Idea Transcript
Plastics Industry Trends A snapshot of materials, technology and top industry challenges
MARCH 2015
Study Overview Objectives To assess: Current use of materials and technology and unmet needs Changing role of the materials supplier Top industry issues and challenges
Methodology: Online survey administered via email invitation to plastics industry professionals in February 2015. Multiple sample lists including subscribers to Plastics News and registrants to DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymer and DuPont Performance Polymers web sites. Response is about 50/50 from the two sources. 813 respondents qualified themselves as being involved in the selection, use or purchase of resins, polymers or elastomers.
3/19/2015
Most respondents use engineering polymers, general polymers and elastomers. Job functions are primarily research & development, management and the design community. Markets primarily served are automotive, industrial and electrical/electronic. Nearly half of respondents are based in the U.S.; one fourth in Europe and the rest from regions around the world.
PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRENDS — MARCH 2015
2
Material/Technology Findings Current Materials Portfolio Needs Augmented to Meet Industry Need While 34% of the plastics community is fully satisfied with the current resin portfolio, more than half say they have unmet needs.
8%
3%
8%
SUFFICIENT — I've got all the resin product I need
34%
SOMEWHAT SUFFICIENT — I've got most of the resin products I need, but there a few new products I wish for. UNSURE
SOMEWHAT INSUFFICIENT — I've got some resin products I need, but a whole lot more resins need to be invented.
47%
INSUFFICIENT — I need a whole new portfolio of resin products for the future. Base = 706
QUESTION: How sufficient is today’s resins portfolio for the development of products that meet industry needs? 3/19/2015 PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRENDS — MARCH 2015
Source: 2015 DuPont, Plastics News ‘Plastics Industry Trends’ survey conducted by Plastics News
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Material/Technology Findings Industry Wants to Enhance the Same Material Attributes They Value Today 14%
RELY ON 14%
17%
ENHANCED
9%
19%
10%
15%
5% 11%
11%
10%
8%
8% 5%
9%
6% 4%
6%
5%
5%
5%
4%
Base = 706
QUESTIONS: Please rank the Top 3 material properties you RELY ON most. Please rank the Top 3 material properties you would like to see ENHANCED in resins. 3/19/2015 PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRENDS — MARCH 2015
Source: 2015 DuPont, Plastics News ‘Plastics Industry Trends’ survey conducted by Plastics News
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Material/Technology Findings Polymer Property Enhancements Tops the List of Technology Requests About 3 in 5 plastics professionals surveyed see a need for improved polymer properties — with ‘recycle technology’ not too far behind.
POLYMER MECHANICAL PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS
57%
RECYCLE TECHNOLOGY
42%
PROCESSING ENHANCEMENTS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY
35%
MULTI-MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES
31%
3D PRINTING
31%
NANOTECHNOLOGY
OTHER
26% Totals are greater than 100 due to multiple answers.
5%
Base = 655
QUESTION: Which of the following technologies need to be enhanced? 3/19/2015 PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRENDS — MARCH 2015
Source: 2015 DuPont, Plastics News ‘Plastics Industry Trends’ survey conducted by Plastics News
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Material Supplier Findings Materials Suppliers are More Important Today Nearly 40% say the role of material supplier is more important than it was 3 years ago.
IS MORE IMPORTANT UNCHANGED LESS IMPORTANT
Base = 671
QUESTION: How has the role of the material supplier changed in the past 3 years (since the last NPE)? 3/19/2015 PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRENDS — MARCH 2015
Source: 2015 DuPont, Plastics News ‘Plastics Industry Trends’ survey conducted by Plastics News
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Top Issue Findings Environment, Sustainability, Competitive Global Environment and Unstable Oil Prices Top the List Plastics Industry Issues
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
15%
COMPETITIVE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
15%
UNSTABLE OIL PRICES
14%
GLOBAL ECONOMY/CURRENCY CHALLENGES
11%
REGULATORY CHALLENGES
9%
OTHER
9%
CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF PLASTICS
8%
WORKFORCE SHORTAGES
8% 6%
CONSOLIDATION IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN AGING EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
5%
Other is composed of counterfeit products and materials, social unrest and maintaining shareholder returns, which each received less than 4%
Base = 688
QUESTION: Please rank in order what you believe are the top 3 concerns facing the plastics industry. 3/19/2015 PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRENDS — MARCH 2015
Source: 2015 DuPont, Plastics News ‘Plastics Industry Trends’ survey conducted by Plastics News
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Business Characteristics of Respondents What type of polymers do you typically work with? 60%
59% 45% 30% 24% 15%
ENGINEERING GENERAL PLASTICS ELASTOMERS SPECIALTY PLASTICS (E.G. (E.G. PP, PS, ABS, (THERMOPLASTIC & ENGINEERING NYLON/PA, PET, PVC) THERMOSET RESINS (E.G. PEEK, PBT, ACETAL/POM, ELASTOMERS) PPS, PPA, LCP) ALLOYS)
ETHYLENE COPOLYMERS
THERMOSETS (POLYESTER, PHENOLIC, EPOXY)
11%
9%
PACKAGING MATERIALS (BARRIER RESINS, OPP, OPET, BOPA)
BIO-BASED POLYMERS
Base = 785
Which title best describes your role? 27% 24%
22%
8%
8%
8% 4%
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, PRODUCT, BRAND, SALES
INDUSTRIAL OR PRODUCT DESIGN/DESIGN ENGINEERING OR MANAGEMENT
PURCHASING
TECHNICAL SERVICE/TROUBLE SHOOTING
Other includes quality control/quality assurance, finance/human resources/consulting services, software or Information Technology (IT)
3/19/2015 PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRENDS — MARCH 2015
OPERATIONS
OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
Base = 767
Source: 2015 DuPont, Plastics News ‘Plastics Industry Trends’ survey conducted by Plastics News
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