This is the official publication of the International Association of Plastics Distrib­u­tion and carries news and announcements concerning the IAPD. The association and Performance Plastics: A Publication of The International Association of Plastics Distribution are not responsible for content or opinions other than those relating to association activities.

^® Registered, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by the International Association of Plastics Distribution. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in any form whatsoever is forbidden without express permission of registered trademark owner.

Performance Plastics: A Publication of The International Association of Plastics Distribution is printed on paper with 10 percent post-consumer recycled content.

IAPD • phone (913) 345-1005 • fax (913) 345-1006 • www.iapd.org

The global COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated the widespread deployment of the first generation of transparent safety shields. Schools, retailers and restaurants have been looking for the next-generation of performance plastic that would offer additional benefits for safety shield installations by providing an additional line of defense between cleanings.

“The deployment of safety shields is an important part of reopening plans for businesses, schools and institutions,” said Dr. Ted Trautman, technology director for PLASKOLITE. “AMGARD protects the sheet against the growth of microorganisms such as mold and mildew. AMGARD delivers the dual benefit of a physical barrier and an antimicrobial technology designed to protect the plastic’s surface.”

Experienced in set and prop building for theatrical, television and film productions as well as furniture-making, Jones had used SINTRA for many years to create signage. “I wanted to find a material that would create the illusion of an I-beam but would be lightweight,” said Jones. “I had used SINTRA for display work. It’s flat, clean and perfect for applying vinyl graphics; plus, it can be drilled easily. It’s consistent in color and density.”

urbell Plastics, Inc. recently shipped more than a dozen rolls of heavy transfer paper with child-friendly patterns to The Higgy Bears Foundation, the charitable division of Higgy Bears. Higgy Bears helps children with scoliosis adapt to their orthotics by producing special stuffed animals with mini scoliosis braces. The nonprofit Higgy Bears Foundation is dedicated to getting Higgy Bears to Children’s Hospitals throughout the United States.

Lauren Higginson, founder of Higgy Bears, reached out to Curbell Plastics, Inc., inquiring if Curbell O&P would be interested in donating transfer paper to the new nonprofit division of her company. She would cover all shipping costs, and could even take sheets as small as 8.5″ x 11″. Those were unusually small dimensions, as transfer paper is most often used for ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) and body jacket/scoliosis braces (TLSO). Due to the amount of material it takes to wrap those braces, transfer paper is typically sold in rolls 39 inches wide and in lengths up to 30 feet long. But Higginson wasn’t using the transfer paper for people; it would be used for teddy bears.

A scoliosis patient herself, Higginson was diagnosed at the age of 13 and deemed permanently disabled before the age of 30. She wanted to help others with scoliosis not feel so alone with their diagnosis. She especially didn’t want children to feel as lonely as she did while they experience the challenges of living with scoliosis. She founded Higgy Bears to give children a companion who also had an orthosis, and has since created more than 5,000 braces for dolls and stuffed animals to match a child’s brace. The commercial success of Higgy Bears has enabled Higginson to expand her business into the charity she hoped it to be.

uckland, New Zealand is experiencing its worst drought in 25 years. With only half of the typical rainfall and a dry six months in the forecast, officials enacted tough water restrictions in June 2020. In the midst of this crisis, a bottling company came to IAPD distributor member Supply Services Ltd. with a problem: They were consuming 360,000 liters of water (approximately 95,000 gallons) per year lubricating the OEM bushes and lifting rollers in just one of their bottle filling machines. Under pressure from the local council to cut their water consumption, and additional penalties for exceeding their water allocation, this customer was looking for a simple solution to cut their water consumption drastically.

Mark Brown, Supply Services Ltd.’s technical manager of performance plastics, realized that this customer could reduce their water consumption with the implementation of high performance engineering plastics and composite materials. The high performance plastics would let this customer remove the use of water from this operation and become completely dry running.

Two high performance materials were required to achieve the dry running of this bottling line: Ensinger TECAPET TF for the lifting cam rollers and TriStar Composite Journal (CJ’s) Bearings for the linear guide bushes. The team designed the finished parts, which were then CNC machined ready for installation at the customer’s site.

Second quarter shipments of primary plastics machinery (injection molding and extrusion) in North America increased, according to statistics compiled and reported by the Plastics Industry Association’s Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES). The preliminary estimate of shipments value from reporting companies totaled US$263.4 million, a 4 percent increase over the first quarter of 2020, when shipments decreased 19.8 percent from the previous quarter. The percentage decrease in the first quarter of this year was 10.7 percent lower than during the same period last year.

The value of shipments of single- and twin-screw extruders fell 35.8 percent and 30.1 percent, respectively, in the second quarter. Shipments of injection molding equipment were up 11.4 percent from the first quarter, but down 8.5 percent from the second quarter of last year. “Although primary plastics machinery shipments are still lower than the previous quarters, the second quarter uptick is consistent with gradual improvement in the U.S. economy,” according to PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda, PhD.

StaySafe

orkplace safety is about prevention. Assessing the workplace for hazards and putting barriers in place to prevent incidents from occurring are an essential function and responsibility for any business. It is not only the law but a benefit as well. By doing so we reduce risk and costs to the organization as well as the employees. Unfortunately, there are no sure things in life and accidents will happen. When they do, preparation is key.

Injuries do not happen often but when they do, excitement and even panic can take over. For businesses that do not have on-staff medical professionals, knowing what to do and responding effectively is critical. It can reduce the severity of the injury and prevent others from being injured. Organizations should create a plan that includes:

uring every election cycle, the candidates all talk about how historic and impactful this election will be on the future of the United States. That argument may never be more true than this year’s election. The 2020 election will not only determine who is in charge of our country, but also the basics of how government will run.

The good news is that, ever since its inception, the IAPD Government Relations strategy has always had a bipartisan focus. It is designed to build a firewall of bipartisan support to defend the industry against detractors while developing allies who understand the value of performance plastics. If you have not participated in one of IAPD’s Legislative Fly-Ins in Washington, D.C., or a virtual fly-in Zoom meeting with Members of Congress, we urge you to do so. It’s your opportunity to witness first-hand the value of engaging in this important initiative.