology slideshow, seven podcasts recorded live from the event and a video.

Association Update: News and Reviews from Industry Organizations

News and reviews from American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), The Mold Technologies Division of The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPEMTD) and Canadian Association of Mold Makers (CAMM).

Tradeshow Tuesday: Coming Up at NPE2018

Cruise through this week’s slideshow to see more of what’s coming up at NPE2018.

How MoldMaking Technology Magazine Came to Be

Twenty years ago a moldmaker launched this magazine, legitimizing an industry and then passed it on to a passionate media company, which took it to the next level.

Tradeshow Tuesday: Twitter on the Tradeshow Floor, Part 2

This week in Part 2, I cover Twitter basics so you can leverage this social media platform as a communications and marketing tool on the tradeshow floor.

Tradeshow Tuesday: Twitter on the Tradeshow Floor, Part 1

Twitter is a useful trade show tool for attendees and exhibitors alike. In Part 1, I make the case for using it, and in Part 2, I’ll get you started with Twitter basics to help you feel confident about using Twitter on the tradeshow floor.

Tradeshow Tuesday: Are You a Moldmaker Who Exhibits and Attends Events?

At least 40 mold builders are sharpening their marketing and trade skills at NPE2018 by participating as exhibitors. NPE2018 is a unique, specialized event that only takes place once every three years, so I wanted to make sure that mold shops have the information that they need to promote themselves and to make the most out of their investments in the show.

Collaborate to Educate on Plastics Technologies

Moldmakers, industry consultants and technology suppliers collaborate to educate on plastics technologies.

Tradeshow Tuesday: Products and Popsicle Stick Action Figures

This week, I use a hypothetical scenario in which a maker of wood-based products sells sticks to be used as tongue depressors, popsicle sticks and craft sticks to demonstrate targeted product writing.

Tradeshow Tuesday: Targeting Moldmakers in Product Descriptions

Being mindful of the audience that will read a product and adding language to it that illustrates the product’s relevance to that audience will help a product achieve maximum visibility and persuasiveness.

Tradeshow Tuesday: a New Blog for a New Year

2018 has finally arrived. One new thing for MoldMaking Technology is a new topic for the Tuesday blog. Through August 2018, some of the Tuesday blogs will cover issues related to tradeshows.

Technology Tuesday: Preparing for NPE with Plastics Review

This slideshow has you covered in plastics review with discussion on common plastics problems like sticking and warping. It includes pieces on software analysis for plastic parts, and it even includes a piece on making the most out of used plastic.

Thankful for Many Blessings

I love this industry and I feel very privileged to be a moldmaker’s daughter.

MFG Day Event-Tour Combo Emphasizes Career Opportunities

Micro Mold Co., Inc. and Plastikos Inc. sponsored and took part in a local Manufacturing Day event and hosted students at its facility to emphasize the innovative side of moldmaking and show students how injection molds impact their lives every day.

Take Your Message to the Hill: Do A D.C. Fly-In with Colleagues

AMBA member Justin McPhee of Mold Craft Inc., shares his experience visiting congressmen and women during a recent Fly-In event with PLASTICS in Washington D.C.

One Word: Plastics

Plastics is still king, and the latest U.S. Size and Impact Report from the Plastics Industry Association has the numbers to prove it.

Be a Plastics Industry Champion

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has just added its support to the just announced 2016 Plastics Industry Fly-In, which will take place on June 21-22. Led by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), the AMBA is in good company with eight other plastics industry trade associations whose members will descend on our nation’s capital to bring a message to legislators.

Another Solid Gain for Plastics Machinery Shipments in Q2

The industry outperformed other sectors of the U.S. and global economy,according to SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association.

New Video Shares the Excitement of Moldmaking

At Amerimold 2015, a new tool was debuted to help spread the excitement of careers in mold manufacturing.

Trade Fair Takeaways

Want to know what I learned from this week's SPI Western Moldmakers Trade Fair? I'll give you the highlights then maybe next time you'll want to head out to California for the annual event, or seek out similar educational and networking opportunities in your area.

Moldmaking Opportunities in Brazil, Russia, India and China

Estimates as to the future power of the economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) vary greatly. Some sources believe they might overtake the G7 economies by 2027.

Moldmaking Opportunities in Central and South America

In addition to the Asian region, Central and South America represent a high growth area for the U.S. plastics industry.

Letting Your Voice Be Heard

If you're a mold builder then chances are you consider yourself part of the plastics industry, so you may want to consider joining members from nine plastics industry trade associations when they gather in Washington, DC, on July 22-23 for the 2014 Plastics Industry Fly-In.

