SPE recently announced a significant change with their Women’s Networking Lunch, an annual event that occurs during ANTEC®, the largest, most respected and well-known technical conference in the plastics industry. The networking lunch, renamed Working Together: A Conversation on Diversity and Inclusion in the Plastics Industry, takes place on April 1 and is being held to foster thought-provoking discussion that will continue to propel this important topic into the future.
For more than 5 years, SPE, with the financial support of the PLASTICS Industry Association, has provided free memberships to undergraduate and graduate students who are in plastics-related fields of study. Although the participation of PLASTICS has ended, SPE has not only maintained its free Student Membership option, the Society has extended this membership offering to young professionals during their first two years of working in the industry.
The organizing committee for the SPE® Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) invites graduate, undergraduate, community college, and high school students to submit abstracts on innovative composites technologies, for automotive and ground transportation, for its annual student poster scholarship competition. The competition will be held during the ACCE at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan (in the Detroit suburbs) September 9 - 11, 2020.
The organizing committee for the SPE® Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) invites graduate, undergraduate, and community college students to submit applications for three SPE ACCE scholarships and an additional award from the endowed scholarship funded in honor of the late Dr. Jackie Rehkopf, a long-time SPE ACCE volunteer and automotive composites expert. Applications are due April 1, 2020 and winners will be announced prior to the 2020 SPE ACCE event, September 9 - 11, 2020 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan (in the Metro-Detroit area).
The SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) team is announcing its Call for Papers, Exhibitors & Sponsors for their 20th annual event September 9 - 11, 2020 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich. in the Detroit suburbs.
The SPE Thermoset Div. is announcing its first keynote speaker for their annual TopCon event to be held on May 12 – 13, 2020 at the Monona Terrace and Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin. “Thermosets - a Historical and Future Perspective," will be presented by Professor Tim A. Osswald, Director of the Polymer Engineering Center (PEC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Are you someone that fears going into your supervisor’s office to request permission to attend ANTEC®? Have you ever been greeted with a hasty “no way, your time is better spent in the lab” when asking for funding to travel to any conference? If so, this webinar is for you. In this webinar, Jason Lyons, Business Manager of Arkema’s Kepstan®PEKK Product Line, will guide you through several strategies that he has used over his career to not only obtain funding to attend ANTEC®, but to support other SPE initiatives along the way.
SPE recently announced the 2020 recipients for two of its prestigious awards: the Honored Service Members (HSM) Award and the Fellow of Society Award. The recipients will be honored at ANTEC® 2020, taking place March 29-April 2 at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas.
SPE is adding two workshops to its ANTEC® 2020 educational roster with each taking place on Sunday, March 29 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio. Workshop #1 will focus on entrepreneurship and Workshop #2 will address using non-halogen flame retardants thermoplastics.
This year’s conference will introduce a new programming format, featuring four keynotes each day and more than 300 concurrent sessions, including presentations on additive manufacturing, applied rheology, automotive, bioplastics and renewable technologies, blow molding, chemical recycling and the circular economy, coatings, membranes and thin films, and more!
ANTEC® 2020 attendees will no longer have to miss out on ANTEC® or any ANTEC® events because they don’t have childcare. New this year, SPE is offering childcare on premises at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio each day during the largest, most respected and well-known technical conference in the plastics industry.
General Summary: Duties include travel throughout assigned region educating students in grades 5-12, teachers, and general public about the chemistry, history, processing, sustainability, environmental issues and social impact of plastics. Outreach Educators must enjoy teaching all levels of students in an informal and enthusiastic manner.
This webinar, presented by Dennis Gros, MBS Advisors, on January 14th, looks at salary trends and the factors that affect your money. Gros provides an overview of the past five years of employment in the plastics industry. Specifically, he analyzes the growth curve of compensation for roles in manufacturing, engineering, sales, supply chain, and general management.
Please participate in a brief survey on compensation and employment trends in the plastics industry. Your input is needed so that we can create the most robust and accurate report available anywhere. SPE and MBS Advisors have conducted this important research every year since 2008. This year the report will contain additional demographic analyses, including compensation levels by region, experience, education and, most importantly, gender.
On the latest episode of PlastChicks - The Voices of Resin - Mercedes Landazuri and Doreen Baker, Global Sustainability Director, Ampacet and Chair, SPE Color and Appearance Division, discuss color and sustainability in plastics, as well as other challenges in the plastics industry.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Failure and Compositional Analysis, presented on January 9 by Jeffrey A. Jansen, Senior Managing Engineer and Partner, The Madison Group, is focused on the technique for the analysis of organic materials. It provides critical information in the evaluation of polymeric materials, including material identification, contamination, and degradation. This webinar features a fundamental understanding of the technique.
