Dr. Rose Ryntz, IAC Group to Give Keynote at SPE® TPO Auto Engineered Polyolefins Conference this October

The 15th-annual SPE® TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference, the world’s leading automotive engineered-polyolefins forum, will feature five keynote speakers, interspersed throughout the two-and-a-half-day conference, who will highlight important trends facing the automotive-plastics market, including mass and cost reduction, increased functionality, and consumer appeal. Organized by the Detroit Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®), this year’s event will be held at Troy Marriott in the Detroit suburbs from October 6-9, 2013. Speakers from LMC Automotive, Chrysler Group LLC, International Automotive Components, Advanced Composites, Inc., and Borealis AG will help audience members better understand how thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs), thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are Driving Value, Light Weight, & Innovative Automotive Solutions — this year’s conference theme.

On Day 2 of the conference, long-time conference committee member and session organizer, Dr. Rose Ryntz, senior director – Advanced Engineering / Material Development, International Automotive Components Group (IAC) will lead off with a talk entitled Olefinic Material Opportunities in Interior Automotive Applications. According to Ryntz, “Due to their low specific gravity and balance of impact and strength, demand for olefinic materials is continuing to increase for automotive-interior applications. Using these materials, designers can balance aesthetics, processability, craftsmanship, and weight for a broad range of applications — ranging from door panels to instrument panels and now specifically for acoustic mats.” The author notes that her talk will cover use of novel materials, such as in-mold, grained coverstocks and fillers that boost stiffness without increasing the overall carbon footprint, plus will highlight the ways that olefin polymers can aid designers in reaching the best value / performance proposition for their application.

Ryntz holds a Ph.D. in Polymer / Organic Chemistry and an MBA. During her career she has worked at Dow Chemical, DuPont Automotive, Ford Motor Co., Akzo Nobel N.V., and Visteon Corp. before assuming her current role at IAC Group North America. She is a prolific invited speaker, has published extensively (with over 100 publications, 25 patents, and four books), and is a recipient of many prestigious awards, including International Biographical Center Who’s Who in the World, Best Paper and Best Speaker awards through the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT) as well as SPE, the FSCT Women in Coatings Management Achievement Award, George B. Heckel Award & Matiello Award, the American Chemical Society (ACS) Roy Tess Award, the Women Automotive Association International Professional Achievement Award, the Outstanding Leadership Award sponsored by the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD), the Elias Singer Best Paper Award sponsored by the University of Southern Mississippi, the Gold Award sponsored by the ESD, a Roon Award sponsored by the FSCT, and the Henry Ford Technology award presented by the Ford Motor Co. for outstanding technical contributions to the company. She also has served as president of FSCT, is a fellow in SPE, serves on the board of directors of the Detroit Section of SPE, and is one of the founding members of the SPE TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins conference.

About the SPE TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference

Since 1998, the SPE TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference has highlighted the importance of rigid and flexible polyolefins throughout the automobile – in applications ranging from semi-structural composite underbody shields and front-end modules to soft-touch interior skins and bumper fascia. Engineered polyolefins have been the fastest-growing segment of the global plastics industry for more than a decade owing to their excellent cost / performance ratio. The show typically draws over 500 attendees from 20 countries on four continents who are interested in learning about the latest in rigid and elastomeric TPO as well as TPE and TPV technologies. Fully a third of conference attendees say they work for a transportation OEM, and roughly 20% work for a tier integrator / molder, with the balance from materials or reinforcement suppliers, equipment OEMs, industry consultants, and members of academia. This year’s conference returns to the Troy Marriott in the Detroit suburbs. A variety of sponsorship packages are available for companies interested in showcasing their products and / or services.

See
http://auto-tpo.com/
or
http://speautomotive.com/tpo.htm
.

# # # # #

® SPE is a registered trademark of the Society of Plastics Engineers. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Klaus Busse from Chrysler Group LLC to Give Keynote at 2013 SPE® TPO Engineered Polyolefins Conf.

