Page 41 - Plastics News January 2026
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FEATURE NEWS
“The good news: Over the past few years,” Mor- Another critical step is utilizing artificial intelli-
gan said, “technology-based solutions (beyond gence (AI). Morgan said, “Like it or not, it is here
robots) have become available to processors to stay. Plastics processors must explore how
that can help control their labor costs.” AI can play into their businesses, since the most
competitive plastics processors already are do-
Current economic conditions are projected to be ing so. Similar to business analytics, plastics pro-
“good enough” for businesses to grow in 2026, cessors that invest in AI now are much better
with unemployment and interest rates projected positioned to succeed in 2030 and 2035.”
to remain stable. Additionally, tariff deals likely
are to be finalized with most – if not all – coun- Plante Moran is optimistic that plastics proces-
tries, allowing businesses to plan accordingly. sors will embrace change, especially those
While tariffs generally are unpopular, the uncer- adapting their businesses to implement more
tainty they created in 2025 as deals were struck technology-driven processes. Morgan said,
with various nations, could be the most disrup- “Those that adapt will be well positioned to dif-
tive aspect of tariffs alone Morgan said, “So ferentiate themselves over the next one to three
those business owners are looking forward to years compared to other plastics processors do-
having this uncertainty behind them.” ing it ‘the old way.’ This is a huge opportunity for
forward-thinking plastics processors to tell their
To navigate these challenges, plastics proces- future plans to their customers and competitors’
sors should continue to invest in technology- customers – ultimately leading to more top-line
based solutions. Morgan said, “Plastics process- growth.”
ing is too competitive and too capital-intensive
not to invest in tech-based solutions. This is The Road Ahead
no longer just about getting more robots. It’s
about having your organization use technology As the new year approaches, insights from three
throughout operations, including the back office. key perspectives across the plastics manufactur-
Plastics processors that have already adopted ing landscape – supplier, processor and advisor
this mentality are much better positioned to be – give a well-rounded view of the opportunities
successful long-term – both in 2030 and 2035. and challenges that await in 2026. Suppliers pro-
Better utilization of a company’s data can help vide valuable input on material advancements
make data-driven decisions and reduce reliance and market trends. At the same time, proces-
on ‘tribal knowledge.’ This is commonly known sors remain focused on operational efficiency
as business or data analytics. On the plant floor, and customer demands, and an industry advisor
this can provide more ‘real-time’ data to fix man- ties it all together, offering strategic guidance
ufacturing issues sooner. For top-line growth, to help navigate an evolving environment. To-
this can help plastics processors identify higher- gether, these perspectives help shape a clearer,
and lower-margin product segments, custom- informed path forward for the days ahead in
ers, etc., which can drive quoting and pricing de- plastics manufacturing.
cisions and ultimately go-to-market strategies.” Source – Plastics Business
January 2026 PLASTICS NEWS 41
