PMM co-launches pub, adds staffer, correspondents

March 21, 2016

This is an exciting time at Plastics Machinery Magazine ­— we are partnering with the staff at Recycling Today magazine to launch a new publication, one of our senior correspondents is joining the staff full-time and three new correspondents are being added to our editorial team. 

The new publication is called Plastics Recycling and the first issue is going to all the subscribers of the two magazines. SPI, which supports the project, is also sending the digital edition to its database of contacts.

Why a new magazine? We believe a publication that focuses exclusively on plastics recycling will be very useful to the industry. We will cover all facets of plastics recycling, including stories about technology and equipment, regulatory and advocacy news, supply and demand and its impact on material pricing, and how brand owners are shaping the plastics recycling landscape.

We are fortunate to partner with Recycling Today and its publisher, GIE Media Inc. Recycling Today traces its lineage back to 1963 and provides monthly coverage of the broad recycling industry, including plastics. Together, we will be able to deliver a magazine focused on plastics recycling with the information you need to run your business.

The inaugural edition is being delivered with this issue. A second issue will follow in October. Please let us know what you think of the new magazine!

We're pleased to report that our editorial staff continues to grow.

Mikell Knights, a senior correspondent with PMM since November 2014, joins us full-time this month. He can be reached at [email protected]. Also joining our ranks are three new staff members who bring many years of editorial experience to the team. Here they are:

Lisa Jo Lupo has written a few In Other Words features since December and authored our March Special Report on clean rooms. She has been a freelance writer and editor for trade magazines, websites, books and newsletters for more than 25 years. She is also editor of QA (Quality Assurance & Food Safety magazine), and is a regular contributing writer to PCT (Pest Control Technology) magazine. Lupo's work at QA magazine for the past 12 years has given her an extensive background in the food and beverage industry, including packaging and related machinery. She can be reached at [email protected].

Doug Smock has more than 30 years of experience writing and editing about the plastics industry. He has been chief editor of Plastics World magazine, a staff writer for Modern Plastics magazine, senior technology editor for Design News and chief editor for Purchasing magazine. He started his journalism career as a staff writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Smock writes The Molding Blog and has  co-authored two books related to plastics and supply management. He can be reached at dsmock@plasticsmachinery magazine.com.

Allan Gerlat has worked in business journalism for 36 years, including the last 21 with Waste Age and as the founding editor of Waste & Recycling News (WRN). During his tenure at WRN, the newspaper won 27 national and regional awards for editorial excellence. He can be reached at[email protected].

We think you'll enjoy the perspective and experience our expanding team of writers will bring to Plastics Machinery Magazine. Please look for their contributions in this and future issues!

Ron Shinn, editor

[email protected]

About the Author

Ron Shinn | Editor

Editor Ron Shinn is a co-founder of Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing and has been covering the plastics industry for more than 35 years. He leads the editorial team, directs coverage and sets the editorial calendar. He also writes features, including the Talking Points column and On the Factory Floor, and covers recycling and sustainability for PMM and Plastics Recycling.