FROM
THE PRESIDENT
The reason I became
so involved with the Society of Plastics
Engineers (SPE) was the New Technology Committee
(NTC). This committee allows me to learn
what leading, cutting-edge technologies
are emerging, through its New Technology
Forums at ANTEC (which are academically
and industrially balanced), through articles
printed in Plastics Engineering,
and now also through this website. It is
exciting not only for seeing what frontiers
polymer scientists are reaching, but also
for the potential to impact my industry.
There is also the potential for the major
developments to create interesting new cross-disciplinary
fields of research and new products, such
as nanotechnology, bio-based feedstocks,
and active packaging. The NTC also is involved
in establishing Special Interest Groups
(SIGs), to help foster new opportunities
and more specialized communities.
The NTC is another
means of reaching those outside our SPE
community. The leading specialists in these
exciting new fields are invited to
give presentations at the New Technology
Forums. Specialists may be within or outside
the SPE community, and this is another way
that NTC helps our plastics community grow
further. It truly is a committee with “NO
BORDERS” that reaches across disciplines
and countries to bring opportunities to
all involved in the polymer industry.
SPE Presidents travel
worldwide for conferences and/or meetings,
interacting with all members, making our
Society truly global. The New Technology
Committee provides the most advanced technology
information to the President to share with
SPE’s International members. At the
same time, each country visited has unique
knowledge and special needs. Our Society
is a resource to address those needs and
to accept their unique inputs. SPE, later
this year, will further be contributing
to providing innovative information, such
as recent patents, for about ten “hot
topics,” and providing a pool of specialists
from these fields as reviewers.
As SPE President,
I recognize the value this committee provides
to the Society, and I applaud each and every
NTC member for their outstanding service.
Respectfully,
Vicki Flaris
SPE President 2007-2008
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