The 2018 symposium of the In-Mold Decorating Association takes place Nov. 11-13 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn and Spa in San Diego.
Among highlights, IMDA will offer attendees opportunities to tour Distinctive Plastics Inc. on the afternoon of either Nov. 12 or 13.
The plant in Vista is about 16 miles from the conference hotel. IMDA will provide bus transportation.
During the tours, Distinctive will offer demonstrations of two alternative IMD processes, in-mold electronics and scientific molding.
For some jobs, Distinctive uses an in-mold reel-to-reel indexing system from Kurz Transfer Products LP of Charlotte, N.C., the U.S. subsidiary of Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG of Fürth, Germany.
Also, Distinctive uses a traditional IMD system inserting individual appliques into the mold.
Each Nov. 12 attendee will receive a sample IMD control panel with integrated IME technology.
FimmTech Inc.'s Suhas Kulkarni will show scientific molding technology on an operating press.
Multiple symposium sessions at the hotel include more than 15 presentations, open-ended workshops, technical papers and a supplier trade fair.
The Nov. 12 IMDA awards dinner will recognize the group's 2018 contest winners in several package, part and design categories.
Members of Skokie, Ill.-based IMDA include molders, printers, material suppliers and equipment manufacturers with interest in the development and growth of IMD products, technologies and markets.