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China, US add plastics to their trade war

China, US add plastics to their trade warAn escalating trade war between the United States and China is hitting the plastics sector with Chinese officials announcing tariffs on 106 U.S. products, including plastics, and the U.S. targeting machinery and molds.Both nations are eyeing a rate of 25 percent. Final numbers and the effective dates of the new tariffs have not been finalized. The list of U.S. plastics products targeted by China include numerous resins and finished products.Plastics industry officials were scrambling to react to the news in the first hours after the two countries' announcements. By the afternoon of April 4, Plastics Industry Association President and CEO Bill Carteaux urged officials to "reconsider" their actions.“China is proposing tariffs on plastic materials and plastic products from the U.S., while the U.S. is proposing tariffs on plastics machinery from China," Carteaux said in a news release from the association. "This is despite the fact that both countries would benefit from a freer approach to trade, one that lies in a different direction than the one that both countries seem to be taking. The persistent trade deficit that the U.S. has had with China is troublesome, and springs from real structural issues that should be resolved, but not through tariffs, which only serve to limit our industry’s potential growth."Carteaux expressed confidence in the plastics industry's ability to withstand anxieties in the global market, but the threats threaten to "disrupt the supply chains of companies large and small if they take effect."Before these tariffs take effect, we urge both countries to reconsider taking yet another step in the wrong direction with their economic policies, and urge both nations to come together to find real solutions that benefit all companies and consumers,” he said.In a statement, American Chemistry Council president and CEO Cal Dooley said that U.S. chemical manufacturers "believe the principles of free and fair trade should apply to all members of the [World Trade Organization], and that includes China."ACC represents many producers of chemicals and plastic materials, including resins. Dooley added that "however, engaging in a trade war with one of our country’s most significant trading partners is not the answer.""We strongly urge both the U.S. and Chinese governments to work together to come to a satisfactory and mutually beneficial decision before this situation escalates further," he added.China is one of the U.S. chemical industry’s most important trading partners, importing 11 percent, or $3.2 billion, of all U.S. plastic resins in 2017, according to ACC. Dooley said ACC officials "are particularly concerned" that 40 percent of the products to which China has assigned new tariffs are chemicals, including polyethylene, PVC, polycarbonates, acrylates, and others. “Nearly $185 billion in new chemical factories, expansions and restarts of facilities around the country are predicated on current tariff schedules, and market shifts caused by tariff increases may convince investors to do business elsewhere," he added. "We strongly urge the U.S. and China to reach a productive and meaningful agreement before any of the proposed tariff schedules go into effect.”Dwight Morgan, vice president of corporate development at resin distributor M. Holland Co. in Northbrook, Ill., said that his firm “is optimistic about the outlook for our industry, regardless of the near-term politics.”“Plastic resins are one of the few areas where we have a meaningful merchandise trade surplus,” he added. “We’re hopeful that the end result of these trade tensions will be a free, fair playing field for all industries, and not a trade war.“At the end of the day, though, we believe that market forces prevail in the global economy, and the U.S. plastics industry is among the most competitive in the world.”The United States kicked off the trade war on March 1 when it announced tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum. The U.S. has since announced tariffs on additional products. China now has taken that step twice.The proposed U.S. tariffs cover a massive list of industrial products, including injection molding machines, extruders, blow molding machines and thermoforming equipment.Bill Duff, general manager of sales and marketing of Yizumi-HPM Corp. — which sells machines made in China by Guangdong Yizumi Precision Machinery Co. Ltd. — said the parent company did not give any immediate communication.“But certainly it’s not conducive to promote business,” Duff said. “Entering into a trade war, which is what’s happening, is going to hurt everybody.”Yizumi-HPM imports machines from Guangdong Yizumi in China, built to its specifications for U.S. customers. The cost of the Trump administration’s tariffs is going to be passed onto the consumer—resulting in higher prices, he said.“So, that means increased prices on all equipment that we sell: die casting, injection molding, metalworking presses. They’ve all been slated for this 25 percent tariff, so that really [results] into higher prices for our customers,” Duff said.Tariffs on Chinese industrial goods will have a broad impact across the entire capital machinery sector, plastics and otherwise. Many plastics machinery manufacturers in the United States, Europe and Asia build some machines in China, and nearly all of them buy some Chinese-made components.The 58-page list of U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made products covers nearly every imaginable type of machine and component, including machine tools, steel and aluminum, molds, machine bases and platens, screws, motors, pumps, dryers, printing equipment, and testing instruments.Glenn Frohring, president of Absolute Haitian Machinery Corp., said so many companies produce equipment in China that the impact will be large. Absolute Haitian gets its machinery from Haitian International Holdings Ltd. in China.“In the short term, there’s really no concern, because we’ve got a lot of inventory and we’re able to work with customers on trying to do anything to offset any tariffs. But it of course it has an impact, and I think it impacts just about everybody.”Haitian, as a giant maker of machinery, “also is in a position to be the most flexible and creative when it comes to selling equipment into the U.S. market,” Frohring said.At some point, would tariffs cause Absolute Haitian to raise prices? Frohring said no comment, but he added: “25 percent, it’s got to come from somewhere.”Duff of Yizumi-HPM said it would be better for business if the United States and China can back away from the tariffs.“Building walls and making barriers to trade is not good for business, period.”US products on China's listU.S.-made products targeted for tariffs by Chinese officials include:• Primary shaped polycarbonate.• Other polyesters.• Reaction initiators, accelerators not elsewhere specified.• Polyethylene with a primary shape specific gravity of less than 0.94.• Acrylonitrile.• Primary shaped epoxy resin.• Polyethylene terephthalate plate film foil strips.• Other self-adhesive plastic plates, sheets, films and other materials.• Other plastic non-foam plastic sheets.• Other plastic products.• Other primary vinyl polymers .• Other ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, specific gravity less than 0.94.• Other primary shapes of acrylic polymers.• Other primary shapes of pure PVC.• Polysiloxane in primary shape.• Other primary polysulphides, polysulfones and other tariff numbers as set forth in note 3 to chapter 39 are not listed.• Plastic plates, sheets, films, foils and strips, not elsewhere specified.• Adhesives based on other rubber or plastics.• Nylon 6/6 slices.• Other primary-shaped polyethers.• Primary shaped, unplasticized cellulose acetate,• Aromatic nylons and their copolymers.• Semi-aromatic nylons and their copolymers.• Other nylons of primary shape.• Other vinyl polymer plates, sheets, strips.Other plastics industry representatives were studying the list on April 4 and weighing a reaction.Source: Plastics News

