The shipments value of plastics machinery posted a rise in the first quarter of 2015 when compared with the same period last year, according to statistics compiled by SPI, the U.S. Plastics Industry Trade Association’s Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES). Shipments of primary plastics equipment (injection molding, extrusion and blow molding equipment) for reporting companies totaled $293.6 million in the first quarter of 2015. This was a seasonal decline of 15.2 percent from the shipments total of $346.1 million in Q4 of 2014, but it was a gain of 2.9 percent when compared with the total from same quarter of a year ago. In 2014, the total annual value of primary equipment shipments escalated 7.6 percent. Data shows that the shipments value of injection molding machinery advanced 1.4 percent in Q1 when compared with same quarter from last year. The shipments value of single-screw extruders increased 8.4 percent in Q1 over last year. The value of shipments of twin-screw extruders (includes both co-rotating and counter-rotating machines) gained less than 1 percent in Q1. The Q1 shipments value of blow molding machines jumped 19.4 percent. The Committee on Equipment Statistics also compiles data on the auxiliary equipment segment (robotics, temperature control, materials handling, etc.) of the plastics machinery industry. New bookings of auxiliary equipment for reporting companies totaled $105.4 million dollars in Q1. This was a gain of 6.9 percent when compared with the total from Q1 of last year.
