Contact: Karen Miles
(202) 974-5247

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Latest Innovations To Be On Display at Structural Plastics 2001

Washington (October 17, 2000) — The latest innovations in structural plastics products, illuminating technical presentations and ample networking and marketing opportunities will all be a part of Structural Plastics 2001, the 29th annual conference and new product design recognition sponsored by The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.'s (SPI) Structural Plastics Division (SPD). The event will take place April 1-3, 2001 in Atlanta, the division announced today.

A major highlight of the event is the New Product Design Recognition, which gives attendees a hands-on opportunity to examine the work of forward-thinking industrial designers in a multitude of plastics markets. The display showcases a wide range of engineering, specialty and commodity materials, representing products manufactured from a variety of progressive plastics processes.

"In its almost 30-year history the SPI Structural Plastics conference has become widely recognized as the premier showcase for cutting-edge plastics product design," said Brian Read, president, Horizon Plastics and SPD chairman.

"The latest designs in a variety of applications will be on display, demonstrating the remarkable growth and technological innovation in the structural plastics industry," Peter Grelle, The Dow Chemical Company and SPD 2001 conference chair added.

Technical and Educational Programs

In addition to the new product design recognition, Structural Plastics 2001 will feature numerous technical events focusing on the latest technologies and covering an array of processes, markets and materials. This year's topics will include new applications; case studies; emerging business issues; low-pressure structural foam; creative design/tooling; new process technologies; time or cost-reducing product development methods; and advances in production.

An educational workshop in conjunction with the conference, Fundamentals of Structural Plastics, will provide an overview of the various structural plastics technologies, including what makes a part structural, the features and benefits of various processes, how to choose the right process and how to locate key resources. The workshop also will include a roundtable discussion of comparative costs and pricing methods.

The Industry's Networking Forum

Networking opportunities will abound at Structural Plastics 2001, including an awards banquet, informal discussions with featured speakers and other events. In addition, upwards of 300 industry professionals including plastics products manufacturers, suppliers, industrial designers, media, OEMs and others will be in attendance.

"We anticipate another exceptional event for our industry in 2001," Allen Weidman, SPD executive director noted. "Simply stated, if you have any connection with the structural plastics industry, you need to be in Atlanta for this conference."

Additional information on Structural Plastics 2001 is available at www.plasticparts.org or by contacting Karen Miles, (800) 525-3984; e-mail kmiles@socplas.org.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's 1,700 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw material suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.5 million workers and provides $304 billion in annual shipments.

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