Aeyoung Park 2018-04-10

The emerging production shift of the Chinese plastics industry

The emerging production shift of the Chinese plastics industryIn recent years, China has been implementing the strategy of open economy and regional developments, and therefore the infrastructure and investment environment of the central and western regions were significantly improved. The industrial developments in the cities of these regions are picking up momentum very quickly.According to the statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the growth of industrial values for enterprises above designated level in central and western China were 1.2% and 0.2% higher than the country average level in the first three quarters of 2017.In the wake of the rising electricity and labor cost as well as the shortage of land resources in eastern China, more enterprises in the automotive, E&E, printing and packaging industries are shifting their production to central and western China. This production shift is reinforcing the development of the plastic industry in these regions.Chongqing to form a plastics industry cluster▲ Chongqing Xiyong Micro-Electronics Industrial Park.Located at the upper course of the Yangtze River, Chongqing is the strategic pivot of the national Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Zone.The city is also the starting point of the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway, also known as Yu’Xin’Ou Railway, and a key import and export city in western China.Huge quantity of plastics machinery and plastic materials are imported into China through Chongqing every year. The city is now an important trading and service centre for materials procurement. It is also a city of choice for investors targeting to unlock the market potential of the central and western China.Chongqing is one of the biggest production bases of notebook computers in the world, and the second largest production base of automobiles in China, representing loads of opportunities to the plastics industry. The market demand for plastics is expected to reach 7 million tons at RMB 200 billion by 2025.The Chongqing local government is focusing on the establishment of a giant plastics industry park, so as to facilitate the forming of a plastics industry cluster in the city.According to the planning, the production value of the plastics industry park will reach hundreds of billions of RMB, and house the production of plastic products, molds, modified plastics, research & development, testing and trading.Wuhan continues expanding its automotive industryWuhan is the first Chinese city that has the production lines of five automakers from four countries.Wuhan is the first city in China that has the production lines of five automakers from four countries, including France, Japan, USA and China. In the last five years, the automotive industry in the city has been expanding continuously. Wuhan is the largest automotive production base in central China, and ranks sixth in China now.In 2016, about 1.76 millions of automobiles at a value of RMB 306 billion were manufactured Wuhan, contributing 23% of the total industrial production of the city. The rocket growing automotive industry in Wuhan is pushing the development of automotive plastics industry of the city.Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd., the Guangdong based leading Chinese modified plastics enterprise, invested RMB 5 billion in Wuhan Economic Development Zone for the development and production of new high performance materials. The project focuses on modified plastics and carbon fiber composites used for the automotive, E&E and aerospace applications. After the project completion in 2018, the annual capacity will reach 520,000 tons with production value of RMB 15 billion.Xi’an rises with packaging and automotive industries growingThe printing and packing industries in Xi’an have been developing rapidly over the last few years. Currently, there are 52 enterprises in the printing and packing production base located in Xi’an with a total investment of RMB 2.99 billion and annual sales of RMB 3.473 billion.Numerous leading Chinese medical and pharmaceutical enterprises have set up their facilities in the Biomedical Park in Gaoxin District of Xi’an, including Sinopharm, CP Pharmaceutical, Xi’an Haixin, Ginwa Enterprise, and Xi’an Chiho, etc. The presence of these enterprises will push the development of medical packaging industry in the city.Meanwhile, there are almost a thousand of large food production enterprises in Xi’an. As an indispensable part for food production, the food packaging industry enjoys a promising future.There are more than 1,300 IT enterprises in Xi’an, of which more than 1,000 are located in the Gaoxin District. With ZTE and Huawei as the leaders and supported by many small and medium enterprises like CNT and Hua Jing, the district will emerge as an important cluster for the communications, software and E&E sectors in Shanxi province.Besides, the automotive industry in Xi’an is promising. Headed by the Shaanxi Automobile Group, FAST Group and BYD, a big project will be launched, which will transform the city into an important production base of new energy vehicles in China. The project aims at expanding the manufacturing of light to medium trucks, specialty vehicles, automotive powertrains, transmission systems, and other key components and parts of the city.For example, Geely is working on a project for the production of 300,000 new energy vehicles in Xi’an, FAST Group will start the production of 100,000 transmission systems for light to medium trucks, and BYD will also complete the setup for a production of 5,000 electric passenger buses.Source: China Plastic & Rubber Journal

Aeyoung Park 2018-04-02

Intelligent Models for the Process Set-up of Injection Molding

Plastics Industry 4.0Machine learning is a way to facilitate the process set-up on an injection molding machine and, in the longer term, to automate it. How can a production system autonomously optimize itself with regard to the pre-defined quality characteristics of the manufactured parts?Optimization of the setting-up process for injection molding has been a research topic at Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Gernany, for some years now. One approach is that of machine learning, which draws up relationships from complex data and uses them specifically for tuning the process. One condition, however, is that the algorithms used – for example artificial neuronal networks – are first trained with the help of complex injection molding tests. Although the algorithms are becoming ever more efficient, machine learning has not yet become established due to the amount of work involved. One solution to reduce this is to use numerical simulations that can be performed automatically.▲ Concept for a combined learning process on the basis of simulation data (© IKV)Injection molding simulations are used in order to learn, without complex, time-consuming trials, the relationships between setting parameters and resultant quality data. With model assumptions, however, simulations have so far been unable to reliably simulate the injection molding process without deviations from reality. Established models and process data serve as the starting point for the machine set-up and in most cases have to be readjusted in several iteration steps.In a new approach, IKV is now trying to find suitable machine-learning models for setting up the process by using simulations in combination with real test data (cf. diagram). With the data combination, the aim is to minimize the necessary trials on the machine and consequently make the use of machine-learning processes economically viable. As a result, the process set-up can be carried out systematically and independently of the intuition and experience of the operator. At the same time, a precise knowledge of the relationships and optimized parameters ensures a higher quality of the molded part and greater economic efficiency of the overall process.The methods were presented during the IKV Colloquium on February 28, 2018 and explained as part of IKV 360° in IKV's pilot plants and laboratories.Source: Kunststoffe

