Notes
from the Road…3
(RotoWorld Magazine, May June 2008 Volume IV, Issue 3)
Associating with Success
One of the best things to happen in rotomolding in recent
years is the development of a network of organizations around the world: ARMI,
ARMA, ARMO, IRMA, ARMSA,
LAD
, CEED, SARD, AFR, AISR, ARMCE, RMCC, WHEW! While it can sometimes be tough to
keep up with them, it is clear that there is a demand for what they are doing
locally. Active groups are benefiting from a global network of suppliers,
speakers and topics like never before and are providing the ideal forums which
allow molders to gather and share knowledge and allow suppliers to reach molders
in a concentrated format. Some groups are small and some are big but the best of
them figure out what their customers (both molders & suppliers) want and try
to give it to them cost-effectively. Starry-eyed newcomers are the easiest for
them to satisfy but it is the jaded old timers that need inspiration and are the
ones that the associations find hardest to satisfy.
ARMANI is the latest addition to this crop of acronyms –
the Association of Rotational Molders
ANtartIca is proposing a new group to serve local interests. They’ve
started out well by surveying all their existing members (1 whale, 3 sharks, 2
orcas, 14 seals and 32 penguins) one-on-one
for input on how things should be run and contacted previous members (some of
whom were unfortunately swallowed by other members) and potential new members personally
to see what they can do to attract them. Survival in cold environments means
that close contact is necessary and they are working on ways to improve trust
and regular communication. A conference is scheduled for December 1 on the first
iceberg north of the pole, with a call for papers due soon: fishing related
topics will receive priority.
Sales Up, Margins Down
With material prices on an inexorable upward spiral, some
molders are finding themselves in the bizarre position of seeing increasing
sales revenue but in combination with shrinking margins. While it can be
difficult to obtain accurate data on material and markets anywhere around the
world, data published by Plastics News on the sales of the top 75 molders in the
US
shows that the rotomolding market there is trending to a mature level as shown
below. Overall material usage in North America has reportedly changed little
over the last few years which means that the recent spike in sales volume in the
chart is perhaps more related to material pricing passed on to customers than
true market gains (although there were also some changes to the reported data by
toymakers). Growth in new rotomolding markets may be compromised by these higher
material prices and there may even be a tipping point at which some markets
revert to traditional materials; for example, fuel tanks. For anyone interested
in analyses of rotomolding markets, Peter Mooney of PCRS (+1 (336) 998 8004) has
just completed a study of the North American rotomolding market (which
interestingly points out that while material pricing is a problem there, another
major impediment to growth is the ability to find and retain good people), while
in Europe, Arvada (+44 (0) 1283 790820) offers a report on Central European
end-user markets and
AMI
(+44 (0) 117 924 9442) provides an overview of molders in Europe.
Sales Volume ($) for Top 75 US Molders (’94-’07)
Troubleshooting for Real
While I enjoy the freewheeling rotomolding approach to
troubleshooting (see last month’s comments), there is actually a better way
that you might like to try – the scientific method. (I think the Greeks had
something to do with this….)
- Review
your problem and data carefully
- Establish
a baseline – set a known, repeatable starting point
- Formulate
your hypothesis of what is causing the problem
- Test
the hypothesis one variable at a time
- Observe
everything – look around the
problem as well directly at it
- If
the hypothesis still fits – check another variable
- If
it doesn’t – adjust your hypothesis
- Repeat
until the cause is understood and a solution developed
Remember that while rotomolding cycles can make this a
long, slow process, it is the best way.
An Irish Rotomolding Blessing
And finally, with the ARMO conference in
Belfast
just around the corner, a few uplifting words from
Ireland
’s rotomolders to speed you on your way…
♣
May your roads be lined with barriers
♣
May the wind cool your molds
♣
May your powder flow like Guinness
♣
May you be a rock and not to roll
♣
May your parting lines clean themselves
♣
May you forever release and never stick
♣
May your tubes never clog (vents, that is)
♣
May your parts be straight and warpage free
♣
and may you be on a tropical island years before the taxman knows
you’re gone….