The 15th-annual SPE® TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference, the world’s leading automotive engineered-polyolefins forum, will feature five keynote speakers, interspersed throughout the two-and-a-half-day conference, who will highlight important trends facing the automotive-plastics market, including mass and cost reduction, increased functionality, and consumer appeal. Organized by the Detroit Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®), this year’s event will be held at Troy Marriott in the Detroit suburbs from October 6-9, 2013. Speakers from LMC Automotive, Chrysler Group LLC, International Automotive Components, Advanced Composites, Inc., and Borealis AG will help audience members better understand how thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs), thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are Driving Value, Light Weight, & Innovative Automotive Solutions —  this year’s conference theme.

The show’s second keynote will be given by Klaus Busse, head of Interior Design at Chrysler Group LLC on the topic of Chrysler Group’s Journey to World Class Interiors.  Busse notes that the journey began in 2005 when he and his team took on the task of improving vehicle interior quality at the company. “We took a back-to-basics approach to relearn the craft of designing and producing world-class interior quality at Chrysler Group,” says Busse. “Since plastics play a key role in both design and manufacturing of today’s auto interiors, one of our main objectives was to learn how to improve the perceived quality of plastic components.” Busse promises not only to provide insight into his team’s experiences along the way, but also some “surprising twists.”

In his current position, which he has held since 2009, Busse is responsible for the interior design of Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram Truck, and SRT brand vehicles and elevating the company’s interior designs to world-class levels. He has overseen the designs of award-winning interiors, including the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2013 Dodge Dart, and 2014 Ram Truck. Busse joined Chrysler in 2005 after 10 years at Mercedes-Benz Design in Germany. He first discovered his passion for sketching cars during high school math class. Before locking into automotive design, Busse explored fine arts and industrial design. An internship within the Mercedes-Benz Design Office confirmed his career choice in automotive design. Born in Minden, Germany, Busse holds a B.A. degree in Transportation Design from Coventry University in the U.K.

About the SPE TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference

Since 1998, the SPE TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference has highlighted the importance of rigid and flexible polyolefins throughout the automobile – in applications ranging from semi-structural composite underbody shields and front-end modules to soft-touch interior skins and bumper fascia. Engineered polyolefins have been the fastest-growing segment of the global plastics industry for more than a decade owing to their excellent cost / performance ratio. The show typically draws over 500 attendees from 20 countries on four continents who are interested in learning about the latest in rigid and elastomeric TPO as well as TPE and TPV technologies. Fully a third of conference attendees say they work for a transportation OEM, and roughly 20% work for a tier integrator / molder, with the balance from materials or reinforcement suppliers, equipment OEMs, industry consultants, and members of academia. This year’s conference returns to the Troy Marriott in the Detroit suburbs. A variety of sponsorship packages are available for companies interested in showcasing their products and / or services.

See
http://auto-tpo.com/
or
http://speautomotive.com/tpo.htm
.

# # # # #

® SPE is a registered trademark of the Society of Plastics Engineers.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Jeff Schuster, LMC Automotive to Give Keynote at 15th SPE® TPO Auto. Engineered Polyolefins Conference

The 15th-annual SPE® TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference, the world’s leading automotive engineered-polyolefins forum, will feature five keynote speakers, interspersed throughout the two-and-a-half-day conference, who will highlight important trends facing the automotive-plastics market, including mass and cost reduction, increased functionality, and consumer appeal. Organized by the Detroit Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®), this year’s event will be held at Troy Marriott in the Detroit suburbs from October 6-9, 2013. Speakers from LMC Automotive, Chrysler Group LLC, International Automotive Components, Advanced Composites, Inc., and Borealis AG will help audience members better understand how thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs), thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are Driving Value, Light Weight, & Innovative Automotive Solutions — this year’s conference theme.