Michael Greskiewicz has been appointed as new Director of Sponsorships and Exhibits at SPE. With 30 years of experience, Michael is results-driven with a proven ability to successfully develop and manage overall sales and marketing strategies with a specific focus on sponsorship and exhibit sales.
Failure Associated with Injection Molding Defects, presented on December 12 by Jeffrey A. Jansen, Senior Managing Engineer and Partner, The Madison Group, is focused on preventative measures in injection molding, including appropriate material selection, proper mold design, and process development.
The annual 2020 plastics industry Salary Survey, conducted jointly by SPE and MBS Advisors, is slated to open for participation in January. According to Dennis Gros, President of the Recruiting Division of MBS Advisors, the Salary Survey measures how the plastics industry performs when it comes to compensation and work-life balance.
SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals recently announced several new editorial appointments for the following SPE technical journals: Polymer Engineering & Science, Polymer Composites, and the Journal of Vinyl & Additive Technology. The new editorial team is focused on ensuring smooth journal operations including good authorial experience in the submission process, timely peer reviews, and objective decision-making in the publication process. The new editorial team plans to expand the reach of SPE journals to much broader global scientific communities. Publication of invited comprehensive review articles on maturing research and perspective articles on emerging research is a top priority.
I am not a fan of graduation speeches, TED Talks, or any other lecture that includes the phrase “follow your passion.” I think it is one of the most useless and overrated phrases people lean on to make you think they're really onto something. Now, before you assume I'm a work‐hating passion‐free person, let me explain my train of thought (Godspeed to you, dear Reader).
The SPE Asean seminar 2019 was held at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The focus of the seminar was to apprise attendees on the latest developments in plastic applications and to promote the industry.
At some point you’re going to need to take more than a day or two off of work. It might be for a vacation, it might be for parental leave, or it might be for something you didn’t plan on like sick relative or an accident. Obviously the unplanned absences are harder to prepare for (unless you have a solid Magic 8 Ball on your side), but there are a few things you could do so you don’t leave your company in the lurch should that type of situation come up. Here are some of the ways you can be prepared to take off, whatever the situation may be.
Innovative technology and equipment offer superior process control and produce better parts with higher repeatability and reproducibility. In a recent article published in the October 2019 issue of Plastics Engineering, new developments by Kansas City, Mo., startup Ripple Engineering address two of the most frustrating challenges with rotational molding (rotomolding): long cycle times and poor part repeatability and reproducibility (R&R).
SPE is pleased to announce the opening of its new headquarters office in Connecticut. Located at 100 Reserve Rd, Suite B310 in Danbury, the SPE office will be situated in The Summit at Danbury, a 1.3 million square foot living, working, and recreational environment located within 99 wooded acres. Well-known in the plastics industry, The Summit property was formerly home to Union Carbide’s headquarters building.
The Automotive Division of SPE recently announced the winners for its 49th annual Automotive Innovation Awards Competition, the oldest and largest recognition event in the automotive and plastics industries.
In October's issue of Plastics Engineering, Jeffrey A. Jansen, Senior Managing Engineer and Partner, The Madison Group and popular SPE webinar presenter, shares this advice for those new to the plastics industry: "Learn as much as you can related to plastics materials. Building a fundamental knowledge of plastics at a structural and molecular level will serve you well across material, processing, and design aspects."
Giving High Impact Feedback, presented on October 17 by Rick Lepsinger, Managing Partner, OnPoint Consulting, is focused on helping managers and team leaders create a climate that supports open feedback, provides strategies to reduce defensiveness, and ensures feedback is perceived as useful.
Deadline for submitting papers into ANTEC® 2020 is October 25! Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to the largest, most respected and well-known technical conference in the plastics industry.
Degradation Failure of Plastics, presented on October 10 by Jeffrey A. Jansen, Senior Managing Engineer and Partner, The Madison Group, is focused on plastics susceptibility to molecular degradation through a variety of exposures. Topics include: plastic molecular degradation; material susceptibility to degradation; stabilizers to prevent degradation; testing; and more.
On the most recent episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin podcast, hosts Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri talk to guest Eric R. Larson, Author and Founder/Chief Engineer at Art of Mass Production, during ANTEC® 2019. The trio riffs on plastics, Eric's new book for children, and linguistics.
The first Plastic-Metal Hybrid (PMH) front end structure, used on the 1999 C170 Ford Focus GOR from Ford Motor Company, has been named the 2019 Hall of Fame winner by the Automotive Division SPE.
