On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly roundup of news and features with PMM Editor Ron Shinn:

• Linda and Yousry Sayed, new owners of Wilmington Machinery, are planning to expand the business.

• North American robot orders increased in 2025, but orders in the plastics and rubber sector declined.

• German Machinery manufacturer Reifenhäuser rolled out new lines for flat film and blown film at K 2025, as well as an upgraded automation system and AI-powered chatbot.

On this episode of PMM Insight, a commentary with Editor Ron Shinn: Business seems to be in a downward spiral for plastics recyclers. There is no national support or incentives for collection or recycling infrastructure, and state-of-the-art plants are closing.

Why should processors and machinery manufacturers care? Because recyclers are a foundational building block for plastics circularity, which is essential for the industry's future.

On this episode of PMM’s Machinery Minutes, our weekly look at significant stories from the past week, with Editor Ron Shinn:

• Total cost of wages and benefits are likely to go up this year for plastics processors, according to a report from The Plastics Industry Association.

• WM Thermoforming unveiled two new machines designed for energy efficiency, quick set-up and easy maintenance, at the recent K Show.

• Gabler Thermoform demonstrated the M100 Evo, capable of up to 43 cycles per minute and production of 250,000 items per hour.