Lights-out production has been a goal for the plastics industry for three decades, but until now, machines have still required operators to set them up, monitor and adjust them and perform quality checks.

On this PMM Insight podcast commentary, Editor Ron Shinn sees signs that true lights-out capabilities are on the horizon:

• Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence (AI), smart factory technology and a skilled labor shortage has delivered the plastics processing industry to the beginning of a new era in automation.

• Engel displayed the world’s first autonomous, self-regulating molding cell at K 2025.

• Haitian, Reifenhäuser, Shibaura, Stork and Wittmann — among others — also unveiled AI-powered systems for plastics processing.

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, we discuss three stories about new injection molding machines introduced at K 2025, which we are covering in depth on our website.

• KraussMaffei’s redesigned PX injection molding machine series is more compact and energy efficient. It features a simplified, web-based MC7 control system for improved usability and cyber resilience.

• Chinese manufacturer Tederic Machinery unveiled its new Innova 250 high-speed hybrid molding machine designed for the packaging industry.

• Stork Plastics Machinery showed a high-performance molding machine named the 6600-3550, designed for thin-wall packaging products.

In this episode of Machinery Minutes, PMM Editor Ron Shinn gives his three favorite stories of 2025 and compares his list to the top three stories readers viewed on plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com.

Here are the editor’s favorites:

• Business management experts said that leaders need to change their thinking to successfully navigate tariff whiplash and stock market volatility, but at the same time stick to their values.
• Processors have massive amounts of data to track, but much of it goes unused. How do you become one of the companies that tracks and uses data?
• A study suggests that every company has a 50-50 chance of being hacked, and manufacturing companies are among the most frequently targeted. Find out how to protect your company and recover quickly if you are the victim of a cyberattack.

On this episode of the PMM Insight podcast, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn:

• 2025 will be remembered as the year worldwide treaty talks to end plastic pollution collapsed.

• Recyclers are probably the biggest losers.

• To solve the problem, recyclers just need solid commitments from buyers to use recycled resin.

On this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast, in which PMM Editor Ron Shinn discusses three top stories of the past week:

• LS Mtron is continuing its aggressive expansion plans by enlarging its Chicago-area technical center.

• Wittmann USA President Sonny Morneault discusses leadership, changes he has seen in the plastics industry and what’s ahead.

• Your business insurance can help maintain uptime, control costs and keep you competitive. It is a good time to review your coverage.

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly podcast roundup of three important stories on the plastics industry:

• The number of people working in plastics and rubber manufacturing fell by 3.500 from August to September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Cobots from Universal Robots will be manufactured in the Detroit area starting next year.

• Haitian, the world’s biggest manufacturer of injection molding machines, unveiled two new presses for packaging applications at K 2025.

On this podcast episode, Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Reporter Karen Hanna talk about sustainability issues with flexible packaging, including:

• An explanation of the green premium and why it matters.

• Is flexible plastic packaging in danger of being replaced by paper or fiber?

• Are plastic packaging converters caught in a tough spot?

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly roundup of top stories with Editor Ron Shinn:

• A good sign for U.S. manufacturing: Industrial robot orders were up in the third quarter. A bad sign for plastics and rubber manufacturing: Robot orders dropped.

• There is a new player in the North American thermoforming processing machinery market, and its name is Asano Laboratories.

• A small tool maker and injection molder in Florida brought those skills together to develop a new product — a dog grooming tool with steel teeth and an ABS handle.