Automotive Market a Major Focus of 2015 Polyurethanes Technical Conference

The 2015 Polyurethanes Technical Conference will highlight issues and topics specific to the automotive market at the three-day event this October. Hosted by the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI), the conference is set to take place Oct. 5-7 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Three separate sessions focused on the automotive industry will be offered as part of the conference program, concentrated specifically on the complexity of global volatile organic compound (VOC) specifications in vehicles.

“The automotive sector is a growing, vibrant area for the polyurethanes industry, one where there is great opportunity for innovation,” said Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI. “There are also some important technical and regulatory topics central to the continued development of this sector, and the Polyurethanes Technical Conference is the perfect place to highlight the innovations and explore issues like VOCs.”

Polyurethanes have a wide range of uses in the automotive industry. In addition to the foam that makes car seats comfortable, many automobile bodies, bumpers, interior ceiling sections, spoilers and doors use polyurethanes. Polyurethanes can also help manufacturers reduce weight and increase fuel economy, comfort, corrosion resistance, insulation and sound absorption.

Sessions in the conference’s automotive track include:

• Part 1 of “Global Automotive VOC Specifications,” Tuesday, Oct. 6: The session will feature presentations by experts from the Ford Motor Company, Woodbridge Foam Corporation and Bayer Material Science. They will cover a history of VOC standards, where regulations stand today and their views on potential areas for improvement.
• Automotive Technical Session, Tuesday, Oct. 6: This session will showcase technical presentations on topics such as new methods from the International Organization for Standardization, improvements in foam aging, innovative stabilizer systems, enhanced low glass transition temperature viscoelastic foam systems and novel self-healing coatings to improve scratch resistance. Industry experts from Markes International, TOSOH Corporation, Huntsman International LLC, BASF Schweiz AG and BASF France S.A.S. will participate.
• Part 2 of “Global Automotive VOC Specifications,” Wednesday, Oct. 7: This roundtable discussion focuses on innovative approaches to address the challenge surrounding VOCs in automobiles. Participating experts will represent companies including Air Products, TOSOH Corporation, Huntsman, Dow Chemical, Milliken, Evonik and Momentive.

CPI will also host a Regulatory Roundtable on Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 8 a.m. to11 a.m. This session will highlight some of the authorities, programs and regulatory pressures facing the industry. Invited speakers will provide updates on federal and state activities important to the polyurethane industry. Speakers include representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the European Diisocyanate & Polyol Producers Association (ISOPA). The session will highlight some of the regulatory pressures facing the polyurethanes industry, including updates on federal and state activities such as the EPA’s Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) on blowing agents, the Toxic Substances Control Act, OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Isocyanates, and the European Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) program.