Page 67 - Plastics News Issue March 2024

IN THE NEWS

machines offer more accurate and re- proach enhances efficiency, reduces Conclusion:
sponsive control, leading to enhanced downtime, and contributes to the In conclusion, innovations in molds
part quality and reduced environmen- sustainability of manufacturing opera- and dies have played a pivotal role in
tal impact. The move towards sus- tions. transforming precision plastic manu-
tainability in manufacturing is further Collaborative Research and De- facturing. From the integration of ad-
facilitated by these technological ad- velopment: ditive manufacturing and the use of
vancements. advanced materials to the develop-
Continuous innovation in molds and
Industry 4.0 Integration: dies is propelled by collaborative ef- ment of micro-molding technology
The integration of molds and molding forts between material scientists, and Industry 4.0 integration, each in-
machines into the broader framework mold designers, and manufacturers. novation contributes to enhancing the
of Industry 4.0 is a significant trend in Research initiatives focused on im- efficiency, precision, and sustainability
modern manufacturing. This involves proving the technologies involved in of plastic manufacturing processes. As
the incorporation of data analytics, precision plastic manufacturing con- the industry continues to evolve, the
Internet of Things (IoT), and smart tribute to the evolution of the indus- collaboration between researchers,
manufacturing principles. Connecting try. Cross-disciplinary collaborations designers, and manufacturers will be
molds and machines in a network al- bring together expertise from various crucial in driving future advancements
lows for real-time monitoring, predic- fields to address challenges and push and pushing the boundaries of what
tive maintenance, and overall process the boundaries of what is achievable can be achieved in precision plastic
optimization. The data-driven ap- in plastic molding. manufacturing.

India's plastic exports rose by 12.7% in December and 5% in
January YoY

USD 916 million, showing a 5.0% sacks, woven fabrics, tarpaulin; Floor
growth from the US. coverings, leathercloth & laminates;
According to the report, during De- Consumer & houseware products;
cember 2023, a significant uptick in Packaging items - flexible, rigid; FRP &
exports was witnessed across various Composites; Medical items of plastics;
product categories, including Con- Plastic pipes & fittings; and human hair
sumer & houseware products, Plastic & related products. However, sectors
films and sheets, Plastic raw materials, such as Cordage, fishnets & monofila-
FRP & Composites, Floorcoverings, ments and writing instruments & sta-
leathercloth & laminates, medical tionery continued to encounter diffi-
umbai: The Plastic Export Pro- items of plastics, FIBC, Woven sacks, culties in achieving growth during the
Mmotion Council (Plexconcil) Woven fabrics, Tarpaulin, Plastic same period.
recently published a report analys- pipes & fittings, Packaging items (flex- Hemant Minocha, Chairman of Plex-
ing India's plastic export trends for ible, rigid), and Human hair & related concil, said in a statement, "The ex-
December 2023 and January 2024. products. However, some sectors port growth in December and Janu-
Drawing upon data from the Ministry faced challenges in growth, namely ary reflects the increasing influence of
of Commerce & Industry, Govern- Cordage, fishnets & monofilaments; India's exports on the global economy.
ment of India, the study reveals that and Writing instruments & station- The past two months have given us
during December 2023, India export- ery. In January 2024, substantial ex- a clear-cut indicator of the increas-
ed plastics worth USD 1,115 million, port expansion was observed across ing demand from global markets,
an increase of 12.7% from USD 989 a wide range of product categories, and we aim to sustain this momen-
million in December 2022. In January including Plastic films and sheets; tum throughout 2024. Our goal is
2024, India's plastic exports totaled Plastic raw materials; FIBC, woven to achieve USD 25 billion in exports

PLASTICS NEWS 69
March 2024