Sustainability And Resiliency Take Center Stage At Polyurethanes 2009 Technical Conference
Arlington, VA - Scientists, engineers, manufacturers and business leaders from around the world will discuss future growth and opportunities at the Polyurethanes 2009 Technical Conference, October 5 – 7 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, just outside Washington, D.C. Sponsored by Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), this year's Conference will include more than 80 technical papers in 16 technical sessions, as well as numerous poster presentations, educational seminars and the annual Polyurethane Innovation Awards. CPI will release its biannual 2008 End Use Market Survey on the Polyurethane Industry in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and two special issue sessions will address the Green Chemistry Initiative and turning recession into opportunity using new polyurethane applications.
"Sustainability and innovation are especially important to the many industries that rely on polyurethane materials to help them solve their most pressing challenges," says Neeva-Gayle Candelori, director, ACC Center for the Polyurethanes Industry. "The global recession has highlighted the versatility and resiliency of polyurethanes in helping companies reduce both cost and carbon footprint while continuing to deliver exceptional value and performance. The
Polyurethanes 2009 Technical Conference is a great opportunity for anyone interested in hearing the latest developments, finding new ways to overcome economic challenges, and planning for the future."
Economics and enterprise take the spotlight from day one, with a special issue session titled: "From Downturn to Recovery: Unlocking Potential in a Recession." Running concurrently will be the Processing Innovations technical session, which includes four papers featuring time and performance improvements to several mixhead systems for a variety of polyurethane materials. In addition, a new overview seminar on polyurethane equipment and processing will be part of the "Professional Development Program." And nearly every session, from "Advances in Automotive Processing Technologies" to "Flexible Foam" to "Footwear" and "Construction One: Building Blocks of the Construction Industry," will address the importance of cost efficiency.
Green technologies, applications and industry issues are a dominant theme again at this year's Conference, highlighted by the special issue session titled "Regulatory and Legislative Impacts of a "Greening" Regulatory Landscape." Scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, October 6, this expert panel discussion will follow two closely related papers during the morning Environment, Health & Safety session that cover both the California Green Chemistry Initiative and the U.S. Environmental Protections Agency's (EPA) alternative ChAMP program. Two Renewable Content sessions are scheduled again this year, with overflow papers scheduled in other sessions relating to the end use, such as elastomers and automotive.
The Blowing Agents session will include an overview of future directions, followed by the introduction of four new blowing agents by leading global manufacturers. Virtually all the papers in three separate Construction sessions address sustainability and/or energy efficiency as they relate to high performance polyurethane insulation, roofing, sealing and other applications. The two Automotive sessions focus on new technologies and products that highlight polyurethane's impact on reducing weight and noise in finished cars and trucks, improving productivity and post-production processes, and helping automakers adjust to rapidly changing regulations and consumer demands.
Registration for the Polyurethanes 2009 Technical Conference is now open. To register, please visit: www.polyurethane.org/conference2009.
For more information about CPI and the Polyurethanes 2009 Technical Conference, contact CPI at 703-741-5103, or visit www.americanchemistry.com/polyurethane for entry forms or to register.
SOURCE: The American Chemistry Council (ACC)