FPD Highlights - October 2007

SPI Activities in Support of FPD

NPE 2009, the international Plastics Showcase, sponsored by SPI, will be held June 22-26, 2009 at McCormick Place in Chicago. For more info, go to www.npe.org.

SPI PRESIDENT CARTEAUX PROVIDES UPDATE, issues call to action at SPI's Fall National Board Meeting. Amidst the full slate of council, regional board, committee, and public policy discussions held at the SPI Fall 2007 Board Meeting in Washington, DC, attendees heard a "state of the association" update from SPI President & CEO Bill Carteaux. Speaking to a general session audience on September 28, Carteaux provided members with 2007 updates on a host of SPI activities.

Highlights from Carteaux's presentation included the fact that SPI's Political Action Committee (SPI-PAC) has been re-invigorated to provide another lobbying tool on Capitol Hill, a new special interest group of Biopolymer producers is being formed, and two new dedicated account managers are being hired to boost membership and product sales. Carteaux reiterated the new features that will make NPE2009 a global event that appeals to the entire supply chain, such as two new technology pavilions, innovation theater presentations, cutting-edge education business and technical programming, and the use of McCormick Place's brand new West Building.

SPI CAPITOL HILL DAY: Members take to the halls of Congress to discuss issues with lawmakers. On September 26, SPI public policy staff led 32 plastics industry professionals from SPI member companies to appointments with their Senators and Representatives. The central aspect of the SPI Capitol Hill Day, these meetings were an opportunity for SPI members to discuss issues affecting their businesses and the entire industry, including support for more access to natural gas and legislation against international currency manipulation. The day was a success, as members met with a total of 33 Representatives and 12 Senators. Through the efforts of the attendees, SPI was able to continue the organization's work to bring the "Power of Plastics" to the attention of lawmakers and congressional staffs while also highlighting the impact of the third largest manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy. The Capitol Hill Day ended with a Congressional reception attended by lawmakers, their staff, and SPI members.

PLASTICS INDUSTRY SUMMITS WITH INDIA AND CHINA PLANNED - SPI has been approached by plastics industry associations in India and China to co-sponsor bilateral industry events in the two countries next year. In China, SPI is interested in hosting a U.S.-China Plastics Industry Summit on the sidelines of ChinaPlas 2008 in April 2008 in Shanghai. As we explore these potential cooperation opportunities, SPI would like your input. If you are considering attending ChinaPlas 2008, please let us know what activities you would like SPI to organize. We would also like to know whether you would be interested in attending the prospective collaborative events in China and India and what topics you would like to be covered at these summits. We stand ready to assist SPI members seeking to secure distributors or to begin or expand their operations in India and China and promote the business interests of SPI members in these two countries. Discuss these prospective events with SPI by contacting Neil Pratt, Senior Director, International Trade, 202/974-5333.

FPD Activities

FPD FALL 2007 CONFERENCE was held September 23-25, 2007 at the spectacular Venetian Resort & Spa We had good attendance, including a number of old and new friends, and the program was both interesting and informative.

SPRING 2008 FPD CONFERENCE will be held at Kiawah Island, SC on April 13-15, 2008. Brandon Redmond, Jrlon, and Dick Rockosi, Arkema, are the conference co-chairs. The preliminary program is posted on the FPD web site. Online registration will be available soon.

FALL 2008 FPD CONFERENCE will be chaired by Preston Hollier, Solvay Solexis, and Eric Walsh, DeWAL, at a location to be determined.

MONTHLY FPD HIGHLIGHTS - Please include E. Robert (Bob) Hill on your press release list at eben_hill@msn.com, so we can note your company and staff accomplishments and honors.

FLUORONEWS - The Winter 2008 issue of FluoroNews will be done in full color for both the hard copies and on the FPD web site. It will be digitally printed rather than offset printed with one accent color. Expected issue date is late January 2008.

FLUOROGUIDE - We did a full update of FluoroGuide and the related tables in early March 2007 and also in early August 2007. We are updating the tables monthly, or as needed. Please check your company input on our website and give Bob Hill, Hill Business Writing LLC, any needed further revisions at eben_hill@msn.com. We anticipate another full update in late 2007 or January 2008, as needed.

FPD WEB SITE HITS continue to increase steadily. We continue to add a steady stream of new content to our web site, and are now posting post-conference summaries, including the conference program, a list of attendees, and more.

FPD Section Activities

FPD Section activities continue to be strongly emphasized at all of our conferences. Each Section breakout has content of specific interest to its industry segment. The Sections are working hard to reach new and old member prospects and making them aware of what Section membership can do for them.

