On this episode of PMM Insight, a commentary with Editor Ron Shinn: Business seems to be in a downward spiral for plastics recyclers. There is no national support or incentives for collection or recycling infrastructure, and state-of-the-art plants are closing.

Why should processors and machinery manufacturers care? Because recyclers are a foundational building block for plastics circularity, which is essential for the industry's future.

On this episode of PMM’s Machinery Minutes, our weekly look at significant stories from the past week, with Editor Ron Shinn:

• Total cost of wages and benefits are likely to go up this year for plastics processors, according to a report from The Plastics Industry Association.

• WM Thermoforming unveiled two new machines designed for energy efficiency, quick set-up and easy maintenance, at the recent K Show.

• Gabler Thermoform demonstrated the M100 Evo, capable of up to 43 cycles per minute and production of 250,000 items per hour.

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly news podcast with PMM editor Ron Shinn rounding up some of the top stories of the past week:

• Thermoforming experts Conor Carlin and Mark Strachan have developed an AI-powered tool to help thermoforming companies struggling to find and keep skilled operators.

• Pat Farrey, former head of SPE and now executive VP of PLASTICS, talks about the merger of the two organizations, leadership and improving the image of the plastics industry.

• A new high-tech Kiefel thermoformer boosts production by 50 percent and uses 10 percent less energy.