Plastics power innovation at PLASTEC West
As sustainable business practices increasingly drive consumer spending habits, the plastics industry is responding to customer demand through unprecedented innovation, leveraging new technologies and materials to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles, reduce plastic waste in packaging, make buildings more energy efficient and so much more. Such advances have led to plastics’ increasing use throughout entire industries—automotive, construction, electronics, etc.—setting up the global plastics market to surpass $720 billion by 2025, according to a report from Grand View Research. The building blocks of innovation—the materials, technologies and equipment—will be on full display at PLASTEC West, the largest annual plastics and polymers event in the United States. Taking place Feb. 11 to 13, 2020, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, the conference and exhibition will convene plastics engineers, business owners, and thought leaders for three days of education and networking to inspire advances in plastics and processing.
Strategically situated on an expansive show floor next to Automation Technology Expo (ATX) West, Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West, Design & Manufacturing (D&M), and WestPack, PLASTEC West will host more than 110 companies driving innovation in the plastics and polymers industry, global leaders digging deeper on education, and ample networking opportunities with plastics and R&D engineers, C-suite executives and key decision-makers.
A key focus during the three-day conference and trade show will be the advent of the smart factory and how it is reshaping manufacturing in the 21st century, according to PLASTEC West Brand Director Steve Everly.
“The fourth industrial revolution, known as Industry 4.0, has made its way into manufacturing, and such industry growth has fueled expanding use of plastic in high-growth industries via 3D printing, injection molding, automation and blow molding across the aerospace, automotive, electronics and medical sectors,” said Everly. “The conference will explore advances in plastics and processing with sessions led by industry visionaries and companies investigating the opportunities plastic’s versatility affords and the transition to biodegradable and sustainable plastic materials.”
Advances in 3D printing will be another major discussion point at the event, added Everly. “From personalized prosthetics and implants to customized sneakers, 3D printing is creating higher quality, more sought-after products. This year we will be hosting a 3D Printing Innovation Summit, where attendees can gain deeper insight into how this emerging technology will affect their companies and the entire manufacturing industry as a whole,” said Everly. Sessions will range from exclusive keynote presentations, Lightning Workshops, Tech Talk Panels, roundtable discussions and more.
Top sessions at PLASTEC West include:
The Smart Factory: You Have All the Data, What Do You Do With It?
Tech Talk Panel: Plastic Prototyping Methods: How do you Choose the Best Process?
For more information on PLASTEC West and to register to attend, visit: https://plastecwest.plasticstoday.com.