Bumps & Bruises: Starting Your First Real Job, presented on October 1 by Jeremy Dworshak, Plastics Engineer, Steinwall, is focused on maneuvering through the landscape of your first job. Topics covered include understanding your role in the workplace, effectively working with peers, planning your future and more. Bumps & Bruises: Starting Your First Real Job and dozens of recorded webinars are currently available to SPE members in the SPE Library.
The SPE Thermoforming Division has announced the winners of its annual parts competition. The awards were presented during the Thermoforming Division’s annual conference, held last week in Milwaukee, WI.
Five nationwide to receive scholarships from the SPE Thermoforming Division. Recipient information can be found here.
Introduction to Design for Rotational Molding, presented on September 18th by Michael Paloian, President, Integrated Design Systems, is focused on the rotational molding process, applications and basic design guidelines. Webinar highlights include the distinctions between rotational molding and other processes (i.e. injection molding) and touches on gaining technical knowledge and learning basic skills necessary to understanding rotational molding. Introduction to Design for Rotational Molding and dozens of recorded webinars are currently available to SPE members in the SPE Library.
ANTEC® 2020, taking place March 30-April 2 in San Antonio, TX, is the largest, most respected and well-known technical conference in the plastics industry. SPE is now accepting paper submissions for publication and presentation. Present the latest topics in industrial, national laboratory and academic work. Raise awareness and share your findings in polymer research or new and improved products and technologies.
The organizing committee for the SPE® Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) announced the Best Paper Award winners of the group’s nineteenth-annual show, Sept. 4 – 6, 2019. Three authors, who received the highest average ratings by conference peer reviewers out of a field of close to 100 contenders, will be honored for excellence in technical writing with a commemorative plaque during the SPE ACCE opening ceremonies on September 4th.
The organizing committee for the SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) announced the winners of the group’s annual SPE ACCE scholarships and the Dr. Jackie Rehkopf scholarships from an endowed fund that has been set up to honor the long-time SPE ACCE committee member, SPE Automotive Division board member, and automotive composites researcher.
Over 40 SPE Foundation Scholarship recipients for 2019 were announced on August 29. The SPE Foundation offers numerous scholarships to students who have demonstrated or expressed interest in the plastics industry.
The 57th Annual SPE Color and Appearance Division RETEC® will be held in Cleveland, OH September 23 – 25, 2019. Take advantage of early rates and register by 9/6/2019 to save $100. Event includes two full days of technical sessions, 60+ exhibitors showcasing products and services as well as multiple networking opportunities.
ANTEC® 2020 is the largest, most respected and well-known technical conference in the plastics industry. SPE is now accepting paper submissions for publication and presentation. Present the latest in industrial, national laboratory and academic work. Share your findings in polymer research or new and improved products and technologies.
The executive planning committee for the SPE® Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) is announcing the third keynote speaker for their 19th annual event September 4 – 6, 2019 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich. in the Detroit suburbs.
Michael J. Whitens, retired former Global Director for Ford’s Vehicle and Enterprise Sciences at Ford’s Research and Innovation Center, has been named the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the Automotive Division of the SPE.
The executive planning committee for the SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) is announcing the second keynote speaker for their 19th annual event September 4 – 6, 2019 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich. Gulay Serhatkulu, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials North America, BASF Corp. will present “Chemistry-Driven Composite Innovation – the Future is Now.” The presentation will outline the challenges facing composites solutions in the automotive industry and what needs to happen to increase the adoption.
SPE recently announced Accede Mold & Tool Co., Inc. as an SPE Preferred Partner. An SPE Preferred Partner is a converter, manufacturer, solutions provider or product distributor that has been recognized by SPE for demonstrated leadership and innovation in the plastics industry.
Nominations are now open for SPE Honored Service Members and Fellow-of-the-Society. Fellows are honored for their contributions in the fields of plastics engineering, science or technology, or in the management of such activities and Honored Service Members are recognized for their outstanding service to the Society and its objectives. For more information, please visit SPE's Awards and Recognition area on our website.
The organizing committee for the SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) issued a call for nominations for its annual parts competition at the group's 2019 conference, September 4-6 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan.
This year, the SPE Milwaukee Section is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a chapter in the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). Since 1944, SPE Milwaukee has focused on spreading knowledge, strengthening skills and promoting plastics throughout the state of Wisconsin.
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis(DMA) is a thermoanalytical technique that measures the stiffness (modulus) and damping (tan delta) of polymeric materials to assess the viscoelastic properties as a function of time, temperature, and frequency. Polymeric materials display both elastic and viscous behavior simultaneously, and DMA can separate these responses. Polymers, composed of long molecular chains, have unique viscoelastic properties, which combine the characteristics of elastic solidsand Newtonian fluids.
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