For SPI Members Only — February 24, 2006

In This Edition
Regulatory | NPE Update | Trade | Energy | Stateside | Safety | SPI News | Calendar of Events

SPI fights to maintain funding for FDA’s Food Contact Notification Program. . . On February 13 SPI issued a statement critical of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Fiscal Year 2007 budget request which did not include funding for the Food Contact Notification (FCN) Program. While the almost $2 trillion Federal budget would increase from 2006, new priorities would eclipse the future of the $6M Food Contact Notification Program. As drafted by the Administration, FCN Program funds would be redirected to programs with higher priorities. SPI’s Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Packaging Materials Committee Executive Director Susan Howe told regulators that the FDA’s decision to cut funding for its FCN program is “another blow to American manufacturing.” In a recent statement, Howe said “the elimination of the FCN program would have an enormous detrimental impact on the ability of all manufacturers to obtain clearances for new food-contact materials to be introduced in the U.S. marketplace.” SPI’s Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Packaging Materials Committee is spearheading an allied-industry coalition to obtain the necessary funding to continue the FDA’s FCN program in 2007. For more information, contact Susan Howe at (703) 974-5223 or showe@socplas.org.

Projections indicate greater size, more international participation and technological diversity at NPE 2006 (June 19–23 in Chicago). . . Based on exhibitor contracts, surveys and visitor pre-registrations to date, NPE 2006 will achieve targeted exhibitor and visitor totals, attract more international participation, and present the broadest range of technologies ever featured at the triennial trade show. Here is a look at the numbers to date:

• Exhibitors: SPI has consistently targeted 2,000 as the number of exhibitors at NPE 2006, which would represent a 4 percent increase over NPE 2003 and be roughly equivalent to the record set in the boom year of 2000.
• Visitors: The target for registrations by prospective visitors has been 75,000, which would be 19 percent more than in 2003. The number of pre-registrations by prospective show visitors is currently 33 percent greater than for NPE 2003 at this point in the show cycle, and is only a fraction of a percent lower than the corresponding number for NPE 2000, which ultimately set the record for registrations at 90,000.
• International participation: SPI estimates that a third of all NPE 2006 exhibitors will be from outside the U.S. – the largest share ever. International visitor pre-registrations thus far account for 14 percent of overall registration and are projected to total 17 percent by the time of the show.
• Technological diversity: The enormous breadth of plastics and the industries it serves has always been reflected in the diversity of technologies at NPE. For NPE 2006, this range will expand further as 27 percent of companies indicated that they were newcomers to NPE. This percentage is likely to increase because of companies that have begun taking exhibits in pavilions that will bring in technologies new to the show or expand the role of established ones.

Alliance of Plastics Processors to host 34th annual design competition, winners to be displayed at NPE 2006. . . Companies interested in introducing new materials, processing and equipment technologies to an audience of more than 75,000 plastics and elastomer processors should submit an entry to the Alliance of Plastics Processors’ New Product Design Competition. Now in its 34 year, the competition is a non-commercial showcase promoting new developments, applications and technologies used in the industry. All entries are to be manufactured from standard injection molding, co-injection, low-pressure structural foam, reaction injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, rotational molding and other progressive plastic processes. Entries will be judged April 2–4 during the Plastics Parts Innovations Conference in Columbus, Ohio. First-place awards presented for the most innovative commercial products in 15 categories will be on display at NPE 2006, to be held June 19–23 in Chicago. For more information on entry criteria visit the Alliance of Plastics Processors Web site or contact Karen Miles at (800) 525-3984 or kmiles@socplas.org.

