Resin price spikes, speedy mold makers, new extruders and blow molders: March 2026 in review

Need a mold fast? Like, really fast? The “adrenaline junkies” at Elite Mold & Engineering take on jobs most shops wouldn’t, relying on decades of experience, experienced craftsmen and trusted equipment providers such as PCS Co., Mantle and Carbon to produce tooling on almost absurdly tight turnaround times.

Just reading this story got my heart racing. See if it does the same for you. 

War and PE (and PP) 

The U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran reverberated through resin markets. PE and PP are manufactured in the region, and although most of that supply goes to Asian customers, shortages affect prices around the world. And the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking off a significant portion of the world’s oil supply, pressuring resin makers. 

Experts shared advice on how to manage your business and your resin supply during the crisis, and how to hone your negotiating skills. It also may be a good time to check out recycled materials produced closer to home. 

Engel builds ‘gigamolding’ machine 

The latest entry in the race to build the largest injection molding machine comes from Engel, with about 12,000 tons of clamping force, more than 18 miles of cables and a shot volume of more than 17 gallons packed into an IMM as long as a tennis court. 

Engel’s big announcement comes at a time when it and other OEMs have been pushing progressively more-mammoth machines. Read more about this behemoth and the parts it will be making. 

Are tariff refunds worth pursuing? 

The Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s IEEPA tariffs, and companies are now faced with the decision of whether to pursue a refund. There are multiple ways to approach the issue. Do you have the time to wait as the process ramps up, or would you rather sell your refund for quick cash now? Here are more factors to consider. 

Mark Strachan: Making waves at OMV 

Mark Strachan, the CEO and co-owner of thermoformer maker OMV Technologies, proves that a lifelong love of both plastics and the ocean can go hand-in-hand. The avid outdoorsman advocates for viewing plastics as a resource, not the enemy, and emphasizes sustainability through advanced processing techniques, recyclable materials and energy-efficient machinery. Learn more about his career and outlook on life. 

Automation in plastics still lags

Sales of industrial and collaborative robots are a useful economic barometer, writes Editor Ron Shinn in his monthly commentary. When business is good or manufacturers think business is going to get better soon, they buy more robots. Slow sales in 2025 indicate that the industry is lagging behind manufacturing in general when it comes to modernizing production floors and taking advantage of all the tools available to alleviate skilled labor shortages. 

What will it take for the dam to break?

In the news in March 

• Plastics machinery shipments rose in the fourth quarter and processors showed more optimism about economic conditions, according to a survey by PLASTICS’ Committee on Equipment Statistics. 
• Fanuc became the latest automation company to announce plans to build robots in the U.S. 
• New leaders were named at Conair, Citex, Husky, the VDMA, Vecoplan and KraussMaffei Corp.
• Blow molding pioneer Charles Sewell, former president of Dorsey Corp. and founder of CKS Packaging, died at 93. He was responsible for the first version of the now-ubiquitous 2-liter PET soft drink bottle, produced for Coca-Cola in 1976.