The market for metal injection molding (MIM) is bounding ahead at a 14%/yr pace, according to a new report, “Metal and Ceramic Injection Molding,” from BCC Research (Wellesley, MA), with the total market for MIM parts to reach $2.7 billion by 2014. That’s a far cry from the many billions spent on molded thermoplastic parts, but the growth rate is bound to grab the attention of some plastics processors keen to tap into a related but swifter-developing market.
Plus, say some who have worked in... Read Full Story
Producers and packaging associations claim improvements to cost, performance and moisture barrier properties of bioplastics as well as more investment in sorting technology to prevent contamination of recycling waste streams will enable the industry to compete more effectively with conventional plastics.
Bioplastics are a form of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, corn starch or pea starch. However, many are reliant on fossil fuel-derived energy for their... Read Full Story
by Staff Writers
New York NY (SPX) Nov 17, 2008
Until about 20 years ago, the U.S. battery market was considered mature, with demand closely related to sales of either automobiles or various consumer products. Since then, advanced batteries have helped spark a dramatic change in this relationship.
“Large and advanced battery” is an arbitrary designation developed by BCC Research to describe a market-driven battery classification. As defined in this report, large and advanced batt... Read Full Story
The global market for digital photography technology will be worth $230.9 billion in 2013. According to a report by BCC Research, it was worth $136.7 billion in 2007 and an estimated $155.0 billion in 2008. Digital photography products are the larger market segment, generating $91.0 billion in 2007. The markets are substantially larger than they were in the past because a much greater number of people are more passionately involved with digital photography than with silver halide photography.... Read Full Story
According to a new technical market research report, “Alternative Chemical Products and Processes”, from BCC Research, the U.S. market for alternative chemical products is expected to be worth $ 46.6 billion in 2008. This will increase to $ 94.8 billion in 2013, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3%. The market is broken down by end-use alternative chemical products and includes plastics, packaging, cleaning and detergent products, miscellaneous specialty chemicals and other chemical ... Read Full Story
The fitness industry’s core membership, 18- to 49-year-olds, will experience virtually no population growth between 2006 and 2016, according to U.S. Census data analysis by the SIR Boomer Project. The impact from this is already being felt, as, for the first time in more than a decade, fitness membership numbers are on the decline. Compounding this decline is the fact that fitness centers keep spending obscene amounts of money to persuade the already-converted to join, while the industr... Read Full Story
Mark Shortt
Editorial Director
All over the U.S., people are wondering aloud whether manufacturing that left our shores is now ready to come back. Factors like greater supply chain efficiency and intellectual property security, coupled with high shipping costs and the rising cost of labor overseas, have many believing that the pendulum may be swinging back in favor of manufacturing in the United States.
How this ultimately plays out remains to be seen, but there’s plenty of reason to b... Read Full Story
WELLESLEY, Mass.—According to a new technical market research report, Nutraceuticals:global markets and processing technologies (FOD013C) from BCC Research, the global market for nutraceuticals was worth $117.3 billion in 2007. This is expected to increase to $123.9 billion in 2008 and reach $176.7 billion in 2013, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4 percent.
The market is broken down into nutraceutical foods, beverages and supplements. Nutraceutical foods were the largest market segm... Read Full Story
3M Co., best known for its Scotch Tape, Post-it brand notes and adhesives, is going into the wind-energy business, with a new line of fillers and protective coverings that can extend the life of wind turbine blades.
The 3M Wind Tape product line, part of the $24.5 billion Maplewood-based company’s new Renewable Energy division, puts 3M Co. in the middle of the scramble to develop renewable energy that will reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels and pare global greenhouse gas emissions... Read Full Story
According to a new technical market research report, Engineering Resins, Polymer Alloys and Blends from BCC Research, the North American market for engineering resins and polymer alloys/blends reached 1.5 billion kg (3.3 billion pounds) in 2007. This is expected to increase to 1.54 billion kg (3.4 billion pounds) in 2008 and reach more than 1.77 billion kg (3.9 billion pounds) in 2013, for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1 per cent.
The market is broken down into polycarbonates, nyl... Read Full Story
