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
2026 Issue 2
Hoffer’s Vision to Value: Building a Sustainability Framework
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business Sustainability is not a new concept in the plastics industry. It has been shaped into various meanings across multiple platforms depending on a company’s goals, vision and intended impact. At Hoffer Plastics, however, sustainability is more than a guiding principle – it is embedded in the company’s DNA. For more than 70 years, it … [Read more...] about Hoffer’s Vision to Value: Building a Sustainability Framework
Manufacturers Experience Healthcare Cost Increases in the Past Year, Search for New Options
By Andrew Carlsgaard, benchmarking and analytics director, MAPP Healthcare and benefits strategy remains one of the most consequential business decisions US manufacturers make each year. In 2026, employers continue to face rising health benefit costs, tighter operating budgets and greater pressure to use benefits as both a retention tool and a financial management … [Read more...] about Manufacturers Experience Healthcare Cost Increases in the Past Year, Search for New Options
Technology Focus: Training Services
A look at training services that deliver specialized education through structured classroom coursework, real-world operational scenarios and hands-on learning in injection molding, extrusion, blow molding and material science – designed to upskill operators, technicians and engineers in plastics manufacturing. American Injection Molding … [Read more...] about Technology Focus: Training Services
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