Extrusion International 5-2026-USA

43 Extrusion International 4/2025 IATF Certi cation Earned Orion announced that its conductive additives plant in France has earned the International Automotive Task Force certi cation. Commonly known as IATF 16949, the certi cation is the automotive industry’s seal of approval for quality. It con- rms that Orion’s facility in Berre-l'Étang has rigorous pro - cesses in place to consistently produce products that meet the demanding standards of automotive manufacturers. “Achieving IATF certi cation demonstrates to our cus - tomers that Orion follows internationally recognized quali- ty practices and maintains an ongoing focus on operational excellence,” said Dr. Sandra Niewiem, senior vice president and managing director for Global Specialty Carbon Black and the EMEA Region. “It gives automotive customers con- dence that we have the systems, controls and discipline to meet their rigorous expectations.” To achieve the certi cation, Orion documented processes, conducted audits, addressed risks and demonstrated a com- mitment to continuous improvement, among other steps. The Berre-l'Étang site repurposes acetylene gas – a byproduct from a neighboring plant – and upcycles it to create acetylene black, a conductive additive used in lithium-ion batteries, high-voltage wire and cable, tire bladders and other applications. The facility in southern France has a wet-beading unit that pelletizes the acety- lene black powder, making it dust-free and easier to package and process. Orion’s plants in the Chinese cities of Huaibei and Qing - dao also have IATF certi cations. The IATF is a group of automakers and automotive trade associations that develops and oversees automotive quali- ty standards worldwide. IATF certi cations are awarded by independent, accredited bodies that have been approved to conduct IATF 16949 audits.\ Orion S.A. orioncarbons.com Orion’s plant in France is the only facility in Europe that produces acetylene-based conductive additives – a key material for lithium- ion batteries and high-voltage cables for solar and wind farms. The company is building another such plant in La Porte, Texas, which with be the only facility of its kind in the U.S. Economic Analysis Finds Continued Resilience in U.S. Auto Industry The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Chief Econo- mist, Dr. Perc Pineda, has released a new economic analysis examining the continued resilience of the U.S. automotive industry, a key end market for plastics. Despite tariffs, geo- political uncertainty and energy-cost pressures, the analy- sis shows that vehicle demand, production and new orders remain rm. Dr. Pineda writes, “For now, the data point to resilience rather than deterioration. Sales remain above 16 million units, new-vehicle price increases are moderate, motor vehicle orders are growing, assemblies have returned to levels last seen in 2023, and North American production is edging higher. The longer-term challenge is whether the industry can maintain competitiveness while managing tar- iffs, global supply-chain exposure, energy costs, and pro- ductivity.” To read the full analysis on the PLASTICS blog: www.plasticsindustry.org/blog/ automotive-demand-resilient-2026/