| Sunday, March 7 |
| 10:00 am-5:00pm |
Registration & Optional Golf Outing |
| 6:00-9:00 pm |
Opening networking reception |
| Monday, March 8 |
| 7:30 am |
Registration and continental breakfast |
| 8:05 am |
Opening remarks
Robert Grace, Editor, Associate Publisher & Conference Director, Plastics News |
| 8:15 am |
The economy - A manufacturing perspective
- Latest economic data & trends
- Prospects & projections, by sector & geography
Krzystzof Bledowski, Ph.D., Economist, Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI and Chairman,
National Economists Club
|
| 9:00 am |
U.S. Manufacturing-Outsourcing Cost Index
- What are the low-cost countries for U.S. manufacturers
- Who's up, who's down, and why
Dan Frich, Director, AlixPartners LLP
|
| 9:45 am |
Networking break |
| 10:00 am |
Quality performance tiering: Supply chain evolution in emerging economies
- Strategies for entering emerging markets (e.g. China, ASEAN) and for managing your supply chain in those areas
- How to better protect yourself from foreign competition
- The "Global, Local, Glocal" approach
Roger Young, Vice President - Asia, Robert Eller Associates Inc. (New Zealand)
|
| 10:45 am |
Plastics processing opportunities in Eastern & Central Europe
- In-depth data & first-hand insights on the emerging markets in Europe
- Trends & analysis, by country and by sector
Tamás Kovács, Founder & Business Development Manager, ECEBD Ltd. (Budapest, Hungary)
|
| 11:30 am |
Conversation stations Click for the lineup
- A new concept at the Forum - Discussion leaders steer informal, interactive dialogue on various topics of interest at gathering spots throughout the meeting room.
|
| 12:00 pm |
Lunch |
| 1:30 pm |
Panel: Challenges & opportunities in the medical devices market
- Key trends in the device sector
- What healthcare OEMs & contract manufacturers want from suppliers
- Prospects for outsourcing from emerging markets
Moderator: Brenan Riehl, President & CEO, GW Plastics Inc.
Alex Mastorakos, Global Sourcing Director - Plastics, Boston Scientific Corp.
Gaet Tyranski, Director - Medical Business Unit, Jabil Circuit Inc.
|
| 2:30 pm |
Emerging Markets roundtable
- Key trends in markets from Central Europe & the Middle East to India & ASEAN
- Where do the opportunities lie, globally, for processors & toolmakers?
- What are the pitfalls & the risks?
Moderator: Robert Grace, Plastics News
Parmesh Bhaskaran, AlixPartners LLP
Larry Hotaling, Managing Director, Global Diligence (Hong Kong) Ltd.
Roger Young, Robert Eller Associates Inc.
Tamás Kovács, ECEBD Ltd.
|
| 3:30 pm |
Networking break |
| 3:45 pm |
Biopolymers: A critical assessment
- Processing, pricing & performance issues
- Growth prospects & key future applications
Moderator: Frank Esposito, Senior Reporter, Plastics News
Jim Lunt, Managing Director, Jim Lunt & Associates LLC, and VP - Sales & Marketing, Tianan Biologic Material Co. Ltd.
Fredric Petit, Sustainability Director, DSM Engineering Plastics
|
| 4:45-5:15 pm |
Conversation stations Click for the lineup
- A new concept at the Forum - Discussion leaders steer informal, interactive dialogue on various topics of interest at gathering spots
|
| 6:00-9:00 pm |
Networking reception |
| Tuesday, March 9 |
| 7:30 am |
Continental breakfast |
| 7:50-7:55 am |
Tom Mitchell, President, Messe Düsseldorf North America
"A brief preview of K 2010" |
| 8:05 am |
Opening remarks
Robert Grace, Plastics News |
| 8:15 am |
Preparing for the "new normal"
- Insights into the health of North America's plastics processors & tool makers
- How well positioned are such firms to respond to improved market conditions?
