SPE Product Design and Development Division

Polypropylene: Commodity Resin, I Don't Think So
2024-04-04 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Polypropylene is often referred to as a “commodity resin”, however, is this really the case?
Polypropylene is a versatile thermoplastic that can be processed through a variety of processing techniques. It is utilized in a wide range of applications, including packaging, automotive, infrastructure, appliances, healthcare, and electrical. It’s wide use is based upon several key strengths, including:

Good chemical resistance
Good electrical insulation properties
Flexural strength and modulus
Relatively low coefficient of friction
Readily available and relatively inexpensive

The implication of the interchangeability of polypropylene resins does a disservice to the complexity of this material and the plastic industry in general. The properties of polypropylene are highly dependent on molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, crystallinity, type and proportion of comonomer, and tacticity.
Hopefully, after the webinar, attendees will

Gain an understanding of the general properties of polypropylene.
Have more insight into how the molecular structure of polypropylene determines its performance properties.
Appreciate the diversity of polypropylene.

ANTEC® 2024
2024-03-04 - 2024-03-07 | Marriott St. Louis Grand, 800 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63101, United States
SPE is hosting ANTEC® 2024 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in St. Louis, Missouri.
ANTEC® 2024 will showcase the latest advances in industrial, national, laboratory, and academic work focused on plastics and polymer science.
At ANTEC®, there are multiple opportunities to spend time with colleagues at SPE-hosted meetings, receptions, an Honors and Awards Luncheon, and additional SPE Chapter networking events.

SPE International Polyolefins Conference
2024-02-18 08:00 - 2024-02-21 17:00 (America/New_York)
The SPE International Polyolefins Conference brings together producers, suppliers, processors, marketers, application developers, regulators, and thought leaders in polyolefin technology from around the world. It is the biggest polymer conference in the world dedicated to Polyolefins. The 2024 SPE International Polyolefins Conference will be held at the Galveston Convention Center in Texas on February 18-21, 2024. While the conference is best experienced face-to-face, virtual registration allows remote attendees to access all the papers and even interact with authors, other attendees, and virtual exhibitor booths. The virtual content of the conference will be available to all registrants for at least three months after the conference.
Find out more about the event here

Plastic Datasheets: What They Do and Don't Tell Us
2024-02-13 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
https://www.4spe.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=8558

Plastec & MD&M West
2024-02-06 08:00 - 2024-02-08 17:00 (America/New_York) | Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA, 92802, United States
MD&M West has developed into one of the leading medical device trade shows in the US. Inspired by the life-saving solutions and innovations that companies all over the world push to evolve, MD&M West’s mission is to unify the international medical device community together to support the growth of their company objectives and push the boundaries of the medical field to save and improve lives across the globe.
With thousands of verified attendees, over 1,600 exhibiting MedTech suppliers, and dozens of education sessions led by medical experts, MD&M West features products and insights across medical specialties such as medical devices, digital health, hospital equipment and supplies, cardiovascular solutions, pharmaceuticals, and much more!
Plastec West – Exhibitor Sectors
https://www.imengineeringwest.com/en/show/show-brands/plastec-west.html
Plastics & Polymers
Molds & Dyes
Coatings & Finishings
Thermoforming
Agriculture
Medical Devices
Energy Efficiency
Lean Manufacturing
and more
MD&M West- Exhibitor Sectors in the MedTech
https://www.imengineeringwest.com/en/show/show-brands/mdm-west.html
Medical Devices & Technology
Digital Health
Hospital Equipment & Supplies
Cardiovascular
Pharmaceuticals
and more

