By Rick Zettler, owner, Z-Comm LLC Talk of artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the recycling industry by storm and for good reason. When applied correctly, today’s emerging AI technologies have transformative powers, driving automation and efficiently enabling more granular sorting of complex material fractions. Much of this buzz originates from the type of ejection … [Read more...] about What’s AI Doing for the Plastics Industry?
Process Improvement
Metro Plastics Makes an Impact with Inventory System
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business Business gurus often talk about the view from 30,000 feet – the big picture that provides a look at overall operations. Perhaps, however, the focus should be on the view from 30 feet – a close-up of specific processes and procedures that make an impact now. For more than 45 years, Metro Plastics Technologies, LLC has been … [Read more...] about Metro Plastics Makes an Impact with Inventory System
ERP and MES: The Importance of Data-Driven Software in Plastics
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business For plastics processors, data evaluation is crucial to the functioning properties across the entire company, and with that, there are several prominent options in data management and monitoring systems. For this article, the focus is on enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution system (MES) software, and how, … [Read more...] about ERP and MES: The Importance of Data-Driven Software in Plastics
MAPP Innovation Award Winners Put the “Smart” in Smart Manufacturing
By Liz Stevens, writer, Plastics Business What if? Outside-of-the-box thinkers use a “what if?” mentality to tackle plant operation challenges. Plastics processors are an innovative bunch and it’s a good thing. Keeping a multi-service or multi-line injection molding operation humming along – with its varied work cells, machinery, processes and tasks – takes skill and … [Read more...] about MAPP Innovation Award Winners Put the “Smart” in Smart Manufacturing
Beacon Engineered Solutions Implements Automation to Ease Labor Crunch
By Liz Stevens, writer, Plastics Business Beacon Engineered Solutions earned the second place award in Labor Solutions at the 2023 MAPP Innovation Award ceremony for its entry describing the company’s 4DX Automation Team which has applied automation technologies that currently save the company 11,000 labor hours annually. Beacon is in Alexandria, Minnesota, offering … [Read more...] about Beacon Engineered Solutions Implements Automation to Ease Labor Crunch