SPI applauds USTR plan to level playing field for U.S.-China trade relations. . . In support of creating a more level playing field for U.S. plastic manufacturers in trade relations with China, SPI President William Carteaux issued a statement on February 23 supporting action items announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a report the agency released February 14. The report “U.S.–China Trade Relations: Entering a new Phase of Greater Accountability and Enforcement” outlines the USTR’s findings and recommendations to significantly open the Chinese market to U.S. goods and services, enforce protection of U.S. intellectual property rights, and hold China strictly accountable to its WTO obligations. In the SPI statement, Carteaux said, “SPI welcomes USTR’s more aggressive China trade policy and is pleased with Ambassador Portman’s recognition that a more assertive stance is needed with China. The enormous $205 billion deficit with China is clear evidence of an uneven trading relationship. We commend USTR for identifying concrete policy shifts aimed at rectifying this situation. . . . China continues to be a critical market for the U.S. plastics industry. Over the last few years, the industry has made inroads into this vast market, but we know that U.S. plastics companies would observe even greater benefits if the Chinese market reflected the openness called for by WTO rules.”

International trade assistance available to SPI members . . . Did you know that SPI provides hands-on training programs to help your employees understand the basics of international trade? SPI is now preparing a new resource, Guide to Importing and Exporting, which will be available to members at no cost. Release of the booklet will be accompanied by a series of Webcast seminars on specific topics of interest.

SPI members press Congress to address natural gas crisis. . . On February 15–16, SPI members participated in a second Congressional Fly-In coordinated by the Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) to discuss their concerns about access to affordable natural gas with key members of the Senate. SMG1 Chair Pete Jones of Wexco Corporation (Lynchburg, VA) was joined by SPI members Jon Bemis and Steve Kolste of Bemis Manufacturing and Gene Steadman of Celanese/Ticona (Washington, DC) in representing SPI during discussions that centered on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Key meetings included visits with the legislative staffs of Wisconsin Senators Herb Kohl (D) and Russell Feingold (D), North Carolina Senators Elizabeth Dole (R) and Richard Burr (R) and South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Jim DeMint (R). In addition SPI members met directly with Texas Senator John Cornyn (R). On the House of Representatives side, the group visited with the office of Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC). Jon Bemis and Steve Kolste also met personally with Representative Tom Petri (R-WI).

DOI proposed natural gas exploration a good start, SPI says. . . In its continuing energy policy advocacy effort on behalf of the U.S. plastics industry, SPI released a statement on February 21 that gave support, albeit with some qualification, to the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) recently released draft proposed five year plan to open additional areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to natural gas exploration between the years 2007–2012. As drafted, the additional areas are Alaska's North Aleutian Basin, portions of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico near the Florida panhandle, and a section of the Mid-Atlantic off of the Virginia coast.

In the statement, SPI President William Carteaux said, “SPI and its member companies support the recent action by the DOI to address the skyrocketing price and limited availability of domestic natural gas supplies by expanding the size of the OCS areas that would be available for exploration. However, because the draft proposed plan does not include the Atlantic seaboard and other areas currently off-limits to production, we view it as a positive first step, but not a solution, to the energy crisis faced by U.S. manufacturers and consumers. . . SPI urges the Bush Administration to work with industry to make this draft proposed plan a reality.” For more information contact Chris Brown, SPI senior director of federal government affairs, at cbrown@socplas.org or (202) 974-5228.

Alaska’s reaches natural gas pipeline agreement. . . Alaska reached initial agreement with BP, Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips to build a major pipeline that would bring natural gas from the North Slope to the Midwest. Described as one of the largest civil engineering projects ever undertaken, the pipeline will eventually transport up to 4.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day. However, completion of the pipeline is not expected until 2012–2014.

Environmentalists express concern about drilling in Wyoming. . . The Washington Post reports on environmentalists’ concerns over the stepped-up pace of drilling for natural gas in the Pinedale region of Wyoming, “one of the most productive and profitable natural gas fields on federal land in the Rockies.” Critics complain that the Bureau of Land Management is issuing too many drilling permits without paying attention to the impact on the region’s rich wildlife.