Plastics in AI: Reducing Plastic Waste Through Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization
2024-02-05 08:00 - 2024-02-07 17:00 (America/New_York)
Find out more info here
In this event, we will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization are revolutionizing the plastic industry, offering robust solutions that can effectively mitigate plastic waste and optimize its usage through increased recycling. By harnessing the power of intelligent algorithms in conjunction with advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and geolocation, waste collection in urban areas can be significantly improved and optimized.
Smart bins, integrated with AI capabilities, will be highlighted as they play a pivotal role in sorting materials at their source, maximizing the recycling potential of plastics and other materials. Moreover, state-of-the-art recycling plants are now incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as image sensors, various sensors, and machine learning algorithms, resulting in enhanced efficiency and precision in the sorting process. This facilitates a more accurate categorization of materials, contributing to effective waste management. Digitalization technologies will be discussed, highlighting their potential in enhancing the traceability of products. By enabling efficient identification of material composition, these technologies play a crucial role in streamlining the recycling process.
Additionally, generative design algorithms will be explored, showcasing their ability to create innovative products and packaging designs that minimize the use of plastic and materials, while still meeting performance specifications. During the event, we will discuss the latest advancements in these technologies and delve into the challenges and opportunities surrounding their implementation. Furthermore, we will explore the potential impact of these innovations on plastic waste handling.
This event serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and sharing insights on these cutting-edge solutions, highlighting their significance in the ongoing fight against plastic waste.

Medical Plastics - Innovations for Life
2024-02-05 08:00 - 2024-02-06 17:00 (America/New_York) | Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA, 92802, United States
SPE’s Medical Plastics MiniTec will be held on Monday, February 5th, and Tuesday, February 6th, a day prior to and concurrent with the first day of the 2024 MD&M West Expo & conference in the Anaheim Convention Center.
For more information, follow this link: https://www.imengineeringwest.com/en/education/conference/spe-mpd-minitec.html

The Future of Rotomolding: Hosted by the SPE Rotational Molding Division
2024-01-31 08:00 - 2024-02-01 17:00 (America/New_York)
Get inside information about what the future holds for rotational molding at SPE’s must-attend event, “The Future of Rotomolding: Making Our Industry Innovative & Sustainable.”
Connect with rotational molding leaders and learn about the trends that are shaping the industry moving forward.
Why Attend?

Stay on top of new rotational molding technologies: Keeping up with the ever-evolving world of rotational molding technology is essential. Our event will feature expert speakers and cutting-edge sessions to ensure you’re well-informed about the latest advancements.
Gain awareness about future trends: The rotational molding industry is constantly evolving, and “The Future of Rotomolding” is your chance to stay ahead of the curve. Discover the emerging trends that will define the future of our industry.

Learn how rotational molding is becoming more innovative and sustainable: Sustainability is a key focus of our event. You’ll learn about the innovative and sustainable practices that are driving the future of rotational molding.

Design For.... Success When Undertaking Metal to Plastic Conversion Projects
2024-01-24 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Plastics and composites offer designers a unique opportunity to reduce part cost while improving part and assembly quality. However, when undertaking a project that is looking to convert a part or assembly from more traditional materials to these polymeric based materials, extra attention needs to be given to the performance requirements of the end assembly, and how material selection and manufacturing may influence the overall part quality of the final molded product. This talk will highlight what properties of these composites and plastics need to be evaluated to make the conversion a success. Additionally, the speaker will highlight how simulation tools like structural FEA and Moldflow can be proactively utilized to help minimize failure modes or late design changes that will derail your project.
Erik Foltz is a Senior Managing Engineer at The Madison Group. For over 15 years, Erik has worked with his customers, across all industries, to successfully design and manufacture plastic components through all phases of the product design process. His specialties include plastic part design verification, process optimization and troubleshooting for injection and compression molding, and plastics failure root cause analysis. He has experience with thermoplastic, thermoset, elastomeric, and composite materials. Erik is also a Certified Professional Moldflow® Consultant.

Looking for Flame Retardant Solutions?
2024-01-22 08:00 - 2024-01-25 17:00 (America/New_York)
SPE’s National Week of Flame Retardants, hosted by the SPE Non Halogen Flame Retardant Materials TIG, and taking place online January 22-25, 2024, will feature industry leaders showcasing recent advancements in flame retardant (FR) technologies. Attendees will engage in discussions surrounding the technological and regulatory landscape of flame retardants.
Presentations will delve into the innovative applications of halogen-free flame retardants, shedding light on their advantages and potential applications across various industries.
Why Attend?

