The 17th edition of Expo Plásticos presented the best in technologies and raw materials for plastics processing at Expo Guadalajara. From November 5 to 7, brand owners and transformers had the opportunity to explore and purchase machinery, peripheral equipment, molds and tooling, as well as raw materials that align with the principles of the circular economy.

In a 20,000 m² exhibition space, visitors learned about the innovations of more than 700 brands that drive the Plastics Industry towards the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals projected for the coming years. In addition, during the cycle of technical conferences, the current challenges and opportunities of the sector were addressed, emphasizing the solutions available to address them.

Plastic in household appliances

The household appliance industry benefits from the use of plastics due to their versatility, durability and ease of molding into complex shapes. At the conference “The future of plastics in the appliance industry,” Baldwin Britton, President of the Appliance Cluster of the State of Nuevo Leon (CLELAC), mentioned that the global production of these household appliances is 293.5 billion dollars (mmd) and Mexico stands out by occupying the fifth place in the ranking of the 10 main countries that dominate this market.

According to the executive, “China leads with a share of 29.6%, producing 86.9 mmd; followed by Germany with 9% and 26.5 mmd; the United States with 5.8% and 16.9 mmd; Italy with 5.7% and 16.8 mmd; and Mexico, with 5.1%, generating 15 mmd.”

The appliance industry, key to human development, has experienced a remarkable evolution thanks to the use of high-quality plastics. In this context, Baldwin Britton highlighted that a refrigerator uses at least five types of resins:

• Polypropylene (PP): Containers and shelves.
• Polystyrene (PS): Insulation and some interior parts.
• Polycarbonate (PC): Visible shelves or compartments.
• Polyethylene (PE): Internal parts or coating.
• Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS): Housings and external components.

“The amount of plastic used in a two-door refrigerator can vary depending on the model, size and manufacturer. However, it is generally estimated that a refrigerator of this type can contain between 15 and 30 kilograms of plastic in total,” says the executive.

Tailor-made solutions in recycling

Recycling is crucial to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability; therefore, recyclers must have the appropriate equipment, such as high-performance mills, to ensure optimal processes.

At the conference “Tailor-made solutions in plastics recycling: Innovation for sustainability,” Efraín Martínez, brand leader and specialist in robots and peripheral equipment at Privarsa, emphasized that the first step to making good decisions in recycling is for the recycler to identify the different types of plastics, including:

• Commodity Plastics: PP, PE, PVC, PS, among others.
• Engineering Plastics: PC, PA, PMMA, to name a few.
• High Performance Plastics: PEEK, LCP, PPS, as an example.

Once the recycler understands the properties of plastics, Efraín Martínez emphasizes the importance of knowing the mill options and their various applications:

• Stepped Blade Mills: For soft to medium-hard or brittle materials such as PP, ABS, PVC, PS, among others.
• Screenless Mills: For hard materials such as PA, PA6, PA66 35GF, PC, to name a few.
• Scissor-Cut Mills: For soft to medium-hard materials, or hard when there is special treatment in CC.
• Crushers: For hard and/or thick-walled materials, the product delivered is ready to be ground.
• Duo Crushers: For hard and/or thick-walled materials, the product delivered is ready to be ground, they have a mill integrated into the same equipment, saving space and money.

«An inadequate mill wears out prematurely, generates high levels of dust, increases energy consumption and produces excessive noise,» warns the expert.

Challenges in talent retention

The labor dynamics in North America are remarkable, and in an environment of fierce competition, retaining talent is crucial for the growth of companies.

At the conference “Navigating the labor market: Addressing the availability of talent in manufacturing,” Ricardo Franco Romo, Global Commercial Director of Human Resources at Prodensa for North America, Asia and Europe, indicated that at this moment there are four major phenomena occurring at the same time:

• Re-Shoring: Relocation or return of productive assets of Western companies to North America to get closer to the market for various reasons. The productive assets of these companies to serve the Asian market remain in that region.
• Near-Shoring: Relocation of productive assets of Asian companies to North America to get closer to the market for various reasons.
• Off-Shoring: Departure of manufacturing operations located in the United States with the objective of maintaining the continuity of their business and improving their competitiveness by establishing themselves in countries that offer talent, infrastructure, strategic logistics and incentives. Mexico has been the country that has benefited the most from this phenomenon.
• Technology Transitions: Automotive Industry Transition, Digital Commerce, Digital World + Remote Work.

“The pandemic brought with it a paradigm shift in recruitment. It is no longer enough to offer high salaries or better benefits; it is now essential to take emotional salary into account. This is to achieve a correct attraction and retention of the talent we are looking for,” stresses Ricardo Franco Romo.

Expo Plásticos: innovation and sustainability

During the inauguration of Expo Plásticos Guadalajara 2024, Jorge Arizmendi Velasco, Director of Expo Plásticos, asserted that sustainability and the circular economy are the main drivers of transformation in the industry. The executive acknowledges that “there are still challenges to overcome, but we also know that it is an industry that turns challenges into innovation.”

Mónica Conde, General Director of Grupo Ambiente Plástico, described plastic as an intelligent, sustainable and responsible material. For his part, Antonio Lancaster-Jones González, Coordinator of the Council of Industrial Chambers of Jalisco (CCIJ), highlighted that the Plastics Industry is essential for the economic development of Mexico, “by offering innovative solutions that have a positive impact on various areas of our lives.”

Also present at the opening ceremony were Andrea Alarcón, Vice President of the Mexican Association of Mold and Die Manufacturing (AMMMT); Alejandro Olayo, Coordinator of Projects for the Development of Technical and Engineering Personnel of the Tooling Cluster of Nuevo León; Javier Romo Zúñiga, Proprietor of the Plastics section of the Regional Chamber of the Transformation Industry of the State of Jalisco (Careintra); Francois Ouellet, Vice President of the Plastics Cluster; Edgar Tinoco Gutiérrez, President of the Association of Industrial Manufacturers of Plastic Bags of Mexico (Inboplast); Gabriel Santos Ruiz, President of the Mexican Packaging Association (AMEE); and Aaron Romero, Deputy Director at the International Institute for Risk Management.

The labor dynamics in North America are remarkable, and in an environment of fierce competition, retaining talent is crucial for the growth of companies.

At the conference “Navigating the Labor Market: Addressing Talent Availability in Manufacturing,” Ricardo Franco Romo, Global Human Resources Commercial Director at Prodensa for North America, Asia and Europe, indicated that there are currently four major phenomena occurring at the same time:

Re-Shoring: Relocation or return of productive assets of Western companies to North America to get closer to the market for various reasons. The productive assets of these companies to serve the Asian market are being relocated to North America.