The Society of Plastics Engineers' Thermoforming Division has canceled its annual conference scheduled for Sept. 19-22 in Milwaukee, and instead will focus its in efforts on a Thermoforming World Pavilion at NPE2009 in Chicago.
“As we were preparing the final stages of our annual Thermoforming Conference, we realized there were significant headwinds preventing us from having a successful event,” said Brian Ray, division chairman, in a news release.
“Many companies have issued travel bans and we've noticed attendance decreases at other industry conferences. We are committed to delivering a top-notch event to our exhibitors and attendees, and we believe that we need to give the economy a chance to recover in order to accomplish that” said Ray, who also is president of Ray Products Inc. in Ontario.
The annual conference brings together thermoformers from all over the world and features technical presentations, a trade show exhibit floor and a parts competition. The 2010 edition will be held in Milwaukee.
The conference has been held for 18 years, and this is the first time it has been canceled. In 2001, the conference was held Sept. 15-18, just a few days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The Thermoforming Division will offer incentives to exhibitors in the pavilion at NPE2009, which will be held June 22-26.
“While the conference cancellation is a response to the economic trouble affecting the plastics industry, it enables our division to take greater advantage of the marketing potential afforded by a prominent presence at NPE2009, and to better prepare for the 2010 Thermoforming Conference, which is likely to take place during better economic times,” said Donald Kruschke, marketing committee chairman and executive vice president of Stopol Inc. in Solon, Ohio.