For SPI Members Only — April 10, 2006

In This Edition
Regulatory | Stateside | Energy & Policy | NPE 2006 Update | SPI News | Membership Benefits | Calendar of Events

SPI + 26 signatories urge lawmakers to fund Food Contact Notification program. . . Twenty-six associations, companies and other groups signed on to SPI’s Food Packaging Industry Coalition letter sent March 30 to Representative Henry Bonilla (R-TX) urging that funding be restored for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Contact Notification (FCN) Program. Bonilla chairs the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration. As reported here last month, FDA’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget request did not include funding for the FCN Program. Elimination of this program would be an enormous detriment to manufacturers seeking clearances for new food-contact materials to be introduced in the U.S. marketplace and in other countries.

Read the Coalition letter in its entirety and view the list of 26 signatories...

If you would like to get your company’s Washington, D.C., representative involved in this project, have them contact SPI’s Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs, Chris Brown, at cbrown@socplas.org.

SPI members act to support Virginia energy bill. . . SPI members and their employees should be commended for joining others in the manufacturing community in contacting Virginia Governor Tim Kaine’s office to express support of SB 262, legislation that would allow the state to opt-out of a 25-year moratorium on drilling for natural gas off of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The Virginia Assembly and Senate passed the bill, but opposition groups coalesced to encourage a veto of this legislation. According to the Washington Post, the bill’s sponsor, state Senator Frank Wagner (R) said, “There is so much potential for good things to come out of exploring off the coast of Virginia. It would spur economic development, create jobs and possibly help reduce our dependency on foreign oil.” Despite the efforts of manufacturing, Governor Kaine rejected the legislation on April 7, saying he would seek a revised bill that would require more information on the state’s offshore resources before any decision is made.

For more information, contact SPI’s Director, State Government Affairs, Jane A. Adams, at jadams@socplas.org or (202) 974-5206.

SPI participates in natural gas customer summit. . . SPI participated in the National Gas Council’s Natural Gas Customer Summit on April 3–4, 2006 in Washington, DC. The goal of the summit, which brought together customers of natural gas with natural gas producers, was to discuss the natural gas crisis and to develop consensus on addressing these issues. Participants heard presentations by experts on natural gas markets and formed smaller discussion groups to explore consensus viewpoints. Participants agreed that greater collaboration is a key to meeting natural gas supply challenges, and that unified messages for policymakers can yield positive results for both consumers and industry. Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, addressed the participants and stated his commitment to work with his Democratic cosponsor, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and other Senate leaders to pass S. 2253, which would open Lease 181 to natural gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico.

For more information, contact SPI’s Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs, Chris Brown, at cbrown@socplas.org or (202) 974-5228.

Congressional action on R&D Credit delayed until after April recess. . . A Senate–House conference to reconcile the two bodies’ versions of a tax reconciliation bill (H.R. 4297) has been delayed until after the congressional recess scheduled for April 10–21. Earlier reports indicated that the conference might be completed prior to the recess. Manufacturers’ interest in the bill is keen due to the inclusion in both versions of language to extend and strengthen the R&D Credit. The Credit, which has strong bipartisan support, helps boost industry investment in research done in the United States and is essential for sparking innovation for new products and competitiveness in world markets. When the Credit expired December 31, 2005, the cost of doing R&D in the U.S. increased for nearly 16,000 companies. SPI is a member of the R&D Credit Coalition, a group of more than 85 trade and professional associations and more than 1,000 small, medium, and large companies that engage in U.S.-based research.

Recyclers to collect, reprocess half a million pounds of scrap plastics generated during NPE 2006. . . The companies that will run the official recycling program at NPE 2006 say they hope to collect and reprocess half a million pounds (227 metric tons) of scrap plastics, keeping all but a small fraction of the show’s scrap out of Chicago landfills. Of the 2,000 exhibitors at the event, a number of them will be machinery builders, whose booths will feature equipment in commercial-scale operation, generating a variety of sample plastic products as well as trim scrap, sprues and runners. SPI has commissioned Eco Educators, an environmental training company, to manage the recycling program. A total of 335,000 lb. (152 metric tons) of scrap, or 36 truckloads, was collected from 72 participating exhibitors at NPE 2003. Maine Plastics, Inc., a resin buyer, recycler, and toll processor, will reprocess the scrap. Not only does the program benefit exhibitors by removing their scrap, it also demonstrates the fact that plastics are recyclable.

For more information, contact Eco Educators at recycle@npe.org or 1 (888) 532-7842.

