PMM Insight: A Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing Podcast

On this episode of Machinery Minutes: 

Mold makers are taking on intricate projects requiring precision that was unattainable just a few years ago, and they are employing a variety of new manufacturing tools to get the job done. 

LS Mtron employed retractable tie bars to help Stanford Manufacturing fit two large presses under a low roof. 

M&J Recycling has added a system to capture and reuse energy during shaft reversals to its...

What you'll learn on this PMM Insight podcast episode, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn:  

• We are in an era of manufacturing transition, from huge numbers of lunchpail-toting workers streaming out of the factory gate at the end of their shift to an era of fewer workers making more goods.  

• What will it take to succeed in the new era? Embracing Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing; following sustainable practices; us...

In this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast:

1. Hoffer Plastics and Rocheleau Tool & Die, both third-generation family-owned plastics businesses, are thriving and remain committed to staying independent and honoring their heritage.
2. The historic HPM brand, known for injection molding machines, has been officially retired by Yizumi, the Chinese firm that acquired its assets in 2011.
3. Blow molding machinery maker Bekum Ameri...

What you'll learn on this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast:

• Managing mergers and acquisitions: Whether you're buying, selling or keeping your business in the family, we spoke with experts who have tips to ensure the best outcome for all stakeholders. 

• Yaskawa America announces expansion: With a $180 million investment, the company will consolidate Illinois and Wisconsin operations in Franklin, Wis., and move...

On this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast:

• Shipments of injection molding and extrusion machinery in North America fell 17.5 percent in the first quarter from the previous quarter and 4.6 percent year over year, according to the Plastics Industry Association's Committee on Equipment Statistics. What's weighing on the market?
• Learn how Wittmann's space-saving Insider Package machine cells helped ITW Deltar Fasteners make...

What you'll learn on this PMM Insight podcast episode , a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn: 

• The Plastics Industry Association and National Association of Manufacturers support the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” now being debated in the U.S. Senate. 
• The challenge for the plastics industry is to influence the Senate to keep the good provisions of the tax bill while tinkering with the rest. 
• Can the U.S maintain world leadership in...

Learn about three top stories of the week:

• As the U.S. Senate debates President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” we look at what it could mean for plastics processors.
• Henning Stieglitz, CEO and CTO of the German company that manufactures Battenfeld Cincinnati extrusion machines, talked with the VDMA about sustainability, artificial intelligence, post-consumer material and problems with the circular economy. 
• Univer...

Key points from this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast:

• Corporate sustainability goals are colliding with the reality of a political climate dominated by news of cuts and regulatory backlash, but work on recycling is moving ahead at the state and company level because it makes business sense. 
• Pete Sullivan, a long-time publisher of trade magazines for the plastics industry, and a member of PMM's founding team, passed a...

On this episode of Machinery Minutes:

• Bekum America builds application-specific extrusion blow molding equipment and prides itself on customer support, especially to new blow molders. Take a look behind the scenes. 
• The SPE Thermoforming Division presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Greg McCunn, staff engineer for materials at John Deere, at its recent conference. 
• Learn about Wittmann’s latest granulator, the S-Max Dua...

Key points from this PMM Insight podcast, with Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna:  

• Leaders can put their heads down and cope with a crisis, but to successfully deal with change they have to keep their heads up, take a deep breath and make decisions that gets them to their goal. 

• Lean manufacturing plays an important role in dealing with chaotic times. 

• Believe it or not, there are ne...

Key points from this episode: 

• Digital transformation holds the key to making better decisions about your customers’ needs, machine maintenance, supply chain trends and more.  

• A top leadership consultant discusses how to cope with fear, volatile markets, global instability and waves of tariff announcements and suspensions. 

• PTi has upgraded and rebranded its twin-screw dryerless sheet extruder formerly k...

Key points from this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast:

• A survey of PMM readers found processors and equipment suppliers are unhappy and are at a loss as to how to deal with the constantly changing tariff landscape. Orders are slowing down and processors are postponing equipment purchases. Read the summary story or listen to our podcast commentary. 
• It may seem like chaos in the business world, but you still have to pul...

Key points from this PMM Insight podcast episode: 

• Processors and others responding to a PMM survey said they believe that the Trump administration’s trade policies will have a negative impact on their business and that customers are already delaying orders. 

• More than 60 percent said they are delaying purchases of new machinery and equipment. 

• There was little optimism that reshoring would result in new ...

Key points in this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast: 

• There are significant stumbling blocks to reshoring, including our labor shortage, lack of manufacturing capacity and failure to invest in artificial intelligence, according to the annual Kearney Reshoring Index. 

• China is eating our lunch when it comes to investing in automation and industrial robotics. Can plastics processors help? 

• Smart tec...

Key points in this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast: 

• Andrew Wheeler, president of Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp., discusses how packaging markets have changed, the growing use of recycled plastics and whether the W&H Group might start building machines in the U.S. 

• Manufacturers will continue to invest in artificial intelligence, but are moving toward generative AI, according to international busines...

Key points from this podcast episode:

• Collecting operational data has become easy. Using it effectively is the difficult part. For our recent cover story, three consultants talked about the competitive price processors pay when they don’t effectively use their data. Editor Ron Shinn discusses.  
• The IT director at a Pennsylvania thermoformer has seen spectacular on-time-delivery results pulling data from the company’s ERP syst...