FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracy Cullen
(202) 974-5282
Email: tcullen@plasticsindustry.org

SPI LAUNCHES NEW MEDICAL PRODUCTS SECTION OF ALLIANCE OF PLASTICS PROCESSORS BUSINESS GROUP

New Section Will Serve as Professional Forum for Plastics Companies Involved in Dynamic, Growing Medical Devices Field

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 13, 2007)—The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), and its Alliance of Plastics Processors (APP) business unit, announced the launch of the APP Medical Products Section today. This new section will be comprised of material suppliers, molders, machinery companies, moldmakers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across the plastics industry spectrum that are involved in the medical products field.

Recent projections state that the medical device market is growing 8–12 percent a year. The APP Medical Products Section will be a professional forum for companies as they navigate and keep pace in a market poised to dynamically expand over the next decade. "From blood bags and examination gloves to glucose meters and heart valves, vinyl, polyurethane and other plastics have traditionally been the healthcare industry's materials of choice," said SPI President and CEO William R. Carteaux. "The material's strength and versatility will continue to be in demand as medical discoveries and treatment breakthroughs create a need for new medical tools that only plastics can deliver."

In announcing the start of the new group, Carteaux said that its objectives are to help companies grow their business in the medical products field by promoting the beneficial uses of plastics throughout the medical products industry, monitoring new technologies used in medical products, keeping abreast of the latest international trade issues impacting this sector, helping companies locate medical product grant opportunities worldwide and providing a networking forum for customers, suppliers and allied associations and societies.

SPI is the umbrella organization providing a unified voice for the diverse plastics industry. According to Carteaux, SPI has leveraged this diversity to become its strength. "Our two dozen business units, special interest groups and sections tailor services to meet the needs of particular processes and niche markets. At the same time, these groups enjoy economies of scale through SPI's core industry services, such as representation in Washington, D.C., industry-wide statistics, trade and access to new technologies."

SPI staff members directing the new APP Medical Products Section are Allen Weidman, APP executive director, Karen Miles, APP assistant director and Melissa Hockstad, senior technical director of new and existing technologies. For membership information, please contact Karen Miles at kmiles@plasticsindustry.org or (202) 974-5247.

# # #

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 1.1 million workers and provides nearly $341 billion in annual shipments.

Back to Top

More About SPI:   Vision and Mission . Membership . Business Units . Regional Offices . News and Publications . Calendar of Events . Terms and Conditions of Use