Apr 3 2009
A new type of educational program organized by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) will offer NPE2009 attendees a choice of more than 100 different presentations on many of the most promising opportunities and critical issues now impacting managers of plastics businesses, SPI announced today. Produced by SPI, NPE2009 will take place June 22-26 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
Called “The Business of Plastics,” the new program is the latest addition to a multifaceted NPE2009 event that will be the largest concentration of expositions, conferences, and special programs ever held for the plastics industry, according to SPI. Besides the NPE international trade show and The Business of Plastics conference, NPE2009 will include six co-located conferences and expositions, including the Society of Plastics Engineers’ ANTEC, the world’s largest plastics technical conference.
The Business of Plastics will take place during the NPE trade show in meeting facilities adjacent to the exhibits. Thus far SPI has scheduled 23 multi-paper conference sessions (see accompanying table and detailed list of presentations) over the five days of show week. By paying the fee for part or all of the Business of Plastics program, NPE2009 registrants receive a free pass to the NPE trade show. Details on fees for all NPE2009 programs can be accessed by pressing the “Register” button at www.npe.org.
“Two goals have guided SPI in developing ‘The Business of Plastics’” said Gene Sanders, vice president of trade shows. “We’ve created a conference that is big enough and diversified enough to address the interests and concerns of a wide range of professionals coming to NPE2009. And we’ve maintained a high level of quality by relying on our own specialized groups within SPI to recruit speakers who are recognized experts in their subject areas.”
The Business of Plastics conference sessions fall roughly into four categories:
- Business strategy and practice: sessions on the global economy, marketing, best practices, and safety.
- Human capital: a full-day workshop on “developing the next generation of engaged leaders” and two “student summits” featuring speed interviews, a tour of the exhibits, and special conference sessions on education and networking.
- Plastics and the environment: sessions on sustainability, bioplastics, and energy efficiency; one of the sustainability sessions will focus solely on packaging.
- Polymer and process innovations: sessions on resin trends, processing technology, and nanotechnology.