Shipments of injection molding and extrusion equipment in North America declined 27.6% in Q1 2019 compared with the last quarter of 2018, reports the Plastics Industry Association’s Committee on Equipment Statistics (Washington, DC).

To meet growing global demand for the plasticizer, Perstorp (Malmo, Sweden) has entered into an agreement with Italian company Alcoplast to more than double current production capacity.

Meyer cites education and workforce issues as key interests. “Many young people are not entering the field of plastics or polymer engineering because of the industry’s negative image [promoted by] people who do not understand the science of plastics. We have to change that image,” said Meyer.

A new production plant in Singapore is due to come on stream in the first half of 2021, making Sabic (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) the only high-heat resin producer with manufacturing capabilities in all regions.