Rubber & Plastics News is introducing a new symposium for the rubber molding business.
The International Rubber Molding Conference will take place April 1-2, 2003, at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, Tower City Center in Cleveland.
``This is the first comprehensive international event for senior managers, manufacturing engineers, plant managers and plant supervisors involved in all aspects of the manufacturing of rubber molded products,'' said Bob Simmons, RPN publisher and Crain Communications Inc. vice president.
``We want to make the conference as beneficial as possible for all our delegates so that when they return to work they will be able to run their business more profitably,'' the symposium founder said.
The objective of the conference is to present the art and science of rubber molding.
This will be accomplished through interactive paper presentations on specific molding issues; via the numerous sponsors and exhibitors that supply the industry; and by providing networking opportunities with peers in an informal environment.
The 11/2-day program, organized jointly with Smithers Scientific Services Inc., will focus on four distinct areas of rubber molding: molding processes/equipment advancements; quality systems, including papers on lean manufacturing and Six Sigma; improving relationships between research and development and manufacturing, including opening up better communications; and business issues.
Tom Dodson, vice president, consulting services for Smithers Scientific Services, is the conference chairman and responsible for developing the program. As facilitator, he said he sees this conference as the first-ever opportunity for the industry to come together to discuss trends and issues specifically affecting rubber molding.
Prospective authors interested in presenting a paper should contact Dodson at 330-762-7441 or e-mail [email protected]com.
``We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with RPN in this inaugural conference designed exclusively to benefit the rubber molding industry,'' said Michael Hochschwender, president and CEO of Smithers Scientific Services. ``We look forward to creating a forum from which a much-needed exchange of information can occur and one that will lead to increasing the total knowledge of the industry.''
The registration fee will include a complete set of all the technical papers presented at the conference, complimentary lunch and refreshments, and an opening night cocktail networking reception.
``The program will draw upon the strengths of both organizations,'' Simmons said.
``Smithers Scientific Services is well respected and has numerous relationships in many facets of the industry,'' he said. ``RPN has organized and produced several rubber specific conferences for the automotive, silicone and latex industries as well as the International Tire Exposition and Conference.''
For more information, visit the conference Web site at www.rubbernews.com, or call Cindy Stevens at 330-865-6106, or e-mail [email protected] crain.com.
For exhibit or sponsorship information, call Don Sector at 330-865-6107, or e-mail [email protected]