MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The alarm clock rings, I open one eye to see the time displayed through the GPPS screen, and I press the snooze button to give myself time to stretch quietly in my soft polyester blankets before getting up. I open the extruded PVC window assembled with a TPV seal to see the weather and take a deep breath of fresh air. I lower the temperature of my thermostat in PC FR. Head for the shower, made up of a large thermoformed ABS/PMMA bi-material sheet with shelves molded into the wall to avoid joints. ABS provides impact resistance, while acrylic (PMMA) provides a glossy surface that is easy to clean and that provides scratch resistance. I notice that my shampoo bottles, previously made of HDPE, are more often made of PETE now. This is no doubt because the major manufacturers of personal care products have realized that HDPE is recycled much less than PET water bottles which retain their transparency once recycled, allowing a greater choice of colors. When I get out of the shower, I carefully extract my acrylic-based contact lenses from the protective PP case to insert them into my eyes and regain perfect vision. When working from home I wear my cellulose glasses with acrylic lenses that have been coated against blue light. I then apply my moisturizing creams which glass jars are fitted with unscrewable PP lids with threads that perfectly match those of the container to allow easy opening/closing repetitively while preventing the content from losing its moisture and hardening.

I start the coffee maker made of metallic ABS parts to give it a more stylish look. Coffee capsules, extruded in multi-layer film and then thermoformed, are increasingly being replaced by compostable starch-based plastics. I open the fridge to prepare my lunch. SAN or MABS drawers allow me to see the food at a glance. I grab a PET bottle of vegetable juice that protected the liquid from oxidation during transport and tableting to my fridge. I take the sandwich that I made the day before in which “zip-loc” made of PE film has kept it fresh. Another item for my lunch: the vegetable salad stored in a PETG container with a clarified PP lid equipped with flexible hinges and overmolded with a TPE gasket ensuring a good seal so that the vinaigrette does not leak! I put everything in my lunch bag with a blow molded HDPE ice pack.

I put on my clothes, the stockings of which are made of nylon, invented by DuPont in 1935-1938. Next step: makeup. Brushes for applying cosmetics have soft polyester or nylon bristles. The ABS cases have acrylic lids so I can see and choose the colors well. Then I grab my toothbrush, which alone is an example of manufacturing genius. It presents the complex assembly of a polypropylene handle overmoulded by injection in a multi-cavity rotating mould, and extruded nylon or PP monofilaments whose molecular chains have been oriented to give them more resistance.

A look at my cell phone which data has been updated thanks to the telecommunication system composed of fiber optics with PEI connectors, and ABS FR or PPE cases powered by electrical wires covered with flexible PVC sheaths, all meeting very strict CSA and UL standards. I grab my keys and get in my car. So there, the list is long because the automobile is the product which contains the greatest number of plastic materials: ABS, ASA, TPU, PA 6, 66, 45 and 12, sometimes loaded with reinforcements, PPA, PC, PMMA, POM, PPS, PP filled with talc or fiberglass, seals in TPV, thermosetting rubber or SEBS, non-woven polyester fibers ”spundbonded”, etc.

This is just the start of my day, now imagine how many products contributing to the comfort and functionality of our daily lives are made of polymers. It is said that we touch a product containing plastic around 2000 times a day. In the end plastics aren’t that bad, are they? My former teacher, Michel Labonté, said: “there are no bad plastics, just bad applications”.

However, when it comes to their end of life, we agree that there is still a lot of improvement to be made. Fortunately, the major producers are aware of this and have been working on solutions for several decades now. Like what? Ask the experts in the plastics industry, they will surely be able to give you examples.

Become a member of SPE Québec and attend our events to meet with them and learn more! Your president Marie-France Sosa, e-mail: mfsosa@chaseplastics.com, tel: 514-245-3204. Visit our new website: www.spesection.quebec

Plastics News

Jason Merkle, 35, owes his knowledge of and interest in the plastics industry to his father, who has worked in plastics for 40 years. Merkle’s first job for a plastics company was in high school, doing administrative work for Uniform Color’s customer service team.

Merkle earned a bachelor’s degree in plastics engineering technology from Ferris State University and a master’s degree in plastics engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. During college, he interned at Uniform Color, Johnson Controls and Chase Plastic Services Inc.

After graduation, he joined Clarkston, Mich.-based resin distributor Chase as an applications development engineer, relocated to the Philadelphia area for field support to the East Coast, then moved to Charlotte, N.C., to support the Southeast area. Merkle then was named automotive business development manager and relocated back to Michigan, focusing on Tier 1 support.

“I was the guinea pig, so to speak, at Chase Plastics for field-based engineering work. I helped to design the expectations and road map for successful application development in collaborations with our molding customers and OEMs alike. The success of this position has now allowed it to be mirrored in other CPS sales regions with future growth expectations on the horizon,” said Merkle, who moved to the technical manager role in January 2020.

