What you’ll learn on this PMM Insight podcast episode, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn:   - The new tax and spending law reinstates 100 percent deduction of the cost of capital equipment purchases in the year the purchase is made and accelerates deductions for manufacturing buildings. - Research and experimental or development costs can now be deducted in the year the costs were incurred. - A tax expert said the new law creates compelling economics for domestic facility expansion and modernization.

These are the stories covered in today’s Machinery Minutes podcast:  - Plastics processors say they have plenty of unused capacity immediately available if manufacturing picks up.  - Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. has acquired Addex, Inc., a supplier of blown film extrusion equipment.   - Kautex is relaunching its KEB series of extrusion blow molding machines, which debuted in 1968.

Here are the stories covered in this week’s Machinery Minutes podcast: - Mold making in the U.S. is an up-and-down business. Mold shops are expanding services, consolidating operations and embracing automation and smart manufacturing. - Canadian based Nova Chemicals has opened a linear low-density polyethylene mechanical recycling plant in Connersville, Ind. The company hopes to prove the consistency and viability of mechanical film recycling. - Denso has upgraded its control system so it can operate two, four-axis SCARA robot arms from a single control unit. The company said the unit is well suited for assembly or when robot operations are needed in a cramped space.

These are the stories covered in today’s Machinery Minutes podcast:  1. Yaskawa America plans to build a state-of-the-art robotic manufacturing facility at its Franklin, Wis., campus. This marks the first time Yaskawa’s high-volume industrial robots will be manufactured on U.S. soil.   2. R&B Plastics Machinery specializes in building blow molding machines and extruders that are more customized for the customers’ needs than many bigger machinery makers and willing to tackle. It has proved to be a successful niche for the Saline, Mich., manufacturer.  3. Static electricity can be a big problem in some manufacturing operations, so Exair has introduced a hand-held measurement device to pinpoint the highest-voltage areas in a facility.

On this episode of PMM Insight, with Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Reporter Karen Hanna: - Mold makers continue to face tough competition from foreign competitors and are seeing higher costs due to tariffs.   - New technologies such as sophisticated design software, additive manufacturing and robots and other automation help mold makers stay competitive.  - Artificial intelligence is the latest technology mold makers are learning to use.

On this episode of Machinery Minutes:  Mold makers are taking on intricate projects requiring precision that was unattainable just a few years ago, and they are employing a variety of new manufacturing tools to get the job done.  LS Mtron employed retractable tie bars to help Stanford Manufacturing fit two large presses under a low roof.  M&J Recycling has added a system to capture and reuse energy during shaft reversals to its P250e pre-shredder.

On this episode of Machinery Minutes:   - Meet Geoff Foster of injection molding company Core Technology, whose non-profit provides free STEM camps for middle schoolers.  - Additive manufacturing technology maker Stratasys has acquired “a collection of assets” from Nexa3D, which shut down in December.   - Shini USA introduced three new film pelletizers designed for precise cutting and uniform pellet size.

What you’ll learn on this PMM Insight podcast episode, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn:   - We are in an era of manufacturing transition, from huge numbers of lunchpail-toting workers streaming out of the factory gate at the end of their shift to an era of fewer workers making more goods.   - What will it take to succeed in the new era? Embracing Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing; following sustainable practices; using additive manufacturing; and improving human-machine collaboration.  - Technology can help improve productivity, but manufacturers must invest in their workers.

What you’ll learn on this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast:  - As the national conversation on manufacturing expansion and reshoring continues, we want to know: Do you have excess capacity available to take on new business right away?  - Learn about the advantages of joining the PLASTICS Committee on Equipment Statistics.  - Dri-Air has added two new models to the low-throughput MD dryer series that debuted at NPE2024.

In this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast: - Hoffer Plastics and Rocheleau Tool & Die, both third-generation family-owned plastics businesses, are thriving and remain committed to staying independent and honoring their heritage. - The historic HPM brand, known for injection molding machines, has been officially retired by Yizumi, the Chinese firm that acquired its assets in 2011. - Blow molding machinery maker Bekum America Corp. has nine new apprentices in its four-year training program — the largest class since the program began in 1994.

