Subscribe: Email address: Your name: (optional)

Unsubscribe: Email address:

Click image to see digital edition

Privacy Policy

News

Plast-Ex opens
Plast-Ex 2007 opened on Tuesday morning at the International Centre near Toronto's Pearson International Airport. The show continues through Thursday, May 3.
As Canada's national plastics show, Plast-Ex draws a crowd of about 10,000 visitors each time. The three halls at the International Centre are host to around 600 companies, either with their own booths or represented by a Canadian agent or distributor.
Plast-Ex has been the premier event for the industry for five decades, and a special section in Hall One celebrates the history of the show and the industry it serves.
You won't want to miss the breakfast and lunchtime sessions, which feature noted expert speakers. Wednesday's theme is Automotive and Transportation, and the lunchtime session is addressed by Dennis DesRosiers of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, and Magna International executive vice-president James Robertson.
Thursday's theme is Packaging and Recycling. At breakfast, speakers include Ludivine Cauchon, manager of international business development with recyclers Recyc RPM Inc.; Dr. Fred Edgecombe of the Environment & Plastics Industry Council; and Beverley Ferguson of Chantler Packaging.
At lunchtime, the speakers are Jim Farrell, managing consultant with Hatch & Assocs., speaking on energy saving; and Peter Love, chief energy conservation officer with the Ontario Power Authority.
The show is open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on Thursday.
www.plast-ex.org

CPIA presents awards at gala
The Canadian Plastics Industry Association presented its Industry Leader, Lifetime Achievement and CanPlast awards at its gala on April 30, the evening before Plast-Ex opened. Receiving the Industry Leader award was Manfred Lupke, president of Corma Inc., seen second from left at bottom. Lifetime Achievement Award winners were Bob Barrett of Polytainers (bottom left); Mike Schmidt of ABC Group (second from right, bottom) and Lorne Berggren of Berg Chilling and Mould-tek Industries (bottom at far right). Also given a Lifetime Achievement Award was Jobst Gellert of Mold-Masters Ltd. (not present). CanPlast awards went to Dave Douse of Pliant Corp. (top left), Paul Clark of NOVA Chemical (next to Douse), Bill Wybenga of Brampton Engineering (second from right at top), and Andrew Rush of Brite Manufacturing (at right, top). Also given a CanPlast award was Dennis Shanley of Industry Canada (not present).
www.cpia.ca

Plastique Micron adds capacity
Plastique Micron (Ste-Claire, Que.) has expanded its production capacity with the acquisition of a new six-cavity Magic injection stretch blow moulding machine. This will allow Plastique Micron to keep up with growing demand for its PET containers.
The new machine, which started operation on April 15, is the third addition to the company's plant in just 12 months. It now has 10 ISBM-capable machines and 18 dedicated extrusion blow moulding machines.
"Recent growth in demand, discussions with key clients, and a thorough analysis of our market have shown us the importance of responding quickly to the needs of our customers and partners," says president Bernard Poitras. "We've started making important changes, and more are on the way. Our clients needs will be met, and we will continue to build on our growing reputation for value-added service and close rapport with clients." The company employs over 200 people.
www.plastiquemicron.com

Windsor toolmakers fight slow market
Problems in the mouldmaking business continue in Windsor, Ont. The latest casualty is Michael Angelo Mould and Design, which was served with a landlord's distress warrant on April 16.
The company supplies injection moulds to both automotive and non-automotive customers in the US and Mexico. Founder and owner Angelo Carnevale, is vice-president of the Windsor-based Canadian Association of Moldmakers.
Three tool shops have recently held auctions of equipment: Moulds Are Us Inc., Express Tool and Mould. and Hallmark Technologies. With Express, however, the company is simply downsizing to address a reduced marketplace, and not closing. This firm has cut its workforce from a high of 45, to 15.
www.camm.ca

Cost reduction the main priority still in automotive
Cost reduction is still the main challenge facing automotive engineers and designers. Nearly 70 per cent of attendees at the SAE World Congress in Detroit said there is growing recognition and business practice surrounding 'total cost reduction' versus 'reduced price,' according to results from the 13th annual DuPont Automotive/SAE survey.
"The distinction between 'total systems and assembled cost reduction' and 'price cutting' is needed to be able to strategically manage the omnipresent cost-reduction challenge in this competitive industry," said Chris Murphy, automotive director – Americas, for DuPont Automotive Performance Materials. "'Total cost reduction' is more holistic and invites customer-supplier collaborative solutions that can provide a step-change and more sustainable results, and this year's survey bears that understanding."
As an example, Murphy cited growing adoption of DuPont Crastin PBT for directly metalised automotive headlamp bezels, where solutions in materials, design and processing techniques translate into a 40 per cent reduction in total part cost. This enables designers to achieve new looks that consumers desire. The bezel – a critical trim piece for structure and aesthetics – is commercial on 8-million vehicles globally.
The top three strategies needed to strengthen the industry, according to the survey, continue to be: to globalise the customer base, increase collaboration across the value chain and emphasise more consumer focused innovations.
"The strategies are clear," said Murphy. "Executing is the challenge."
The survey of OEM and supplier SAE members was conducted by W.K. Greene and Associates and also reported environmental/sustainability challenges, material and powertrain trends.
In addition to 14 per cent of attendees pointing to fuel economy and CAFE as the number one challenge facing the industry, one quarter of SAE attendees said lower emissions and clean air regulations topped the list of environmental/sustainability issues in 2007.
www.dupont.com

