Extrusion International USA 4-2021

36 Extrusion International 4/2021 EXTRUSION INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS „ The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoforming Di- vision has awarded scholarships to one undergraduate and one graduate student to support their continuing studies and active participation in plastics. The students have been invited to attend the 28th SPE Ther- moforming Conference®, which will take place September 20-22, 2021 in Grand Rapids, MI, at DeVos Place, the JWMar- riott Grand Rapids and the Amway Grand Hotel. The SPE has awarded both students a trip to the conference which includes the full conference registration. The scholarship recipients are: Olivia Ferki, University of Massachusetts, Lowell: Olivia is a graduate student and research assistant, pursuing a M.S. in Plastics Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Low- ell. She is specializing in medical plastics design and manu- facturing and hopes to pursue a career in medical polymer research. Her anticipated graduation date is May 2023. Olivia graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Pennsylvania College of Technology with a B.S. in Plastics and Polymer Engineer- Two Scholarships to Students Specializing in Plastics Awarded ing Technology and a minor in Mathematics in May 2021. During her time at Penn College, she was an active four-year member of the SPE student chapter and served as Secretary and Vice President (twice). She has also been a member of the Alpha Chi Honors Society since April 2019. Isabella Gayoso, Penn State University: Isabella, from Moon Township, PA, is a rising junior at Penn State University. She is a double major in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with minors in Entrepreneurship and Innovation and IST for Aerospace Engineers. During the Summer of 2020, Isabella worked as a Process and Quality Engineering Intern at Brentwood Industries, a ther- moforming plastics company in Reading, PA. In Spring 2021, Isabella interned as a Build Reliability Intern at SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA. Isabella is interested in how thermoformed plastics can be used in aerospace applications and hopes to use her experiences to positively impact both industries. During the school year, Isabella is actively involved in the So- ciety of Women Engineers, Women in Engineering program orientation, Phi Sigma Rho (engineering sorority), Engineer- ing Ambassadors, and undergraduate research. “Education is central to all of our activities, from grants and scholarships to the Conference,” said Robert Browning, SPE Thermoforming Division Student Activities Committee Chair. “Supporting the educational endeavors of the next genera- tion of plastics professionals is one of the most important responsibilities that we, as a board, undertake each year. Olivia and Isabella have impressive credentials with bright futures ahead of them.” SPE Thermoforming Division thermoformingdivision.com Olivia Ferki Isabella Gayoso „ The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) announced ship- ments of primary plasticsmachinery (injectionmoldingandextru- sion) in North America came in lower in First Quarter 2021 than Fourth Quarter 2020. Shipments decreased following three con- secutive quarters of growth, according to statistics compiled and reported by PLASTIC’s Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES). Thepreliminary estimateof shipment value fromreporting com- panies totaled $334.9million in First Quarter 2021, an 11.1%de- crease from the previous quarter. However, compared to First Quarter 2020, plastics machinery shipments increased by a solid 31.9%. This was the third consecutive quarterly increase in plas- tics machinery shipments year-over-year. “Plastics machinery shipments usually start slowevery fi rst quar- ter, so it was not surprising to see the data came in lower. This is Plastics Machinery Shipments – Typical Slower First Quarter but Poised for Growth in syncwithoverall economic activity that is usually slow, starting every fi rst quarter. Judging from a year-over-year comparison, plastics machinery shipments were actually off to a good start. With the economy staying in a recovery cycle, plastics machin- ery shipments can be expected to increase this year. However, supply chain issues in plastics end-markets could slow growth in plastics equipment demand, so we’ll be watching market dynamics very closely in the coming months,” said Perc Pineda, Ph.D., Chief Economist of PLASTICS. Injection Molding vs Extruders Although the value of shipments of injection molding equip- ment decreased by 11.1% in First Quarter 2021, it was 39.8% above First Quarter 2020. The valueof shipments of single-screw