Aeyoung Park 2018-03-29

Exploiting the Possibilities of Industry 4.0

Digitalized and Connected Manufacturing EnvironmentToday, the individual processing of components or the optimization of manufacturing during the production process are often not feasible or only in part at best. A fully connected production environment which is suitable for different industrial sectors – from biomedicine to mechanical engineering – is what Industry 4.0 or the smart factory stands for and researchers all over the world are trying hard to achieve this goal.Researchers from three Aachen, Germany-based Fraunhofer Institutes are working together to realize the complete connectivity of machines and sensors with the goal of evaluating all recorded production data with intelligent algorithms in real time and flexibly adapting processes accordingly. In the High Performance Center for Networked, Adaptive Production, they want to fully exploit the possibilities of Industy 4.0 for particularly challenging production tasks.“With our approach, we are bringing digitalization and connectivity into a real-life manufacturing environment,” says Thomas Bergs, Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen. “We fit out the production systems out with numerous sensors, which continuously transmit measurement data from the machines to a central database. Moreover, they send the data wirelessly, via 5th generation mobile networks (5G).” The collected data is stored in a specially developed cloud called Virtual Fort Knox and processed and analyzed there with specially designed algorithms and technology apps. This analysis helps to unravel new and surprising correlations, such as vibration patterns which indicate that the tool in a milling machine is worn. When the information is then fed back to the machine control unit, the circle closes: for example, with a warning that the tool has to be replaced.▲ The goal of the High Performance Center for Networked, Adaptive Production isa completely digitalized and connected manufacturing Environment (© Fraunhofer IPT)Six Apparatuses for Pilot ApplicationsTo illustrate the various application possibilities for the digitalization and connectivity of production facilities, experts at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT have teamed up with colleagues at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME to build six different apparatuses for pilot applications, including process chains for manufacturing turbine blades, for producing medicines in plants, and for manufacturing battery modules for electric cars.When manufacturing turbine components for aircraft engines, precision and safety are of paramount importance. Currently, the blades are mostly milled from a solid block of titanium using machine tools. This can cause vibrations that lead to inaccuracies during machining. To solve this problem, sensors capable of precisely recording vibrations down to hundredths of a millimeter and a few milliseconds were installed in the pilot apparatus. In the future, the huge volumes of data collected during this procedure will be transmitted via the 5G network into the secure cloud, the above-mentioned Virtual Fort Knox. “Only wireless data transmission with 5G creates the conditions needed for sending control commands to the machine in real time, and preventing such vibrations by quickly adjusting the machine before they even arise,” explains Bergs.A special feature of the new High Performance Center is that all production and sensor data is stored individually for each product – in a “digital twin” containing the entire production history. If damage arises later, one can rewind to earlier in the process and use the data to pinpoint where the fault originated in order to optimize the process.The strength of the High Performance Center in Aachen consists in the suitability of the digitalization and connectivity technologies for various fields of application. At Fraunhofer ILT, for example, researchers have tailored the concept to the manufacture of battery modules. These modules are made up of hundreds or even thousands of individual cells, which have to be welded and bonded to each other using a laser. This is a laborious process that requires high levels of reliability, because if only a single weld is compromised during battery operation, then the whole module can fail. To solve this problem, the experts in Aachen decided to use sensors to monitor the welding. “As a result, we’re able to control the quality of the laser welding in real time or trace it in the product history,” says ILT engineer Alexander Olowinsky.Source: Kunststoffe

