10 July 2026 // Automated PET Recycling, Medical Polymer Expansion, and AI-Driven Moulding

10 July 2026 // Automated PET Recycling, Medical Polymer Expansion, and AI-Driven Moulding

In today’s brief: ♻️ Recycling Efficiency: Ireland-based Novelplast partners with Kongskilde to implement a custom pneumatic conveying system. The automated, multi-pass sorting solution overcomes tight warehouse space constraints to boost output purity past 95% and significantly reduce extrusion downtime. 🩺 Medical Polymers: Biesterfeld expands its distribution partnership with LEHVOSS Group across Europe. The agreement grants the medical technology market broader access to high-performance LUVOCOM compounds that combine biocompatibility with strict ISO 10993 compliance. 🧫 Material Innovation: BioCote highlights how built-in antimicrobial technology offers continuous surface protection for kitchen measurement tools. The HACCP International certified additive helps manufacturers differentiate products and add value across commercial and consumer markets. 🤖 Digital Transformation: West Sussex injection moulding specialist Nordell adopts AI-powered invoice software with support from Made Smarter South East. The automated system integrates with their existing ERP framework and is projected to eliminate over 60 hours of manual administration every month. For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.

08 Jul 2026 // Omya UK Expansion, Polymermedics EcoVadis Success, and Make UK Competitiveness Call

In today’s brief: 🤝 Distribution Expansion: Omya Performance Polymer Distribution extends its exclusive partnership with EMS-GRIVORY into the UK and Ireland, bringing advanced polyamide solutions to the local automotive and electronics sectors. 🏅 Sustainability Milestone: UK technical injection moulder Polymermedics achieves an EcoVadis Bronze 2025 rating, establishing a verified roadmap for environmental and ethical supply chain improvements. 📋 Regulatory Insights: Plastribution releases its summer update, highlighting upcoming European PFAS restrictions in food packaging, indicative UK EPR fees, and a new high-quality recycled polymer partnership. 🏭 Industrial Strategy: Trade body Make UK calls on the next Prime Minister for an urgent, pro-growth agenda to tackle soaring business costs and protect manufacturing competitiveness. For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.

3 July 2026 // Polymer Price Drops, Global BOPP Market Resilience, and Advanced Materials Show Countdown

In today’s brief: 📉 Market Dynamics: Plastribution reports a significant downward trend in polymer pricing, driven by a sharp drop in crude oil and monomer costs throughout June, with further competitive drops anticipated in July. 🌐 Film Intelligence: AMI Market Intelligence releases its 2026 global BOPP films report, highlighting steady demand growth and a shift toward value-driven, high-performance packaging solutions in mature markets like Western Europe. 📅 Industry Exhibition: Registration enters its final week for the co-located Advanced Materials and Advanced Ceramics Shows, offering industry professionals access to over 200 exhibitors and CPD-accredited conference sessions. For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.

02 July 2026 // Flexible Automation, Automotive Recycled Polymers, Welsh Recycling Infrastructure, and Solving Silver Streaks

In today’s brief: 🤖 Modular Automation: KraussMaffei highlights its LRXplus linear robot range, engineered to deliver flexibility and efficiency across mixed machinery fleets. The modular system features universal EUROMAP 67 compatibility, allowing UK moulders to integrate the technology seamlessly regardless of machine brand. ♻️ Automotive Innovation: Sumika and Plastribution unveil Thermofil Circle Extra Low Fogging, a new recycled polypropylene compound designed for headlamp housings. The material helps manufacturers meet upcoming European vehicle regulations by integrating 50% post-consumer recycled content without compromising on thermal performance. 🏗️ Infrastructure Investment: Jayplas reveals plans for two new plastics recycling facilities in Swansea and Tredegar. Supported by the Welsh Government, the state-of-the-art plants will create 100 green jobs and process over 100,000 tonnes of rigid and flexible plastics annually, more than doubling Wales's domestic reprocessing capacity. 🛠️ Tooling Insight: Alliance Tooling tackles the issue of silver streaks in the ninth instalment of their technical series. The report explores how strategic tool design, effective venting, and optimised gate sizes can eliminate these frustrating cosmetic defects before production begins. For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.

1 July 2026 // Wittmann's Medical Automation, Advanced Motorsport Compounds, and HASCO’s Digital Upgrade

In today’s brief: 🤖 Medical Automation: Specialist manufacturer Carclo expands its capabilities at its Mitcham facility with a new investment in Wittmann linear robots. The upgrade replaces legacy machinery to support high-throughput medical injection moulding, integrating seamlessly into 24/7 production while meeting the latest British Standard safety requirements. 🏎️ Motorsport Engineering: High-performance compound manufacturer LATI teams up with electronics specialist AiM Tech on a next-generation racing steering wheel platform. The collaboration leverages a 50% carbon-fibre reinforced polyamide to deliver the structural stiffness, weight reduction, and dimensional stability required for advanced racing electronics. 💻 Procurement Update: Standard component specialist HASCO launches an overhauled online shop designed to enhance user-friendliness. The update streamlines the digital procurement process for tool and mould makers through intuitive navigation, integrated product videos, and compact technical data tables. For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.