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The Polyurethane Professional Development Program

CPI's Education Center has been offering the Professional Development Program (PDP) for two decades. This program is designed for both experienced professionals and newcomers in the polyurethane industry. The PDP programs offers an extensive range of courses covering topics relevant to technical and non-technical experts.

The PDP courses are taught by industry-leading experts and cover introductory, advanced, and specialized topics.

Professional Development Program Class

Who Should Attend?

  • Suppliers
  • Producers
  • Chemical & Equipment Distributors
  • Manufacturers
  • Marketing Professionals

Why Should You Attend?

  • Increase your understanding of the basics of PU chemistry, processing, and end uses.
  • Learn about the latest standards, trends, and developments in the PU industry.
  • Learn from experts about how new regulations and market expectations are leading to changes in formulations, products, and processing.

2025 Professional Development Program

Courses & Instructors

The Professional Development Program is a hybrid program that offers virtual and in-person courses. The virtual portion of the PDP will begin in September. In-person courses will be held concurrently with the Polyurethanes Technical Conference.

  • In-Person PDP Package requires a conference registration and includes all virtual courses
  • Virtual PDPs will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET starting September 2, 2025.
Register here
The 2025 PDP Sponsored by:
Sponsored by BASF

PU 101: Polyurethane Chemistry

Course Date: September 2, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Brandon Parks, Covestro & Mike Jefferies, Covestro

Course Outline

PU 102B: Rigid Polyurethane Foam Market Overview

Course Date: September 4, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Fernand Saad, BASF

Course Outline

PU 107: Introduction to Surfactants, Catalysts and Additives 

Course Date: September 9, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Theo Diplas, Repi 

Course Outline

PU 201: Polyurethane Raw Materials Testing, Specifications and Performance: "The Myth and the Magic"

Course Date: September 11, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): David Mullen, Rubicon & Randy Myrabo, BASF

Course Outline

PU 108: Battery Assembly Materials for Electric Vehicles

Course Date: September 16, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Praveen Agarwal, Dow & Elias Ruda Shakour, BASF

Course Outline

PU 204: Physical Testing of Polyurethane Foam

Course Date: September 18, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Lisa Marcolina, BASF

Course Outline

**PU 200: AI Governance and Practical Use in Chemistry

Course Date: September 23, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Chris Thiede, Dow & Kevin Meyer Dow

Course Outline

PU 205: Life Cycle Assessments

Course Date: September 25, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Mohamed Bouguettaya, BASF & Bruce Uhlman, BASF

Course Outline

**PU 103: Sustainable Raw Materials - Polyols 

Course Date: September 30, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Larry Armbruster, Omnitech International & Saeed Fosshat, MCPU Polymer Engineering

PU 105: Introduction to Polyurethane Processing & Equipment

Course Date: October 2, 2025

Format: Virtual

Instructor(s): Andrea Bartolini, Canon 

Course Outline

PU 100: Introduction to the Polyurethane Industry

Course Date: October 5, 2025

Format: In-Person

Instructor(s): Yonghui Zhang, Dow

Course Outline

PU 102A: Flexible Polyurethane Foam Market Overview

Course Date: October 5, 2025

Format: In-Person

Instructor(s): Chris Thiede, Dow

Course Outline

PU 104A: Polyurethane Adhesives & Sealants

Course Date: October 5, 2025

Format: In-Person

Instructor(s): Bindu Krishnan, Dow & Tom Willumstad, Dow

Course Outline

PU 104B: Polyurethane Coatings and Elastomers

Course Date: October 5, 2025

Format: In-Person

Instructor(s): Steven Reinstadtler, Covestro

Course Outline

PU 106: Introduction to Composites

Course Date: October 6, 2025

Format: In-Person

Instructor(s): Andrea Bartolini, Cannon & Kevin Meyer, Dow

Course Outline