Orlando-Bioplastics supplier NatureWorks LLC (Minnetonka, MN) is partnering with outside firms to augment reclaim and recycling of its material in the U.S. and Europe, saying the partner businesses will offer a competitive price for post-consumer polylactic acid (PLA) scrap, according to president and CEO Marc Verbruggen.

During an earnings call on Wednesday, March 10, executives of bioplastics developer Metabolix said their joint venture with Archer Daniels Midland remains on track to start commercial supply in the coming weeks and expects to develop food contact-suitable grades this year. Telles, the joint-venture company, produces the Mirel brand of biodegradable plastic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

Corr Plastik Industrial Ltda. has jumped into the top three in the Brazil's PVC pipe processing industry following its recent purchase and installation of five new extrusion lines at a new, 60,0000m² site near Maceió in the northeast of the country.

Based on a combination of the range of services offered, support of the customer's business model, perceptible advantages as a supplier, and a solid on-time delivery rate, Rockwell Automation selected TecStar Mfg. Co., a business unit of MGS Mfg. Group to receive its Supplier of the Year award.

"TecStar's technical capabilties and global footprint provide Rockwell Automation with a strategic partner who offers a competitive supply chain advantage", says Matthew Sprader, Strategic Sourcing Commodity Manager for Rockwell. 

For the record, the downturn that slammed the plastics industry starting in about mid-2008 and proceeding through mid-2009 was the first period since 1950 when the plastics industry saw a dramatic drop in consumption of resin globally. Until then, average annual demand growth had been 9%/year, according to figures presented yesterday by officials working for PlasticsEurope, the trade group representing Europe's plastics suppliers.

A patent recently granted to robotic tooling supplier SAS Automation (Xenia, OH) recognizes the technical achievement of its robotic EOAT, which can be programmed to automatically relocate four separate component holders within the robot's cycle with the same EOAT. What the EOAT gives the user is increased productivity and lower costs.

The global sales and distribution network of DME Co. has been joined with the hot runner, processing, and analytical technology of Plastic Engineering & Technical Services Inc. in a strategic alliance aimed at improved sourcing for molders and moldmakers worldwide. First targets: new solutions for medical and high-volume consumer applications.

A recycling robot that uses sensors to detect five different wavelengths of laser beam light reflected from plastic materials, and will automatically sort six different polymer types, currently is being tested in Osaka, Japan.

The photonics sensing technology has been developed by the Idec Co. (Japan) and the Photonics Advanced Research Center (PARC) at the University of Osaka. Optical and robot technologies are supplied by Mitsubishi Electric Engineering Co. (MEE).

Blowmolders seeking cost savings through reduced material usage in large containers might want to consider the latest coextrusion blowmolding machines from Fong Kee International Machinery Co. (Tainan).

Research on electro-activated polymers that began at Stanford University, and was further developed at a company called Artificial Muscle Inc., has now been acquired by Bayer MaterialScience. The acquisition of the company, its patents, and its patent applications is the latest purchase by the massive plastics and chemicals supplier to focus on plastic film's surface haptics and appearance.