Time nearing for Rubber in Automotive conference

AKRON—There has been strong interest for the upcoming Rubber in Automotive: Benchmarking Today, Driving Tomorrow conference being organized by Rubber & Plastics News and Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies.

The exhibit space for the conference—to be held June 13-14 in Troy, Mich.—has sold out, and Conference Chairman Joseph Walker, Freudenberg-NOK global technology director for materials and laboratory services, received so many paper submissions that a number had to be put on a waiting list.

There still are sponsorship opportunities for the two-day event at the Detroit Marriott Troy, and for more information on these, contact RPN Sales Manager Brent Weaver at 330-865-6119 or [email protected]; or RPN Sales Representative Pete McNeil at 330-865-6109 or [email protected].

The program that Walker has put together includes more than 20 presentations. He said his vision was to "provide a place where the customers for rubber products used in automobiles, and the manufacturers of those products can exchange information and insights."

His program covers the current state of the industry, future trends, and topics that drive the future, such as raw material projections, the talent pool, sustainability, and innovations in materials, technology and processes.

Each day will have a keynote speaker, with John McElroy, the host of Autoline Daily and Autoline, kicking off the June 13 session, and David Cole, chairman of AutoHarvest, delivering the keynote on June 14.

The conference includes a mix of technical papers, such as Luca Cirillo of Solvay speaking on "Improving the Performance of Bisphenol-cured Fluoroelastomers in Organic Acids," to more market-centric topics, including Troy Nix of the Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers addressing "Rubber: From Commodity to Essential Component."

Early bird registration runs until May 15. The price for attendees from companies that manufacture rubber products is $450 until that date and $550 after. For suppliers to rubber product makers, the cost is $800 until May 15 and $900 after that date. Registration includes a luncheon on the opening day and a networking reception that evening.

To register or see the entire program of speakers, visit rubbernews.com/2017RIA.