Letter from the Chair
We are all very excited about the upcoming SPE Decorating & Assembly Division Topical Conference (TopCon). We also are excited that the In-Mold Decorating Association (IMDA) will be partnering with us again for its IMDA Symposium. The event will take place June 3-4 at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs outside Nashville, Tennessee.
One of the great additions to TopCon has been the workshops where attendees can break out into smaller groups and discuss various topics related to plastics decorating, assembly/joining and in-mold decorating/labeling. Every workshop is limited to around 25 attendees and includes designated leaders to help steer the conversation and answer questions. Make sure you check out the complete lineup of workshops at www.plasticsdecorating.com/topcon-2019.
In addition to all of the quality papers and workshops, there will be ample time for attendees to network with industry suppliers at the Supplier Trade Fair. The Trade Fair will be open in the morning before sessions, during breaks and an extended lunch, and during an evening reception on the first day of the event – June 3. This will be a combined event with IMDA, so it will include a large array of exhibitors for plastics decorating, assembly/joining and in-mold processes.
When it comes to attending conferences, I often hear people make comments such as, “I can get the information from a webinar or online.”
My response to that is that you can’t put a value on the time spent at an event like TopCon – visiting and networking with fellow attendees and suppliers. Networking and conversation time that takes place during the Supplier Trade Fair and with the interactive workshops doesn’t happen on a webinar or when looking up something online.
I hope our Plastics Decorating readers will seriously consider joining us for the upcoming TopCon and IMDA Symposium. It is going to be a great event in a great place. Please do not hesitate to contact us at Peterson Publications if you have any questions on the event or other questions about the SPE Decorating & Assembly Division. I hope to see you at TopCon!
Jeff Peterson
President, Peterson Publications, Inc.
Chair, SPE Decorating & Assembly Division
SPE Decorating & Assembly Division Welcomes New Board Members
David Givens is a market and customer activation manager for Henkel’s General Industrial Adhesives business in North America. Givens has been with the organization since 2017, with roles in the automotive aftermarket and OEM segments. Givens holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Western Connecticut State University. He also is a passionate advocate for STEM education and serves as a planning committee member of the New England FIRST Robotics Competition.
Danny Allen is currently a principle advanced manufacturing engineer in plastics at GE Appliances, a Haier Company. Allen works in development of plastic molds and processes overseeing two-shot, over molding and molded parts development for all GEA US-based manufacturing sites. His experience includes hot stamping, pad printing, in-mold labeling, gas assist molding, laser etching, hot plate/I.R/vibration/ultrasonic welding and automation as it is applied to these industries. Allen looks forward to contributing as an SPE Board member in the Decorating & Assembly Division.
SPE Partners with PLASTICS Industry Association
SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals, Bethel, Connecticut, announced a licensing agreement with PLASTICS Industry Association for its This is Plastics® program. SPE members soon will have access to this program’s positive messaging about plastics-related topics, such as sustainability, safety and environmental issues. Resources include articles, images, videos and interactive quizzes with topics on Plastics 101, safety, economic impact, environment and innovation. For more information, visit www.4spe.org/ThisIsPlastics.
