| US injection molded plastic demand will approach | | | | resin's low cost, good performance and improved |
| 16 billion pounds in 2010 based on diverse | | | | performance characteristics such as clarity and |
| applications and cost efficiency, and rebounding | | | | melt strength. Best opportunities are anticipated in |
| markets. Polypropylene will present the best | | | | packaging uses such as caps and closures, and |
| opportunities with fastest growth anticipated in | | | | housewares and personal care products. Demand |
| medical, packaging, and electrical and electronic | | | | for injection molded high density polyethylene will |
| markets. Thermoplastic resins will remain | | | | be fueled by industrial packaging opportunities such |
| dominant. | | | | as shipping pails, and totes and crates. |
| This study analyzes the 13.9 billion pound US | | | | Injection molded polystyrene demand will increase |
| injection molded plastic industry. It presents | | | | slowly due to competitive pressures from lower |
| historical data for 1995, 2000 and 2005 and | | | | cost resins such as polypropylene and high density |
| forecasts to 2010 and 2015 by resin (e.g., | | | | polyethylene. Nevertheless, polystyrene remains |
| polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, ABS | | | | one of the best materials for injection molding, |
| SAN, PVC, nylon); and by market (e.g., packaging, | | | | with good growth anticipated in electrical and |
| consumer, motor vehicles, electrical and electronic, | | | | electronic components, and consumer products. |
| medical). | | | | Best growth is expected for injection molded |
| The study also considers market environment | | | | thermoplastic polyester and polycarbonate. |
| factors, details industry structure, evaluates | | | | Measurements and analyses of the energy used |
| company market share and profiles 42 major | | | | in primary processes, ancillary services, and the |
| producers including Collins & Aikman, Delphi | | | | building envelope were included in the |
| Automotive Plastics, Lear, Berry Plastics, Visteon, | | | | assessments. Using the resulting data, IAC staff |
| and Plastech Engineered Products. | | | | were able to identify opportunities for energy |
| Injection molded plastics demand in the US is | | | | savings, waste-reduction measures, and |
| projected to grow 2.8 percent annually to almost | | | | productivity improvements for each plant. IAC |
| 16 billion pounds in 2010, valued at $14.7 billion | | | | faculty and students captured these opportunities |
| (resin content only). Resins will account for 40 | | | | in a set of recommendations made to the |
| percent of total injection molded product costs of | | | | individual companies. A broad sampling of the |
| $36.8 billion. Advances will reflect injection molding's | | | | recommendations is included in 11 case studies |
| diverse applications and cost efficiency, as well as | | | | that are intended to help other companies identify |
| rebounding markets. Resin and machinery | | | | similar opportunities for savings in their own |
| improvements will also expand applications by | | | | manufacturing operations. |
| enhancing product performance, quality and | | | | Packaging and consumer markets together |
| throughput. Thermoplastic resins will remain | | | | accounted for 64 percent of total injection |
| dominant due to processing, design and recycling | | | | molded plastic demand in 2005. Packaging markets |
| advantages over thermosets. These and other | | | | will be driven by opportunities in caps and |
| trends are presented in Injection Molded Plastics. | | | | closures, as well as industrial shipping pails, and |
| For example <a rel="nofollow" | | | | totes and crates. Consumer market growth will |
| onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' | | | | reflect needs for inexpensive, convenient, |
| outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" casting | | | | lightweight and unbreakable housewares and |
| mould,mold making,plastic injection mold </a> | | | | personal care products such as storage containers |
| etc. | | | | and razors. Threatening further advances will be |
| Polypropylene, high density polyethylene and | | | | saturation in many areas such as appliances and |
| polystyrene together accounted for 63 percent | | | | toys and recreational products, as well as |
| of all Injection molded plastics demand in 2005. | | | | continued import growth from low cost offshore |
| Injection molded polypropylene demand is | | | | producers such as China. |
| forecast to rise 3.6 percent annually based on the | | | | |