To make improvements to Antec, the Society of Plastics Engineers will work more closely with the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., the two trade associations announced Aug. 7.
As part of the three-year agreement, SPI now will sell booth space for the trade show part of the SPE Antec events in North America in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, Antec once again will be collocated with SPI's NPE2015 trade show in Orlando, Fla. — following the practice of the past two NPEs, in 2012 and 2009.
Antec is SPE's annual technical conference and biggest event. This year's Antec had presentations of 623 technical papers and attracted 1,432 attendees.
At all three Antecs, in 2013, 2014 and 2015, SPI will produce a Business of Plastics Conference to be held alongside SPE's technical conference. SPI will sell exhibit space and offer promotional opportunities for corporate sponsors.
SPI also will help market the entire Antec program.
The next SPE annual conference in North America, Antec 2013, will be held April 22-24 in Cincinnati. Antec moves to Las Vegas in 2014.
“Building on the successful collocation of our Antec conference with NPE2012, the agreement between SPE and SPI will benefit both organizations by creating new avenues for growth,” said SPE CEO Willem De Vos. “Our collective efforts will increase attendance at technical sessions, expand the trade show held during Antec in non-NPE years, add valuable new educational content and support SPE's strategy for international diversification.”
SPI is based in Washington. SPE is in Newtown, Conn.
The SPI Business of Plastics Conference drew 779 attendees at NPE2012, to hear 28 presentations on current issues affecting business strategy.
SPI President and CEO Bill Carteaux said both trade associations can help each other.
“Following strong attendance at our Business of Plastics Conference during NPE2012, SPI is delighted at the prospect of making this program into an annual event, creating what amounts to a new product stream and increasing our visibility as a provider of educational content,” Carteaux said.
“At the same time, our sales and promotional work on behalf of Antec-related events will generate new marketing opportunities for the companies that make up our own membership.”
