U.S. equipment market still flat

U.S. plastics equipment shipments showed a slight increase in the second quarter compared with the first quarter of 2003, however sales were still 4.6% below that for the same period in 2002. Overall, second quarter plastic equipment shipments totaled $294 million, according to a report released by SPI’s Committee on Equipment Statistics. The report is indicative of on-going stagnation in the industry as it struggles with foreign competition and over-capacity.
While equipment shipments rose overall in the second quarter, certain sectors declined when compared with the first quarter. Blow molding equipment took the biigest hit, registering a 21% decline versus the first quarter. Shipments of injection molding machines dropped 3.3%, while auxiliary equipment shipments fell 1.8% compared to the first quarter.
Extrusion equipment shipments showed the largest gain, increasing 44.4% compared with the first quarter of 2003.