SPI’S ‘BUSINESS OF PLASTICS’ CONFERENCE AT ANTEC 2013

A two-day conference co-located with the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) ANTEC® 2013 will address opportunities and challenges confronting business leaders in four of the plastics industry’s largest markets, it was announced today by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association.

Produced by SPI, the Business of Plastics Conference will include presentations devoted to the automotive, packaging, medical, and electronics markets; multidisciplinary sessions on international, economic, and regulatory factors affecting these sectors; and special sessions on human capital, recycling, and social media.

SPI will present the Business of Plastics Conference during the first two days of ANTEC, on April 22 and 23, 2013. ANTEC 2013, the world’s largest plastics technical conference, will take place April 22-24 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.

“Following the success of the Business of Plastics Conference at NPE2012, SPI is preparing a conference for ANTEC 2013 with altogether new content focusing on the latest developments affecting key markets for our industry,” said Gene Sanders, SPI’s senior vice president of trade shows and conferences. “By partnering with SPE to bring together the technical and business sides of our industry, we will provide an opportunity for ongoing dialogue and collaboration, which are more important than ever given the pace of change and innovation today.”

The agenda for the Business of Plastics Conference at ANTEC 2013 is as follows:

Monday, April 22: 1) opening presentations by SPI president and CEO William R. (Bill) Carteaux and SPI senior director for international affairs and trade Michael Taylor, providing an industry overview and a global business report; 2) a panel discussion in which representatives from the major markets address the economic, supply chain, material cost, sustainability, and regulatory drivers impacting these sectors; and 3) sessions dealing with recycling, human capital issues, and social media.

Tuesday, April 23: a group discussion of topics raised on Monday, followed by sessions focusing on the automotive, packaging, medical, and electronics sectors.

Registration for the Business of Plastics Conference is available at www.antec.ws as part of the ANTEC 2013 registration process. Information on sponsorships can be obtained from Brad Williams at SPI: bwilliams@plasticsindustry.org.

Founded in 1937, SPI is the plastics industry trade association representing the third largest manufacturing industry in the United States. SPI’s member companies represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs nearly1-million workers and provides more than $341 billion in annual shipments. www.plasticsindustry.org

Produced by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), the annual ANTEC is the world’s largest plastics technical conference, consisting entirely of original, peer-reviewed presentations on a variety of topics relevant to today’s global plastics industry. Besides more than 500 papers in 40 different plastics technical areas, ANTEC 2013 will include three “New Technology” forums, four plenary speeches, tutorials for a range of processes and materials, panel discussions, technical seminars for professional advancement, and activities for students and young industry personnel. www.antec.ws.