Spring is in the Air
As the days get longer the weather is not the only thing heating up. The economy continues to move in the right direction and the pending election has everyone’s interest. Will the current administration be the best course or is a change needed? Your choice is due in November.

One issue that will continue to impact our industry is trade. I received a fax this morning with the subject line: “OEM Machined Parts From CHINA.” I hear more comments each week from our advertisers and our readers about increasing global competition. If you have not tuned into this issue yet, it is worth your time to prevent it from negatively impacting your business. I am all for fair trade - however I do not considered what is currently occurring fair.

This issue is packed with news, new products and services and exciting features that can help you compete in our global economy. The opportunities created by Acrylic Spectator Shielding Making A Comeback With Indoor Arenas are clear (pun intended). Cut Sheet Pressure Forming is giving injection molding a run for its money in several product areas. And as routers become more affordable, especially in light of the current tax incentives the Federal Government is offering (see Tax Relief on New Machinery Purchases, January/February 2004 or our website), more fabricators will be seeking answers to their Plastics Routing FAQs.

These articles provide great information on three diverse areas within the plastic shapes fabricating industry. Our goal is simple, provide you with targeted products and business opportunities to help you better compete in a growing global economy. The award winning manufacturers and suppliers featured in this issue offer solutions from cutting optimization services to larger material offerings and enhanced production capabilities to better serve your needs.

Spring is in the air. Consider doing a little cleaning to make room for that new router or saw that the government will help you pay for which will open up opportunities for producing more parts, for more industries, from some of the cool new plastics featured in this issue. Every one of us will benefit if they do their part to help grow a strong manufacturing base in the US.

Finally, on a personal note, I would like to send our warmest wishes to Riia and Michael O’Donnell on the birth of their twins Sarah and Olivia. Riia, our Associate Editor and family are doing well.

Enjoy the issue.