Where Industry and Security Intersect
What's New | Sitemap | Search
Effects of Imports of Plastic Injection Molding Machines on the National Security
This report contains the results of an investigation requested in 1988 by the Society of the Plastics Industry under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, as amended. The report studies the effect of imports of plastic injection molding machines (PIMMs) on the national security. PIMMs are used to manufacture a wide range of parts used pervasively in defense applications. The report looks at defense uses of plastics, the performance, competitiveness and capacity of the domestic PIMM industry, and national security requirements. The report found that the domestic PIMM industry's competitiveness had deteriorated in recent years, but that there were encouraging signs of this trend's reversal. The report concluded that available supplies of PIMMs would be sufficient to meet anticipated requirements during a national security emergency, and that PIMMs were not being imported in such quantities or under such circumstances as to represent a threat to the national security.