“I know society and the media can seem like a downward spiral at times, but taking a step back, we have had a lot of innovation and success even in recent years and trajectory forward for technology acceleration will continue to be groundbreaking,” he said. “I’m anxious to see what challenges the market will throw our way in the next 10-20 years that will push the expectations of plastic performance to new heights.”

Q: What is your current challenge at work?

Merkle: While a great deal of our work is reactive to customer needs, we are always looking for new ways to grow business through engineering support to OEMs and tier customers alike. Keeping up with material innovations and conveying that information to our customers is a value that hasn’t yet reached its full potential. We’re working to increase our account coverage and engineering exposure to key markets and organizations to accelerate bottom line growth in concert with our customers.

Q: What has been the biggest impact/challenge on your career from the coronavirus pandemic?

Merkle: As a materials provider, the pandemic produced a lot of chaos in the market that still is having ripple effects. As engineers, our job is not only to recommend a material that will meet the performance expectations of an application but also to make sure it is a product available in the necessary quantities, competitively priced and ideally with a relatively short lead time. Finding the right balance of performance needs and market constraints has been challenging at times.

Q: How do you feel about the future of the environment/climate?

Merkle: I’d say we are getting better as an industry, but we also have significant room for improvement. As plastics engineers, it’s our responsibility to understand the sustainable aspects of our business, and there have been many advancements in materials to help create a more environmentally friendly plastics industry. Educating customers and consumers alike on the options available and their corresponding costs is our most immediate challenge as more material options are innovated regularly. Getting OEMs to adopt more sustainable materials at a higher cost than their traditional alternatives will be an ongoing challenge as well.

Chase Plastics has awarded donations totaling $10,000 to four different charities as part of their annual Chase Plastics Giving Card Campaign. Now in its seventh year, the much-anticipated campaign is awarding $2,500 to four winning charities. This year’s winners were all nominated by customers of Chase Plastics. They include:

Twenty-Two Until None: This nonprofit is focused on ending suicide in the veteran and military community by providing emergency financial assistance, benefits advocacy and referrals to necessary resources and peer support. https://www.22untilnone.org/home

Benjamin’s Hope: Benjamin’s Hope is a non-profit leader in creating innovative options for adults affected by autism and developmental disability, ensuring individuals of every ability can live, learn, play and worship in the ways that fit them best. https://www.benjaminshope.net/

K9s for Warriors: Determined to end veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors provides highly trained Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. With the majority of dogs coming from high-kill rescue shelters, this innovative program allows the K9/Warrior team to build an unwavering bond that facilitates their collective healing and recovery. https://k9sforwarriors.org/

Tails of Hope: Tails of Hope provides service dog training for disabled individuals, special needs children, wounded veterans, and first responders. They also provide hope, fellowship, and a lifetime of support and resources for individuals and families that need it most. https://tailsofhope.com/

The Chase Giving Campaign started in 2016 to highlight charities that Chase Plastics’ customers and suppliers were most passionate about. Their generosity has not only led to a total of $47,000 being donated to charities across the country through the campaign, but
it has also perpetuated the spirit of giving — something in which Chase Plastics strongly believes. Chase Plastics has made it an initiative to encourage volunteerism and increase awareness of charitable organizations by spotlighting various nominated charities on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages throughout the campaign. As a result, they hope to inspire others to donate time or money to the featured charities or use them as a resource themselves.

This year, the Chase Plastics Giving Card received a record number of nominations and used its social media channels to spotlight several charities. The added exposure of some lesser-known charities was met with appreciation from those who had submitted. “Every year, I’m blown away by the generosity of the plastics industry, our customers, and suppliers” said Chase Plastics’ President, Kevin Chase. “It’s an honor to support these organizations that do so much.”

Past winners include: Rising Stars Academy (Center Line, MI), Penrickton Center for Blind Children (Taylor, MI), Battin Farms Equine & Soldier Sanctuary (Olivet, MI), See Me Home – Senior Dog Sanctuary (Sturgis, MI), Party for a Purpose (Monticello, MN), LifeCenter Northwest (Bellevue, WA), Children’s Oncology Group Foundation (Philadelphia, PA), Home of the Innocents (Louisville, KY), Malachi House Hospice (Cleveland, OH), Gleaners Community Food Bank (Detroit, MI), Operation Underground Railroad (Anaheim, CA), Thumb Area Helping Hands (Bad Axe, MI), Folds of Honor (Owasso, OK), Hero Dogs, Inc. (Brookeville, MD), Because There Is Hope (Spokane, WA), Toms River Field of Dreams (Township of Toms River, NJ), Agape Safe Haven (Longmont, CO), Paws With a Cause (Wayland, MI) and Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank (Akron, OH).

