Last week (January 21-22) in Chicago, more than 130 NPE2009 exhibitors, as well as plastics trade press representatives, braved the frigid temperatures — and cooler economic times — to participate in the NPE2009 Exhibitor Workshop at McCormick Place. During the day and a half long interactive program, participants were able to roll up their sleeves and address the challenge of bringing their machines, products and services to the NPE2009 trade show this June in a cost-effective manner. Presentations by a variety of show contractors enabled participants to hear “tricks of the trade” that will help them reduce costs.

The Freeman Company, NPE2009’s Official Services Contractor, gave an informative presentation that addressed everything from rigging, freight and the innovative package plan created specifically for NPE2009, to alternative means to building a display. Focus One, McCormick Place’s in-house utilities service, appealed to exhibitors to work closely with them in order to ensure that power requirements and budget restrictions are being met. Every contractor and service that is being coordinated by SPI and its vendors for NPE2009 is geared towards allowing exhibitors to properly plan and budget their participation.

That said, it is all about the products and technology. While we like to see the beautiful and inviting exhibits that are commonplace at NPE events, this year’s mantra to exhibitors is to place an emphasis on bringing the product first — and the pretty display second! In these economic times, visitors to the show will be serious buyers, who in all probability have sacrificed other budget dollars to attend the show. Therefore, we preached to exhibitors the reality that visitors to this NPE will be there for the technology and education, and less for the visual stimulus of a beautiful display.

In addition to the “nuts and bolts” of putting on the show, SPI staff and vendors also laid out to exhibitors our extensive marketing and education programs, print pieces, electronic services and notification process, and of course, our immense partnership programs with more than 100 publications.

The bottom line is that NPE2009 is a great product and a terrific value proposition for any attendee. We have a tremendous plan in place to tell the entire plastics world about this offering. Now all we need is for you to come. It will definitely be worth the trip! As a wise man once said (just last month, in fact), “Tough times make NPE even more important.”

In my last blog post, I called these uncertain economic times “tumultuous.” As it turns out, that may have been an understatement. “Cataclysmic” might be more appropriate, but that implies that we are beyond recovery, which I do not believe is the case. While some of the economic forces that are impacting our industry are out of our control, we can still strongly deter their consequences.

One tried and true way to combat a bad scenario is to arm yourself with as much intelligence on the matter as possible and use that intelligence as a powerful tool for innovation, gaining a new perspective and taking a new approach toward a solution. “In Down Times, Turn Up Big Ideas, Creativity, Innovation” – that’s the title of an article written recently by Tom Laughon, founder of Catch Your Limit Consulting, a strategic management firm headquartered in Tallahassee, Fla. In the article, written for the American Society of Association Executives, Laughon states:

When it comes to business, no matter your age or experience level, the knee-jerk reaction [to a down economy] is to either wait it out, throw in the towel, or do a hatchet job on the bottom line, propping up profits in the short term. Cutting back on leadership development, innovation efforts, training, morale-building initiatives, and marketing is often seen as a quick way to save money. However, coming from the perspective gained inside those brain wrinkles of mine, this approach often erodes your relevance, competitiveness, and market share down the road.

So, where do you get this kind of professional development, innovation and knowledge? There are a number of ways available — but as any military commander will tell you, nothing is more valuable than the information that comes straight from the front lines. Front line information, paired with expert analysis by leading authorities, will help your business – and the plastics industry as a whole — chart a clear and decisive course toward recovery. Don’t underestimate the value of your association’s events and networking opportunities as avenues for obtaining powerful knowledge and new ideas.

Case in point: The SPI Machinery & Mold Makers Divisions, along with the SPI Fluoropolymers Division, will be staging their 2009 Annual Business Conference together in an effort to gather many front line industry experts in one place to share intelligence and learn about opportunities for renewed success. Taking place May 3-6, 2009 at the Hyatt Grand Champions in Indian Wells, Calif., the gathering will feature political, economic, environmental and industry speakers in order to provide perspective on where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going. I encourage you to come and learn what we’re doing to ensure that NPE2009 will be a success for your company. There will also be opportunities for attendees of this conference to mingle and share experiences. Each of the sponsoring SPI groups have worked together to control costs while providing a valuable forum for the much needed knowledge that can be gained through collective interaction and sharing of ideas.

We know that these are trying times for everyone, but we are equally sure that this conference can be a valuable part of generating ideas and sharing experiences that will aid working together toward recovery.

