In today’s brief:📊 Market Update: Plastribution’s May report indicates a settling polymer market after recent volatility. While standard polymer prices are plateauing, engineering plastics face fresh increases as high crude oil forecasts continue to pressure margins through 2026.🤖 Manufacturing Investment: Hymid and ARBURG showcase the results of a 14-year automation journey. We look at how the integration of six-axis robotics is driving capacity and upskilling staff to meet the demands of advanced sectors like medical devices.❄️ Service Innovation: ICS Cool Energy unveils an expanded service portfolio, introducing a "cooling-as-a-service" model. The move simplifies risk management for manufacturers while adding regional account support to strengthen their UK-wide network.🛠️ Technical Briefing: Alliance Tooling continues its series on moulding challenges, this week focusing on the causes and cures of warpage. The report explores how proactive design and balanced cooling can eliminate part distortion and ensure dimensional consistency.

For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.

In today’s brief:

🛠️ GTMA Showcase: Faulkner Moulds exhibits at today’s Toolmaking and Tooling Technologies Event at Mazak. The Yorkshire-based toolmaker is meeting visitors at stand 16 to discuss their in-house production strategies and expertise in complex, high-volume tooling including twin-shot and unscrewing mechanisms.

🏆 Manufacturing Champion: CJ Tool & Mouldings is named a finalist for the Express & Star Business Awards. The recognition follows a major transformation at its Stourbridge site, which achieved a 32% reduction in energy usage and recently processed over one million components using recycled materials.

🌱 Certification Success: UB Plastics achieves ISO 14001 environmental accreditation for its facility in Burton-upon-Trent. The certification covers its 23-machine injection moulding operation, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainable manufacturing for the medical, food, and construction sectors.

🛢️ Economic Forecast: JP Morgan warns that global oil prices are set to remain above $100 per barrel for the remainder of 2026. Analysts suggest that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, logistical bottlenecks and refinery constraints will prevent a quick return to normal price levels.

🏎️ Automotive Heritage: Coventry Motofest prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of the Jaguar XJ40 this June. Organisers aim to assemble a record-breaking number of the iconic saloons in University Square to celebrate the region's historic manufacturing prestige.

For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.

In today’s brief:

🤝 Global Integration: DOMO Engineered Materials and RadiciGroup complete their transition into a new global platform under Lone Star Funds. The move strengthens the Technyl brand’s position in the UK market while ensuring continuity for automotive and electronics partners.

📍 Interplas Preview: Intelicare prepares for the 2026 exhibition at the NEC, announcing the showcase of Fontijne’s new LabTop 20 and LabEcon 100 systems. The partnership aims to provide UK manufacturers with advanced precision for polymer testing and sample preparation.

📈 Strategic Growth: Polymermedics appoints Dean Short as Director of Operations to lead its next phase of expansion. The appointment follows sustained growth for the technical injection moulding specialist across the medical and optical sectors.

⚙️ Operational Flow: Kongskilde explores how automated material handling can significantly improve factory uptime. The report details how pneumatic systems reduce manual waste management, allowing UK processors to increase capacity without major capital investment.

For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.