Composites help protect Jupiter satellite
January 26th, 2012
Forget about moon colonies. A new thermoset composite, developed in part by Owens Corning through a joint development program with Lockheed Martin under the name Applied NanoStructured Solutions LLC, provides electrical magnetic interference shielding for vital components on the Juno...
The latest in the battle against plastophobia
January 24th, 2012
I'm praising one company today for its sustainability message, so forgive me for going negative on two others. My targets -- Repurpose Compostables Inc. and Bed Bath & Beyond stores, for their misleading messages about line of compostable cups made...
Glad highlights source reduction – but will consumers understand?
January 24th, 2012
I don't expect to see commercial messages that reference plastic resin consumption during an NFL game. But in commercials that ran last weekend during the football playoffs, Glad Products Co. chose to highlight source reduction achieved by its its Tall...
Inside story from a Fortis worker
January 20th, 2012
Say you work for an injection molder that has closed at least 10 plants in three years. Would you come to work every day thinking it might be your last? That's the perspective of a Fortis Plastics LLC worker who...
Highlighting efforts to close the manufacturing skills gap
January 20th, 2012
The industry has been buzzing with the need to do something about the skills gap in manufacturing. For the upcoming Plastics News Executive Forum, this subject is at the forefront. The keynote address will be delivered by Gardner Carrick, senior...
How durable is Canada’s plastic currency?
January 18th, 2012
The Bank of Canada promotes its new plastic currency as being durable, secure and innovative -- but just how durable are they? CTV News in Winnipeg claims the currency -- specifically the new $100 bills -- are not as durable...
The latest on plastics and politics
January 16th, 2012
Political news junkies in the plastics industry got more than their share of interesting headlines this weekend. The big new is that Jon Huntsman Jr. decided to drop out of the race for the Republican presidential campaign. Huntsman, son of...
Apple reveals list of its suppliers
January 16th, 2012
Are you curious about who supplies the molded parts, packaging or tooling for products like the iPhone an iPad? Now the names are public: Apple Inc. last week released a list of its suppliers (PDF). Apple released the list as...
Private equity ownership isn’t all bad
January 13th, 2012
Back when Fortis Plastics LLC ran into trouble a few months ago and start closing plants, we heard from other injection molders who put the blame on the company's private equity ownership. But private equity isn't all bad. We can...
What will the ADM-Metabolix divorce mean to bioplastics?
January 13th, 2012
The future of bioplastics is a little fuzzier today, following Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s decision to drop out of its alliance polyhydroxyalkanoate resin company Metabolix Inc. I included some insight into the news in the story posted on PlasticsNews.com last...