Contact: Bonnie Merrill Limbach
(202) 974-5210

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI EQUIPMENT STATISTICS SHOW CONTINUING DECLINES IN SHIPMENTS, ORDERS

WASHINGTON (October 9, 2001) – In recently released quarterly data, the Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES) of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) reported continuing declines in shipments of injection molding machines and blow molding machines, as well as in new orders for auxiliary equipment, during the Second Quarter of this year. The Committee also released revised figures for previously reported information for the First Quarter 2001 for injection molding machines.

Data provided in the report include comparisons between the First and Second Quarters of 2001, as well as comparisons of Second Quarter 2001 data against that of Second Quarter 2000. Publicly available for the first time is data on quarterly shipments of components, such as single screws and barrels, for injection and extrusion equipment and shipments of extrusion units.

Among the annual comparisons available in the report:

• Net bookings for auxiliary machines for Second Quarter 2001 were down 32.79 percent in dollar value from Second Quarter 2000.
• Shipments of blow molding machines were down 25 percent in dollar value for Second Quarter 2001 as compared to Second Quarter 2002.
• Shipments of extrusion machines were down 59 percent in units from First Quarter 2000 to First Quarter 2001 and down 41 percent when Second Quarter 2001 is compared to Second Quarter 2000.
• Shipments of barrels for extrusion and injection molding machines in First Quarter 2001 were down 21 percent from First Quarter 2000 and down 33 percent from Second Quarter 2000 to Second Quarter 2001. Shipments of single screws for extrusion and injection molding machines were down 26 percent when First Quarter 2001 is compared with First Quarter 2000 and down 29 percent when Second Quarter activity is compared.
• Shipments of injection molding machines were down 41 percent in units and 46 percent in dollar value when Second Quarter 2001 is compared to Second Quarter 2000. According to revised injection molding machine data for First Quarter 2001, the $210,300 in shipments during that time period was a 29-percent decline from shipments in Fourth Quarter 2000. Revised data also showed a 31-percent decline in units shipped from First Quarter 2000 to First Quarter 2001 and a 32-percent decline in dollar value of shipments during the same period.

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 quarterly equipment data and its 2001 Annual Report 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 updates and analysis (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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