Penn State to hold annual plastics conference June 8-9

The Penn State Behrend campus in Erie will hold the annual Innovation and Emerging Plastics Technologies Conference on June 8 and 9.

“The conference will focus on some of the trends we’re seeing in the plastics industry and will also offer more technical opportunities, including sessions on additive manufacturing, processing, material analysis, product development, and tooling,” Brad Johnson, engineering lecturer and conference chairman, said.

More than 150 plastics industry professionals representing more than 40 companies are expected to host booths at the show.

Attendees will hear presentations presented by industry experts and participate in hands-on tutorials.

In the mornings, presentations will be half an hour. There will be three concurrent sessions on injection molding technology, materials technology, and executive/management practices.

In the afternoon, there will be a choice of three-hour tutorials, many including a hands-on component, followed by a networking session.

Many of the tutorials will be held in Behrend’s 10,500-square-foot plastics processing lab.

Don Loepp, the editor of Plastics News, will deliver the keynote address. He plans to discuss the challenges and changes that emerged in the plastics industry during the pandemic as well as the subsequent supply chain disruptions.

Those interested in attending should register on the conference’s website. The agenda also is available online.