Analysis US Injection Molded Plastic Industry

US injection molded plastic demand will approach 16 billion pounds in 2010 based on diverse applications and cost efficiency, and rebounding markets. Polypropylene will present the best opportunities with fastest growth anticipated in medical, packaging, and electrical and electronic markets. Thermoplastic resins will remain dominant.

This study analyzes the 13.9 billion pound US injection molded plastic industry. It presents historical data for 1995, 2000 and 2005 and forecasts to 2010 and 2015 by resin (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, ABS/SAN, PVC, nylon); and by market (e.g., packaging, consumer, motor vehicles, electrical and electronic, medical).

The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 42 major producers including Collins & Aikman, Delphi Automotive Plastics, Lear, Berry Plastics, Visteon, and Plastech Engineered Products.

Injection molded plastics demand in the US is projected to grow 2.8 percent annually to almost 16 billion pounds in 2010, valued at $14.7 billion (resin content only). Resins will account for 40 percent of total injection molded product costs of $36.8 billion. Advances will reflect injection molding’s diverse applications and cost efficiency, as well as rebounding markets. Resin and machinery improvements will also expand applications by enhancing product performance, quality and throughput. Thermoplastic resins will remain dominant due to processing, design and recycling advantages over thermosets. These and other trends are presented in Injection Molded Plastics. For example <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’, ‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’]);” href=”http://www.cikmold.com”> casting mould,mold making,plastic injection mold </a> etc.

Polypropylene, high density polyethylene and polystyrene together accounted for 63 percent of all Injection molded plastics demand in 2005. Injection molded polypropylene demand is forecast to rise 3.6 percent annually based on the resin’s low cost, good performance and improved performance characteristics such as clarity and melt strength. Best opportunities are anticipated in packaging uses such as caps and closures, and housewares and personal care products. Demand for injection molded high density polyethylene will be fueled by industrial packaging opportunities such as shipping pails, and totes and crates.

Injection molded polystyrene demand will increase slowly due to competitive pressures from lower cost resins such as polypropylene and high density polyethylene. Nevertheless, polystyrene remains one of the best materials for injection molding, with good growth anticipated in electrical and electronic components, and consumer products. Best growth is expected for injection molded thermoplastic polyester and polycarbonate.

Measurements and analyses of the energy used in primary processes, ancillary services, and the building envelope were included in the assessments. Using the resulting data, IAC staff were able to identify opportunities for energy savings, waste-reduction measures, and productivity improvements for each plant. IAC faculty and students captured these opportunities in a set of recommendations made to the individual companies. A broad sampling of the recommendations is included in 11 case studies that are intended to help other companies identify similar opportunities for savings in their own manufacturing operations.

Packaging and consumer markets together accounted for 64 percent of total injection molded plastic demand in 2005. Packaging markets will be driven by opportunities in caps and closures, as well as industrial shipping pails, and totes and crates. Consumer market growth will reflect needs for inexpensive, convenient, lightweight and unbreakable housewares and personal care products such as storage containers and razors. Threatening further advances will be saturation in many areas such as appliances and toys and recreational products, as well as continued import growth from low cost offshore producers such as China.

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