Gain valuable insights into the most recent advancements in fire retardant technologies.
Explore the latest testing protocols and regulatory requirements.

Who Should Attend?

Material and additive suppliers that offer fire-retardant solutions.
Compounder industries.
Sectors employing flame-retardant plastics, including building and construction, cables, insulation, automotive and transportation, electrical and electronics, aerospace, military, and defense.

Researchers and academic professionals engaged in the advancement of innovative flame retardant technologies.
Registration Rates
SPE Members
Standard Rate: $149
NonMembers
Standard Rate: $349

SPE 2024 Webinar: Introduction to Plastics
2024-01-16 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Find out more here: https://www.4spe.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=8556
Summary

Plastics are the most versatile materials ever invented, and have become a universal material, used for everything from water bottles to wings on combat aircraft to implanted artificial joints. Thermoplastic materials display properties that are unique when compared to other materials and have contributed greatly to the quality of our everyday life. At this moment, you are almost certain to be touching plastic. Yet, while plastics play such an important role, we do not always understand the fundamental concepts of their production, compounding, end properties, and use.
If words such as polymer, thermoplastic, creep, amorphous, and modulus are outside your normal vocabulary, this presentation is for you.
At the conclusion of this presentation, you will understand:

How polymers build molecular weight through polymerization and its importance in the performance of thermoplastics.
The role that polymer structure plays in shaping the key characteristics of plastics.
How crystalline the plays an important role in determining the properties of plastics.
The essentials of viscoelasticity.

The usefulness of thermoplastics is attributed to the fact that they provide a wide range of properties and can be changed into products by relatively simple and inexpensive fabrication means. In order to take full advantage of these materials, it is important to have a clear understanding of their composition and elementary properties.

About Speaker

Jeffrey A. Jansen
Engineering Manager
The Madison Group

Jeffrey A. Jansen is the Engineering Manager and a Partner at The Madison Group, an independent plastics engineering and consulting firm. Jeff is a proven plastic professional with more than 30 years of experience solving problems and addressing opportunities related to polymeric materials. He specializes in failure analysis, material identification and selection, as well as compatibility, aging, and lifetime prediction studies for thermoplastic materials. Jeff has performed over 5,000 investigations, both for industrial clients and as a part of litigation. He is a regular presenter on the SPE webinar series, covering a wide range of topics related to plastics failure, material performance, testing, and polymer technology. Jeff is a graduate of Carroll College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

SPE Chicago- Holiday Dinner
2023-12-12 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Lucky Monk, Barrington, IL

The Madison Group - Adhesion Selection for the Joining of Plastics
2023-12-12 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Join Melissa Kurtz while she reviews advantages and disadvantages of various adhesive types!
Register at: madisongroup.com/events

SPE Webinar: An Overview of Polycarbonate Resin
2023-12-07 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
This webinar is a practical introduction to polycarbonate, covering:

Structure
Polymerization
Typical properties and applications
Advantages/disadvantages
Failure Tendencies

In particular, attendees will become familiar with this important resin and understand its properties and potential failures.

“Design For…” PD3 Webinar Series – "How Manufacturing Process Selection Drives Design Decisions"
2023-11-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Speaker: Michael Paloian
About Webinar: We are pleased to offer our second installment of our Design for… Webinar Series. This presentation will be led by Michael Paloian. Michael will be discussing what we need to consider early on in our design process in regards to the manufacturing process.
This free webinar will be a great sneak preview of a larger class that Michael has developed and given to many industry professionals.