TOP

Changes

Omron Canada Inc. has appointed Douglas Backman senior manager, vertical markets. He has over 20 years of sales and management leadership in the automation and electrical industry and was most recently manager of sector development at Siemens Canada. Omron has also appointed Ron Roopchansingh to the position of national sales manager, distribution. He will oversee all distribution sales across Canada. He received the Wesco US sales and marketing award for sales growth in 2006, and comes to Omron from Cooper Industries.
www.omron.com

Douglas Backman	Ron Roopchansingh

Blair Stephen, Haitian sales representative in Ontario is taking a sabbatical to earn his MBA. All Ontario sales will be handled directly by Absolute Haitian Corp. (Worcester, Mass.) until a local sales partner is in place within the next two months.
www.absolutehaitian.com

Ampac Packaging LLC (Cincinnati, Ohio) has acquired Sealed Air Corp.'s Trigon Security Products business and related assets in North America and Europe. The transaction includes the purchase of assets from operations located in Kent, Wash. and Melbourn, UK. 
www.ampac.com

Metso Minerals (Brunswick, Ohio) has acquired Bulk Equipment Systems Technology, Inc. (B.E.S.T., Inc.). B.E.S.T., Inc. manufactures a diversified line of custom bulk-handling equipment and also provides a complete line of air and electric vibrators to a wide variety of dry processing industries from chemical to food to recycling.
www.bestvibes.com

Correction: An item in our last enewsletter reported that Negri Bossi Inc. was looking for a technical manager. It is in fact seeking a service manager at its Mississauga, Ont., headquarters.
www.negribossi.com

Rohm and Haas Co. (Philadelphia) and Eastman Kodak Company (Rochester, NY) have entered into an agreement for Rohm and Haas to acquire Kodak's Light Management Films business. The business produces advanced films that improve the brightness and efficiency of liquid crystal displays (LCDs).
As part of the agreement, Rohm and Haas will acquire the intellectual property associated with the films, including patent and trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, the business's portfolio of current and future products, and a license to additional IP. The acquisition also includes a semiworks facility in Rochester, New York, and the supply of key raw materials.  After closing the transaction, Rohm and Haas will build a dedicated, high-volume manufacturing facility in Asia, with start-up planned for early 2008.
www.rohmandhaas.com

KMT Robotic Solutions has named Chris Lutz vice president of sales. Since 1980 he has held various positions including national sales manager at Fanuc Robotics, general manager at Staubli and director of marketing and sales at Adept Technology and Applied Robotics. 
www.kmtgroup.com

Ashland Composite Polymers (Dublin, Ohio), a business group of Ashland Performance Materials, a division of Ashland Inc. is increasing epoxy vinyl ester production capacity. Its Derakane and Hetron epoxy vinyl ester resins are used to manufacture corrosion-resistant equipment for wastewater treatment, chemical processing and mining industries. www.ashland.com.

The Association of Rotational Molders International (Oak Brook, Ill.) has retained CM Services, Inc. (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), to provide all ARM International staff services. The change is intended as an economically feasible alternative to a stand-alone office and staff. Executive director Jeff Arnold will remain with the association through June.
www.rotomolding.org

TOP

Classified Ads

Job Forum

Job Wanted: Polymer or related industry

Businesses For Sale

Miscellaneous

TOP

Coming Events

May 5: Galea Awards, CPIA Quebec's annual recognition of outstanding individuals and companies. At Hotel Mortagne, Boucherville, Que. (Contact: Marie-France Sosa, at 450-641-5926 or mfsosa@acipquebec.ca).

May 7-11: Brasilplast 2007, at Anhembi Park Exhibition Hall, São Paulo, Brazil. (Contact: Alcantara Machada company at 5511-3030-9463 or almax@almax.com.br.)

May 21-24: Chinaplas, at the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Pazhou, Guangzhou, China. (Contact: Hong Kong 852-2811-8857 or chinaplas@adsale.com.hk).

May 22: CPIA's Canadian Natural Composites Council annual general meeting, at the Hall of Ideas EFG, Madison, Wis., during the Ninth International Conference on Wood & Natural Fiber-Plastics Composites (Contact: Marilyne Berman, 905-678-7405 Ext. 278, or mberman@cpia.ca)

May 24: Quebec plastics pioneers social hour and dinner, at the Whitlock Golf and Country Club in Hudson, Que. (Contact: Terry Browitt at 450-458-5591 or tjbrowitt@terinex.com)

June 5: Annual Shotgun Golf Tournament of the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association. At Pine Knot Golf & Country Club Dorchester, Ont. (Contact: Julie McFarlane at 519-653-7265 or info@ctma.com).

June 14: Canadian Plastics Pioneers, annual golf tournament and reunion dinner. At Richmond Hill Golf & Country Club, Richmond Hill, Ont. (Contact: Peter Stephen at 905-940-5577 or pstephen@stephensales.com).

October 24-31: K 2007, Germany's international plastics super-show, at Dusseldorf Trade Fairgrounds. (Contact: Stefan Egge at 416-598-1524 or messeduesseldorf@germanchamber.ca)

TOP

Screw design – the quest for the perfect spiral
Injection moulding of micro parts
Extrusion report – Innovations in blown film
Spotlight on Granulators & Shredders
Raw materials report
Processor profile

Closing: May 16

Reach 7,500 plastics industry decision makers online! Advertise in this bi-weekly Plastics in Canada E-newsletter with a banner ad that links to your site.

For advertising information contact:

• Nick Passingham (416) 764-1527
• Gillian Thomas (416) 764-1506

Our latest issue is now available online at
www.plasticsincanada-digitaledition.com

TOP