New Market Dynamics in Thermoformed Packaging

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD BY DR. JAMES L. THRONE

PART I - AN OVERVIEW OF THE PLASTIC PACKAGING BUSINESS

1. The Essentials of the Thermoforming Process
2. Thin-Gauge versus Heavy-Gauge Sheet Thermoforming
3. The Cost/Performance Advantages of Thermoformed Packaging

PART II - THE EVOLVING ECONOMICS OF THERMOFORMED PACKAGING

1. The Recent Growth Dynamics in Thermoformed Packaging
2. Corporate Consolidation in Thermoformed Packaging
3. The New Resin Pricing Regime
4. The Drive to Vertical Integration
5. The Changing Production Function in Thermoformed Packaging

PART III - THE SIZE AND GROWTH OF THE THERMOFORMED PACKAGING BUSINESS

1. Value Growth: Annual Sales of Thermoformed Packaging Output, 2001-2004
2. Volume Growth: The Consumption of Plastic Material in Thermoformed Packaging, 2001-2004
3. The Likely Future Growth of Thermoformed Packaging Value and Volume, 2004-2009

PART IV - THE THERMOFORMED PACKAGING PROCESSORS

1. The Shares of Captive, Custom and Proprietary Thermoformed Packaging
2. The Extent of Multi-Dimensional Thermoforming: Packaging and Industrial Product Customer Bases
3. The Geographical Distribution of Thermoformed Packaging Plants
• Intra-Regional Distribution
• Inter-Regional Distribution

PART V - THE PACKAGING THERMOFORMERS' SUPPLY CHAIN

1. The Resins Used in Thin-Gauge Sheet for Thermoformed Packaging
• The Styrenics (EPS, HIPS, OPS)
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
  • The PET Supply/Demand Balance
  • Amorphous PET (APET)
  • Crystalline PET (CPET)
  • PET Glycol (PETG)
  • Foamed PET Recycled PET (RPET, RPETG)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE)
• Polylactic Acid ( PLA )
• Other Specialty Resins
2. Recent Resin Price Increases: The Trend to Resin-Switching
3. The Distribution of Resins in Thermoformed Packaging, 2001-2009
4. Leading Commercial Thin-Gauge Sheet Extruders
5. The Machinery for Thermoformed Packaging
6. Leading Suppliers of Thermoformed Packaging Machinery
7. The Tooling for Thermoformed Packaging
8. Leading Suppliers of Tooling for Thermoformed Packaging

PART VI - THE MAIN APPLICATIONS AND MARKETS FOR THERMOFORMED PACKAGING

1. Primary Thermoformed Packaging Applications
• Blister Packs
• Clamshells
• Cups and Containers
• Trays
• Others
2. Primary Thermoformed Packaging Markets
• Airline Products
• Automotive Products
• Electronic Products
• Food Products
• Food-Service Products
• Healthcare/Pharmaceutical Products
• Medical Products
3. The Size and Growth of Thermoformed Packaging Markets, 2001-2009

PART VII - OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES CONFRONTING THE PACKAGING THERMOFORMERS

1. The Recent Pattern of Technological Change in Thermoformed Packaging
2. Package Integrity vs. Consumer Convenience
3. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
4. Globalization: The Looming Challenge of Competing with China
5. The Emergence of Global Packaging Standards: US/EU Harmonization

PART VIII - PROFILES OF PLAYERS IN THERMOFORMED PACKAGING

1. The Hierarchy of Players in Thermoformed Packaging
2. The Distribution of U.S., Canadian and Mexican Packaging Thermoformers
3. The Presence of Global Companies in Regional Thermoformed Packaging
4. Profiles of Players (82 companies in total)

APPENDIX: THE PCRS THERMOFORMED PACKAGING SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE