By Liz Stevens, writer, Plastics Business In plastics manufacturing, auxiliary equipment often works quietly behind the scenes – but its reliability is critical to keeping production lines efficient and profitable. Maintenance and replacement planning is a strategic necessity. Reviewing equipment performance during scheduled downtime – such as year-end – helps align … [Read more...] about Auxiliary Assets: Keeping Operations Running and Ready
Business Planning
Plastics Manufacturing in 2026: What Industry Leaders are Expecting
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business As the plastics industry approaches the end of 2025, it stands at a crossroads – balancing innovation and technological advancements with ongoing supply chain disruptions, regulatory pressures, shifting market demands and more. In this article, three industry veterans share their insights and perspectives on what lies ahead in … [Read more...] about Plastics Manufacturing in 2026: What Industry Leaders are Expecting
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Top 5 Thoughts on Implementing AI in Manufacturing
By Liz Stevens, writer, Plastics Business Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise, again. The discipline began in the 1950s but fell out of favor in the 1970s. In the 1980s, AI became popular again, with expert systems that contained comprehensive knowledge in fields like law and medicine. Once more, however, AI fell out of favor. Now in its third incarnation, begun in the … [Read more...] about Top 5 Thoughts on Implementing AI in Manufacturing
Four Process Commits to a New Era of Growth
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business Celebrating a 50-year milestone in April 2024, Four Process Ltd., now located in Valley Park, Missouri, has built its business foundation on three key characteristics: it is veteran-founded, woman-owned and a third-generation family endeavor. As a custom precision plastics injection molder, Four Process recently expanded into … [Read more...] about Four Process Commits to a New Era of Growth