May 4 2009
The Society of Plastics Engineers' Thermoforming Board of Directors has cancelled its Annual Thermoforming Conference in September 2009 and will instead focus its marketing energies on the Thermoforming Division's multi-exhibitor Thermoforming World Pavilion at NPE2009. The Division has instituted a new program of incentives for current and prospective exhibitors in the Pavilion.
NPE2009 takes place June 22-26 at Chicago's McCormick Place and will be the year's largest plastics event by far. "While the conference cancellation is a response to the economic trouble affecting the plastics industry, it enables our Division to take greater advantage of the marketing potential afforded by a prominent presence at NPE2009, and to better prepare for the 2010 Thermoforming Conference, which is likely to take place during better economic times," said Donald Kruschke, Marketing Committee Chairman and Executive Vice President of Solon, Ohio-based Stopol, Inc.
The new program for Pavilion exhibitors includes these marketing opportunities: For $2,500, thermoforming sponsors can display a banner within the Pavilion, providing them with added exposure in the Machinery, Materials and Processing areas of McCormick Place. For an additional $900, those same sponsors will be featured prominently in SPE's Thermoforming Quarterly magazine, which will have bonus distribution within the Pavilion for the entire week of NPE2009. The sponsors will also be recognized in the post-NPE2009 Thermoforming Quarterly.
"The Board sees NPE2009 as a marketing opportunity for our Division," said Kruschke. "The goal of the Pavilion is to bolster awareness of the Thermoforming Division and serve as a platform to increase overall thermoforming interest and attendance at our 2010 annual Conference."
The annual Thermoforming Conference brings together thermoformers from all over the world and features both technical presentations and a trade show exhibit floor. The 2010 edition will be held in Milwaukee. The 2009 Conference had been scheduled for September 19-22 in that city, The Conference has been held for 18 years, and this is the first time it has been canceled.
"As we were preparing the final stages of our Annual Thermoforming Conference, we realized there were significant headwinds preventing us from having a successful event," according to Brian Ray, Division Chairman and President of Ontario, Calif.'s Ray Products, Inc. "Many companies have issued travel bans and we've noticed attendance decreases at other industry conferences. We are committed to delivering a top-notch event to our exhibitors and attendees, and we believe that we need to give the economy a chance to recover in order to accomplish that."
Thermoforming companies that already have submitted deposits for the 2009 Conference can request the return of the deposit by sending a letter to Conference Coordinator Gwen Mathis, apply the deposit toward the 2010 Thermoforming Conference or apply the funds toward their sponsorship in the Pavilion at NPE2009.
Thermoforming is a manufacturing process in which plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature, formed to a specific part shape in a mold, and trimmed to create a usable product. Examples of thermoformed products include disposable cups, containers, lids, trays, blisters, clamshells, vehicle door and dash panels, refrigerator liners, utility vehicle beds and plastic pallets.