Machinery Division releases safety standard revision for public review. . . SPI’s Machinery Division released Safety Requirements for the Manufacture, Care and Use of Horizontal Injection Molding Machines – ANSI/SPI B151.1 2006 (HIMM’s) for public review on February 10. The standard is being revised to provide additional details on electrical requirements and definitions as well as additional explanatory materials and illustrations to improve clarity and intent. The standard was sent out to the machinery and molder members for approval and/or comments. If you would like to review the proposed revision, please contact Jennifer Jones at (202) 974-5231 or jjones@socplas.org.

Call for Entries for SPI Safety Statistics and Awards Program. . . SPI’s Occupational Health and Environmental Issues Committee is now accepting entries for its annual Safety Statistics and Awards Program. The benchmarking data generated by the program reflects safety rates by process, such as extrusion, thermoforming and injection molding, or by general category, such as processor, material supplier and machinery/auxiliary equipment, and is made available only to those SPI members who participate in the program. The data is also sorted by types of plants, to allow for comparison within a given sector of the industry and with the industry as a whole. Companies with excellent safety records are recognized in four awards categories: Distinguished Safety Award, Achievement Safety Award, Merit Safety Award and Special Recognition Award. More information is available on the SPI Web site or by contacting Susan Howe at (202) 974-5223 or showe@socplas.org.

SPI issues a call for company art, photos. . . SPI wants to showcase your company ads and photo images in the hallways of our headquarter offices. SPI's “Walls of Fame” will showcase member companies from all segments of the industry, where they are and what they do. The selected artwork pieces will be framed (approx. 22" x 28") and displayed for all visitors – members and nonmembers – to see. Some examples of the different items appropriate for submission include company or product advertisements that you've published in trade journals, grouped staff photos, photos of employees on your plant floor, or images of your building – just to name a few. The artwork should be submitted on CD in high-resolution tiff (at least 300 dpi) or as an Illustrator EPS file no later than April 11. For more information, contact SPI’s Patrice Lee at plee@socplas.org or (202) 974-5331.

SPI, business units and regions offer full line-up. . . This year SPI’s 2006 events calendar includes a full line-up of educational opportunities, trade shows, management and technical training. Follow the link above to view the complete calendar of events or see below for highlights of upcoming meetings.

Fluoropolymers Division celebrates 50 years of growth. . . Join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Fluoropolymers Division (FPD) at its spring 2006 Conference March 26–29, 2006, at the Westin Resort in Hilton Head, S.C. The program includes an update from the Issues Management Committee, an economic update, fluoropolymers in the aerospace industry, body language and nonverbal communication, developments in telecommunications and more. Click here for additional information on the conference, or contact Jennifer Goldman at jgoldman@socplas.org.

Film and Bag Federation to convene in Tampa. . . Join members of SPI’s Film and Bag Federation (FBF) at their next meeting. Convening April 2–4 2006 at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Fla., the meeting will feature outstanding speakers on topics that include “Pros and Cons of Off-Shore Resin Sourcing,” “New Applications for Bio-Based Polymers,” and “Trends in Sustainable Purchasing Practices, Hidden Trends in Film and Bag Imports” and more. To learn more about the conference or other FBF activities use the link above or contact Donna Dempsey at (202) 974-5218 or ddempsey@socplas.org.

Machinery, Molders and Moldmakers to feature Buonomo, Rothenberg. . . On May 7–10, 2006, the Machinery, Molders and Moldmakers joint annual business conference will convene in Naples, Fla., for three content-rich days of information exchange, networking and professional development. Jim Buonomo (Corporate VP, China and India, Nypro) will deliver a presentation to conference attendees on “Sustainable Manufacturing.” Stuart Rothenberg, columnist and political analyst, will use humorous anecdotes and a voluminous knowledge of the nation’s political scene to provide his perspective on the “Mid-Year Elections – Effects on the Manufacturing Industry.” Take advantage of the early registration discount by registering today! For more information, contact Jennifer Jones at (202) 974-5231 or jjones@socplas.org.

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