Jeff Mengel, Partner, Plante & Moran PLLC
|
| 9:00 am |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Great Leaders, Great Results
- Common traits in leaders who succeed & inspire
- What works & what doesn't in building a great organization
Gerald D. Bell, Ph.D, Founder & CEO, Bell Leadership Institute
|
| 9:45 am |
Achieving operational excellence
- A consultant's snapshot on the state of processors in the U.S.
- Advice & analysis based on first-hand research
Laurie A. Harbour, President, Harbour Results Inc.
|
| 10:00 am |
Networking break |
| 10:15 am |
Case study: How one processor is re-engineering itself
- How Thogus Products is changing its work flows, its culture, the makeup of its staff and its customer base to reposition itself for the future
- The impact of rapid manufacturing on a traditional processor
- Applying technology to improve process control and manufacturing quality
Matt Hlavin, President, Thogus Products Companies
Randy Flamm, President, IQMS Inc.
Moderator: Laurie A. Harbour, President, Harbour Results Inc.
|
| 11:00 am |
Profiting from mold maintenance & tool transfer
- The business case for mastering the tool transfer process
- Managerial best practices for acquiring & running tools of any type
Steve Johnson, Operations Manager, ToolingDocs LLC
|
| 11:30 am |
Conversation stations Click for the lineup
- Discussion leaders steer informal, interactive dialogue on various topics of interest at gathering spots throughout the meeting room
|
| 12:00 pm |
Lunch |
| 1:30 pm |
Nanomaterials - a driver of the next industrial revolution?
- How this enabling science can impact product quality & performance
- What it takes to get into the game
- Best practices for product stewardship, compliance & sustainability
Bob Kumpf, Chief Administrative Officer, Bayer MaterialScience LLC
|
| 2:15 pm |
Panel: Merger & acquisition trends
- Latest data on deals, pricing multiples & market conditions
- Which deals are getting done, which are not - and why
Moderator: Randy Barko, Executive Adviser, Blaige & Co.
Kurt H. Beyer, Senior Vice President, Red Diamond Capital Inc.
Will Frame, Managing Director, Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC
|
| 3:15 pm |
Networking break |
| 3:30 pm |
Tribute to PN Processor of the Year Award finalists
- Acknowledge & celebrate the achievements of this year's finalists
- View a brief video feature about each company
Presenters: Bill Bregar, Senior Reporter, and Robert Grace, Editor, Plastics News
[Finalists to be announced]
|
| 4:00-4:30 pm |
Engineering thermoplastics outlook
- Focus on polycarbonate & nylon
- Supply, demand & pricing prospects
Adrian Beale, Director - Global Engineering Resins, Chemical Market Associates Inc.
|
| 4:30-5:00 pm |
Polyolefin resins outlook
- Focus on polyethylene & polypropylene
- Supply, demand & pricing prospects
Howard Rappaport, Global Business Director - Plastics, Chemical Market Associates Inc.
|
| 5:00-5:30 pm |
Resin markets Q&A
Adrian Beale & Howard Rappaport, CMAI
Moderator: Frank Esposito, Senior Reporter, Plastics News
|
| 7:00-10:00 pm |
PN Processor of the Year Award Ceremony & Reception |
| Wednesday, March 10 |
| 8:00 am |
Breakfast |
| 8:30 am |
Panel: Management best practices
- Gain insights & pick up actionable tips from the leaders of some of North America's best-run processors. This is always one of the Forum's most popular sessions.
Panelists: Top executives from this year's PN Processor of the Year Award finalists.
Brenan Riehl, President & CEO, GW Plastics Inc.
William H. Wilson, CEO, Montrose Molders Corp.
Philip A. Katen, General Manager, Plastikos Inc.
Jim Moore, CEO, Polypipe Inc.
Co-Moderators:
Megan Mehalko, Partner, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Jeff Mengel, Partner, Plante & Moran PLLC
|
| 10:00 am |
Wrap-up & final thoughts |
