Market drivers

North America's 25,000 plastics processors are nearly all electric-based. While a portfolio of gas technologies offers the plastics industry a number of benefits, including operating cost savings, improved product quality, increased productivity, and reduced scrap and waste, most users are not aware of the gas options or not convinced of their benefits.

Consortium program

Two successful demonstrations of a gas-based Central Thermal Fluid System (CTFS) offered by Fulton Thermal Systems showed the plastics industry how to employ gas technology to save costs on heat-process fabrication and fostered early sales of 20 CTFS systems in the Midwest and California. A follow-on market-awareness campaign focused on promoting the portfolio of natural gas products available to plastics processors. The consortium and the Industrial Center produced the first edition of Gas Equipment Guide for Plastics Processors that includes product information on catalytic thermoforming heaters, resin dryers, desiccant dehumidification, and engine-driven air compressors and chillers, as well as CTFS. Working with A.G.A. the consortium also produced a special Gas Technology insert for placement in major plastics industry trade magazines and organized workshops with influential industry trade organizations.