en.Wedoany.com Reported - Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing (PMM) focuses on the evolution of machine maintenance in its recent Maintenance Month feature, covering how artificial intelligence is redefining maintenance procedures, strategies for implementing predictive maintenance, on-site technical output from original equipment manufacturers, evaluation decisions for equipment repair/retrofit/replacement, five tips for launching new protocols, building a competitive advantage through tooling maintenance, and columnist Ron Shinn's perspective that "maintenance is a simple starting point for integrating AI into the shop floor."
Senior reporter Karen Hanna conducted an exclusive interview with KraussMaffei's Brett Greenhalgh, covering his career and why he is leaving to travel to Germany for a three-year church mission. The interview retains the publication's "eternal last question": "What legacy do you hope to leave?"
According to data from the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Equipment Statistics Committee, North American injection molding and extrusion equipment shipments declined in Q1 2026, with the extrusion market experiencing a particularly significant drop. PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda analyzed that this reversal is likely due to companies adjusting pricing contracts to reflect higher tariff costs in early 2026. Additionally, his research indicates that tariff policies led to a decline in trade volume in 2025. The Engel Group reported a revenue decline for the fiscal year. Robot orders in the plastics and rubber industry saw a surge in Q1 2026.
Rosti reorganized its production floor, moving 15 injection molding machines to make room for a cleanroom, all without interrupting production. The company achieved this complex equipment layout adjustment with expert assistance.
In industry developments: Stratasys will acquire Markforged from Nano Dimension, marking the latest move in the additive manufacturing market; the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) flagship technical education event ANTEC will merge with NPE2026; Windmoeller & Hoelscher's factory expansion in Lincoln, Rhode Island, has opened; personnel changes have also been announced at Davis-Standard, Rapid Granulator, BMG, the K 2028 Exhibitor Advisory Board, Next Generation Group, and Maxcess.
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