According to data put together by SPI (Society of the Plastics Industry), US manufacturers of plastic and rubber processing machinery are currently recording increasing turnovers. In the third quarter of 2014, sales increased by 6% compared with the second quarter, in which they had recorded practically the same levels as in January-March.
However, the figures reveal a slight drop, of around 2%, in comparison with the third quarter of 2013.
In the period January-September 2014, compared with the same nine months in 2013, production of machines for the primary processing of plastic materials increased by 6%. Breaking this result down, production of injection machines increased by 4%, while that of single-screw extruders fell by 6%; twin-screw extruders and blow moulding machines also closed on a positive note, +35% and +25% respectively, as did auxiliary machines, sales of which were up by 12%.
The trend in sales of plastic and rubber processing machinery reflects the upward trend in industrial investments generally (+13%) and in sales of new plants (+34%). These positive conditions are expected to continue in the current quarter and into 2015.