This October, nearly 600 professionals in the polyurethane industry reunited in Denver, Colo., for the 63rd Polyurethanes Technical Conference. Following a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, we were able to gather again in person for the three-day event to showcase the latest innovations in polyurethanes and illustrate the industry’s ability to provide solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges.
This year’s opening session kicked off with speeches from the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry’s (CPI) Lee Salamone, Covestro’s Mike Super and Julia Rubino, and a keynote address from Joshua Baca, vice president of ACC’s Plastics Division. Baca’s keynote address focused on sustainability issues within the plastics industry and his vision for how polyurethanes can play an integral role in spearheading a circular economy and more sustainable future.
Despite being two years since the last Polyurethanes Technical Conference, it picked up right where it left off, with 16 technical sessions, 19 posters, over 70 presenters, and a sold-out exhibit hall with 35 exhibitors! Multiple papers and posters were presented during each of the technical sessions, with judges selecting 15 papers and six posters as the best of the conference. A full list of paper and poster winners can be found here.
The 2021 Distinguished Leader Award — which recognizes individuals for their incredible contributions to both CPI and the polyurethane industry ― went to Dr. Hamdy Khalil of Woodbridge Foam. Huntsman and Pursell Agri-Tech partnered up to win the 2021 Polyurethane Innovation Award, the industry’s top honor, with their PurActive™ - built with the RIMLINE® polyurethane system. A special congratulations to all of our winners!
Nearly 600 industry professionals were able to gather together again to help the Polyurethanes Technical Conference continue the tradition of being the premier polyurethanes event in North America! CPI thanks everybody who made this all possible, and we look forward to seeing everybody again at next year’s conference on Oct. 3-5, in National Harbor, Md.
For more information on this conference and future conferences, visit the Polyurethanes Technical Conference page. Don’t forget to follow CPI on LinkedIn and on Twitter at @AmChemistry.