Plastics industry continued growth

The mature plastics industry is a worldwide, multibillion-dollar industry in which a steady flow of new or improved plastic materials, new or improved production processes, and new or improved market demands has caused rapid and tremendous growth in the use of plastics. For over a century the World of Plastics product production, with over a billion products, continues to expand enormously with the passing of time. Manufacturers are introducing new products in record time. The ability to shrink time-to-market schedules continues to evolve through the more knowledgeable application and behavior or familiarity of the different plastic ma-... 

TP he automobile industry has become a significant contributor to the tremendous growth of the plastics industry in the past five years. In 1965 there was approximately 30 pounds of plastic per automobile. In 1969 there is approximately 85 pounds of plastic per automobile. The total plastic consumption by the automotive industry is expected to continue this phenomenal growth through at least the next ten years. 

The world biodegradable plastics industry has agreed a set of standards and certification procedures for biodegradable packaging materials, which will continue to encourage growth and possibly deter imitation. 

Some of the important challenges to marketing as we approach the Seventies are quite clear and bear directly on the question of whether the plastics industry will continue to be a vigorous, healthy growth industry or whether it may begin to mature—or perhaps pre-mature would be... 

Decade, it is not difficult to foresee an even more incredible growth for the plastics industry—The Golden Decade will spill over its dynamic surge into the Soaring 70 s. An industry whose growth rate of 13 to 15% per year will continue into the 70 s, (compared with all other industry of 4-5% a year), presents a formidable challenge to the plastics sales organization. It will demand flexibility in sales policies and procedures and it will, of necessity, require a specialization that we have talked about but hesitated to do much about. 

Historically, the price trends of all plastics have been downward—a tribute to the industry s technological and market development advances. However, the plastics industry cannot long survive if it cannot sell its products at a fair price for a reasonable profit. If it is to continue its advancement in the 70 s at the 13-15% growth rate and offer new and improved products to its customers (it is estimated that in the late 70 s, perhaps 50% of the products to be sold are unknown today or not available in large quantities), a proper return on investment must be maintained. 

The engineering thermoplastics should reach 2,000 million lb in sales by 1988 and will provide an important part of the economic growth of the plastic industry because they are able to compete with metals better than the commodity plastics. Growth and profitability for engineering plastics will continue to be above that of the commodity plastics despite increasing entries. 

A good example of the continued growth of plastics is in the automotive industry, which in 1958 used 18 pounds of plastics per car, for a total consumption of 100,000,000 pounds, according to Automotive Industries. In 1965 the composite car will use an estimated 32 to 35 pounds of plastics for an estimated total consumption of 200,000,000 pounds. This estimate is based on the production of from 7,500,000 to 8,000,000 cars. 

The list of accepted applications could continue endlessly covering products used for all industries and people of all ages. Each product contributes to the worldwide plastic industry s technical growth. Information on production of products is reviewed throughout this book. 

From the initial development of all typ>es of plastics and particularly since the last half of the 20th century one can say it was extremely spectacular based on its growth rate but more important on how they have helped people and industries worldwide. The plastic industry (includes RPs consuming about 20 wt%) is a worldwide multi-billion dollar business (Figures 10.1 and 10.2). Exciting discoveries and inventions continue to give the world of plastic products vitality. In a society that never stands still, plastics are vital components in its increased mobility. 

Polyester is one of the earliest types of thermoset and is widely used in FRP composites, where its thermosetting properties are very valuable. Between 2000 and 2008, polyester manufacture in Europe increased rapidly, with a 4—5% annual gain. Owing to the economic crisis, the whole plastics processing sector faced a drop in both net income and industrial use however, the polyester sector has nevertheless managed to achieve continual growth in recent years. 

It will not be easy to find a simple, rapid solution to all such problems without involving the participation and efficiencies of the plastics industry. The present problems, as well as ones that can be expected in the future, will not reduce the high innovation potential of plastics, and the growth market can be expected to expand continually. The reason for this optimism is the past history and ability of plastics to produce a new generation of materials to meet new requirements. When the market is ready, plastics could become the world s most fire-resistant material (which is not typical today), the strongest material in the world, and other factors highlighted throughout this book. 

The growth of the polymers and plastics industries has meant that a major fraction of the workforce in developed countries is either directly or indirectly employed by plastic-related jobs. As more stable and less costly plastics are developed, more applications are found and growth continues. Because polymers and plastics are based on petroleum and since petroleum is a limited resoiffce, it is essential that continued efforts be made to recycle our plastic wastes—something that is slowly being realized. 

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