People on the Move

DYNEON announces that Netha N. Johnson has been named President and General Manager. Johnson takes over the role of President from Bill Myers, who in August of 2007, was named General Manager of 3M Energy and Advanced Materials Division. Johnson comes to Dyneon from 3M's Industrial and Transportation Business, where he served as director of Lean Six Sigma. Prior to that, Johnson held the position of marketing director for 3M Energy and Advanced Materials Division. Johnson assumed the role of President on October 1, 2007.

"Dyneon is a strong business with an outstanding reputation in the marketplace worldwide achieved by providing exceptional customer service and top quality products," said Johnson. "I intend to build on the success of the business through new and innovative solutions that meet the customer needs and differentiate Dyneon in the marketplace."

Industry Highlights

W.L. Gore (GORE) announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for the GORE HELEX Septal Occluder with modified catheter delivery system indicated for the transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD). An ASD is an abnormal hole in the wall between the upper chambers of the heart, which allows blood to improperly flow from the left side of the heart to the right, forcing the right side of the heart and lungs to overexert to compensate for the problem. Left untreated, an ASD can cause the heart to enlarge, or weaken, leaving the patient at risk for serious conditions like atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, or stroke. The defect is most often treated in pediatric patients.

The GORE HELEX Septal Occluder is a permanently implanted prosthesis and the first device of its kind to use ePTFE, a biocompatible material that allows tissue ingrowth, to seal the defect. The recently approved catheter-based delivery system allows for easier device deployment via standard femoral venous access, bringing the GORE HELEX Septal Occluder to the forefront of non-surgical ASD repair.

The Gore Medical Products Division has provided creative therapeutic solutions to complex medical problems for three decades. During that time, more than 25 million innovative Gore Medical Devices have been implanted, saving and improving the quality of lives worldwide. The extensive Gore Medical family of products includes vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical meshes for hernia repair and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac and general surgery.

AGC CHEMICALS AMERICAS, INC. (AGCCA) is pleased to announce the 100th anniversary of the founding of its parent company, the Asahi Glass Company (AGC) of Japan. To begin their second century of operation, AGC unveils a new company logo that unifies all their diverse businesses under one brand. Founded in 1907, AGC has grown rapidly into a multibillion-dollar global conglomerate with 253 consolidated subsidiaries in 24 countries with over 56,000 employees. Today, AGC's worldwide business is still principally glass (automotive, flat panel, etc), but the company also has significant activities in the areas of chemicals, polymers, and energy/electronic products just to mention a few.

In the 1960's, backward integration into the raw materials used to make glass led AGC to the establishment of a chlorofluorocarbon business. Chlorofluorocarbons are, of course, the fundamental building blocks of fluorochemicals and fluoropolymers. AGCCA is headquartered in Bayonne, NJ, with manufacturing sites in Bayonne and Downingtown, PA. They recently established a business and technical center in Exton, PA.

KC AMERICA - JLM Chemicals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of JLM Industries, and KC America entered into a joint venture on August 27, 2007. This new partnership will allow the two companies to better serve the fluoropolymer, plastic and chemical needs of its customers throughout the world.

This affiliation provides its customers with a new universe of raw material sourcing opportunities. For ten years, KC America has provided its customers with fluoropolymer sourcing solutions from Russia and China. The addition of JLM will add the ability to source a full range of chemical and plastic materials from around the globe. Pat Neale, Business Manager for KC America commented, "JLM's nationwide network of warehousing locations, centralized order entry and logistic services, and experienced internal and external sales staff will enhance our customers' experience."

KC America offers a full line of fluoropolymer resins including granular and dispersion grade of PTFE, FEP and PVDF. These resins have been, and will continue to be available from warehousing locations in the Northeastern US and Houston. Should KC's customers require it, JLM's logistical capabilities will allow us to offer product warehoused in other geographic locations.

SOLVAY SOLEXIS confirms that its new polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Micronized Powder plant currently under construction in Changshu, China, will be completed and operational in the first quarter of 2008. Solvay Solexis also confirms its intention to further develop its activities on the site, where it is considering producing other high value added fluorinated polymers.

The new PTFE plant is located in the Jiangsu High-Tech Fluorochemical Industrial Park in Changshu, some 100 kilometers west of Shanghai. The location was selected last year because of its proximity with Shanghai and the dedication of the Industrial Park to complex technologies in specialty chemicals and polymers - particularly in the area of fluor technologies.

Among the subsequent development projects considered in Changshu, Solvay Solexis is planning to build an integrated production plant for the manufacturing of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for coating applications and related monomers.