Document 7Mp51g2NBkQg6YqGKQB09xkbe

| In Brief... Teachers Give High Marks Plastics USA Likely to Be A Sell- to SPI Education Program Out ... With more than 80 percent "I have learned to appreciate the building and construction, con of available exhibit space already diversity plastics play in our society sumer products and recreation as a assigned to 270 companies one year today." framework for discussing the trade prior to its opening. Plastics USA is "The information and activities have offs between political, economic, expected to be a sell-out. To find opened all of our eyes a little wider." social and technological concerns out how you can be part of this "It's got everything needed to help and the environment. "new tradition" in the plastics young people develop informed SPI first introduced The Shaping of industry as either exhibitor or opinions." Things to Come this spring to 3,000 attendee, fax or mail the enclosed That's what some of the 100 educators as a large-scale field test. form today. Plastics USA will be teachers who responded to a This fall, after several months of held October 13-15,1992 at detailed survey say about SPI's new positive feedback and continued Chicago's McCormick Place. education program The Shaping of interest, SPI has reprinted materials Things to Come. and is making the program avail New Staff Director on Board ... Developed by educators as a able to an additional 10,000 teach Susan Herrenbruck has been named staff director of SPI's Expanded Polystyrene and Moldmakers Divisions. Trained in industrial relations, Herrenbruck previously was with the American Gear Manu resource kit on new materials ers. In the last two months alone, technology, The Shaping of Things to more than 3,000 teachers have Come provides junior high school requested program materials. science and technology teachers with I The program comes with an basic information about plastics and j eight-page teacher's discussion their importance to daily life. I guide, a six-page student study facturers Association where she was It focuses on cutting edge uses of | guide, a full-color interactive wall responsible for standards develop plastics in medicine, transportation. ^ Continued page two ment She also has served as labor negotiator for a Fortune 500 company and executive director of an associa ` Richard S. Wimbish, tion affiliated with the National J right, Techfonn, Inc., Association of Manufacturers. | received the SPI Eastern Section's 1991 Annual New Brochures Offer Tips on < Achievement Award. Working with Lawmakers ... Members interested in opening up lines of communication with their federal, state or local legislators will want to read three new brochures developed by SPI's Government Affairs Department. They offer valuable tips on writing and Stephen E. Cox; Himont I Inc., last year's recipient, i presented the award at I ECON XVII, held j October 3-6. (See story | on regional conferences, 1 p. 2.) The award recog: nizes individuals who . have made outstanding visiting elected officials as well as | contributions to the on planning a plant tour. Single copies available free from SPI's Government Affairs Dept., (202) , Eastern Section, SPI and the local business community. 371-5221. CTL026899 Environmental, International Issues Focus at Regional Conferences EPA Proposes Environmental range of industry and consumer Labeling Guidelines ... The U.S. J groups for uniform labeling require- Highlighting the SPI Midwest Environmental Protection Agency ments. SPI testified before the FTC in I Section fall conference was a panel (EPA) has released product labeling July to support the agency's adoption i discussion that illustrated the and advertising guidelines that of environmental labeling guidelines, j importance of being familiar with encourage marketers to "clearly new environmental laws, as mod and prominently state the percent Senate Committee Passes Product erator Frank Lessen, Precision age of recycled content by weight of < Liability Reform Bill... The Senate Plastics, Inc., and fellow processors recycled materials in the product." Commerce, Science and Transporta- i shared their experiences with the The EPA also says that it prefers to j tion Committee has passed the SPI- j U.S. Environmental Protection limit the use of the recycling | supported Fairness in Product symbol to indicate recycled content Liability Act of 1991, which would j Agency. Pat Toner, SPI vice presi dent of technical affairs, concluded and recyclability, and to label the j create uniform national product the discussions by cautioning the symbol as to whether the product j liability standards. SPI is urging the group about the potential impact of contains recycled content, is recy- i Senate leadership to place the bill on upcoming clean air and storm clable or both. EPA will coordinate ' the calendar for a vote and will water regulations. with the Federal Trade Commission I continue to press U.S. representatives At the SPI Eastern Section fall (FTC), which also may develop I to support the House product conference, participants got a uniform labeling guidelines in | liability reform measure, which now ; glimpse of how Japanese OEMs response to the support of a wide 1 has 133 cosponsors. j view U.S. suppliers and processors. II In addition, representatives from Japanese companies that manufac SPI Urges EPA to Weigh Burdens, ture in the United States provided Benefits of Storm Water Permit Rule insights on the importance of quality and continuous improve Pollution prevention plans proposed by the