UTECH Europe 2009 registrations roll in, after organisers issue programme for world-leading polyurethanes conference

The first registrations for the UTECH Europe 2009 conference are rolling in, following the publication of the programme in September, and first signs are that this could be one of the most successful UTECH events since its founding in 1986.

The programme issued features many of the polyurethane industry’s leading international experts in what will be the world’s leading event for the polyurethanes industry in 2009. It takes place over three days, from 31 March – 2 April 2009 in the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands, and features over 80 papers in eight separate sessions, including a series of presentations in two half-day sessions created by leading organisations in the sector. These sessions are focussed on current safety, health and environmental matters, as well as the latest developments in the use of polyureas, the fastest-growing technology in the plastics sector.

The Plenary Session opening the event, has a sharp focus on sustainability, and will be followed by a trio of presentations detailing developments in three key fast-growing markets:Eastern Europe, the People’s Republic of China, and India.

“The range of expertise on offer in this event is incredible,” suggests Paul Mitchell, managing director of Crain Communications Ltd, which organises the conference and publishes Urethanes Technology International, the world’s leading magazine which has been reporting on the polyurethanes industry since 1984.

“The willing support of so many of the world’s leading experts makes this the most important event in the industry’s calendar in 2009,” he added, pointing out that speakers come from all the major concerns active in the sector.

In addition, Mitchell said, “these specialists come from all the leading companies around the world, across Europe and off into the USA, South Korea, Japan and, of course, China.

“The support of key industry groups such as ISOPA (the European Diisocyanate and Polyols Producers Association) and the recently formed Polyurea Development Association Europe, further confirms the importance of this event,” Mitchell concluded.

Keynote from Bayer chief

The three-day event opens on 31 March 2009, with a Keynote presentation from Patrick Thomas, chief executive officer of Bayer MaterialScience, leading into the Plenary Session focussed on the concept of sustainability. This first morning ends with a trio of presentations by key regional specialists discussing the situation of and prospects for key developing markets of, eastern Europe, India and China.

Opening remarks from Steven English, the recently appointed head of ISOPA, will highlight the views of raw material makers on sustainability, while other speakers in this session include Timo Mäkelä, Director – Sustainable Development and Integration – in the DG Environment of the European Commission; David Crowhurst from the UK’s Building Research Establishment, discussing the responses needed from the construction sector; and a representative of the European Furniture Industry Confederation addressing the pressures on this key market for flexible polyurethane foams.

Papers on the developing markets have been agreed with Gujurat Narmada Valley Fertilisers Co. Ltd, India’s sole maker of TDI (toluene diisocyanate), and Yantai Polyurethane Co. Ltd, the leading domestic manufacturer of MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) in China. Jonathan Mawbey with Elastogran of Germany will open this market-review session with detailed insights into the markets of eastern Europe, where growth has continues at a high rate among the various countries.

The technical conference, opening on the afternoon of the first day, will run through to 2 April, in a series of half-day sessions focussed on the key technical developments in the use of polyurethanes to make rigid and flexible foams, and CASE products (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers), with a separate session on automotive applications.

Green issues high on agenda

Several papers in the different sessions will be discussing the use of renewable resources in making polyurethanes, as well as other key environmental issues such as the elimination of ozone-depleting materials, recycling of end-of-life products, and recent advances in polyurethane technology for energy saving insulation.

Two further technical sessions will discuss the latest innovations in polyurethanes technology and some of the most recently developed processing techniques used to make high-performance composites. Although primarily for the automotive sector, these tough composites are now also finding applications in other industrial sectors where their combination of rigidity and low weight is of value.

Associations focus on key issues

The morning of the second day of the UTECH Europe 2009 Conference will see the first of two half-day sessions from key industry bodies. ISOPA has compiled a wide-ranging programme addressing key safety, health and environmental issues including an overview of the latest status of the European Union’s REACH legislation (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), which is now well into implementation, an examination of the PU industry’s role in promoting sustainability, and the sector’s continuing efforts to improve combustibility of products used in the construction sector.

In addition, the recently formed Polyurea Development Association Europe will be running a half-day session on the morning of the final day of the conference, 2 April, detailing the latest commercial and technical developments relating to this fast-growing market. This will feature several papers addressing the use of these materials in Europe, North America and the Far East, as well as some of the key technical issues and possibilities, illustrated by recent case studies.

Book now, to avoid disappointment!

Without doubt, this combination of high-level information on technical, legislative and commercial activities in the polyurethanes sector, will make the UTECH Europe 2009 Conference an unmissable event. Book your place now, to avoid disappointment and to take advantage of preferential enrolment fess for applications received before 20 January 2009!

The programme is available via Website: http://utecheurope2009conference.com/ or by post from: UTECH 2009 Conference, Crain Communications Ltd, 21 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9EU; Tel: +44 (0)20 7457 1400; Fax: +44 (0)20 7457 1440; E-mail: UTECH-2009@crain.com

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