EPPM's top 10 plastics headlines of 2014: Part 2

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What was the most read plastics story published by EPPM in 2014? Well we're going to tell you.

In part two of our countdown - which utilises Twitter data to see which stories on the EPPM website got the most clicks - we revisit Interplas, which took place over three days from September 30th to October 2nd in Birmingham this year. Moreover, we experience a bit of the 3D printing hype for ourselves, with two of the scattering of additive manufacturing stories we published this year making our top five.

Finally, performance plastics both in automotive and sport made our top five for 2014, with big materials companies proving they have the clout to make ripples in the European plastics industry.

But which, out of Interplas, performance plastics and 3D printing got the most clicks?

5. 3D printing 'to give plastics $1.4bn boost by 2019'

3D printing is expected to boost the international plastics industry by $1.4 billion by 2019. This is according to a report from industry analyst SmarTech Markets Publishing entitled 'Plastics in 3D printing markets: A 10-year opportunity forecast', which states the market for polymers used for additive manufacturing is already worth $310 million and will balloon to $1.4 billion in the next five years.

4. Deeper into the hot zone

At Fakuma 2014, DSM launched the next generation of high temperature-resistant polyamides for automotive applications where temperatures can soar to as high as 260 degrees centigrade.

EPPM caught up with European Sales Manager, Automotive, Joost D'Hooghe and Global Segment Manager, Air/Fuel, Kurt Maschke at the major European plastics event to learn more about the Diablo grades and how DSM is positioning itself in the automotive supply chain as OEMS increasingly turn to plastics to reduce weight and cost.

3. We love Interplas!

Interplas comes around once every three years and 2014 was the triumphant return of the leading UK plastics event after Rapid News Communications took over the show in 2011. Given its triennial cycle, this was team EPPM's first Interplas outing and Editor Rose Brooke blogs about her experience of the three-day event.

2. OWZAT! A. Schulman & Perrite team up with BM Injection on thermoplastic cricket helmet

One of the world's leading suppliers of high-performance plastic compounds, powders and resins has put its expertise to good use on the sports field, potentially revolutionising that icon of the British summertime - the cricket helmet.

1. Treating additive manufacturing like any other process

EuroMold in Frankfurt has branded itself the leading platform for additive manufacturing in mainland Europe and the atmosphere in 2014 is quite different to that of 12 months ago, with nifty desktop systems designed for the consumer and prosumer making way for displays of where additive manufacturing can benefit big industry.

One company that has the measure of 3D printing and its place in mainstream manufacturing is Proto Labs and EPPM sat down with Managing Director John Tumelty and Country Manager Thomas Langensiepen to get their opinion of where additive manufacturing fits.

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