Mexico

In a country that tallied a $43.5 billion trade deficit October, which was actually smaller than September's gap of $44.2 billion, the plastics industry can make the rare claim of exporting more goods and services than it imports. As of October, the U.S. plastics industry's trade surplus had reached $14 billion, and was closing in on 2010's total surplus of $16.2 billion.

Last week Whirlpool announced that it will close its manufacturing facility in Fort Smith, AR by mid-2012, laying off 1200 salaried workers in addition to the 800 the company had already laid off. "As we previously stated, in a period of uncertain economic growth and consumer demand, we would be prepared to take the necessary actions in order to expand our operating margins and improve our earnings," said Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool chairman and CEO in an Oct. 28 announcement.

Three-year-old MedPlast (Tempe, AZ) is looking for acquisition candidates in healthcare contract manufacturing in Latin America and Asia, and hopes to expand its global footprint within two years.

Former Milacron President Harold Faig.

Well, you know what they say: If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! The same can be said of moldmakers.  While the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) appears to be happy - "Plastics industry applauds free-trade agreements" read one headline in an online industry trade magazine (PlasticsToday's coverage here)- well suffice it to say that doesn't speak for ALL of the plastics industry. Perhaps the U.S.

Extrusion equipment supplier Ghioldi set up and ran polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic on a blown-film line at the recent Plastimagen event, looking to capitalize on the local market's interest in biodegradable bags, spurred in part by an on again off again plastic bag ban. "We see a lot of interest in Mexico," explained Filippo Ghioldi. "No one really knows what biodegradable, oxodegradable, etc.

Cultural ties, commerce, and a common border inextricably link the U.S. and Mexico, but while the most recent slowdown in the states was felt within the Mexican plastics manufacturing sector, the overall impact of the 2008-2009 slowdown was less acute, suggesting a decoupling of sorts is underway.

The biggest injection molding machine on the show floor at Plastimagen wasn't technically on the show floor. KraussMaffei's 1600-tonne MX 1600-55000, which was molding one half of an 1.2-by-1m (40-by-48-inch) HDPE pallet, was instead housed in a 400-sq-m tent jutting off the side of the Centro Banamex exposition center in Mexico City.

South American BOPP and CPP film manufacturer Opp Film, SA, a subsidiary of Oben Holding Group, announced that it will immediately begin supply of its bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and cast polypropylene (CPP) films to firms in Mexico, Canada and the United States. The company recently established a North American distribution and technical support subsidiary in Houston to facilitate Opp's move into the North American market.

A number of articles we published late last week drew extensive commentary from readers. From readers who described leaving Mexico after 7 years due to the increasing violence there, to the spirited discourse on whether free trade truly is harming U.S. manufacturers, to some very nice comments on our new Ask the Extrusion Expert column- we welcome all comments. Keep them clean, keep them civil but definitely keep them coming.

Mexico has become Mexico's #1 enemy. The violence surrounding the country's drug wars has been on the nightly news so often that now it almost isn't noticed. Several months ago, I contacted some molders and mold making companies that have facilities in Mexico to ask them about the situation. Is it interfering with business? Are you afraid to cross the border for business?