U.S. Environmental Pro ment. At a forum of presidents of tection Agency (EPA) may impede small businesses from complying i processing and machinery manu with the conditions required for obtaining general storm water permits, facturing companies, participants according to comments submitted by SPI to EPA's Office of Wastewater aired their views on topics such as Enforcement and Compliance. SPI submitted the comments on the EPA's ! product liability, niche marketing proposed general permit rules chiefly on behalf of processor members, ; and managing cash flow problems about 60 percent of whom have 100 or fewer employees. i in a tough economic environment. SPI said the EPA should be "mindful of the substantial burdens imposed : under the proposed general permit conditions and should, in each instance in which it evaluates comments on the general permit conditions, focus 1 upon the precise benefit achieved by imposing the burdensome condition." In its comments, SPI requested clarification of ambiguous obligations ' , Education Program and elimination of redundant requirements. The EPA also was urged to Continued from page one elaborate on practical ways to implement general permit conditions and, in particular, provide a practical discussion of the types of tradi- 1 poster, six hands-on student tional storm water management techniques facilities must consider. activities/copymasters and a All industrial plants that may expose resin pellets to storm water follow-up survey for teachers. under any circumstance are required to secure storm water permits Companies interested in sharing under an EPA rule issued November 1990. SPI has been able to reduce The Shaping of Things to Come with the time, effort and cost involved in complying with the rule for more their local schools can purchase than 200 member-company facilities that applied for a group storm copies for $5 each (at cost for mem water permit under the umbrella of the association. bers) or $10 each (non-members). For more information, contact: Richard LaLumondier, SPI Technical Affairs, (See p. 4 for ordering information; (202)371-5223. reference Pub. No. AB-124.) 2 Plastics NewsBriefs CTL026900 NPE '91 Conferenc Papers Now Availabl Calif rnla Several bills were passed during the 1991 California legislative session that, if signed into law by Gov. Pete Wilson, would affect the plastics industry. These measures include: AB 489, which would permit an em ployee to sue for damages when her employer's "negligence or intentional misconduct" caused prenatal injury; SB240, which would establish an occupational lead poisoning prevention program financed by industries, j including plastics materials, resins and products, if they are considered ! sources of lead poisoning, and SB 260, which would provide a period of 1 judicial oversight or probation and fines for corporations convicted of certain environmental and worker safety crimes. In addition, a bill that called for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions remained in commit- . tee following the legislature's adjournment and may be considered when ! next year's session convenes. SPI Division & Section Highlights SPI's Polyurethane Division has written tests and transparency- ; issued a call for technical papers for ready illustrations. Since the j Polyurethanes '92, the 34th annual 1 beginning of the program in 1989, polyurethane technical/marketing the VSI has distributed kits to 41 conference, October 21-24,1992 in states and four foreign countries. New Orleans. Papers featuring all For more information, contact the ! aspects of flexible and rigid foams, ! VSI at (212) 351-5400. elastomers, laminates and RIM, including reports on marketing, j Builders and contractors can realize end-use applications and environ- i savings when using PVC pipe and mental and safety technologies, will conduit in a number of construction be considered. Suppliers, manufac applications, according to indepen turers, customers and end users of i dent studies sponsored by SPI's polyurethane products, machinery ! Vinyl Institute. The studies used or equipment are requested to 1991 material and installation costs submit paper abstracts by February ; and labor rates to estimate the 15,1992. For more information, j savings advantages of vinyl in contact: Arlene Laboy, Polyure- j applications such as PVC plumbing thane Division, (212) 351-5421. | pipe; drain, waste and vent pipe; l electrical conduit, and electrical In response to continuing demand, ! raceways. The studies found, for the Vinyl Siding Institute has j example, that chlorinated PVC produced additional quantities of plumbing pipe systems cost between its Vinyl Siding Application Teach 14 and 40 percent less than copper in ing Kit and is making them avail new hot and cold water installations. able free to public, trade and When PVC was compared with cast vocational carpentry instructors. iron pipe in drain, waste and vent The kit includes a step-by-step installations, the savings varied from videotape, manuals on siding 29 to 42 percent. For more informa application for students and an tion, contact the Vinyl Institute at instructor's guide complete with (201)890-9299. More than 100 experts from every sector of the plastics industry presented their perspectives on a range of vital subjects, including the latest technological advances, solid waste and recycling issues, business opportunities and new manufactur ing approaches, at the NPE '91 Conference, June 18-20. Conference papers are now available from SPI in a two-volume bound set that