Plastics sector looks back on good year / Growth above industry average with stellar prospects / Machinery manufacturing, “Industry 4.0” and digitalisation drive investments

EuPC survey to gain insight into 3D printing in European plastics converting industry

Growth rate reaches 5% mark in 2017 / Renewed record turnover and processed volume / Lack of skilled staff becomes more acute / Confidence predominates at start of 2018

China accounts for one-third of global production / Growth in Chinese consumption to slow / Global demand outpacing other furniture markets / Flexible PU foam most used material / CSIL reports

3D printing heads for small series production / "Formnext" exhibition in Frankfurt a "centre of gravity" / Market expected to triple by 2023 / Quality assurance a difficult issue

Production volume stagnates in 2016 / Shift towards PE and away from other materials / Earnings still under pressure / Industry association hopes for positive impetus from Berlin

"Brexit" and plastics industry / BPF fears high trade costs with the EU / Priorities include access to skills / European chemical industry signs joint statement / Plastics exports to UK particularly important for Ireland

European market for thermoforms applications reaches 1.1m t / Further growth / Recyclates are important / Petcore Europe report

Follow up: BASF confirms quality problems in production / Ludwigshafen facility temporarily taken offline / Price rollover nonetheless likely in October / Numerous plant stoppages among converters

Volume of GRP processed in Europe grows by 2% / European share of global production declines again / "Composites Europe" attracts far fewer visitors and exhibitors

Strong demand for lightweight vehicles and eco-friendly packaging boost global growth / Grand View Research report

Around 4% growth in the first half of 2017 / Export share rises to record-breaking 41% / Semi-finished products show disproportionate increase / Technical parts under pressure on profit / Outlook remains good

Security printing market set for growth / Polymer banknotes gain credibility / Smithers Pira report

Steady growth forecast for the region's well-developed processing sector / AMI database

Rising demand for packaged products / Production, imports and exports higher in 2016 / Plans for global centre of excellence to support domestic industry / Pagev report