Aeyoung Park 2018-03-29

The development trends of modified plastics in China

The development trends of modified plastics in ChinaPlastics filler modification is the fastest-growing new sector in the plastics industry. In China, sectors such as automobile, household appliances, communications and high-end tools exhibit a growing demand for modified plastics.With higher consumer requirements, more market demands, fast growth in national economy as well as the emerging of new materials and technologies, plastic modification shows a full range of advantages from functionality, lightweight to environmental friendliness, thus leading to a great demand for modified plastics.Plastics filler modification is the fastest-growing new sector in the plastics industry. With the rapid development of the plastics industry, filling masterbatch is no longer just used as filling material.Great demand from applications1. To reduce car weight while meeting application requirements, just use single resin cannot meet application requirements. Plastic modification has become an indispensable technology. Hollow glass beads from Sinosteel Maanshan New Material feature 0.28g/cm3~0.6g/cm3in density. Adding these to PA, PP, PC and ABS can substantially reduce the density while improving physical property.2. For various types of household appliances today, many plastic components are substituting metal components. Annual demand for various types of plastics and modified plastics is exhibiting two-digit growth and growing year by year. CECEP Jiangxi New Material developed fine quartz powder successfully. When used in plastics and rubber, they can reduce abrasion and wear by 10% and improve impact density, insulating property and chemical stability.3. Application of modified plastics in the communications sector exhibits great advantages. Casing and substrate for laptop computers and mobile phone components mostly use modified plastics. Li Zhigang, senior engineer of Ningbo Bolilong Composite Material Technology developed multiple carbon fiber/resin materials for use in such sectors as notebook, automobile and intelligent machines, is known as the “hidden champion”.4. Electric tools are requiring higher electric insulation, fire retardancy and more lightweight. Use of modifiers from Nanjing Jinlaiwang Plastic Technology can reduce the oil absorption of inorganic powder by more than 10% and improve the glossiness, tenacity and impact strength of plastic products.5. Modified plastics are finding extensive applications in railway, military, medical and aerospace sectors. Artificial organs and artificial bone joints as well as thermal stable, aging resistant and high-strength functional modified plastics are also playing an active role in propelling the rapid development of high technology. PP, PA, ABS, PS, talc, wollastonite, mica and multiple types of composite modified materials such as silicone powder and carbon fiber produced from Kingfa are applicable to automotive, medical and military sectors.6. Bio-based plastics leverage modification, filling and foaming techniques to improve material performance, reduce production cost and expand applications. Zhu Jin, research fellow of CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) Ningbo Material Research Institute, has completed extensive research of polylactide (PLA) modification and application.Development status of modified plasticsFilling modificationHeavy calcium carbonate filler masterbatch is a filler modifier extensively used in the plastics industry. Relevant manufacturers are located all around the country, exceeding 5 million tons in annual output. Tianjin Yuquan Industrial & Trading Ltd. produces granular masterbatches using environment-friendly production techniques such as blending, extruding and pelletizing.The products are mainly for use in injection molded and calender olefin plastic products, which has become an important approach to reduce production cost, improve product performance and expand applications. PLA/CaCO3packaging films from Fujian Dongnan New Material Co., Ltd. include over 50% of calcium powder, thus reducing raw material cost and promoting natural degradation of discarded products.Light calcium carbonate is extensively used in many products such as PVC pipes, profiles and panels. When used in PVC products, functional modifiers from Dongguan Aoda Chemical Ltd. can improve impact strength by 60% and