Woodfibre-plastics composites focus of May 10-11 conference, May 12 meeting

Even if you have to brush off your car this morning, you can take comfort in the fact that spring is on the horizon. Decks will eventually be clear of snow, fencing will soon be lined with flowers, and woodfibre-plastics composites will be the focus of an upcoming conference organized by Materials and Manufacturing Ontario (MMO) and the University of Toronto.

The rapidly growing industry segment will be addressed during Progress in Woodfibre Plastic Composites 2004, held from May 10 to 11 at the Toronto Marriott Eaton Centre Hotel.

The conference’s plenary session will include Washington State University professor Michael Wolcott, who will speak about structural applications, while Auto 21 CEO Peter Frise of Windsor, Ont. will address automotive applications — even though the materials are generally thought of in terms of decks and fencing.

Technical papers will focus on the short- and long-term performance of the composites, as well as related processes and formulations.

Afternoon sessions on May 10 will address materials and performance. Concurrent sessions during the morning of May 11 will focus on formulations and additives as well as applications and markets, while processing and automotive applications will be the focus of afternoon sessions.

Advancements in materials, processing, and research and development will be featured in a suppliers’ showcase.

The event is held in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Products Laboratory, the University of Wisconsin, and the Forest Products Society of Madison, Wisc.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Natural Composites Council of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association will hold its annual general meeting on May 12, and will include such speakers as Principia Partners’ Jim Morton, an authority on related markets and trends.

For more information on Progress in Woodfibre Plastic Composites 2004, go to www.mmo.on.ca/woodfibres_2004/home.asp.