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.

This episode is a discussion about the annual PMM Machinery Buying Survey, with editor Ron Shinn, managing editor Lynne Sherwin and senior staff reporter Karen Hanna.

Here are some key points:

• Survey respondents were surprisingly positive, with 73 percent saying they plan to buy primary processing equipment in 2026. Some machinery OEMs and analysts aren't quite so optimistic.

• Tariffs are having a mixed effect and are still causing confusion.

• Manufacturing wages across the board are rising, and processors are going to have to pay more for workers, even as the lack of skilled labor is driving more automation.

• The trend to keep machinery running longer is continuing, and machinery OEMs are responding by beefing up their service departments.

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:

• Dr. Boy went big at K 2025 by introducing an entirely new line of all-electric injection molding machines.

• An Ohio injection molder invested $50,000 in robots and saw a $75,000 annual savings.

• Paul Caprio was named president of LS Mtron for the U.S. and Canada. It is his third stint as president of a North American plastics machinery company.

In this PMM Insight commentary, Editor Ron Shinn gives you his list of what the plastics industry needs for 2026, including:

• Significant improvement in the U.S. manufacturing sector.

• Training and workforce development on a national level.

• Stabilization of U.S. tariff policy.

• An overhaul of the plastics recycling system.

Take a listen and tell us what's on your wish list.

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:

• We look at new injection molding machinery introduced by Engel, Arburg and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag at K 2025.

• Netstal Americas, Arburg and Hasco all announced new top executives.

• The Plastics Industry Association has launched Positives of Plastic, a website designed to provide fact-based information about plastics for industry professionals and the general public.

PMM Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna interviews Editor Ron Shinn about the new injection molding machines he saw at the K Show. Among the points they discuss:

• The latest trends in injection molding machines.

• Most notable new features on the machines.

• The importance of artificial intelligence.

• The next big frontier for injection molding machines.