The following news briefs were gathered by senior reporter Bill Bregar at SPE-Antec, held May 16-20 in Chicago.
R. Thakkar, M. Jacob honored as founders
Ramesh Thakkar and Manfred Jacob received the President's Founder's Medallions at SPE-Antec in Chicago.
Thakkar is the 2004 recipient for the India Section, which he helped establish. A chemist, he has played an active role in India's petrochemicals and plastics industries. Thakkar is chairman and managing director of Gujarat Petrosynthese Ltd. He also serves as chairman for Karnataka Petrosynthese Ltd.
Jacob won the award for his work to create the European Thermoforming Division, through organizing a successful string of biennial conferences throughout Europe. He founded Jacob Kunststofftechnik in 1973, and has played a role in several innovations such as thermoformed composite automotive bumpers.
Flexible packaging now official division
The new Flexible Packaging Division has received its charter.
At the Antec in 2001, 20 SPE members gathered to form an interest group, kicking off the effort that resulted in full division status this year.
Members said there is strong interest in packaging. In March, SPE and the Institute of Packaging Professionals held their first Flexible Packaging Conference in Atlanta. It was sold out, attracting more than 300 paid attendees.
The next Flexible Packaging Conference will be March 24-26 in Orlando, Fla.
SPE `Toolbox' series now covers extrusion
SPE rolled out its ``Plastics Technician's Toolbox for Extrusion.''
Thirty-four authors - all SPE members - worked on the three-book extrusion resource, said Nancy Herdegen, SPE manager of plastics education services.
The series is meant to be purchased as a set. The first three volumes cover fundamentals of polymer science, machinery operations and a complete glossary of plastics terms. The next three volumes are extrusion-specific, covering the extrusion process, single- and twin-screw extrusion, multiscrew extruders, and mixers and kneaders. A CD-ROM contains conversions, rule-of-thumb calculations and problem solving.
The ``Plastics Technician's Toolbox for Extrusion'' costs $395 for SPE members, under an introductory offer. Nonmembers pay $595.
