Prominent speakers at Utech 2018 three-day conference

Netherlands – Organisers of the Utech Europe 2018 polyurethanes event have recently disclosed details of the three-day conference taking place from 29-31 May 2018 at the MECC, Maastricht, Netherlands.

The international exhibition and conference for the the global polyurethanes industry will feature over 80 technical papers in 12 sessions. The conference will cover the latest developments in the world of polyurethanes and reveal insights into the European and global market. It expects 8,000 attendees from 80 countries with over 130 exhibitors including machinery suppliers, systems houses, technical consultancies and test labs.

Covestro Chairman and CEO Patrick Thomas will deliver the conference’s keynote address. Mike Fowles, president of Isopa, will welcome delegates to the conference. Robert Outram, associate director at IAL Consultants, will present a strategic market overview.

Unique to Europe, Utech covers the breadth of the applications of polyurethanes technology from automotive interiors, tiny medical devices, textiles and footwear through to insulation, adhesives and coatings. (Source: Utech)

Plenary session highlights on key strategic and market developments include Jon Penrice, VP Polyurethanes, Dow Chemical, whose keynote is entitled Emotion and function – creating value via marketing the innovation. Principal Analyst Inorganics, IHS Markit, James Elliott will cover MDI/TDI costs of production and Steve Quinn, polyurethanes and intermediates consultant, Tecnon Orbichem, will look at pricing trends. Other speaker highlights include Huntsman’s Innovation Manager Kristof Dedecker, presenting a paper on step change technology for PIR panel production.

Sustainability, recycling and the use of renewable resources are a key focus this year, with no less than 15 papers concentrating on the subject in the environment sessions which run over the first two days of the conference, Utech 2018 organisers notes.

The full three-day programme includes sessions covering all areas of the polyurethanes industry including flexible foams, rigid and spray foams, blowing agents, COATS (Coatings Adhesives, Sealants and Elastomers), additives, polyureas, composites and automotive applications.

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Representatives of the industry’s major players will be presenting talks, including senior researchers and executives from Covestro, BASF, Dow, Evonik, Huntsman, Wanhua BorsodChem, Lanxess, Momentive, Repsol and Tosoh.