FRANK ESPOSITO
Plastics News
Senior Staff Reporter
December 13, 2022

Materials distributor Chase Plastic Services Inc. is doing its part to spread holiday cheer.

Clarkston, Mich.-based Chase wrapped up its annual Giving Card campaign on Dec. 13. Nominations opened in early November and will be selected on Dec. 21. Those chosen each will receive a $1,000 donation from Chase.

More than 500 charities have been nominated since Chase started the program in 2016, with almost $40,000 distributed.

View full article

August 11th, 2022

August 10th, 2022
CATHERINE KAVANAUGH
Staff Writer – Plastics News

STEM camps focus on ‘molding kids for success’

Greensboro, N.C.-based Core Technology Molding Corp. is hosting STEM camps for middle-school children with a wide look at what it takes to produce injection molded parts for the pharmaceutical and automotive markets.

Called Molding Kids for Success, the weeklong camp presents some unique STEM subjects for fifth- through eighth-graders, including materials, additives, 3D printing, clean room molding, supply chain management and technical writing. The heady topics are presented in fun, hands-on ways using bouncing polyurethane balls, nylon string and polyethylene golf tees with recycled content from the mesh fencing of a Dow Inc. charity golf event.

The goal is to introduce students to the plastics industry at young ages — in this case, 11- to 14-year-olds — so manufacturing will be among their early career considerations, according to Core Technology CEO and President Geoff Foster.

View article

Twenty-two companies have been named to Plastics News‘ ninth annual Best Places to Work list.

The rankings will be announced at an awards ceremony during PN‘s Executive Forum on March 23 in Naples, Fla.

Profiles of all Best Places companies will be featured in the April 25 issue of PN.

The 2022 list separates processors and suppliers. For a company to be considered eligible, it must have a facility in the United States or Canada with a minimum of 15 employees, be in business for at least one year and derive at least 50 percent of revenue from plastics-related operations.

Company workplace policies and practices, as well as an internal employee engagement and satisfaction survey, are taken into consideration for the process. The annual survey and awards program is managed by Best Companies Group, a Harrisburg, Pa.-based research firm that has spent more than a decade administrating data and identifying exceptional places to work.

View entire article

Chase Plastics is awarding donations totaling $10,000 to four different charities as part of their annual Chase Plastics Giving Card Campaign. Now in its sixth year, the much-anticipated campaign is awarding a record $2,500 to four winning charities. This year’s winners were all nominated by customers of Chase Plastics. They include:

Rising Stars Academy: A school for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults to belong and develop the necessary skills to participate within the community at their full potential. https://www.rising-stars-academy.org/

Penrickton Center for Blind Children: A unique, private nonprofit agency, providing five-day residential, day care, and consultation/evaluation services to blind, multi-disabled children ages one through twelve. https://penrickton.org/

Photo courtesy of Penrickton Center for Blind Children

Battin Farms Equine & Soldier Sanctuary: A nonprofit horse rescue, first and foremost, with a second aspiration to utilize rescued horses and rehabilitate to provide equine therapy to veterans and active duty military at no cost. www.battinfarms.com

See Me Home – Senior Dog Sanctuary: A nonprofit senior dog sanctuary located in Sturgis, MI that provides a safe haven for senior and special needs dogs. https://www.facebook.com/seemehome

Photos courtesy of See Me Home – Senior Dog Sanctuary

The Chase Giving Campaign started in 2016 as a way to highlight the charities that Chase Plastics’ customers and suppliers were most passionate about. Their generosity has not only led to a total of $37,000 being donated to charities across the country through the campaign, but it has also perpetuated the spirit of giving — something in which Chase Plastics strongly believes. Chase Plastics has made it an initiative to encourage volunteerism and increase awareness of charitable organizations by spotlighting various nominated charities on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages throughout the campaign. As a result, they hope to inspire others to donate time or money to the featured charities or use it as a resource themselves.

This year, the Chase Plastics Giving Card received a record number of nominations and used their social media channels to spotlight several of the nominees. The added exposure of some lesser-known charities was met with appreciation from those who had submitted. “It’s our favorite time of year,” said Chase Plastics’ President, Kevin Chase. “Our company and industry never lose sight of what really matters. We love coming together to make a difference.”

Past winners include: Party for a Purpose (Monticello, MN), LifeCenter Northwest (Bellevue, WA), Children’s Oncology Group Foundation (Philadelphia, PA), Home of the Innocents (Louisville, KY), Malachi House Hospice (Cleveland, OH), Gleaners Community Food Bank (Detroit, MI), Operation Underground Railroad, Thumb Area Helping Hands (Bad Axe, MI), Folds of Honor, Hero Dogs, Inc., Because There Is Hope, Toms River Field of Dreams (Township of Toms River, NJ), Agape Safe Haven (Longmont, CO), Paws With a Cause (Wayland, MI) and Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank (Akron, OH).