Substitution saves on materials costs
A
Smithers Rapra product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jun 16, 2008
Smithers Rapra is being increasingly approached for possible solutions to limit the impact of rising material prices by investigating material substitution.
Smithers Rapra reports an increase in enquiries for consultancy services on materials replacement and material grade substitution.
A major concern for the plastics industry has been the steady increase in plastic prices of recent weeks.
Materials costs are posing a significant economic challenge to manufacturers in high volume markets.
Price rises follow the current escalating cost of crude oil.
The question is, will the market harmonise and return to the prices of just 12 months ago?.
The best and safest option is to assume a worst case scenario and anticipate further price increases.
Manufacturers of plastic products are faced with an economic burden as they depend on a reliable, continuous supply of competitively priced plastic resin to maintain profitability.
Smithers Rapra is being increasingly approached for possible solutions to limit the impact of rising material prices by investigating material substitution.
As an independent consultant, Smithers Rapra can take advantage of the free market and offer possible savings by identifying alternative grades which can give similar or improved performance at reduced cost.
It is unlikely plastic prices will return to the levels of 2007, medium term they may well harmonise but long term plastic producers will have to be willing to react to changes in order to remain competitive.
Moulders must continue to find new innovative ways to keep costs down, identifying new materials, sources and material alternatives.
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