Are You Aware of Conflict Mineral Compliance?

This has recently come up with a few readers, and now The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) offers some information you need to know if you make molds for publicly traded companies because you may be asked to help them with required documentation.

Plastics Machinery Expectations and Shipments Stay Strong

The Committee on Equipment Statistics of SPI conducts a quarterly survey of plastics machinery suppliers that asks about present market conditions and future expectations. Responses reveal an upbeat attitude that is broad-based across the industry. When asked about future expectations or market conditions, 87 percent of the respondents expect conditions to stay the same or even improve in the coming quarter, and 95 percent expect them to hold steady or get better during the next 12 months.

NAFTA Region Market Opportunities for Mold Manufacturers

Are you interested in learning more about trade policy updates, top export growth markets, exporting basics, developing an exporting strategy and the costs associated with exporting? Then join us for the first in a four-part educational webinar series on international affairs and trade education tomorrow, March 26th, 2 p.m. EST.

Moldmaking Opportunities in NAFTA Markets

North America contains the two largest trading partners for the U.S. plastics industry—Mexico and Canada. In 2012, these two countries were the destination for $13.6 billion and $12.5 billion worth of U.S. plastics industry exports, respectively. Combined, this represented 31 percent of total U.S. plastics industry exports in 2012.

Manufacture Your Way to Lower Taxes with the R&D Tax Credit

We've covered how companies in the plastics industry can benefit from the R&D Tax Credit before, but tomorrow you can hear directly from a mold builder who has taken advantage of this tax credit.

Feeling the Love on the West Coast

I hate to admit it, but last week was my first trip to the Annual Mike Koebel Moldmakers Trade Fair in Pomona, Calif., and shame on me because what a nice, solid group of industryfolk who continue to support this local event. It was a pleasure to witness the mold building community out on the West Coast.

Are U.S. Plastics Molds Outperforming?

Yes they are, according to the SPI who has reported that in 2012 U.S. exports of plastics molds increased 16.4 percent, due to some of the top 10 import countries of U.S. plastics molds. More of this industry data and analysis can be heard at the SPI 2013 Equipment & Moldmakers Summit May 5-7th.

SPI: Educating the Industry, Promoting Networking

Founded in 1937, the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) is the trade association representing the third largest manufacturing industry in the United States.

Mobile Media Puts NPE2012 Literally in the Attendees' Hands

New iPad App and Mobile Phone Site Let Visitors Manage Their Own NPE2012 Schedules, Access Directory Information, and Much More

SPI Welcomes Jacqueline L. Dalzell as Director, Industry Affairs

Well-Known Plastics Industry Veteran Joins Association to Counsel on Industry Outreach and Supply Chain Communication Strategies

Mold Craft Tool Showcased Sodick Plustech’s New Micro Molding Machine

A 4-cavity mold for very small PEEK parts—a pipette “funnel tip” component for a medical customer—ran in the new Sodick Plustech LP20EH2 Micro Molding series with a 12-mm diameter plunger.

NPE’s Technology Central: Center of the High-Tech Plastics Universe

Attendee surveys regularly find that the number one reason people attend trade shows is to see the latest technology.

Announcing - The PT Knowledge Network

April 2-5, 2012 - Booth #3303 – NPE 2012 - Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, FL

NPE Educational Program Explores New Technologies, Business Strategies and Sustainability

One important feature of NPE2012 that will set it apart from all other plastics expositions is the rich educational program.

Ten Industry Leaders and Innovators Will Be Inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in a Gala Celebration at NPE2012

Industry Pioneers Will Be Honored in a Ceremony during the Opening Gala on Sunday of NPE2012 Week at Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, FL.

International Plastics Design Competition Gets Underway as Entry Submission Opens at PlasticsDesign.Org

Organized by SPI, the 2nd IPDC Will Culminate at NPE2012 with a Prominent Display of Submitted Parts or Products and a Gala Awards Presentation

Machinery Companies Will Be Exhibiting and Operating Lots More Equipment at NPE 2012 than in 2009

With ‘The Return of the Machines,’ Visitors Will Have More Opportunities to Gain a First-Hand, Hands-On Understanding of New Plastics Processing Technologies

International Plastics Design Competition at NPE2012

The International Plastics Design Competition (IPDC) debuted at NPE2009 with great success. With more than 40 entries on display at the show and fifteen awards presented—including a People's Choice category that attracted more than 10,000 votes—innovation in plastics design took center stage.

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