Good morning! Smart factory technology may finally be reaching the point where it makes financial sense for many plastics processors. Costs have come down and machines are easier to connect. At the same time, the skilled labor shortage isn't going to resolve anytime soon. Read on to see if it might be right for you.

We've rounded up our top stories of the past month, in case you weren't keeping up on PMM from your beach chair. LS Mtron is expanding its sales team, and Faro Creaform has a new scanner. If you're planning an event for Manufacturing Day, our colleagues at IndustryWeek want to hear about it.

Lynne Sherwin, editor