ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Strong gains posted in 2014 / Global market worth more than USD 4 bn / Latest “Wohlers Report”

GERMAN PLASTICS PROCESSING

Sales hit new high in 2014 / Record number of employees / Widespread confidence for 2015 / GKV president still sees big challenges in energy policy and lack of trained personnel

US PLASTIC FILM

Demand to reach almost 7m t in 2018 / LLDPE remains largest volume resin / Above average growth expected for PP film / Freedonia study

COMPOSITES RESEARCH

US sets up USD 260m IACMI composites research institute in Tennessee

EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY CHINA

Sustainability to the fore in machinery advances / Optimisation of screws and barrels / Plasticising alternatives

GERMAN PLASTICS PROCESSING

Weak August dampens Q3 results / Sector nevertheless expected to grow in 2014 / Many businesses still operate at high output rates / Improvement in September

EPS

UK manufacturers adopt “airpop” brand name / Announcement by British Plastic Federation's EPS Group

EPS

German insulation producers suspected of cartel agreement / IVH federation offices searched

RUSSIA

Packaging market worth USD 15 bn / Local plastic packaging plants operate at reduced rates / Food packaging drives demand / Domestic BOPP output to be exported from 2016 onwards / gtai report

GERMAN PLASTICS PROCESSING

Solid growth in H1 2014 / Mild winter shifts construction season / Packaging and consumer goods remain stable / Technical parts producers report good business

THERMOFORMED PRODUCTS

Global market predicted to grow by 4.3% per year to 2019 / Electronic packaging is fastest-growing segment / BCC Research report

BOPA FILMS

Global market growth driven by rising demand for simultaneous stretching technology

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

European market growth slows to 1.3% in 2013 / Large national differences in value and volume demand / Germany leads the segment / Share of private equity-controlled companies rising / PCI Films report

GLOBAL SLEEVE LABEL MARKET

Consumption to rise by 5.6% annually to 2019 / Heat shrink sleeve label format dominates / Smithers Pira study

PVC PROFILES

Polish, Russian and Ukrainian profiles industry under pressure / Market predicted to decline by 2.7% per year to 2017 / Interconnection report

BOPP FILM MARKET

Global demand expected to grow by 5-6% per year / Shift in balance of power to China, India and the Middle East / AMI study

GERMAN PLASTICS PROCESSING

GKV industry association sees increasingly dynamic sales growth / Sector posts record revenues in 2013 / Improved profitability / Twin challenges of renewable energy laws and lack of skilled staff

SPECIALITY FILMS

Global market to grow by 6.4% per year to 2019 / Strong demand from flexible packaging and construction sectors / TM Research study

EPS MARKET

Polish industry association sues two processors over poor quality / Additional lawsuits in the making

WIND ENERGY

European market slows in 2013 / Southern Europe and France as main obstacles to growth / Weak demand for composites and reinforcements