Crain Communications has announced full details of its free-to-attend conference at the Plastic Mold Design and Injection Molding Exhibition and Conference (PDM 09). Taking place at the Telford
International Centre from 19 to 21 May 2009, the PDM09 Conference addresses all the hottest topics facing plastic mold design and manufacture today from how to maintain profitable operation and identify new business opportunities in the current downturn, to the impact of the latest technical innovations and trends in sustainability and energy efficiency.
Debate sessions open the conference each day with a panel of industry experts. In the afternoons are a series of plastic mold design in Detail sessions, which trace the plastic mould design and production cycle from real-life examples in packaging, medical devices and consumer products.
Tuesday’s Injection Molding Business Debate focuses on arguably the biggest issue of the day - how best to tackle the impact of the recession. Gain the essentials of how to maintain profitability, identify new business opportunities and learn how to manage costs to come out of the downturn in a much healthier shape. The line-up of expert panellists includes Dr George Kellie of Kellie Solutions, a leading business consultancy for the plastic mold and packaging manufacturing industries.
Wednesday’s Design Trends Debate covers the essentials of good plastic mold design and the latest plastic mold design trends, including the current drive towards sustainability and a greater use of recyclable materials. Panel experts include internationally renowned materials design expert Chris Lefteri.
In Thursday’s Injection Molding Innovations Debate, the panel discusses the potential of many of the latest industry innovations such as gas-assisted injection molding, in-mould labelling and the latest processes to plastic mold anti-counterfeiting features into plastic products.
The highly practical Plastic Mold Design in Detail sessions take delegates through every stage of production from initial design concept, through development to manufacturing and will cover polymer selection, plastic mold and processing challenges as well as overall project co-ordination.
The opening Plastic Mold Design in Detail Packaging session on Tuesday focuses on sustainable packaging. Will Davis of plastic mold design firm Studio Davis will discuss development of the compact packaging for Ariel’s Excel Gel laundry detergent, launched by Procter & Gamble last year. Alex Peacop of PDD will then present a view of the future of packaging concentrate liquids, highlighting the product design group’s innovative Quantex pump.
In Wednesday’s Plastic Mold Design in Detail – Medical Devices session, Allen Green, managing director of AK Industries, will discuss his company’s vital role in the development of two medical products: the Rapid-3D allergen tester and the innovative Rapi-Heal wound system.
In Thursday’s Plastic Mold Design in Detail – Consumer Products session is presented by Alastair Kingsland, plastic mold design director at Minima Design, whose featured products will include a revolutionary music keyboard with hexagonal keys.