The Justice Department is taking a closer look at Patrick Industries and LCI Industries’ planned merger, issuing both companies a second request for information as part of its antitrust review.

Sealed Air is adding polyethylene foam extrusion capacity at its Madera, Calif., plant and hiring workers as demand grows from data centers, electronics, defense and other markets.

Lundell Plastics has acquired Georgia-based Poly Tech Industries, expanding its agricultural plastics business with additional UHMW wear and replacement products for farm equipment.

From a massive injection molded truck bed to more sustainable materials, this year’s SPE Automotive Innovation Awards finalists show some of the latest ways plastics are changing vehicles.

Top officials at global injection molding machinery suppliers are seeing signs of a broad recovery, with the United States emerging as a particular bright spot for equipment makers.

Solstice Advanced Materials is investing $49 million to expand its Buffalo, N.Y., research operation into a global R&D hub, including $30 million to upgrade its pilot plant for developing and scaling up new materials.

Midterm election results could have their biggest plastics policy impact in statehouses, where changes in party control could determine the future of EPR, pellet-control and chemical recycling legislation.

Following a mega merger, Borouge International has consolidated its recycling operations under one leadership structure, pursuing a diversified recycling portfolio that can compete on price today while gradually increasing production of higher-value materials.

The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a case challenging the government's designation of plastic items as "toxic" under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Niagara Bottling plans to test an enzymatic PET recycling process alongside mechanical recycling at its Vernon, Calif., plant, targeting difficult-to-recycle material for potential use in new food-grade PET.

Colombia’s plastics and rubber industry is forecasting more than 5 percent production growth in 2027 as exports rise and manufacturers invest in automation and other advanced technologies.

Falcon Plastics is saving $255,000 a year with an automated molding and assembly cell, one of several processor-developed automation and AI projects honored by MAPP.

KraussMaffei Corp. marked 60 years in the U.S. with an open house featuring a new pipe extruder, next-generation all-electric injection molding machine, and polyurethane in-mold coating.

A lawsuit against Oregon's EPR law from plastics packaging company Lollicup will remain on hold, pending a decision from a federal appeals court in a similar case.

Today we're remembering Nancy Vincent who helped found N.E.W. Plastics Corp. ahead of Women Breaking the Mold; a new name for Currier Plastics after 44 years; and a prominent newspaper explores plastic waste and pollution in the Great Lakes.

Signs of recovering demand are being driven by growing interest in energy-efficient granulation and smart monitoring technologies after a difficult year marked by postponed investments.

Today’s Kickstart looks at tariffs and their potential impact on plastics, a California lawsuit targeting the marketing of 3D-printing filament, and NASA’s unusual test of next-generation heat-shield materials.

Erema is highlighting its Volex degassing technology alongside filtration systems at Fakuma 2026

Demand from data centers, medical applications and other growth markets is giving North American plastics compounders a boost in 2026, even as volatile resin prices and uneven demand create challenges.

Research that took an unexpected turn when COVID-19 closed Michigan State's laboratories has helped produce a new ASTM standard that gives plastics companies and researchers a standardized way to evaluate how temperature affects biodegradation rates and estimated biodegradation time.

Midterm election results could have their biggest plastics policy impact in statehouses, where changes in party control could determine the future of EPR, pellet-control and chemical recycling legislation.

China is building standards and chemical recycling capacity to raise recycled plastics production from 16.8 million tonnes in 2025 to more than 19.5 million tonnes by 2030.

Following a mega merger, Borouge International has consolidated its recycling operations under one leadership structure, pursuing a diversified recycling portfolio that can compete on price today while gradually increasing production of higher-value materials.

Solstice Advanced Materials is investing $49 million to expand its Buffalo, N.Y., research operation into a global R&D hub, including $30 million to upgrade its pilot plant for developing and scaling up new materials.

Envalior and German start-up Secara are looking for automotive manufacturers to help demonstrate a closed-loop PA6 chemical recycling chain ahead of EU end-of-life vehicle mandates.

KraussMaffei sees injection molding machinery demand continuing to improve after a difficult start to 2026, although the company says the market has fundamentally changed from its pre-downturn years.

Consumer spending remains strong and stocks are hitting records, but Bill Wood says a growing number of economic indicators are moving in directions that don't make sense together — raising the risk of a noticeable disruption ahead.

Today we're remembering Nancy Vincent who helped found N.E.W. Plastics Corp. ahead of Women Breaking the Mold; a new name for Currier Plastics after 44 years; and a prominent newspaper explores plastic waste and pollution in the Great Lakes.

Signs of recovering demand are being driven by growing interest in energy-efficient granulation and smart monitoring technologies after a difficult year marked by postponed investments.

At Fakuma 2026, LyondellBasell is showcasing two automotive components developed for Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen incorporating recycled and bio-based content.

In this week’s Material Insights, Plastics News senior reporter Frank Esposito discusses the September increase of North American polyethylene resin prices.

Arburg has decided not to build injection molding machines in the United States, concluding that the wide range of equipment demanded by U.S. customers would make duplicating its German manufacturing operations impractical.

Arburg expects 2026 sales to top last year's 576 million euros as improving orders in the Americas and Asia help offset continued weakness in Germany and other parts of Europe.

Demand from data centers, medical applications and other growth markets is giving North American plastics compounders a boost in 2026, even as volatile resin prices and uneven demand create challenges.

Americhem has opened a clean compounding facility in Suzhou, China, expanding its medical materials capabilities in Asia as the company pursues a broader global growth strategy.

Fakuma begins its 30th show today, facing a challenging economy in Europe, but one that still needs new technology.

Research that took an unexpected turn when COVID-19 closed Michigan State's laboratories has helped produce a new ASTM standard that gives plastics companies and researchers a standardized way to evaluate how temperature affects biodegradation rates and estimated biodegradation time.

Envalior and German start-up Secara are looking for automotive manufacturers to help demonstrate a closed-loop PA6 chemical recycling chain ahead of EU end-of-life vehicle mandates.

China is building standards and chemical recycling capacity to raise recycled plastics production from 16.8 million tonnes in 2025 to more than 19.5 million tonnes by 2030.

Engel Austria GmbH does business around the world, but the injection molding machinery maker said improvements in the United States are helping turn the sales tide.

At Fakuma 2026, LG Chem said it expects to more than double its European engineering plastics sales by 2030, driven by robotics, AI data centres and industrial applications.

Mark Gomulka, a 25-year medical device manufacturing veteran, has been named president of molding and assembly at Freudenberg Medical, succeeding retiring president Roberto Grateron.

Countries that favor a more ambitious plastics treaty make up 20 to 40 percent of the global plastics market, which some say is enough for a demand-driven push on industries to transition.

Federal Foam Technologies has acquired HSM Solutions’ 40,000-square-foot foam fabrication plant in Hiddenite, N.C., giving the company its first manufacturing presence in the Southeast and adding 38 employees.

Plastics News - 10/12/2026

The EEOC has acknowledged that it sued the wrong Toyota Boshoku subsidiary in a sexual harassment case and is seeking to replace it with the company that operated the Tennessee plant at the center of the allegations.

At Fakuma 2026, LyondellBasell is showcasing two automotive components developed for Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen incorporating recycled and bio-based content.

In this week’s Material Insights, Plastics News senior reporter Frank Esposito discusses the September increase of North American polyethylene resin prices.