On Monday morning, the conference will kick off with a keynote from Jeff Schuster, senior vice-president, LMC Automotive on the topic, Global Automotive Outlook — What is in Store Beyond Uncertainty? Schuster explains, “The near-term automotive environment is mixed across the globe, as some markets are in full recovery mode and others have faltered. Uncertainty and risk have become permanent fixtures in automotive markets, and competitive pressures have greatly reduced the margin of error. Despite this, optimism and prosperity have returned in some pockets.” Schuster adds that his talk will examine global demand and supply trends for both short and long term, as outlooks vary by region or market. He also says he will provide deep analysis of the North American market, including segment shifts, hybrid/electric vehicle (EV) activity, and trends in vehicle sourcing.

Free Day-Long Injection-Molding Workshop in Kentucky, May 21, 2013

SPE Members can attend a free day-long injection-molding quality workshop at Ticona Engineering Polymers‘ Florence, Kentucky headquarters on May 21. The course was developed by RJG Inc., the international leader in injection-molding training, technology, and resources headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan. The seminar is designed to give molders key systematic processing strategies and advanced processing technologies that will allow them to consistently manufacture the highest quality parts. The course will feature guest speaker, Jenny Taylor, Manufacturers Association of Plastics Processors (MAPP). Learn More

Detroit-Area SPE Members Attend FREE Molding Innovation Day in Troy, MI, April 16th

MOLDING INNOVATION DAY:

Detroit Marriott Troy, April 16, 2013

SPE members are invited to register to attend a free seminar in Troy, Michigan, USA this April, brought to you by Moldex3D, Matsui, Trexel, Inc., Siemens, and RJG.   Seats are limited, so if interested, please respond right away.

Use this LINK to learn more and to register for this event.

Questions? Contact Rob Stipek:

Tel: +1-248-946-4570 ext. 202

Fax:+1-248-928-227

robstipek@moldex3d.com

SPE Members Attend SAE Congress, April 16-18, 2013 at Classic SAE Member Rate

 

 

 

Through a special arrangement with SAE International, SPE members who are not also SAE members can attend next week’s SAE Congress at Cobo Hall in Detroit at the SAE Classic Member rate. To take advantage of this reduced price admission, follow the instructions below.

Registration Instructions

1. Go to the SAE 2012 World Congress registration page at:
   http://www.sae.org/congress/registration.htm
   
2. Click on the link to Register Now!
3. You will be asked to Login to the SAE Website. If you don’t already have a MySAE User ID and Password, you will need to create one by clicking the Sign Up/Get Started Now button on the right.
4. When Non-SAE Members log in, they will see a screen like that shown below.
5. In the Other Society section, please select the days that you plan to attend by checking the boxes and select “I am an SPE Member” from the drop down box (see screen shot below):
6. Select any additional events you are interested in, then click the Proceed button at the bottom of the page.
7. The Registration Summary screen will appear with the SAE Classic Member rates. Confirm your selections are correct then click the Proceed button at the bottom and complete your registration.

SPE® Announces Dates, Location, Theme for 13th Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition

The organizing committee for the SPE® Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) today announced the dates, theme, and location for this year’s show and issued its annual Call for Papers. Now in its thirteenth year, the SPE ACCE is the world’s leading forum for automotive composites and draws exhibitors, speakers, and attendees from 15 countries on five continents. This year’s show, whose theme is Composites: Lightweighting the Cars of Tomorrow, returns September 11-13, 2013 but to a new venue.

Creig Bowland, senior research associate at PPG Industries, 2013 SPE ACCE conference co-chair explains, “Our conference has been fortunate enough to enjoy excellent growth the past few years — so much so that we have literally outgrown our home of 12 years. We and management at our previous venue tried everything we could to make the most of the space we had, but it became clear during last year’s ACCE that we needed to make a change. We’ve moved our 2013 conference to The Diamond Center, which is part of the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich., U.S.A. We believe it will give us the best of both worlds — the friendly, intimate feel of our old facility and the flexibility to grow and spread out that we so badly needed.”

