Extrusion International USA 5-2021

29 Extrusion International 5/2021 the coronavirus pandemic underscored the importance of a well- functioning global supply chain. The plastics industry could con- tinue to face labor and supply chain-related headwinds ahead. The 2021 Size & Impact Report and an Executive Summary are available for download: www.plasticsindustry.org/sizeandim- pact Report: Plastics Machinery Shipments Slowed in the Second Quarter ThePlasticsIndustryAssociation(PLASTICS)announcedshipments of primary plastics machinery (injection molding and extrusion) in North America decreased for the second consecutive quarter according to the statistics compiled and reported by PLASTICS’ Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES). The preliminary estimate of shipment value from reporting com- panies totaled$320.9million inSecondQuarter 2021. It decreased by 4.2% following the 11.1% decrease in First Quarter 2021. Compared to Second Quarter 2020, however, plastics machinery shipments rose by 21.2%. The value of shipments of single-screw extruders increased signi fi cantly by 33.1% from the First Quarter 2021, but twin-screw extruders and injection molding shipments fell by 24.9% and 4.9%, respectively. Compared to Second Quar- ter 2020, shipments of injection molding, single- and twin-screw extruders were 19.5%, 37.8%. and 32.3%higher, respectively. “While new orders of plastics equipment have been increasing, ongoing supply chain issues – shortage of parts and components – are causing longer order-to-delivery timelines. This explains the decrease in shipments in the second quarter. For the third consecutive quarter, plastics equipment shipments were higher from a year earlier. This means that the underlying trend in plas- tics equipment demand remains upward sloping – still in sync with the robust economic recovery,” said Perc Pineda, PhD, Chief Economist of PLASTICS. Market Sentiment PLASTIC’s CES also conducts a quarterly survey of plastics ma- chinery suppliers that asks about present market conditions and expectations for the future. In the Second Quarter 2021 survey, 92.7% of respondents expect market conditions to either im- prove or hold steady in the coming quarter – marginally lower than the 93.5% of respondents who expressed the same view in First Quarter 2021’s survey. As for the next 12 months, 78.7% ex- pect market conditions to be steady-to-better. This is lower than the 93.0% of respondents in the previous quarter’s survey who were expecting growth in the next 12 months. Trade Outlook Second Quarter 2021 plastics machinery total exports decreased by 6.9% to $367.6 million from First Quarter 2021. Mexico and Canada remained the top export markets of plastics machinery from the U.S. The combined exports to USMCA partners in Sec- ond Quarter 2021 totaled $177.2 million, which was 48.2%of to- tal exports of plastics machinery. Imports rose by 3.5% to $874.0 million resulting in a $506.8 million trade de fi cit. The U.S. plastics machinery trade de fi cit increased by 12.6% in Second Quarter 2021. The volume ofmerchandise trade is expected to increase this year as global economic conditions improve. The World Trade Orga- nization expects to see an 8.4% increase in global merchandise trade this year. “Until the supply chain issues are resolved, and production lead times return to normal, expect to see fl uctuations in quarterly shipments of plastics machinery. Nevertheless, the outlook for plastics machinery in the second half of the year is positive,” said Pineda. The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) plasticsindustry.org „ R&B Plastics Machinery has announced the appointment of GeorgeHurdenas SalesManager, NewBlowMoldingMachinery. Hurden will be responsible for unlocking new sales opportunities and overseeing future growth of the company’s RBS (extrusion blow molding-EBM Shuttle) and RBA (Accumulator Head) blow molding machine lines. “We’re thrilled that George is joining our teamandwelookforwardtoleveraginghis45yearsofprogressive sales andmanagement experience in the plastics blowmolding business to expand our RBS and RBA blowmold- ingmachinery lines,” said FredPiercy, President of R&B Plastics Machinery. “He has an extensive knowledge of blow molding machines and process equipment that will serve R&B well as we continue to develop new solu- tions to meet our customers’ grow- ing processing demands.” Sales Manager for New BlowMolding Machinery Appointed Hurden most recently served as Regional Sales Manager with Kautex Machines, Inc. Previously, he operated his own business, Custom Process Solutions, LLC, where he provided sales and consulting services to a wide range of blow molding companies throughout North America. As co-owner and President/CEO, Hurden also successfully oper- ated a blow molding plant in the Northeast for nearly 20 years. “George brings a broad range of operational skills which en- hance his ability to understand fi rsthand the challenges faced by our customers and assist them with solutions,” said Piercy. Hur- den started his plastics career at PVC Container Corp. in sales and production/engineering roles. Hurden has been an SPE member for nearly 40 years and has served on the Board of the SPE Blow Molding Division since 2013. R&B Plastics Machinery LLC www.rbplasticsmachinery.com GeorgeHurden