By Chris Kuehl, managing director, Armada Corporate Intelligence The textbook definition of volatile says it all: “likely to change rapidly and unpredictably – especially for the worse.” It has been a volatile year, and so was last year. Business leaders are not unaccustomed to change; that is the norm, as competitors evolve and consumers remain notoriously fickle. … [Read more...] about Understanding Today’s Volatile Economy
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Tame Out-of-Control Mold Storage with Engineered Racks and Cranes
By Graeme Sands, general manager, Globeius One of the pillars of efficient, productive injection molding operations is the orderly and safe storage of all those intricate and expensive molds. Conscientious molders take inventory management seriously to protect their employees and supercharge their productivity. Traditionally disorderly – and potentially dangerous … [Read more...] about Tame Out-of-Control Mold Storage with Engineered Racks and Cranes
Creating Clarity: The Importance of Defining the Ideal Customer
By Shelly Otenbaker, president, WayPoint Marketing Communications In today’s plastics processing landscape, activity is not the same as progress. Injection molders and their suppliers are investing more than ever in marketing – new websites, digital ads, tradeshows, CRM systems and automation tools. On paper, it looks like momentum. But in reality, many organizations … [Read more...] about Creating Clarity: The Importance of Defining the Ideal Customer
Plastics Manufacturers Facing New Cost Pressure: Energy
By Liam Kelly, commercial solar account executive, Artisun Solar “When’s the last time you changed something in your business before you had to change something in your business?” said MAPP Executive Director Troy Nix. He asked this question during the kickoff of the 2025 Annual MAPP Meeting last December. For an industry already navigating the constant fluctuations and … [Read more...] about Plastics Manufacturers Facing New Cost Pressure: Energy
Champion Plastics, Crescent Industries, Viking Plastics: Automation and Lights-Out Production
By Liz Stevens, writer, Plastics Business Automation in plastics manufacturing is evolving from isolated tasks to fully integrated production strategies designed to reduce labor dependency, improve consistency and increase capacity. This article profiles three MAPP member companies – Champion Plastics, Crescent Industries and Viking Plastics – that are applying automation … [Read more...] about Champion Plastics, Crescent Industries, Viking Plastics: Automation and Lights-Out Production