Contact: Paula Weis
(202) 974-5282

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI Elects New Officers, Executive Board Members

WASHINGTON (March 30, 2004) - Paul Appelblom of Jatco, Inc. has been elected Chairman of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.'s (SPI's) Executive Board, a position he will hold until December 31, 2005. Other officers elected in a special election were Jane E. Austin of DuPont Dow Elastomers, Vice Chairman; James Buonomo of NYPRO Inc., Treasurer; and Ron Brown of Milacron, Inc., Officer-at-Large. Robert W. Ackley of Davis-Standard Corp. will remain as Immediate Past Chairman and Frank Tortorici of Arkema, Inc., will remain as Executive Board Secretary. The special election was held to fill a vacancy that occurred when SPI Chairman E. Niles Kenyon left the plastics industry, retiring from the Conair Group/IPEG.

An additional officer position opened when William R. Carteaux, who was to begin his term as SPI Vice Chairman in January, was appointed SPI President. Carteaux took the helm at SPI on March 1, 2005, replacing former President Donald K. Duncan.

In addition, the SPI Equipment Council elected the following persons to serve on SPI's Executive Board for terms beginning January 1, 2005, and ending December 31, 2006: Gunther Hoyt, Xaloy, Inc.; Roger C. Klouda, MSI Mold Builders; James Murphy, Davis-Standard Corporation; Randy Pearson, Dynisco Extrusion; Donald Rainville, Universal Dynamics, Inc. and Andrew Wheeler, Windmoeller and Hoelscher Corporation.

The SPI Materials Suppliers Council elected the following persons to serve on the SPI Executive Board for terms beginning January 1, 2005, and ending December 31, 2006: Fred M. Daniell, Ticona/Fortron Industries; Michael Day, Michael Day Enterprises; Cynthia Green, DuPont Fluoropolymers; Michael Haley, Dyneon LLC and Timothy O'Brien, GE Advanced Materials -- Plastics.

SPI's Processors Council elected the following people to serve on the SPI Executive Board for terms beginning January 1, 2005, and ending December 31, 2006: Bradley Buechler, Spartech Corporation; Robert Hamilton, Illinois Tool Works, Inc.; Paul Horton, Intralox, Inc.; and Peter Lazaredes, Pactiv Corp. For more information, contact Marcia Horn, (202) 974-5224; e-mail: mhorn@socplas.org.

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.

The "Fantastic Plastics Works," SPI's 5,000-plus sq.-ft. plastics industry showcase at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL, exhibits the full scope of the plastics industry, from chemistry to design to manufacturing and products, with a healthy nod to human ingenuity and creativity. Anchored by SPI members DuPont, GE Advanced Materials and APC and supported by contributions from many other companies, the exhibit seeks to improve the public's understanding and appreciation of the plastics industry and to encourage children to pursue careers in the industry. The exhibit is housed at INNOVENTIONS, a unique attraction filled with hands-on, interactive exhibits, where guests discover how the latest in science and technology can simplify and enhance their lives. For more information about the Fantastic Plastics Works, link to the Web at www.plasticsworks.com.

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