Agenda set for AIMCAL/SPE technical conference

Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA – The agenda has been posted for the 2019 AIMCAL R2R (roll-to-roll) USA Conference/SPE FlexPackCon (Oct. 6-9, 2019, Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC). The 2019 event continues a six-year partnership between the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE, Bethel, CT).

New this year are three-hour workshops on safety and intellectual property. The “Patent Law Fundamentals for Scientists, Engineers, and Managers” workshop will be led by Robert A. Migliorini, senior counsel - Research & Engineering at Exxon Mobil Corp. In this introductory overview of patent and trade secret protection, participants will learn how to identify and document an invention, search for related patents, submit a patent application in the U.S. and abroad and determine post-grant patent options including mechanisms for challenging a U.S. patent before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

In the interactive safety workshop, David Kerr, EHS program specialist, and Jamie Gaehring, senior controls engineer, both of Machine & Process Safety Assessment Group, will discuss “Understanding Your Facility's Machine Safety Needs,” and Neal Michal of Converting Expert Corp. will define a “Practical Method to Identify and Prioritize Hazards.” In the final 90 minutes, Tom Rimmel, chief operating officer of Dunmore Corp., and Bob Pasquale, president of New Era Converting Machinery, Inc., will explore methods to engage employees, discuss approaches to drive continuous improvement and hazard reduction and share best practices.  

The agenda consists of more than 100 sessions organized in three or four tracks focused on Web Coating and Handling, SPE/FlexPackCon or Vacuum Web Coating. Leading consultants and experts from academia and original equipment manufacturers present best practices and advances related to coating process technology, oriented films, barrier, R2R vacuum technology, system developments, safety and regulatory issues, circularity and post-consumer-recycled content, advanced R2R films, strategies for improving productivity, converting technology, new materials and processing developments, monitoring and measurement, coating materials for key market applications, and flexible packaging and materials.

The schedule also includes five joint keynotes, three bonus market sessions.

Keynotes

• “Opportunities in Flexible, Printed and Hybrid Electronics” by Raghu Das, chief executive officer at ID TechEx
• “How the Printing Industry Will Enable More Environmentally Friendly Packaging” by Todd Fayne, principal engineer at PepsiCo Advanced Research
• “Flexible Packaging Growth and Market Trends” by Sal Pellingra, vice president Global Application and Innovation Development at ProAmpac
• “An Overview of the NASCENT Center’s R2R Nanofabrication Research and Capabilities at UT Austin” by Dr. Larry Dunn, assistant director of NASCENT
• “Industry 4.0” by Andrew Alaya, director of Aftermarket System Sales at Davis-Standard

Bonus Market Sessions

• “Silicone Coated Release Liner Markets” by Corey Reardon, president and CEO of AWA Alexander Watson Associates
• “Labeling & Product Decoration Market,” also by Reardon
• “Opportunities for Coated Film in the Battery Market,” by Carl Hu, chief technology officer at Soteria

In a popular vendor session, suppliers spend three minutes promoting their product, service or company. The schedule also includes a Tabletop Exhibition with more than 80 exhibitors and other networking opportunities including a golf scramble and the Dr. Bernard Henry Memorial 5k Fun Walk/Run. More than 400 attendees are expected.

Registration for the conference and hotel reservations may be made via the AIMCAL Website, www.aimcal.org, or the SPE Website, www.4spe.org/FlexPackCon2019. Registration for AIMCAL and SPE members is $845 before Sept. 13, 2019, $945 after. Non-member pricing is $945 for early birds, otherwise $1045. Members of academia and students receive discounted rates. The special conference room rate at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort expires on Sept. 12, 2019 (sooner if the block fills before that date).

Prospective exhibitors should contact Tracey Messina at AIMCAL (+1 803-948-9470, Tracey@aimcal.org).

About AIMCAL, Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
AIMCAL, the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators, represents converters of metallized, coated, and laminated flexible substrates and their suppliers. Founded in 1970, membership stands at nearly 300 companies. A global group, AIMCAL promotes the growth and prosperity of the converting industry and member companies via an array of technical and marketing services. Membership information is available on-line at www.aimcal.org.

About SPE, Bethel Connecticut, USA
THE SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS® (SPE) is the largest, most well-known plastics professional society in the world. Founded in 1942, SPE helps plastics professionals succeed by spreading knowledge, strengthening skills and promoting plastics and the plastics industry. SPE brings together scientists, engineers and technical personnel engaged in the development, conversion and application of plastics, as well as senior executives from every sector within the plastics industry value chain. For more information on SPE or to join, please go to www.4spe.org.

Source: AIMCAL