What do you call an ice skating rink without ice? A “specially-formulated resin surface” rink, perhaps? While it may be difficult for those currently enduring harsh, sub-freezing winters to fathom, plastic surfaces are making “ice” skating possible in warmer weather locations.

Natural outdoor ice rinks are dependent on weather conditions. Indoor (and some outdoor) rinks using natural ice need extensive refrigeration systems to maintain the ice surface and prevent melting. In addition, natural ice rinks require periodic resurfacing to maintain a smooth and level surface.

This local newspaper article about the new outdoor plastic surface rink in Rockville, Md. points out the benefits these rinks bring to warmer weather climates:

The wintertime activity returns to downtown Rockville after decades without one. Burt Hall, Rockville’s director of recreation and parks, said there was once an ice skating rink – made of real ice – built sometime in the 1970s behind the Executive Office Building. “It was not covered and it did not have a strong enough refrigeration system to keep the ice solid so on warm days it was a shallow swimming pool, so they finally gave up,” Hall said.

The rinks are made of huge sheets of plastic — usually ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene or a high density polyethylene (HDPE) — that are sprayed with friction-reducing solution or wax and fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. This corporate video, and this one, illustrate how the resin rinks are produced.

Because they do not require water, refrigeration or resurfacing, the rinks are being touted by manufacturers (like this one and this one) for their environmental and economic benefits.

According to this Yahoo Sports article, in Japan, despite an ice skating boom, “ice rinks are closing due to economic strain, and the fabricated rinks can save operators roughly $190,000 U.S. annually in both air conditioning and water bills.” This news video, on the apparent ice skating rink shortage in Japan, explores how the artificial rinks may solve the “crisis.”

So, finish that cup of hot chocolate, lace up those skates and glide across the polyethylene! You won’t get cold and wet when you fall.

In today’s current economic climate, companies are looking for ways to save money. But I bet not everyone has heard about the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Save Energy Now program. The goal of DOE’s program is to help American businesses, factories and manufacturing facilities save energy. A key part of the program is that DOE conducts an energy assessment to help manufacturing facilities identify immediate ways to save energy and money. Oh, and did I mention that DOE does this at no cost to the company?

The assessments focus primarily on energy-intensive systems such as pumps, fans, processing heating, steam and compressed air. The program offers several energy assessment options:

• For large plants: The nation’s largest, most energy-intensive plants can apply to receive a three-day system assessment. These on-site assessments are led by DOE’s Energy Experts who use DOE’s software tools and technical information to target a specific system area. Assessments also provide hands-on learning that can help a company’s staff gain knowledge to multiply the benefits of the assessment.
• For small and medium-sized plants: DOE’s university-based Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) conduct one-day assessments at smaller plants. Teams of highly trained IAC faculty and engineering students apply the same DOE software tools and technical resources to identify key savings opportunities throughout your plant.
• For all plants: Contacting the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Information Center is the a great option for any plant, large or small, if you are ready to boost energy savings and improve productivity. Whether or not you receive an assessment, here you will find expert technical assistance and guidance on how to make the most of the Save Energy Now portfolio of resources.

I encourage companies to look into this opportunity. The Save Energy Now energy assessments have helped U.S. manufacturing facilities save an average of $2 million, or 8% of their total energy costs which is pretty impressive. Also, if you are planning to attend NPE2009 don’t miss the Business of Plastics educational track which will include a session about this program. Or you can stop by the Emerging Technologies Pavilion and talk with DOE directly. Companies have saved real money with this program, and you can too!

On December 30th, we posted here about the Chicago Tribune article called “a life without plastics,” which chronicles a reporter and her family as they attempt to live one week without plastic. As we stated before, the article is misinformed and disregards the fact that the benefits of plastics go beyond packaging to impact every aspect of modern life. The online version of the article did yield a healthy exchange of ideas — many with excellent points about all that plastics contribute to modern society — in the section of readers’ online comments.

We want to add a follow-up: SPI President Bill Carteaux’s official letter to the editor was published by the Tribune on January 14. “There are good and practical reasons why plastic is so prevalent as the material of choice — benefits that are not always readily apparent,” reads one section of the letter. “Our member companies continue to work within the existing regulatory architecture to insure that products made from plastics are safe. Additionally, our industry has a keen interest, and is already highly involved, in becoming more sustainable and we are eager to engage with consumers and talk openly with them about our products.”

To the left you can see the letter as it appeared in the print edition of the newspaper. To read the complete letter more easily, click here and then scroll down.