SPE® AUTO TPO Conference Organizers Announce 2013 Event Dates, Issue Call for Papers

The fifteenth-annual SPE® TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference, the world’s leading automotive engineered-polyolefins forum, returns to the Troy Marriott in the Detroit suburbs from October 6-9, 2013. This year’s theme is TPOs: Driving Value, Light Weight, & Innovative Automotive Solutions. The organizing committee also has issued its annual call for papers, with abstracts due April 19, 2013 and non-commercial papers or presentations by July 31, 2013 (eMail both to TPOpapers@auto-tpo.com).

Bill Windscheif, president, Advanced Innovative Solutions, Ltd. and conference co-chair notes, “A few years ago we made the strategic decision to expand our event’s coverage beyond just rigid and flexible thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs) to include flexible thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs). We clearly saw the role of these materials expanding among automakers, plus their functionality constantly being improved upon by resin suppliers and compounders. We’ve also featured sessions for many years on improving molding productivity and designing better parts because we know that engineering and manufacturing need to work closely to improve first-pass yield. We work hard to scout the industry each year to find the most interesting and innovative technologies to include in our conference. Attendees tell us over and over that the practical knowledge they gain is why they return every year. They know their time won’t be wasted and they’ll leave with lots of new ideas and great new contacts, thanks to the event’s outstanding networking opportunities.”

Conference co-chair, Jeffrey Valentage, global market planner-specialty compounding automotive, ExxonMobil Chemical Company adds, “With the increased focus on improved fuel economy, interest in lightweight, high-performance TPO materials is stronger than ever. Last year’s conference broke our all-time attendance record and we expect the same thing to happen in 2013.”

Chrysler Group LLC’s 2013 SRT Viper® supercar Named SPE® Vehicle Engineering Team Award Winner

For the second year in a row, a vehicle from Chrysler Group LLC has been named the Vehicle Engineering Team Award (VETA) winner by the Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®) as part of the group’s 42nd-annual Automotive Innovation Awards Competition, the oldest and largest recognition event in the automotive and plastics industries. The 2012 VETA winner is the 2013 model year (MY) SRT Viper® supercar from Chrysler Group LLC’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand. Key members of the Chrysler Group team and its suppliers will accept the award at the SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala on November 7, 2012, at Burton Manor in Livonia, Mich.

VETA recognizes the technical achievements of entire teams comprised of automotive designers and engineers, tier integrators, materials suppliers, toolmakers, and others whose work—in research, design, engineering, and/or manufacturing—has led to significant integration of polymeric materials on a notable vehicle. This is the sixth time in nine years that the award has been presented. The first winner was Porsche AG for the 2004 MY Porsche® Carrera GT supercar. Ford Motor Co. won in three successive years with, respectively, its 2009 MY Ford® Flex™ cross-over-utility vehicle (CUV), 2010 MY Ford Taurus® sedan, and 2011 MY Ford Explorer® sport-utility vehicle (SUV). Last year’s winners were the 2011 MY Chrysler® 200 and Dodge® Avenger® mid-size sedans, both of whose interiors were developed and launched as part of vehicle facelifts in just over a year through joint work by Chrysler Group and its interiors supplier, Faurecia.

2012 SPE® ACCE Best Paper Award Winners Announced

The organizing committee for the SPE® Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) today announced Best Paper Award winners for the group’s twelfth-annual show, September 11-13, 2012 at the MSU Management Education Center (here).

Three winners – two from industry and one from academia – who received the highest average ratings by conference peer reviewers out of a field over 70 contenders will be honored for excellence in technical writing during opening ceremonies.  Honorees are Duane Emerson, senior applications engineer – Composites Strategic Programs Group with Ticona Engineering Polymers, Christoph Greb, deputy head of Composites, Institut für Textiltechnik (Institute for Textile Technology) at RWTH Aachen University, and Dr. Jan Seyfarth, DIGIMAT product manager at e-Xstream engineering.