Extrusion: Film & Sheet

Growing adoption of automation and increased consumer spending on a range of processed and ready-to-go food and beverage products are driving growth in the packaging equipment market.

BPC (Meredosia, IL) plans to use the Entek 73-mm twin-screw extruder compounding line primarily to expand its tolling business.

Fifty-nine years old at the time of his death, David William Clark began his career in plastics at age 17.

USDA researchers find adding processed almond shells to plastic masterbatches to create containers for packaging proves to be a fruitful idea that improves performance.

Equipment is a minor expense compared with materials, as articulated in the 6-1-2-1 rule of cost distribution: 60% materials, 10% equipment, 20% direct labor and 10% everything else, including power, packaging and insurance.

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the plastics industry has been consistently strong for the past three years, with about 100 deals a quarter, according to advisory firm Stout.

The two-day seminar will cover topics involving process equipment, die design properties and more.

The dual-resin line features a J-stack configuration with roll-skewing and electric gap adjustment under full hydraulic load.

The sheets business is not a strategic fit for its polycarbonates segment in the long run, said Covestro (Leverkusen, Germany).

Acquisition allows German group to extend product offering and strengthen its position in the U.S. plastics market.