Wealth of New Technology in Plast-Ex 2007 Educational Program

After surveying the industry, the organizers of the educational program at Plast-Ex 2007 devised a program that addresses what Canada’s plastics industry really needs to know in order to survive and prosper in these challenging times.

Breakfast panels ($20) will be from 8- 10 a.m.; luncheon sessions ($49 pre-registration; $69 on-site) will be from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both breakfast and luncheon sessions will be take place in the Avro Room at the International Centre, Mississauga, Ont.

Be sure to pre-register, as seating is limited. A registration form is available on the show’s website, www.plastex.org.

MAY 1 — AUTOMATION & INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING

Breakfast Panel: The cost of raw materials is beyond your control. Using technology to reduce consumption and increase efficiencies is not!

* Jeremy Ritchie, Business Development Manager, ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. Automated Component Loading and Unloading from the Molding Machine

* Pierre Maillet, President, Cyframe. MRP/ERP Software as Tools for More Efficient, Competitive and Cost-saving Operations

* Joachim Kragl, Manager of Processing Technologies, Engel Canada Inc. Better Part Performance with Less Material (including water, gas and foam melt processes)

Luncheon Session: Systems integration: a powerful resource

* Randy Fleck, Senior Process Engineer, BASF Corporation. Water Assist Injection Molding of Engineering Plastics

* Michael Wittmann, General Manager, Wittmann Kunststoffgerte GmbH. Integrating Automation Systems for Optimal Manufacturing Success

MAY 2 — AUTOMOTIVE & TRANSPORTATION

Breakfast Panel: Emerging resources and technologies that will make you more competitive

* Dr. Mohini Sain, Director, Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing, University of Toronto. Materials of the Future — Bioplastics and Biocomposites

* Horst Schmidt, Director of R & D, A.P. Plasman Corporation. Innovations in Mold Making (including in-mold film, in-mold assembly, knit-line free technologies)

* Jame R. Hay, VP Sales & Marketing, DuPont Engineering Polymers, Americas. Specialized Materials and Applications for the Automotive Industry and Beyond

Luncheon Session: The future of the Canadian automotive industry

* Dennis DesRosiers, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, Inc. Outlook for the North American Automotive Sector

* James E. Robertson, Executive VP, Magna International. What is and Will be Required to Successfully Conduct Business with the Auto Industry

MAY 3 — PACKAGING/RECYCLING/ ENERGY SAVING

Breakfast Panel: Innovations in Packaging and Recycling

* Ludivine Cauchone, Manager International Business Development, Recyc RPM Inc. Reducing Costs Through the Use of Recycled Raw Materials: Their Availability and Controlling Quality

* Dr. Fred Edgecombe, CPIA. Degradable Plastics

* Beverley Ferguson, Chantler Packaging. Keeping Monotony Out of Monolayer Films

Luncheon Session: Energy saving

* Jim Farrell, Managing Consultant, Hatch & Associates. Energy Saving: More Than Good Business Sense, a Competitive Business Tool

* Peter Love, Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Conservation Bureau/Ontario Power Authority. Using Energy More Efficiently and Effectively

In addition, on April 30, the day before the show opens, the Ontario Centres of Excellence will lead a one-day program at the International Centre. Called “Innovations in Plastics”, the conference is aimed at people who need to know where the next big industry innovations are coming from. Speakers from various universities in Ontario will explicitly describe the commercial applications of topics presented.

Pre-registration is $150. On-site registration is $300. The fee includes a hot lunch, three-day entrance pass to Plast-Ex 2007, and information on OCE’s Discovery 2007 event. A registration form is available on the show’s website, www.plastex.org.