Global Business Council breakfast briefing to examine Central/Eastern Europe markets. . . A breakfast briefing on opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe, sponsored by SPI’s Global Business Council and Modern Plastics Worldwide, will be offered during NPE 2006 on Tuesday, June 20, 8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m. at McCormick Place South (Level 1, Room S106). This region of the world is a growing market for plastics products and presents a wealth of opportunities in the automotive, packaging, and consumer goods sectors. This breakfast briefing will feature an expert panel of plastics and trade professionals who have successfully conducted business in this dynamic market. Attendees will gain an overview of the business environment in the region, learn about export and investment projects currently underway or being developed there, discover the wealth of government assistance programs available to U.S. exporters, and examine the pros and cons of offshore manufacturing alternatives.

The price for this exciting event is $100, which includes breakfast. To register, please visit the NPE Web site.

For more information, contact SPI’s Director of International Trade, Eugenia Ross, at eross@socplas.org or (202) 974-5219.

SPI data helps processors manage their businesses. . . SPI’s 44th Financial & Operating Ratios Survey is open for participation through May 5, 2006. This important management tool takes the financial pulse of the plastics processing industry, with results presented as composite operating statements, balance sheets and statistical data. SPI members can add to the benefit of the survey by participating; the more respondents there are, the more valuable the published results will be. SPI is actively seeking the participation of all plastics processing companies in the United States. Please encourage other plastics processors in your industry or area to participate in the survey. Participants who complete the survey will receive a free confidential, customized electronic report that provides the company's rank in key statistical ratios.

To take the survey, link to the Web at http://secure.verisconsulting.com/SPIFinOps/2005/ (the URL is case-sensitive).

For more information, contact SPI’s Director, Industry Information and Communications Services, Tommy Southall, at (202) 974-5257 or tsouthal@socplas.org.

SPI explores feasibility of group health insurance benefits. . . Responding to the single most requested benefit, SPI is exploring the possibility of offering group health insurance for member companies. By putting together a large pool of many member companies and their employees, SPI could be able to help companies enhance employee benefit packages and lower overhead costs by garnering more cost-efficient group rates and multiple plan designs.

We need your input to assess the feasibility of implementing this type of program, including basic demographic data from your company.

If your company is interested, please have your Human Resources Department complete our survey form and email it by April 14, 2006, to SPI’s Director of Human Resources, Anne Clark, at hr@socplas.org.

Please note: The survey does not request any personal information such as employee names or social security numbers. All data requested is generic and anonymity is protected. If you have any questions about the concept or the data being requested on the survey form, please contact SPI’s Anne Clark at (202) 974-5289.

SPI membership base continues growth trend. . . Fifteen new companies and one individual professional joined the ranks of SPI membership in March. The new companies include five processors, two resin and materials suppliers, one machinery and equipment company, three corporate professionals and two associates. Please join SPI in welcoming the following newcomers:

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.

SPI Midwest Region to present “Building Value Strategies” in Chicago. . . The SPI Midwest Region will hold a one-day business and technology (BAT) mini-conference on April 27, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Sponsored by Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Plante & Moran PLLC and P&M Corporate Finance LLC, the event will feature a keynote address by SPI President Bill Carteaux. Featured themes for the conference are “Retaining Value,” “Adding Value” and “Distinguishing Value.” Session topics will include industry performance in turbulent times, intellectual property and practices, information systems, unique and innovative technology, strategic and transactional considerations, and valuation and positioning considerations. The conference will close with a networking reception and presentation of the SPI Midwest Region’s Founders Award, to recognize exceptional individual service to the SPI Midwest Region.

Registration is $190.00 per person and can be made by linking to the Midwest Regional Office page of the SPI Web site.

Machinery, Molders and Moldmakers Joint Spring Conference to Convene in Naples, Florida. . . Conference registration is in full swing for this joint annual business conference being held May 7–10 in Naples, FL. To register, please visit the Machinery Division Web site. Due to the passing of Dr. Allen Konopacki, we have added one of his colleagues, Scott Korzen, as a replacement speaker. Mr. Korzen will offer insights, tips and ideas to enhance the effectiveness of working exhibits and the ability to produce higher quality leads and interactions. Nypro’s Corporate VP, China and India, Jim Buonomo, will deliver a presentation to conference attendees on “Sustainable Manufacturing.”

For more information, contact SPI’s Manager, Machinery, Molders and Moldmakers Divisions, Jennifer Jones, at (202) 974-5231 or jjones@socplas.org.

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