New automotive conference from Crain centers on plastics and rubber

DETROIT, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Two leading business publications have joined together to launch the Plastics and Rubber In Automotive Conference on Jan. 14-15, 2019, at the Novi Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich. The event, organized by Crain publications Plastics News and Rubber & Plastics News, will explore the latest technologies and trends involving plastics and rubber used in vehicle manufacturing and development.

The new event merges the successful six-year-old Plastics In Automotive Conference and the two-year-old Rubber In Automotive Conference from the respective publishing brands.

The Plastics and Rubber In Automotive Conference will kick off with a joint session on tariffs, economic forecasting and automotive trends featuring speakers from Ford Motor Co., the Center for Automotive Research, the Plastics Industry Association and Armada Corporate Intelligence. Speakers include Alper Kiziltas, research scientist for Ford's sustainable materials operation and Bernard Swiecki, director of the Automotive Communities Partnership for the Center for Automotive Research (CAR).

The event then will break into separate plastics and rubber conferences, allowing attendees to attend sessions in both rooms. The day will end with a joint presentation on Manufacturing 4.0 trends and issues.

"This combined conference is a unique opportunity for attendees to hear about the latest trends and technological developments in their respective industries as well as learn about the issues, opportunities and technologies of a similar, yet different, side of the automotive supplier business," said Dave Zielasko, publisher of Rubber & Plastics News. "I am confident attendees will walk away from the conference filled with ideas, increased knowledge and new relationships."

Special conference sessions for plastics industry attendees include insights into sustainable materials and practices, economic and manufacturing trends facing the automotive industry and innovations in such areas as composite auto bodies, smart interiors, underhood and powertrain applications and much more.

Speakers and panelists for the plastics track include Jeff Stout, executive director for research, technology and new mobility – North America at Yan Feng Automotive Interiors; Nora Beevers, director of innovation at Grupo Antolin North America; Matt Thomas, manufacturing strategy and planning manager at General Motors; and Jud Gibson, vice president, commercial Americas, at DSM Engineered Plastics.

For the rubber sessions, Joe Walker, global technology director for materials & laboratories at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies and Freudenberg-NOK Sealing, is returning as conference chairman.  As with the inaugural Rubber in Automotive Conference, he has organized a dynamic and thought-provoking technical program for rubber product manufacturing attendees centered around the topics of sustainability and e-mobility. Presentations also will delve into textured coatings for automotive weather seals, a new silicone-based additive to reduce noise squeaks, sustainable chemicals and materials industries and test methods used for evaluating rubber properties.

Rubber-track speakers include Paul Tucker, president of Grace Technology and Development; Rick Ziebell, technology fellow, R.D. Abbott Co. Inc.; and Christophe Paulo, industrial and consumer strategic marketer, EMEA, for Dow Performance Chemicals.

"Combining the joint learnings from the industry's leading plastics- and rubber-based trade publications ups the ante on value for anyone serving those areas of automotive manufacturing," said Plastics News Conference Director Joseph Pryweller. "This will be a landmark materials-specific automotive conference that has never before been produced or even attempted. Expect an exhilarating day of engaging sessions, networking and exhibitor visits."  

Laurie Harbour, president and CEO of Harbour Results Inc., will be honored with this year's Plastics News' annual Automotive Newsmaker of the Year Award and will join Plastics News Editor Don Loepp onstage for a conversation.

The conference also features an automotive exhibition with plastics and rubber suppliers and a networking reception on the evening of Jan. 14. The all-day conference runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 15

Conference attendees receive discounted tickets to attend dinner presentations at the 2019 Automotive News World Congress and complimentary admission to the North American International Auto Show. 

Registration is open. You can find the latest agenda at www.plasticsnews.com/auto and www.rubberandplasticsnews.com/auto.

To sponsor the Plastics and Rubber In Automotive Conference, contact Pat Cannon at [email protected] and Brent Weaver at [email protected].

SOURCE Plastics News