elongation by 200%.Modifying masterbatchModifying masterbatch is a new modifier developed on the basis of filling masterbatch. Adding inorganic materials such as fiberglass, talc, mica, wollastonite, barium sulfate and kaolin to resin, or adding synthetic resin or additives with specific functions in the processing process, these composite materials can provide functional features of different materials in specific applications.When used in plastic parts such as automobile engine surroundings and headlamp holders, the resin/wollastonite/silicone powder modifying masterbatch from Dalian Global Technology can improve physical property and improve heat deflection temperature for plastic products by 40%~60%. When used in metal/wood flour/mineral material/plastic composite materials, the steel/plastic melt adhesive and compatilizer products from Hebei Jintian Plastic & Rubber New Material can improve the mechanical property and compatibility for different materials.Function modificationAdding different materials such as graphene, silicone powder, tombarthite, magnesium hydrate and fine metal powder (silver, copper, zinc, etc.) to plastics can improve physical performance such as flame retardancy, aging resistance and heat resistance, and provide special functions such as electric conductivity, antibiosis, electric insulation and reinforcement. This has become an important player in the market of durable plastic products.CGN JUNER New Material is a prestigious enterprise in China engaged in research, development and production of high-performance modified engineering plastics, mainly including modified nylon, modified polycarbonate, modified polyester, modified polyolefin, thermoplastic continuous fiber composites and special engineering plastics for use in a full range of sectors from industrial electric equipment, automobile, electronics, building material, new energy to aviation and nuclear power. Some of their products are exported to the USA and European countries.Multiple compound modificationMultiple compound modified materials developed by Yuyao Huihe Plasticizing using carbon fiber/synthetic resin/functional agents are used as components for oil drilling, aerospace and household appliances. Multiple compound modification mainly leverages plastics “alloying” approach to arrange plastics with one or more inorganic materials, polymers and additives via blending, grafting and blocking so that individual components supplement each other in performance and shape a plastic material with multiple outstanding performances and accomplish the purpose of higher performance and diversified functions.NUC (North University of China) School of Materials Science and Engineering is specialized in the research of high-performance functional plastics. Their nylon flame retardant composite material is modified using nylon/ inorganic material/ magnesium hydrate, sodium antimonate and zinc borate compounds to accomplish V-0 flame retardant performance, high heat resistance and excellent environmental effect.Special modificationSpecial modification is to add different functional materials or additives in special plastics for specific market applications so that expensive special plastics retain their original characteristics and special functions. The nylon/liquid crystal polymer, nylon/PC compound modified materials developed and mass produced by Chongqing Keyiying New Material have been used in automotive and military sectors with satisfactory effect.Development trend of modified plasticsPlastics modified using inorganic nanometer powder have a full range of unique performances, providing new opportunities and application potential for the development of the plastics industry. For example, modifying PA6 using 5% organic montmorillonite can improve heat deflection temperature by 1.5 folds; adding nanoclay to PET can substantially reduce gas transmission rate by 100 times lower than pure PET.With ever-growing awareness of environmental protection and rigid environmental regulations, environmental concepts such as recyclable, environment digestible, biodegradable, nontoxic, odorless and pollution-free plastics have been integrated into the modified plastics development and manufacturing process. It has become a new focus to develop energy-saving, pollution-free, fully degradable, recyclable and environmental-friendly modified plastic products.Source: China Plastic & Rubber Journal

