Contact: Bonnie Merrill Limbach
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI COMMITTEE ON EQUIPMENT STATISTICS PUBLISHES FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT ON PLASTICS MACHINERY SHIPMENTS

Figures Show Continuing Declines in Units Shipped

WASHINGTON (December 31, 2001) – The Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES) of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) has published its first quarterly report. Expanding on the basic data it began making public in 2001, the CES report provides an overview of plastics equipment shipments from Third Quarter 2000 to Third Quarter 2001. The CES “Third Quarter 2001 Report” also includes an analysis of the U.S. economy and the plastics industry, looking at such factors as general economic indicators and durable goods shipments to provide perspective for trends in plastics equipment sales and shipments.

The report, compiled by VERIS Consulting, LLC, using data supplied by CES participating companies, was created to provide a beneficial and important tool for examining and understanding the vital U.S. plastics machinery and equipment industry.

Among the data included in the report:

• U.S. plastics industry shipments totaled more than $1.22 billion for the period running from Fourth Quarter 2000 to Third Quarter 2001 (excluding components and extrusion, which are not published in dollar terms.)
• The industry saw a 46-percent slowdown in shipments from Third Quarter 2000 to Third Quarter 2001.
• Units of injection molding equipment shipped in Third Quarter 2001 were down 55.8 percent from Third Quarter 2000, while shipment dollars were down 51.2 percent over the same timeframe.
• Units of blow molding equipment shipped in Third Quarter 2001 were down 23.7 percent from Third Quarter 2001, while shipment dollars were down 41.8 percent for the same timeframe.
• Extrusion machinery units shipped in Third Quarter 2001 were down 48.1 percent from Third Quarter 2000, while auxiliary equipment shipment dollars declined 32.6 percent for the same timeframe.
• Plastics equipment components followed the general downward trend in plastics equipment shipments. The trend held for both single screws and barrels.

The CES collects monthly order and shipment data from manufacturers of plastic injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, auxiliary and component equipment manufacturers. The monthly data, compiled by a confidential third-party fiduciary, is aggregated and disseminated to participating companies, making the SPI program the only provider of timely and reliable plastics equipment statistics in the country.

Credit card orders for the Committee's publications can be placed by calling (800) 541-0736. The cost of the Annual Report (Reference No. AB-151) is $145 for SPI members, $290 for non-members. For a one-year subscription, which includes the Annual Report plus the quarterly reports (AB-152), the cost is $295 for members and $590 for non-members.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's 1,500 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw material suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.5 million workers and provides $304 billion in annual shipments.

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