Workshop

Fundamentals of Plastic Material Selection

Online

Dates All workshop days are from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT.	May 20, 2024
	May 21, 2024
	May 22, 2024
	May 24, 2024

Registration Information

SPE Premium Member	$720
SPE Members	$800
Nonmembers	$1,000

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Number of seats are limited to 25!
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Summary

Selecting the right plastic material is a challenging task. While there are numerous online tools available for researching plastic materials, they do not provide any insight into the process of material selection. This workshop will provide a methodology to select materials effectively.

Using common language, we will translate general terms about a material's characteristics – such as stiffness, strength, and toughness - into specific technical properties that are relevant – and quantifiable – to the intended application. We will review industry standard tests that are used to quantify material properties, and discuss how to interpret the data and understand the behavior of the material to assess its use in an intended application.

• Session 1 - Material Science Refresher
• Session 2 - Key Plastic Materials
• Session 3 - Performance, Cost, and Sustainability
• Session 4 - Managing the Material Specification Process

Instructor

Eric Larson
Owner & Founder
Art of Mass Production

Eric R. Larson has over forty years experience in plastics engineering. He is the founder of Art of Mass Production, an engineering consulting company based in San Diego, CA. He has worked on a diverse range of products, including disposable lighters, cell phones, office chairs, and hand-held medical devices. Eric has a keen understanding of materials, and knows the value of good design. He also writes and teaches about the effective use of plastics. His book Plastics Materials Selection: A Practical Guide was nominated for a PROSE Award. It is available on Amazon, and in over 600 university libraries in more than 20 different countries.

Who Should Attend?

• Are you a designer struggling to navigate the wide range of plastic materials and references, seeking to make well-informed selections for your projects?
• Are you experiencing failures in your plastic products? Did you know that 45% of these failures are due to the wrong selection of material?
• Are you interested in exploring material alternatives that could improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of your current products, but unsure where to begin?
• Do you heavily rely on your material suppliers to choose materials for your products, yet aspire to enhance your own capabilities in this area?
• Are you in the material supply business, aiming to assist your customers in selecting the most suitable materials for their projects?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this workshop is designed for you!

Why Should You Attend?

Through attending this workshop, attendees will:

• Develop an understanding of plastic material behavior from molten resin to end-use part performance
• Become familiar with key material families and notable applications
• Be able to effectively select and specify plastic materials
• Be able to calculate total manufacturing costs (including raw material costs, processing costs and costs of secondary operations)

Questions? Contact:

For questions, contact Iván D. López.

This educational program is provided as a service of SPE. The views and opinions expressed on this or any SPE educational program are those of the Speaker(s) and/or the persons appearing with the Speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. (SPE) or its officials, employees or designees. To comment or to present an opposing or supporting opinion, please contact us at info@4SPE.org.

Refund Policy

Full Refunds, minus a $50 processing fee will be granted until April 25, 2024. No refunds will be granted after April 25, 2024. Registration may be transferred before April 25, 2024. No transfers after April 25, 2024. Please contact customerrelations@4spe.org for assistance in transferring a registration.

Copyright & Permission to Use

SPE may take photographs and audio/video recordings during the event, pre-event meetings and receptions that may include attendees within sessions, networking areas, exhibition areas, and other areas associated with the event both inside and outside of the venue. By registering for this event, all attendees are providing permission for SPE to use this material at its discretion on SPE's websites, marketing materials, and publications. SPE retains ownership of copyright to all photographs and audio/video recording obtained at this event and attendees may request copies of any material in which they are included.

Refund Policy for Events

1. No discussion among members, volunteers, or staff, which attempts to arrive at any agreement regarding prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution, volume, territories, or customers;
2. No activity or communication which might be construed as an attempt to prevent any person or business entity from gaining access to any market or customer for goods or services or any business entity from obtaining services or a supply of goods;
3. No activity or communication which might be construed as an agreement to refrain from purchasing or using any materials, equipment, services or supplies of or from any supplier; or
4. No other activity which violates anti-trust or applicable laws aimed at preventing unfair competition.