hen I was asked to serve as IAPD president, someone noted that I would be only the third manufacturer in the association’s history to hold this role. The first was Pat Foose, previously of Harvel Plastics (now with GEHR Plastics USA), a long time ago, back when connecting to the internet still made a distinctive dial-up sound. That detail stuck with me, not because it makes me feel special, but because it highlights an opportunity.

Manufacturers have long been part of IAPD’s backbone. We help fund the association and its convention, fuel the distribution channel and bring products, innovation and capabilities that strengthen the entire performance plastics supply chain. Yet for years, many manufacturers have stood politely at the edge of the room, unsure whether we are equals or simply vendors.

or more than a decade, IAPD’s Women in Plastics program has been a powerful source of community and inspiration for women across the performance plastics industry. We built something special together: connection, confidence and a place where women felt supported. But in today’s competitive talent market, connection alone is not enough. Our companies need leaders who can think strategically, influence effectively and help their organizations navigate a changing business landscape.

That is why, in 2026, Women in Plastics is evolving into something far more impactful. It is becoming a start-to-finish leadership development program designed exclusively for women in our industry.

xtruflex’s Standard Clear flexible PVC offers excellent transparency while providing effective thermal and sound insulation in industrial settings. It is most commonly used for PVC strip curtains, swing doors or high-speed roll-up doors, allowing free movement of pedestrians and vehicles through openings. The material resists impact and surface scratching, ensuring long service life in high-traffic areas. Standard Clear PVC is easy to clean, simple to install and built for reliable daily performance.

• High transparency and clarity
• Thermal and sound insulation
• Impact and scratch resistance
• Recyclable, non-phthalate PVC

Discover how standard clear PVC maintains consistent insulation and efficient traffic flow in industrial facilities: extruflex.com/product/clear-pvc

tep into any transportation interior, such as an aircraft cabin or rail car, and notice what catches your eye first. Chances are, it is color. But color is not just a visual choice. It is an emotional, strategic and functional decision that shapes the passenger experience.

For designers, color goes beyond aesthetics. It influences how passengers feel, reinforces brand identity and can transform confined spaces into welcoming environments. In transportation interiors, color guides travelers through their journey and positively affects their perception.

reenhushing, also known as brownwashing or greenblushing is the intentional practice of withholding communication or under-reporting an organization’s corporate sustainability or environmental initiatives. It’s often viewed as a knee-jerk response to greenwashing, in which companies fabricate or exaggerate environmental claims. Greenhushing occurs when organizations have policies and procedures in place to support sustainability yet choose not to disclose them publicly. It can happen for a number of reasons. In the U.S., for example, public companies can be sued for violating their obligation to increase shareholder profits, so firms may stay silent about their environmental efforts to avoid costly litigation.

s composite tooling evolves, so do expectations around size, complexity and performance. Fabricators are being asked to deliver larger molds and layup tools that offer structural strength, dimensional accuracy and a smooth, consistent finish, all under tighter deadlines and cost constraints. To meet these growing demands, more manufacturers are turning to hybrid workflows that combine large-format additive manufacturing with traditional machining.

Instead of treating these technologies as separate steps, they are being integrated into a single, more efficient process. This approach, often called near-net-shape manufacturing, is ideal for composite tools where most of the volume provides structure and only certain surfaces need to be machined with high precision.

n the fabrication world, the shift from hand methods to automated CNC routing represents more than a change in tooling. It marks a transformation in how goods are produced, with critical implications for efficiency, quality and profitability. As market pressures mount for shorter lead times and flawless execution, distributors and fabricators alike are evaluating how automation technology can augment or replace traditional practices.

This article compares hand fabrication techniques with CNC routing automation, highlighting where each excels and why many progressive shops are investing in routers like those built by Hendrick Manufacturing.

ust collection is often viewed as a secondary system in plastics manufacturing, something that supports production but rarely commands attention until problems arise. In reality, effective dust collection plays a critical role in protecting workers, maintaining regulatory compliance, managing combustible dust risks and sustaining productivity across plastic machining operations.

Plastic dust is generated during cutting, routing, trimming, grinding, sawing and finishing processes. While these particles may appear benign compared to metal or wood dust, they present a unique set of challenges. Fine particulate exposure can impact respiratory health, and accumulated dust can create combustible hazards and increase maintenance costs.

hermoplastic materials have proven immensely beneficial for a vast array of industries. For many products and structures, custom fabrication is required to achieve the desired shape and dimensions of the final product. Fabricators in this field often use welding or fusion technologies to accomplish the task. Regardless of the fusion process used, key practices ensure a high-quality fusion, while common pitfalls can result in defects or failure of the finished product.

Welding of thermoplastic materials depends on three primary parameters: heat, time (or speed) and pressure. Using proper temperature, time and pressure, and having the ability to control these parameters, is critical to ensuring a high-quality weld. Failure to use the correct values or to control these parameters — whether through lack of knowledge, experience or improper technique — is likely to result in commonly seen welding defects.

Vortex Tool Company, Inc. designs and manufactures a wide variety of standard and custom high-performance router and insert cutting tools for the woodworking and plastics industries, and provides retipping and sharpening services for all makes and models. www.vortextool.com, phone (800) 355-7708.