ImplementAM - Al McGovern: Developing & Validating a Product for Additive Manufacturing
2023-11-02 | Explorium Brewpub Third Ward, 143 W St. Paul Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53203, United States
Join ImplementAM in Milwaukee for a day of learning, collaboration, and networking. Expand your knowledge about the foundational 3D printing technologies and learn about the business cases behind additive manufacturing. We have expert speakers from major 3D printing machine OEMs, software providers, and service bureaus. It’ll be a dynamic day involving plenty of networking opportunities as well as group activities designed to get you away from PowerPoint and experience a more interactive learning experience.
Register Here: https://www.4spe.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=8482

Reducing Plastic Waste Through Artificial Intelligence
2023-10-16 08:00 - 2023-10-17 17:00 (America/New_York) | Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, 300 South Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
In this event, we will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization are revolutionizing the plastic industry, offering robust solutions that can effectively mitigate plastic waste and optimize its usage through increased recycling. By harnessing the power of intelligent algorithms in conjunction with advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and geolocation, waste collection in urban areas can be significantly improved and optimized.
Find out more here
Smart bins, integrated with AI capabilities, will be highlighted as they play a pivotal role in sorting materials at their source, maximizing the recycling potential of plastics and other materials. Moreover, state-of-the-art recycling plants are now incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as image sensors, various sensors, and machine learning algorithms, resulting in enhanced efficiency and precision in the sorting process. This facilitates a more accurate categorization of materials, contributing to effective waste management. Digitalization technologies will be discussed, highlighting their potential in enhancing the traceability of products. By enabling efficient identification of material composition, these technologies play a crucial role in streamlining the recycling process.
Additionally, generative design algorithms will be explored, showcasing their ability to create innovative products and packaging designs that minimize the use of plastic and materials, while still meeting performance specifications. During the event, we will discuss the latest advancements in these technologies and delve into the challenges and opportunities surrounding their implementation. Furthermore, we will explore the potential impact of these innovations on plastic waste handling.
This event serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and sharing insights on these cutting-edge solutions, highlighting their significance in the ongoing fight against plastic waste.

WEBINAR: Plastics Weathering - From Basic Principles to Recent Developments in Technology and Standardization Registration
2023-10-04 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
Products based on plastics can degrade by the effects of the environment. This webinar addresses the basic principles of polymer degradation caused by the effects of weather. The main environmental stress factors are solar radiation, heat, and moisture. Testing of the environmental durability can be done under natural conditions; however accelerated laboratory testing offer the potential of acceleration. Today xenon-arc instruments (full solar simulation) and fluorescent UV instruments are the main technologies used to test the weathering stability of plastics. Modern test instruments offer control of the simulated environmental parameters, but also measurement of specimen properties, such as the surface temperature. International weathering standards are the base for reproducible testing. Recent standardization efforts focus on better parameter control and on more realistic simulation of environmental degradation effects.
Plastics can degrade when exposed to environmental stress – some faster than others. This webinar addresses the basic principles of polymer degradation under the synergetic impact of solar radiation, heat, and water.
The online seminar will show how weathering testing of plastics can be performed under natural conditions, but also in the most common laboratory weathering instruments:

Filtered xenon-arc (full spectrum solar simulation, including UV)
Fluorescent UV (UV only)

3 Challenges of Testing Plastics
2023-09-28 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
The world of plastics is constantly evolving, with new applications such as high-performance polymers, additive manufacturing, and bioplastics continually emerging to transform the field. Common to all applications – old and new – is the importance of mechanical testing that ensures manufacturers are producing quality products. In this webinar we’ll be discussing the specific challenges of testing plastics, the importance of repeatable and reliable mechanical testing results, and what you can do to improve your results.
Topics:

Overview of recent changes in key standards
Factors that influence test results – solutions and troubleshooting tips
How to increase laboratory efficiency and throughput to improve test times

