SPE News - March 21, 2025

What's Happening Around SPE

Struktol - Project-Recycle - The Invasion of Great Additives

What's Happening Around SPE

The 2024 SPE Foundation Impact Report is now available!

Explore how your support has helped the SPE Foundation inspire future plastics professionals and showcase the many ways plastics impact our world. From Girl Scout Council Patch Programs to PlastiVan®, scholarships, 3D printer grants, and more, this work was made possible through your support. Thank you! Read the report here.

SPE’s Plastics in Composites and Lightweighting Call for Speakers

SPE invites industry experts, researchers, and innovators to present at the Plastics in Composites and Lightweighting Conference, taking place online June 2-4, 2025. This event explores the latest advancements in materials, manufacturing processes, and applications of plastic composites across industries such as automotive, aerospace, construction, and healthcare. This is your opportunity to showcase groundbreaking research, novel solutions, and emerging trends to a global audience of industry leaders and peers. Submit your abstract today!

Shaping the Global Plastic Pollution Treaty: SPE’s Role in INC-5

SPE Annual Report: A Look at the Strength of Community

SPE’s 2024 Annual Report is a ‘must-read’ snapshot, providing a comprehensive overview of our achievements, reinforcing the value of belonging to a community of like-minded individuals. As SPE President, Scott Eastman, says in SPE’s recent report, “SPE's mission hasn't wavered--it's our North Star. And with your input and collaboration, we'll find the opportunities to grow stronger together.” Read the Annual Report here.

Join SPE Asia’s Engineers’ Social Hour at CHINAPLAS 2025!

Attending CHINAPLAS 2025?Connect with fellow plastics industry professionals at the SPE Asia Engineers’ Social Hour, happening April 16 (Day 2 of the event), from 16:00 – 17:30 in Meeting Room 9B, Hall 9 at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, China. Expand your network, exchange insights, and gain fresh perspectives! Register here!

Huang Named New Editor for Polymer Composites

SPE’s Polymer Composites, is pleased to welcome Professor Yudong Huang from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, as the journal’s new editor. Specializing in resin-based composites, Professor Huang's distinguished career includes recognition as an Elsevier Highly Cited Researcher (2021–2023), two National Technology Invention Second Prizes, and numerous accolades in science and technology. With over 500 published papers and 250 national invention patents, he brings a wealth of expertise to Polymer Composites. Professor Huang will officially begin his term on April 1, 2025. More information.

Boost Your Plastics Knowledge

SPE’s Center for Polymer Education includes programs designed to fit your needs, your schedule, and your career and educational goals. Each workshop, webinar, and conference provide the tools you need to succeed. From highly focused technical topics to ‘soft’ skills such as leadership training, the SPE Center for Polymer Education helps you in your professional journey. On demand courses are also available 24/7. More information.

Be a PlastChicks™ 101 Featured Company!

PlastChicks™ 101 is an educational initiative designed to provide comprehensive lessons focused on plastics. The goal of the series is to educate people on all the major plastics and plastics processes, creating an informed and effective generation of professionals. Become a PlastChicks™ 101 Featured Company and support newcomers to the industry, enhance your brand, increase your exposure, and more! Learn more here.

Routsis Training Provides Workforce Development

Feeling overwhelmed by ongoing changes in plastics manufacturing? Or is your team struggling to keep up with the latest developments in manufacturing processes? Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills or boost your manufacturing team’s performance, SPE has recently collaborated with Routsis Training to provide tools specifically designed for individuals or teams looking to succeed in today’s fast-paced plastics manufacturing environment! Find out more here.

New Episode of PlastChicks® Podcast Out Now

PlastChicks host Dr. Andy Francis, Vice President of Marketing at Q-Lab Corporation. They discuss the big forces of plastics weathering, the arch nemeses of plastics, the difficulty of service life prediction, techniques and equipment for testing the effects of weathering on plastics, common misconceptions about plastics durability, plastics failure methods due to weathering, and the future of materials testing. You can listen to the PlastChicks™ podcast at 4spe.org/podcastsor on YouTube!

SPE Foundation

SPE Foundation Launches Patsy & Glenn Beall Scholarship Endowment

The SPE Foundation is excited to launch a campaign to establish the Patsy & Glenn Beall Honored Service Member Scholarship Endowment! Named in honor of the legendary Patsy & Glenn Beall, this scholarship will recognize a dedicated student who demonstrates exceptional leadership and commitment within their SPE Student Chapter. It will provide financial support and inspiration for future leaders in our industry. Join us in making this meaningful award a reality! give.4spe.org/patsyandglennbeallscholarship.

Foundation Ambassador Giving Society Honors Donors

We had a blast celebrating our new members and move-ups in the SPE Foundation Ambassador Giving Society at ANTEC! Established in 2024, the Ambassador Giving Society recognizes donors who have given $10,000 and above to support the work and mission of the SPE Foundation. You can check out the list of the Society’s 66 individuals and organizations here.

Thank you to all of our sponsors for supporting ANTEC® 2025!

SPE News Story Ideas?

Know a member who is doing outstanding things in plastics or in SPE? Are you part of a chapter that is making an impact or a difference in the industry? Let us know if you have any story ideas for SPE News! Feel free to contact Chris Barry at cbarry@4spe.org.