Letter from the Editor

This issue brings you our Fourth Annual Buyer's Guide and the biggest yet! Looking back over the past four-years we have seen many changes in our industry some of which are reflected here. From mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations, to the slow economy we have been weathering the last twelve-months, it is sometimes challenging to survive in our new global economy. The Internet offers many resources and continued growth and expansion is inevitable. With this issue, we offer you a directory of 150 leading manufacturers and suppliers eager to serve your needs in the plastic stock shapes industry. From accessories and supplies to machinery and tooling, the suppliers featured here are only a phone call, fax, or click of the mouse away. Click here to access a keyword searchable version of the 2001 Buyer's Guide along with an extensive archive of articles, information and news. Check-it-out and don't forget to tell them you got their name from The Plastics Distributor® and Fabricator Magazine.

This issue also features four exciting articles that should not be missed. In Repairs on Plastic Parts, Andy Bramer looks at what you need to know to fix cracks or missing pieces on thermoplastic parts. Tom Anderson, of Safety Speed Cut, provides guidelines for Choosing a Vertical Panel Saw. With the right saw and blade, you can achieve a clean, accurate edge on many types of material. In Sodium Etching of Fluoropolymers, we discuss the different processes that have evolved since the creation of Teflon¨ and the predominant processes that are in use today. Two resources are also featured who are ready to meet your fluoropolymer etching needs. Lastly, Darrell Bishop, of Edge Finisher Co., offers some tips on Finishing What You Start in The Basics. He shows that, if the majority of expense for most jobs is related to the time it takes to complete that job, reducing setup and production times, acquiring versatile equipment, hiring, training, and empowering good people, can save you time and money.

Finally, our regular columns suggest ways to leverage those hard-earned dollars in Financially $peaking, offer insights into our industry through Plastic Perspectives, and provide an outline for developing an Operator Training Program for Powered Industrial Trucks in Safety Solutions.

One additional resource we hope you will look into is International Plastics Fabricators Association (IPFA). As a Founding Member, we believe that they offer fabricators a common forum with which they can buy better, stay current on fabrication techniques, learn how to run their businesses more successfully, and market themselves more effectively to potential customers. For manufacturers and suppliers to our industry, it offers them the opportunity to forge a closer relationship with their core customers. Another Founding Member, Edge Finisher Co., offers a 10% discount on new equipment and new tooling purchases exclusively for IPFA members. Their generosity shows how committed they are to the success of the Association and the prosperity of our industry. But the IPFA can not do it without your support and involvement. Contact them today at 630-980-4740 or visit their web site at www.fabricators.org to learn more about what they can do for you.

We hope you enjoy the July/August issue and find the 2001 Buyer's Guide a valuable resource. If you have not had a chance to visit our new web site, check-it-out. In addition to the articles and information featured in this issue, you will find a vast resource of products and services in the keyword searchable version of our Buyer's Guide providing you with the tools you need to succeed. Your feedback is always welcomed.

David Whelan
Managing Editor