"Design For..." PD3 Webinar Series - "How Part Design Issues Get Misclassified"
2023-09-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Access the webinar HERE.
Presenter: Vikram Bhargava
Topic: “How Part Design Issues Get Misclassified as Material, Tooling, and Processing Issues”
-For a plastic part or assembly to perform as expected, proper consideration needs to be given by the design engineer to the material selection, tooling, processing, and, obviously, the design itself. In many instances, design errors are misclassified as tooling, processing, and material issues. Design errors are sometimes even blamed on customer abuse. Many real-life examples will be used to identify the real issues resulting in failures – improper design. This will be enhanced with a detailed explanation of the ultimate cause for the failure.
Location: Microsoft Teams
(If you are interested in attending the webinar, please fill out the Contact Us form)
About Vikram:
Vikram Bhargava was nominated a Fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers 2000 in recognition for his
innovation in, and work on educating engineers in proper plastic part design.
He is a founding member and Past Chairman of the Product Design and Development Division. He has
been active in the PD3 since it was a SIG, and Injection Molding Division since the eighties, including being its secretary. He has presented dozens of papers at the ANTEC starting in 1999. At least, one of his presentations was identified as one of the “Best of ANTEC.” He has written for the Plastics Engineering Magazine and
conducted many free webinars for the SPE – attended by hundreds. He has published dozens of highly sought after White Papers on all aspects of plastic products.
He retired as the Director of Mechanical Engineering Services at Motorola Solutions in Holtsville, NY
heading an international group of professionals. He has over 40 years of experience in product design,
development, manufacturing and management, especially in plastics. He is a sought-after trainer and has
trained thousands of engineers and suppliers in the proper design and manufacturing of plastic parts and
assemblies in the US, China, Canada, Taiwan and India and companies such as Motorola, Google, Nvidia, Hunter, etc. He is the author of a book on Holistic Product Design published by Hanser in Dec 2017.
He is continuing to consult professionally for various organizations as well as a free service to budding
entrepreneurs. He holds 21 US and International patents.
Vikram has successfully led many Six Sigma projects and is a certified Motorola Six Sigma Black Belt and trainer.
He has a BSME from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India.
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bhargavavik/
Book: https://www.hanser-fachbuch.de/fachbuch/artikel/9781569905807
Website: https://vikpedia.org/
White Papers and Webinars: https://dfmpro.com/?s=vikram+bhargava

ANTEC® 2023
2023-03-27 14:00 - 2023-03-30 14:00 (America/Denver) | Hilton Denver City Center, 1701 California Street, Denver, CO, 80202, United States
SPE is hosting ANTEC® 2023 at the Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, CO from March 27–30, 2023.
ANTEC® 2023 will showcase the latest advances in industrial, national laboratory, and academic work. Learn about new findings and innovations in polymer research, products, and technologies. At ANTEC® 2023, there will be multiple opportunities to spend time with colleagues at SPE-hosted meetings, receptions, networking luncheons, and SPE Chapter networking events.

In-Plant Recycling and Reclaim of Plastic Scrap for Improved Sustainability
2023-01-17 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | The Polymers Center of Excellence, 8900 Research Dr., Charlotte,, NC, 28262, United States
Producers of extruded/molded products have three main options when dealing with their own internal scrap 1) reuse it, 2) sell it, or 3) dispose of it. For all three, some type of re-processing is usually beneficial. In this course we will review the logistics, economics, and processing technologies typically used for extruded/molded products, with the main focus on the in-house recovery of scrap that is then fed back into the raw material stream—an important first step in your plant’s sustainability journey. Join us as we listen to Dana Darley, Business Development Manager at Vecoplan LLC, discuss the process by which we recover our waste to reduce our environmental impact and improve the sustainability of our raw materials.
The goals of the program are to provide the information required to process scrap material for efficient disposal, transport, or re-sale, to evaluate the economic justifications for bringing scrap reprocessing capabilities in-house, and to review the processing technologies required for the introduction of scrap material back into the primary production lines.
About the Speaker
Dana Darley manages business development and complex applications for the Plastics Division of Vecoplan LLC, a leading manufacturer of size reduction, separation, and recycling systems. Holder of two US patents, Dana earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University and has been involved in the design, development, marketing, and sales of plastics processing and recycling equipment for over 40 years.
Where
The Polymers Center of Excellence, Inc., 8900 Research Dr., Charlotte, NC 28262 or via Zoom.

RSVP
Please contact Daeng Hawkins to register: dhawkins@polymers-center.org or phone, +1 704.602.4100
