SPE and SPI Agree to Cooperate on a Growth Plan for a Wide Range of Events at SPE ANTEC® in 2013, 2014, and 2015

SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) have reached an agreement that will add new dimensions to the next three annual SPE ANTEC® conferences, attract more corporate exhibitors and sponsors, and increase attendance, the associations announced today.
 
The agreement combines SPE’s expertise as the world’s leading organizer of plastics technical conferences with SPI’s strength as the producer and international marketer of the Western Hemisphere’s premier plastics exposition, the triennial NPE. Of the 2013, 2014, and 2015 ANTEC conferences covered by the agreement, the third, ANTEC® 2015, will co-locate with NPE2015 in March 2015 at Orlando, Florida.
 
SPI’s role in all three ANTEC events will include: 1) producing a “Business of Plastics” conference to be held alongside SPE’s technical conference; 2) selling co-located exhibit space as well as promotional opportunities for corporate sponsors; and 3) contributing to the marketing of the entire ANTEC program.
 
“Building on the successful co-location of our ANTEC conference with NPE2012, the agreement between SPE and SPI will benefit both organizations by creating new avenues for growth,” said Willem (Wim) De Vos, SPE’s CEO. “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.”
 
The agreement will also generate special benefits for SPI, according to William R. (Bill) Carteaux, SPI’s president and CEO. “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,” said Carteaux. “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.”   
 
The ANTEC conference consists largely of original, peer-reviewed technical presentations. During NPE2012, ANTEC 2012 provided 623 presentations and attracted 1,432 attendees. The trade show that is traditionally associated with the ANTEC conference was not held in 2012 but in 2011 included 84 exhibitors. The show will be held again in conjunction with ANTEC® 2013 (April 22-24 in Cincinnati, Ohio) and ANTEC® 2014 (April 27-May 1 in Las Vegas).
 
SPI’s Business of Plastics conference at NPE2012 had 779 attendees. In contrast to the technical presentations in the ANTEC conference, the SPI program focused on current issues affecting business strategy. It included 28 presentations of original content by industry experts.
 
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The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) is the premier source of peer-reviewed technical information for plastics professionals. Founded in 1942, SPE takes action every day to help companies in the plastics industry succeed by spreading knowledge, strengthening skills, and promoting plastics. Employing these vital strategies, SPE has helped the plastics industry thrive for over 70 years. SPE has become the recognized medium of communication among scientists, engineers, and technical personnel engaged in the development, conversion, and application of plastics. For more information, please visit www.4spe.org.  
 
Founded in 1937, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association represents the third largest manufacturing industry in the United States. SPI's member companies represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs nearly1-million workers and provides more than $341 billion in annual shipments. www.plasticsindustry.org.
 
NPE is a triennial international plastics exposition solely owned and produced by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. NPE2015 will take place in March of 2015, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.