You don’t have to ask anyone – how was 2009? It was a tough year all around. And even earlier this year, economic reports were confusing.
But finally, we’re seeing a steadier uptick, including in the polyurethane market. Below are several industry highlights:
U.S. Manufacturing Executives
In a recent survey conducted by KMPG International, U.S. executives were optimistic about their business prospects over the next 12 months. 71% believed that the recovery will continue into the next year and business activity, revenues and profits will be higher.
Conveyor Belt
Recovering from a 22.7% decline in shipments in 2009, the conveyor belt industry has started 2010 with confidence. Booked orders increased 15% from January to February. Executive member annual meeting attendees of the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturing Association cautiously predict a 2% increase in 2010 shipments.
Automotive
Sharp sales increases across the automotive sector show a recovering industry. Industry giants, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai all experienced sales gains in March. Ford showed the most impressive growth with the best monthly sales increase (43%) in over 25 years. Positive gains among top automotive manufacturers will continue to trickle down to parts and component manufacturers.
For those doing business in these industries, it’s certainly a good time to boost your sales efforts and reconnect with customers.
Got an idea? A story to share? Let us know by emailing Rachel Jennings at rjennings@insideSH.com.
Positive News for Polyurethane Manufacturers
Resources and Research Help Product Innovations
Plastics changed the material game. In what once was a predominately metal and ceramic product driven world, plastic, for nearly 60 years, has grown in popularity at an unparalleled rate in comparison to most materials. Extensive research and a desire to continuously improve has pushed plastics and more specifically cast polyurethane to where it stands today as one of the most utilized materials in the world.
Rising out from its plastic family, the future direction of cast polyurethane is limitless, but constant research is inevitably vital to its growth as the material pushes its traditional barriers to replacing stainless steel and someday into high heat applications like automotive engines.
As urethane processors, the heavy weight of innovation comes to bear on you. But there are resources that can help take the load off from material analysis labs to research institutes and higher education.
These resources can help pinpoint the right material to prevent product failure or even tell you, more importantly, why your last product failed. For most processors, product failure is most commonly associated with human error in material selection/substitution, design, processing and in the mis-use of the product.
With hundreds of material combinations and grade modifications, it’s nearly impossible for a designer to be up on the latest materials. Early collaboration with experts ensure consistent quality, product reliability and in some cases cost savings from shorter production or less expensive materials. Plus designing to stringent quality restrictions and standards has become a critical reality in processing with an increase in product liability claims, environmental concerns and quality and approved supplier certification. There just isn’t room for a “break”.
It’s a thin line between perfect material selection and optimum performance and product failure. For plastic processors, it’s absolutely essential that they understand a materials’ fundamental nature, limitations and know there are experts who can help. Perhaps you don’t have the capital to internally house an expert or your expert doesn’t have time due to other obligations, but that’s no reason to take a risk in a product or worse not to innovate. An investment in research is well spent – look how it’s turned out for the industry already.
If you have any suggestions to additional benefits that the PMA does not currently offer and would like to see it added to your membership, please leave a comment or send your idea to rjennings@insideSH.com.