PLASTICS Industry Association hosts reception at PLASTEC West

Capping the end of a very busy day two at PLASTEC West in Anaheim, CA, event attendees and exhibitors trooped to a reception yesterday organized by the PLASTICS Industry Association (PLASTICS; Washington, DC). President and CEO William Carteaux, who hosted last year’s reception, did not attend this year, leaving it to Steve Petrakis, Vice President of the association’s Equipment Council, to hold court.

Carteaux has been battling leukemia and is recovering from a bone marrow transplant. Petrakis prefaced his presentation at PLASTEC West by reassuring everyone that Carteaux is doing well and is back at work part time, and that he will be at NPE. “Thank you for prayers,” he said. “They are working.”

Citing many of the statistics compiled in the 2017 Global Trends report published by PLASTICS, Petrakis highlighted the continuing contribution of the plastics industry to the U.S. economy, as well as some of its challenges, notably the skills gap, during his speech.

By and large, the plastics industry is in a good place, said Petrakis, as evidenced by the advance numbers from NPE2018. More than one million square feet of floor space have been sold, he noted, and attendee pre-registrations exceed the number recorded three years ago in a similar time frame before the show.

To learn where the plastics industry is headed in 2018, download the free PlasticsToday special report: "Analysts predict rosy outlook for U.S. plastics industry in 2018."