Key points in this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast:

• Andrew Wheeler, president of Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp., discusses how packaging markets have changed, the growing use of recycled plastics and whether the W&H Group might start building machines in the U.S.

• Manufacturers will continue to invest in artificial intelligence, but are moving toward generative AI, according to international business consulting firm Deloitte. Find out how generative AI might be used in the plastics industry.

• Engel has redesigned its spherical check valve to make it more precise and reliable.

Key points from this podcast episode:

• Collecting operational data has become easy. Using it effectively is the difficult part. For our recent cover story, three consultants talked about the competitive price processors pay when they don’t effectively use their data. Editor Ron Shinn discusses.
• The IT director at a Pennsylvania thermoformer has seen spectacular on-time-delivery results pulling data from the company’s ERP system and displaying it in real-time for plant-floor operators and decision makers.

Key points in this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast: 

• Modern processing machinery collects plenty of data, but using it can be problematic. Three experts explain how it can help your molding business and the high cost of ignoring it.

• Bobby May, the IT director at Pennsylvania thermoformer SAY Plastics, has built 120 dashboards that puts the right ERP data in front of decision-makers at the right time. Results have been impressive.

• An Australian manufacturer is bringing plastic noise walls to North America. The wall panels are made from post-consumer resin.