N. American Rotomolders adjust to changing landscape
 Mooney
International plastics mergers, acquisitions on rise
 Blaige
Has China lost its ‘low-cost workshop’ status?
 Franz
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.
Opinion: Design center gala full of surprises
 Grace
Chunxu molding drums for Olympic Games
 Drum and light installation
China’s rotomolders put their powder to the test
SHANGHAI (April 29, 2008) -- As China’s rotational molders look to move into high-value products, there is a fundamental challenge they first must overcome -- the availability of high-quality raw
material. Bruce Muller, a U.S.-based plastics consultant with Plastics Consulting Ltd., offered attendees at the China International Forum for Rotational Molding and Hollow Parts conference a series
of tests to ensure the quality of their powder.
China’s rotomolders look to the future
SHANGHAI (April 29, 2008) -- Looking to improve their technology and move into more high-end materials, rotational molders from across China gathered in Shanghai to share information and learn from
some of the industry’s best. Chinese operations aiming to move up the value chain, however, are facing a number of difficulties, from a deficit of technology to a lack of reliable, quality raw
materials.
Marketing builds profits, expert tells China rotomolders
 Johnson
Release agents makers open China facility
SHANGHAI (April 15, 2008) – A U.S. and a German firm have teamed up to serve the rapidly expanding release agents and lubricants market in China. Chem-Trend and Kluber Lubrication will be sharing a
new 28,000-square-meter facility in the Qingpu district of Shanghai.
PN Forum speaker offers keys to unlock creativity
 Innovation expert Ken Robinson
Learning to embrace sustainability
 Coleman-Kammula
A primer on supplying the global medical market
 Avery
April conferences are first in China for SPI, SPE
SHANGHAI (February 19, 2008) —- Two prominent U.S. plastics industry trade groups — the Society of Plastics Industry Inc. and the Society of Plastics Engineers — both are planning
their first conferences in China this spring, in conjunction with the big April 17-20 Chinaplas 2008 trade show in Shanghai.
Fast Facts
About 15 percent of the PVC window and door profiles on the Chinese market are substandard, according to a recent spot check by China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine. Some manufacturers use an excessive amount of filler to cut cost, compromising the strength of the material and causing poor fit. (Source: General Administration of
Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine)
Since China cut the export tax rebate for plastic products from 11 percent to 5 percent in July 2007, the plastics industry has seen
a bite of US$1.2 billion off tax rebate revenues. That accounts for about 35 percent of the industry’s annual profits. (Source: 21st Century Business Herald)
Opinion: Work conditions may affect China’s toy quality
 Toloken
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