Contact: Paula Weis
(202) 974-5282

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI STRUCTURAL PLASTICS DIVISION ISSUES CALL FOR PAPERS FOR "STRUCTURAL PLASTICS 2005"

WASHINGTON, DC (July 6, 2004) - The Structural Plastics Division (SPD) of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) is accepting submissions of technical papers for presentation at the Structural Plastics 2005 Annual Conference and New Product Design Competition. The event, in its 33rd year, will be held March 20-March 22, 2005, at the Contemporary Resort and Conference Center at the Walt Disney World ® Resort in Orlando, FL.

The Division is looking for papers on topics that include the latest uses of materials, case studies, emerging business issues, new market developments, low-pressure structural foam, creative design/tooling, innovative new process technologies, time- or cost-reducing product-development methods and production innovations to advance attendees' knowledge of structural plastics. Student papers are welcome, and the top five student papers will be selected for presentation at the Conference.

The New Product Design Competition held at the Conferences displays the latest molding processes, allows examination of the parts and provides answers to questions related to part design, process selection, tooling, prototyping, materials selection, finishing and assembly. "We encourage the submission of a part into the Product Design Competition that complements a paper, in order to provide attendees with a first-hand look at an author's theories in practice," said SPD Executive Director Allen Weidman. Papers published in the conference proceedings also are eligible for awards.

Abstracts are due by December 3, 2004. The deadline for papers is January 28, 2005. The annual SPD event is the preeminent showcase for the structural plastics industry. More than 300 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), industrial designers, manufacturing engineers, tooling engineers, product development managers, mold makers, equipment and technology providers, material suppliers and processor sales and marketing managers are expected to attend the conference, which provides a non-commercial forum for the advancement of the structural plastics industry.

For guidelines on submitting technical papers or additional information about the conference, visit SPD on the Web at www.plasticparts.org or contact Karen Miles, (202) 974-5247; e-mail kmiles@socplas.org.

The SPI Structural Plastics Division is made up of member companies that represent a cross-section of the U.S. plastics industry. Their principal products are in applications that enclose, support, or bear a load such as housings for computer equipment, automotive components, recreational products, materials transport, consumer electronics, construction, telecommunications and medical equipment. SPD is committed to recognizing industry trends, as well as supporting and promoting innovative solutions.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.4 million workers and provides nearly $310 billion in annual shipments. For more information, visit SPI on the Web at www.plasticsindustry.org.

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