Aeyoung Park 2018-03-16

Smart manufacturing gathering pace in China

Aeyoung Park 2018-03-13

Worldwide spending on 3D printing to reach US$12 billion in 2018

Worldwide spending on 3D printing to reach US$12 billion in 2018 The global spending on 3D printing (including hardware, materials, software, and services) will be nearly US$12.0 billion in 2018, an increase of 19.9% over 2017, according to the new update to the Worldwide Semiannual 3D Printing Spending Guide from International Data Corporation (IDC).By 2021, IDC expects worldwide spending to be nearly US$20.0 billion with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.5%. Together, 3D printers and materials will account for roughly two thirds of the worldwide spending total throughout the forecast, reaching $6.9 billion and $6.7 billion respectively in 2021. Services spending will trail slightly behind, reaching $5.5 billion in 2021 and led by on-demand parts services and systems integration services. Purchases of 3DP software will grow more slowly than the overall market with a five-year CAGR of 18.6%. As said, discrete manufacturing will be the dominant industry for 3D printing, delivering more than half of all worldwide spending throughout the 2017-2021 forecast. Healthcare providers will be the second largest industry with a spending total of nearly US$1.3 billion in 2018. "Parts for new products, aftermarket parts, dental objects, and medical support objects will continue to see significant growth opportunities over the next five years as 3D printing goes more mainstream. The healthcare industry is also poised to double its share of spend through 2021 as the benefits of cost-effective customized printing continue to be realized," said Marianne D'Aquila, research manager, Customer Insights and Analysis at IDC. According to the report, the US will be the region with the largest spending total in 2018 (US$4.1 billion) followed by Western Europe (US$3.5 billion). Together, these two regions will provide nearly two thirds of all 3D printing spending throughout the forecast.China will be the third largest region with more than US$1.5 billion in spending this year, followed by Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and the rest of Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan). Source: China Plastic & Rubber Journal International

관리자 2018-01-26

World’s top 10 companies exporting injection molding machines to the US

World’s top 10 companies exporting injection molding machines to the US ▲ Top 10 companies exporting injection molding machines to the US in 2016. (Source: Plastics Insight)Injection molding machines imports in the US has been growing since 2012, and the number of units imported in 2016 was about the same as in 2015, according to the market intelligence platform Plastics Insight.The Plastics Insight’s findings based on customs data saw Engel as the biggest exporter of machines to the US, as Engel Austria GmbH and Engel de Mexico S.A. de C.V. shipped 706 and 245 injection molding machines respectively to the US in 2016.The second biggest exporter was Japan Steel Works Ltd with 568 units shipped, while Arburg shipped 404 units to the US, followed by Japan’s Nissei Plastics Industrial Co. Ltd. with 391 units.The top exporters from China include Riyue Heavy Industrial Co. Ltd., Haitian Huayuan Hong Kong Ltd. and Borch Machinery Co. Ltd. Source: China Plastic & Rubber Journal International

Aeyoung Park 2018-01-24