WELCOME TO THE 2012

SPE® AUTOMOTIVE TPO

ENGINEERED POLYOLEFINS GLOBAL CONFERENCE

Welcome to the Internet Home of the SPE® Automotive TPO Engineered Polyolefins Global Conference the world’s leading forum on the use of rigid and elastomeric thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs) in automotive and ground transportation. This conference provides the latest innovative developments in transportation polyolefin's and growing range of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE's) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV's).

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO...

Since 1998, volunteers from the Detroit Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers have organized the event for

• Transportation OEMs
• Tier Suppliers / Molders
• Resin & Reinforcement Suppliers
• Compounders
• Additives Suppliers
• Media
• Government & Commercial Laboratories
• Consultants

The event showcases technical presentations on materials development, compounds, new applications, surface enhancements, and processing advances, in addition to keynotespeakers highlighting broader industry trends. To help build community and enhance networking opportunities, the event also features networking receptions and exhibits by key members of the transportation engineered polyolefin TPO supply chain. The conference typically draws over 500 key industry decision attendees from 4 continents and 20 countries. We hope you will consider being one of those attendees this year.

ABOUT

Since 1998, the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®), leading global OEMs and Tier Suppliers, as well as the TPO supply chain have pooled their resources to create the SPE® Automotive TPO Engineered Polyolefins Global Conference, a dynamic, interactive, and cost-effective learning experience. The show highlights the importance of rigid and flexible polyolefins (TPOs) as well as a growing range of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) throughout the automobile and in other forms of ground transportation.

The event has become the world’s leading automotive polyolefins forum and typically draws over 400 key decision makers and some of the world's foremost authorities on transportation polyolefin applications, economics, and market trends. As such, it provides excellent networking opportunities with key members of the automotive TPO, TPE, & TPV supply chain, and the opportunity to learn about designing lighter, less costly automotive components using the latest technologies and applications for these versatile materials.

The conference draws participants from across the entire transportation polyolefin value chain. Historically, 30% of attendees have indicated they worked for a transportation OEM; 20% said they worked for a tier integrator / molder, and the remaining 50% said their employer was a materials or reinforcements supplier, academic institution, laboratory, or that they were a consultant or member of the press.

To help attendees better understand current and emerging trends in this field, traditional technical sessions are organized on

Conference Sessions                               Session Co-Chairs

Each year, the technical program committee also organizes special sessions on new or emerging technologies that will be of interest       to attendees. Some recent special sessions (and the year in which they were featured) include:

• 2011: TPO / TPE Interfaces and Polyolefin Foams & Advances in TPO Processes
  
• 2010: Olefin Thermoforming and Olefin-Based TPEs and TPVs
  
• 2009: Injection Molding & Advanced Process Control and Aluminum Tooling for Injection Molding

MISSION & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Conference

 

The mission of the SPE® Automotive TPO Engineered Polyolefins Global Conference is to be the leading forum for automotive polyolefins globally and to inform and educate SPE members, the public, OEMs, tier suppliers, and the automotive polyolefins supply chain about advances in olefin materials, processing, enabling technologies, and applications in the automotive and ground transportation markets. As such, our committee’s strategic initiatives are to:

• Help grow the industry by effectively and objectively promoting the use and benefits of TPOs, TPEs, TPVs, and other polyolefin-based polymers to targeted audiences
• Cultivate a strong sense of industry community across the entire automotive polyolefins supply chain
• Build strong international cooperation with other engineering societies and industry trade associations
• Act as a conduit to effectively connect all industry shareholders
• Proactively provide information to the industry through technical papers and presentations
• Deliver state-of-the-art educational programs, including this conference
• Create community across to the value chain

SPE Detroit Section

 

SPE’s Detroit Section is active in educating, promoting, recognizing, and communicating technical accomplishments for all phases of plastics and plastic based-composite developments – particularly in the automotive industry. Topic areas include applications,       materials, processing, equipment, tooling, design, and development.

Society of Plastics Engineers

 

The mission of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®) International is to promote scientific and engineering knowledge relating to          plastics worldwide and to educate industry, academia, and the public about these advances.