Automakers discuss tooling at industry event
TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN (August 19, 2008) -- Automakers are aware how much the tooling industry is hurting. But that does not mean that tooling companies can expect any sympathy business. Executives
noted that the industry needs to improve its flexibility in creating future products, including adjusting engineering specifics that allow toolmakers to adapt and improve their molds and speed
development.
Business as usual: Auto execs still see promise in Russia
TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN (August 19, 2008) -- The auto industry sees Russia as one of its bright areas for future growth, but the bulk of the news out of Russia this week isn’t about cars. Instead, it
is with the regular reports on the growing battle between Russia and Georgia. While executives are quick to note that they are staying out of the political realm of discussions, one executive noted
that business realities will keep the auto industry building in the region.
Future unsure for massive Ford auto interiors plant
SALINE, MICHIGAN (August 12, 2008) -- Negotiations have ended without a sale for the Ford Motor Co.’s massive auto interiors plant in Saline, which darkens the future for the plant and its 1,700
employees. Ford’s Automotive Components Holdings LLC subsidiary said it is “considering all options” for the 150,000-square-meter plant, which houses both plastics processing and
assembly. The subsidiary noted that no decisions have been made about its future, except that “ongoing operations will continue beyond 2008.” One industry watcher said Saline’s best hope
could be if an international auto supplier from an emerging region such as China or India sees the plant as a good opportunity to break into the North American market.
S. Korean auto supplier Hanwha expanding in U.S.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (August 12, 2008) -- Hanwha L&C Corp. is expanding its Southern U.S. plant, joining the ranks of other auto suppliers boosting production in the region. The company molds glass-mat
thermoplastics and expanded polypropylene at the Opelika, Alabama, plant for structural bumper components. Based in Seoul, Hanwha also makes flooring, window profile extrusions and packaging films.
The expansion comes three years after the facility first opened to supply parts for a nearby Hyundai Motor Co. plant.
Husky to emphasize packaging over automotive
BOLTON, ONTARIO (August 12, 2008) -- Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. will reduce its presence in the large-molding-machine market for the automotive sector in favor of building up its core
business of presses for PET preforms and the packaging sector. The decision to de-emphasize large-machine manufacturing reflects differing growth rates in the respective markets.
Recycler MBA may expand in U.K. or China
 Biddle
Plastics help designs bring home IDSA gold
 One project provides low-cost, energy-efficient laptops to children around the world.
Hard times force U.S. molder Modern to shut doors
BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN (July 29, 2008) -- Modern Plastics Corp., founded in 1937, is closing down -- a victim, company officials said, of the many hardships facing the U.S. plastics industry.
Executives said Modern Plastics got walloped by high costs for resin, utilities, transportation and health care, the inability to pass along price increases, financial turmoil at customers and loss
of work to China and Mexico.
Hoffer buys minority stake in auto molder Intec Group
SOUTH ELGIN, ILLINOIS (July 22, 2008) -- At the request of some of its top customers, Hoffer Plastics Corp. has expanded its global footprint by investing in a minority share of Intec Group Inc. Intec
runs three plants in China, and one each in the U.S., Singapore and Mexico. The two firms see it as a complementary marriage since their markets have little overlap. Hoffer’s end markets include
packaging and industrial and consumer products, with less than 10 percent automotive, while Intec’s reputation as an auto molder should help Hoffer gain business in that area.
International plastics mergers, acquisitions on rise
 Blaige
Has China lost its ‘low-cost workshop’ status?
 Franz
Southco consolidates North American injection molding
CONCORDVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA (July 15, 2008) -- Southco Inc. has finished moving its injection molding operations into its 12,500-square-meter manufacturing campus in Concordville, which the company
called part of its commitment to manufacturing in North America. Southco molds latches, hinges, handles and other fasteners for a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace and medical.
It has other manufacturing locations in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Seongnam-Si, South Korea, as well as in North American and Europe.
Design competition goes international for NPE 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 15, 2008) -- In a break with tradition, the Washington-based Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI) will make its next design competition an international event and will
add new design categories. The competition will be held in conjunction with NPE 2009, scheduled for June 22 to 26 in Chicago, Illinois. In the past, the National Plastics Design Competition was
mostly restricted to U.S. entries and limited to load-bearing parts, enclosures and structural parts. The upcoming competition will be open to virtually any type of design, including packaging
products, bioplastics, nanocomposites, and products that address energy efficiency and sustainability.
Rosti to open Indian injection molding plant
CHENNAI, INDIA (July 15, 2008) -- Injection molder Rosti Technical Plastics plans to open a new plant in India, further strengthening the Danish group´s commitment to Asia, where it already
operates a facility in China.
Auto molders may find lifeline in medical
YORK, PENNSYLVANIA (July 8, 2008) -- As the auto market in North America sinks more due to the economic slowdown, foreign competition and gas price hikes, injection molders that supply the industry
are losing margin, being pushed to the edge, and, in some cases, out of business. The solution for them may be to switch to the medical-molding business, a high-margin, economic-downturn-insulated
and outsourcing-proof sector.
Fuel systems facility opens in Hubei province
WUHAN, HUBEI (July 8, 2008) -- Inergy Automotive Systems, the joint venture between Solvay SA of Brussels, Belgium, and Plastic Omnium of Levallois-Perret, France, has started operations at its new
production unit in Wuhan. The facility has started delivering fuel systems to Chinese production plants operated by Nissan and BMW.
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