What you’ll learn in this PMM Insight podcast, with Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna:    - Merger and acquisition activity in the plastics industry is slow, but private equity companies are still buying.  - The first step in selling a business might not be the one you expect.  - A buyer’s commitment to employees frequently plays a big part in a seller’s decision.

What you’ll learn on this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast: - Managing mergers and acquisitions: Whether you’re buying, selling or keeping your business in the family, we spoke with experts who have tips to ensure the best outcome for all stakeholders.  - Yaskawa America announces expansion: With a $180 million investment, the company will consolidate Illinois and Wisconsin operations in Franklin, Wis., and move its Drives & Motion division headquarters there.  - Kistler system for injection molding: AkvisIO IME 7.0 manages and analyzes data to help processors become more efficient and improve part quality.

On this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast: - Shipments of injection molding and extrusion machinery in North America fell 17.5 percent in the first quarter from the previous quarter and 4.6 percent year over year, according to the Plastics Industry Association’s Committee on Equipment Statistics. What’s weighing on the market? - Learn how Wittmann’s space-saving Insider Package machine cells helped ITW Deltar Fasteners make the most of its limited floor space. - A Chinese cobot manufacturer, Fairino, has entered the North American market this year and is having some success selling to plastics processors.

What you’ll learn on this PMM Insight podcast episode, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn:  - The Plastics Industry Association and National Association of Manufacturers support the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” now being debated in the U.S. Senate.  - The challenge for the plastics industry is to influence the Senate to keep the good provisions of the tax bill while tinkering with the rest.  - Can the U.S maintain world leadership in manufacturing? That question is yet to be answered.

Learn about three top stories of the week: - As the U.S. Senate debates President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” we look at what it could mean for plastics processors. - Henning Stieglitz, CEO and CTO of the German company that manufactures Battenfeld Cincinnati extrusion machines, talked with the VDMA about sustainability, artificial intelligence, post-consumer material and problems with the circular economy.  - Universal Robots has launched the UR15 collaborative robot, promising high performance and greater speeds.

Key points from this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast: Corporate sustainability goals are colliding with the reality of a political climate dominated by news of cuts and regulatory backlash, but work on recycling is moving ahead at the state and company level because it makes business sense.  Pete Sullivan, a long-time publisher of trade magazines for the plastics industry, and a member of PMM’s founding team, passed away last week at age 81.  Epson unveiled the new GX-C series of SCARA robots it describes as its high-performance flagship line.

On this episode of Machinery Minutes: - Bekum America builds application-specific extrusion blow molding equipment and prides itself on customer support, especially to new blow molders. Take a look behind the scenes.  - The SPE Thermoforming Division presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Greg McCunn, staff engineer for materials at John Deere, at its recent conference.  - Learn about Wittmann’s latest granulator, the S-Max Dual 8.

Key points from this PMM Insight podcast, with Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna:   - Leaders can put their heads down and cope with a crisis, but to successfully deal with change they have to keep their heads up, take a deep breath and make decisions that gets them to their goal.  - Lean manufacturing plays an important role in dealing with chaotic times.  - Believe it or not, there are new opportunities for processors despite the uncertainty. You just have to know how to look.

Key points from this episode:  - Digital transformation holds the key to making better decisions about your customers’ needs, machine maintenance, supply chain trends and more.   - A top leadership consultant discusses how to cope with fear, volatile markets, global instability and waves of tariff announcements and suspensions.  - PTi has upgraded and rebranded its twin-screw dryerless sheet extruder formerly known as the HVTSE.

Key points from this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast: - A survey of PMM readers found processors and equipment suppliers are unhappy and are at a loss as to how to deal with the constantly changing tariff landscape. Orders are slowing down and processors are postponing equipment purchases. Read the summary story or listen to our podcast commentary.  - It may seem like chaos in the business world, but you still have to pull up your big-boy pants and manage through it. We can help, with our story about dealing with chaos and even finding new opportunities.  - Progressive Components’ Spring Cups are our new product of the week, enabling safer and faster installation of spring-loaded ejector systems in molds.