includes visual presentations. A session on solid waste and plastics recycling opened the confer ence with a look at the industry's progress to date, legislative and policy issues, public opinion trends and the environmentalist's perspec tive. Other sessions on this key topic examined how processors can turn "trash into cash" and how suppliers and customers can produce environ mentally improved packaging. Presenters also discussed break ing into new markets through highperformance plastics, innovative applications and injection molding techniques. Others focused on improving a company's competitive edge through enhanced training, management and quality control and productivity-increasing techniques. Cost of the NPE '91 Conference Papers is $75 plus $10 shipping/ handling. (See p. 4 for ordering information; reference Pub. No. AC-103.) Alex Seres Alex Seres, founder and chair man of the board of Incoe Cor poration, died August 20 at age 69. Seres developed and pro duced the first commercial sprueless bushing, a technique that revolutionized injection molding and became a standard of the industry. CTL026901 Plastics NewsBriefs 3 SPI Publications & Events j February 19-22 j SPI Molders/Moldmakers Divi- I sions Annual Conference. Camel- i back Inn, Scottsdale, Ariz. Contact: To Order: All items listed with a publication number may be ordered by | Drew Fleming, (202) 371-5246. calling 1-800-541-0736 (only Visa or MasterCard accepted as payment) or by sending a check payable to SPI to: SPI, P.O. Box 753, Waldorf, MD I20604. Please include postage/handling charges listed in box below. ~ Date Change Operation Clean Sweep Program Materials. Learn how your com pany can target a zero loss of resin pellets into the environment through SPI's comprehensive education program. See enclosed flier for details. Facts & Figures of the U.S. Plastics Industry--1991 Edition. The authoritative single source of information on resins, markets and economic data. See enclosed flier for details. Plastics & You. The Fall 1991 edition of SPI's award-winning four-color magazine features articles on how polymers increase the safety of fertilizers and pesticides, a plastic pancreas for diabetics, plastics in bridge applications, resins with recycled contents and more. Single copies, each: $2, members; $4, non members. 2-100 copies, each: $1, members; $2, non-members. 101+ copies, each: $.75, members; $150, non-members. Pub. No. AB-128. Plastics Engineering Handbook. Covers the major innovation that have occurred in the plastics industry since the last edition was published 15 years ago. Includes analysis of new technologies such as gas-assisted injection molding, computer automation, the latest sophisticated controls and newest Postage/Handling Charges Total Price of Order Domestic Overaeae Fee Fee S0-S10 $ 2 $15 S10.01-S50 $4 $20 $50.01-SI 00 $100.01 + $8 $10 $25 *20% of total or $30, whichever is g-eater composite materials and processes. [ $69.95, members; $79.95, non1 members. Pub. No. AB-125. The Pennsylvania legislative J reception will be held December 9, 1991 due to legislative calendar changes. 1991 SPI Membership Directory & I! Buyer's Guide. The most compre- SPI Travel Office j I hensive publication of its kind, the directory provides a detailed listing I Offers Lowest Fares, |! of products and services in the U.S. plastics industry. Indexed by Best Seats geography, process, service and j end product. $90, members; $180, [ non-members. Pub. No. AA-108. Using the latest software technol ogy, SPI's Travel Office provides the most advanced Quality Assur | Pultrusion: Selected Papers from Composites Institute Conferences. Comes with a computer-searchable index. $150, members; $200, non members. Pub. No. AF-179. ance Programs available to help guarantee the lowest airfares and most desirable seating. FareFinder reviews reservations both before and after ticketing, searching for lower fares and re 1991 Vinyl Windows Certified Products Directory. An important tool for architects, construction specifiers, building owners and builders engaged in specifying windows for new construction, replacement or remodeling. Lists certified manufacturers and prod ucts under the SPI Vinyl Window and Door Institute's Certification Program. For a free copy, contact the Institute at (212) 351-5400. books reservations at the lower fare I when found if it matches the traveler's preferences. SeatFinder compares seating preferences with your booked seats i and current availability, re-booking preferred seats or better seats as they become available, right up to i departure. QwlihfCheck guarantees the integrity of each reservation by auditing each record 60 times, searching for inaccuracies. Incorrect j reservations are sent back to the I agent for correction and the record February 2-9 Spray Foam '92 Convention & Exhibition--SPI Polyurethane Foam Contractors Division. Riviera re-audited until all checks are passed. For reservations or information, call 1-800-441-3617. (In Va., Md., D.C. and Canada, call 202-371-1778.) Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev. Contact: Sandra Sievert, (202) 462-7462. For More Information... February 3-7 SPI Composites Institute 47th Annual Conference. Cincinnati Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Contact the Institute at (212) 351-5410. Additional Information ab ut any ttam in this Isaua of tha newsletter may be obtained by contacting Margo Rosa, Editor, SPI, 1275 K SL, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 371-5209. 4 Plastics NewsBriefs - CTL026902