Fourth Quarter
The 4th quarter is underway as the economy continues to flirt with recession. While the Fed is trying, a little late, to cool inflation, every household, every business is wrestling with higher prices across the board. The outlook is optimistic however, as costs begin to moderate and the supply chain lags and shortages begin to lessen. The plastics industry has faced many historic challenges but continues to thrive, due in large part the diverse markets it serves. Many of the products in this issue can help your business explore new opportunities.

We kick off with an interesting feature on Environmental Stress Cracking, written by Timothy Buchanan, Technical Service Engineer, Curbell Plastics, Inc. Buchanan illustrates that environmental stress cracking (ESC) is one of the most common failure modes for plastic parts. He discusses what it is and how to avoid it.

Next, we spotlight some versatile High Performance Plastics. When you have demanding applications, these materials provide options for challenging environments, from when high strength or high service temperatures are required, to high chemical resistance, or high impact. High performance plastics can be found everywhere from outdoor kitchens to bio-medical devices. See what’s new to meet your customer’s high-performance requirements.

Then turn to our Thermoforming Spotlight for a variety of new and used equipment and products that will help you form, trim, and dispose of scrap more efficiently.

Finally, in Safety Solutions, Jack Podojil addresses “OSHA’s 2021 Top 10 Frequently Cited Standards”. “OSHA’s 2021 Top 10 Frequently Cited Standards”. What’s interesting is that while several standards have swapped positions, the list did not see any new entries. It also marks the eleventh successive fiscal year that Fall Protection has topped the list.

Looking ahead, our 2023 Editorial Calendar can be found here. Our goal is to provide you with the news, new products, and information you need to stay current and competitive. We would love to hear from you. Let us know if there are topics you would like us to explore. Jack also welcomes your input regarding topics for Safety Solutions and is available for consultation with PD&F subscribers to address your specific safety needs.

To find additional opportunities to help your company finish strong this year, search our extensive on-line article archive, and our 2022 Buyer’s Guide at www.plasticsmag.com. You can also manage your subscription, and contact our advertisers.

Please stay well and enjoy the issue,

November/December 2022

• Signs & P.O.P.
• Welding