From the Publisher

FROM THE

PUBLISHER

Susan Gibson, JSJ Productions, Inc.

Statistics Predict Growth for the Plastics Industry

Statista is an online portal providing data on the global digital economy, industrial sectors, consumer markets, public opinion, media, demography, and macroeconomic trends. It uses quantitative data from 425 economic sectors in 50 countries with a range of infographic tools for analysis and visualization. In recent studies, statistics and facts, Statista reported, “The plastics industry as a whole has produced more than nine billion metric tons of plastic materials worldwide. Plastics have become a ubiquitous part of human life. The Global Plastics Market was valued at 580 billion U.S. dollars in 2020 and is expected to experience considerable growth over the next decade.”

The report indicated the annual global plastic production reached a high of 368 million metric tons in 2019, having experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) roughly 3. 5 percent from 2010. However, the plastics industry was disrupted in 2020 due the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused outputs to decrease by an estimated .3 percent compared to 2019. It also cited China as the leading producer of plastics, accounting for roughly 31 percent of global production, with North America as the second largest producer with plastic production the United States amounting to more than 56 million metric tons in 2019.

While there are thousands of different plastics, there are approximately seven broader types of plastic produced and consumed in large quantities: polyethylene (PET); high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene/styrofoam (PS), and other miscellaneous plastics. Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely produced plastic worldwide and is used to produce many products including those that are rotomolded. The second-most produced plastic is polypropylene (PP), of which more than 70 million metric tons produced in 2020.

Despite the recent backlash against plastics due to pollution concerns, mostly due to PET bottles, plastic remains a hugely important commodity that is used in virtually all aspects of modern daily life. Thus, plastic demand is set to continue growing for the foreseeable future, with production set to reach 589 million metric tons in 2050. Recently, Plastics News reported in their important annual rotational molding ranking that average sales per company was up 10 percent over 2019, and combined sales of more than $2.6 billion for 2020. 107 firms made this year’s ranking, which was up 3.5 percent

over 2019. Proprietary molding takes the largest share with $1.5 billion (60%); custom Polyethylene (PE) molding comes in at $605 million; and captive at $128 million. is the most widely produced plastic Plastics News reported consolidations within the industry accounted for fewer firms being ranked in this year’s report. worldwide and is used to produce Tank Holding Corp has acquired Duracast Products, Inc., Rotational Molding Inc., Rotational Molding Utah, and many products including those that Spin Products Inc. Myers Industries, Inc. has acquired Ameri-Kart Corp, Elkhart Plastics Inc., and Trilogy Plastics. are rotomolded. Sterling Rotomolding, and Vista Plastic Solutions Inc. each acquired some assets from Acrylon Plastics Inc. However, two new companies were added to the rotational molding ranking this year including: Agri-Plastics Custom Rotomolding of Nebraska and Vista Plastic Solutions of Manitoba. The movers and shakers for the year included: Simplay3 Co.; Stern Assembly Inc., dba Stern Rotomoulding; Jer-Den Plastics Inc.; Entegris Inc.; Rotoplast Inc.; CPI Products; Faribo Manufacturing Co.; Ken Ross Inc.; Horsemen’s Pride Inc.; and California Rotational Plastics Inc. Be sure to check out the ranking in the August 23 print edition of Plastics News and see their website for the full listings. www. plasticsnews.com/rankings/rotomolders. We are pleased to bring you some great reading in Issue 4 for 2021. Ian Hansen, well-known industry consultant, writes about a new rotomolded Cloud Seat that combines the European spirit of simplicity with the elegance of the East in a new product for outside spaces. Alvin Spence writes a remarkable update on changes within the industry over the past two years as COVID-19 placed its hold of virtually every part of the world. Ian Hansen also provides an informative look at what to be aware of when designing a chemical tank fit for purpose. I want to mention that Contributing Editor Martin Coles is providing a series of excellent information regarding the issue of reducing gas dependency (see page 30). Rob Miller is continuing to address industry members’ questions regarding Industry 4.0 (see page 54). Be sure to keep up with these important columns for up-to-date information valuable to your company’s future. Looking forward to seeing you at Rotoplas! Susan Gibson Publisher & Editor

Publisher & Editor

Susan D. Gibson President - JSJ Productions, Inc. susan@jsjproductionsinc.com

Technical Editor

Alvin Spence PhD MEng aspence@centroinc.com

Process Editor

Paul Nugent PhD MEng paul@paulnugent.com

Design Editor

Michael Paloian President - Integrated Design Systems, Inc. paloian@idsys.com

Global Contributing Editors

Celal Beysel Chairman - Floteks Plastik beysel@superonline.com

Martin Coles Matrix Polymers martin.coles@matrixpolymers.com

Adam Covington Ferry Industries acovington@ferryindustries.com

Mark Kearns Moulding Research Manager m.kearns@qub.ac.uk

Ravi Mehra Managing Director - Norstar International LLC maramehra@aol.com

Advertising and Art Production

Marketing/Advertising Director Jennifer Gibson Hebert Vice President, JSJ Productions, Inc. jennifer@jsjproductionsinc.com

Chief Art Director Anya Wilcox JSJ Productions, Inc. awilcox@designintersection.com

Circulation & Distribution Administration

Sheryl Bjorn JSJ Productions, Inc. sheryl@jsjproductionsinc.com Editing & Translations Suzanne Ketron | Oliver Wandres | Sheryl Bjorn

Website & Online Technology

Jason Cooper JSJ Productions, Inc. jason@bound.by

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