Page 24 - Plastics News May 2018

FeAtures

Five Industry Trends Affecting Plastics Processors

- Jay Smith, senior manager, and Scott Walton

Check out these five industry trends that are affecting or will affect plastics processors in the near future.

s plastics processors look to develop a strategic plan technical expertise to launch and maintain automation and
Afor 2018 and beyond, it’s important to be aware of a strategy to leverage automation to help differentiate
industry changes that may impact operations. products and processes.
2. 3D printing and additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing and 3D printing are predicted
to be highly disruptive forces within the manufacturing
industry. Between 2016 and 2030, the global additive
manufacturing market is set to shift from prototyping to
mass production of parts and accessories.Consumers are
demanding new technology faster than ever before, and
industries are working to meet the increased evolution
of products. This cycle of technology is driving the need
to increase the speed of product development across the
plastics industry, from consumer goods to automotive to
1. Automation medical devices. And, these new processes are speeding
up the pace of manufacturing.
If plastics processors are not integrating automation into
their entire manufacturing process, they already may be Technology now is in place to make 4D prototyping a
possibility: A prototype mold can be built in four to
behind. It is becoming the norm for successful shops to
leverage technology to improve efficiency and maximize five days, where in the past it would take three to four
weeks. Additionally, new valuation, modeling and scanning
capacity. Automation is just one tool in the tool kit,
so processors should automate where appropriate and technologies have condensed development time, all
driving the industry to become faster and more efficient.
consider integrating systems – such as quality control,
packaging and vision systems – into the shop’s overall 3. Materials science
infrastructure. In the not so distant future, the industry can Materials are being developed to meet the necessary
expect to see virtual work instructions, drone services, AR requirements for plastic products – strength, flexibility,
assembly and buyoff, and more throughout every plastics etc. – but at a lower price than traditional raw materials.
processing facility. It is critical that every tool supplier Researchers have discovered a new class of synthetic
leverages today’s technology and takes meaningful steps polymers that are strong, cheap, flexible, recyclable and
toward automation use across the entire value stream. self-healing. These are the world’s first family of materials
Additionally, it is critically important for manufacturers that are strong and solvent-resistant, while being
to ensure they have the correct infrastructure in place completely recyclable back to their original material. In
to support the integration of automation. Leadership the future, these materials could have a significant impact
needs to have a short- and long-term integration plan that on nearly every engineering and product design category,
includes having the capital available for investment, the as they can be used in a variety of manufacturing

Plastics News May 2018 24