Industry News
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Industry News
Plastics Manufacturing Up in July
August 23, 2022 While the first six months of 2022 brought economic contraction causing production to move sideways from February to June, U.S. plastics product manufacturing advanced to a good second-half start. The 1.2% increase in plastic production exhibited in July was an improvement—6.3% higher than a year earlier and higher than the 3.2% increase in U.S. total manufacturing. -
Industry News
Halftime Report: Putting 2022 GDP Numbers in Perspective
August 1, 2022 Recession or not a recession? Call it what you want, but U.S. economic output, measured by gross domestic product (GDP), adjusted for inflation, decreased in the first half of 2022. In Q1 2022, the U.S. real GDP fell by 1.6%. Based on the advance estimate released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. economy continued to contract in Q2 2022 - falling by 0.9%. What is the impact of the economic slowdown in the first half of 2022 on the plastics industry? Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) data can offer clues. -
Industry News
Vehicle Supply Chains Looking Better, Still Not Meeting Demand
July 21, 2022 There have been signs of improvement in the recent months of 2022, as the capacity utilization rate in U.S. automobiles and light trucks manufacturing increased to 75.7% in May, the third consecutive month of increase. However, the increase was still below the 76.2% monthly average capacity utilization rate at the same time in 2019. -
Industry News
Guest Blog: Antimicrobial protection for plastics, with a cleaner ride to boot
July 7, 2022 In this guest blog, Rich Kenney of PLASTICS member Microban shares some fascinating information about how automakers are working with companies like Microban to protect us from germs as we drive. -
Industry News
New Leaders for a New Era at PLASTICS
May 11, 2022 On Tuesday evening, April 26th, the staff at PLASTICS received an email from Tad McGwire, Chair of the PLASTICS Board of Directors. In it, he announced that Matt Seaholm, VP of Government Affairs and Glenn Anderson, VP of Member Engagement, had been appointed by the board as the association’s new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. -
Industry News
Plastic Is the Right Choice...Again
May 6, 2022 A recent article on the Industrial Equipment News website highlights yet another area in which plastic is the preferred material for an important function. -
Industry News
Celebrating the Return of the Plastimagen Trade Show in Mexico City
March 18, 2022 If you’re in the plastics industry, odds are you’ve heard good reports coming out of the recent Plastimagen in Mexico City. Allow us to share one more. -
Industry News
ICYMI: Tad McGwire Named Chairman of PLASTICS
January 18, 2022 Tad McGwire, CEO and owner of Industrial Heater Corp, a recognized leader in the process heating industry, is now PLASTICS' Chairman of the Board, bringing nearly four decades of manufacturing experience to the role. -
Industry News
The U.S. Plastics Industry in 2021 in Seven Charts
December 23, 2021 The U.S. plastics industry performance in 2021 can be summarized in seven charts. As in last year’s synopsis of 2020, the charts presented below are not all-inclusive considering that November and December data is still forthcoming. These charts are based on PLASTICS’ projections.