Foam Expo Europe – the region’s only free-to-attend trade show and conference uniting the entire foam supply chain – opens 10-12 September, 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. 200 exhibitors spanning the entire foam supply chain will exhibit alongside the 2nd annual conference covering key industry topics, market trends and regulatory updates, and highlights R&D and innovation in foam materials, technologies and properties.
Running concurrently to the trade fair, the conference marks a unique opportunity to hear from those driving major developments across the industry and disrupting end-markets from automotive, aerospace and construction to packaging, medical and sports & leisure.
Speakers for 2019 include subject experts from BMW Group, IKEA, Crocs, The Dow Chemical Company, Recticel, Velux, FACC Operations, FXI and Huntsman. They’ll be tackling a diverse agenda, with sessions on everything from understanding global trends in the polymeric foam market and the business case for digitising manufacturing lines, to material requirements and opportunities for foams in vehicle electrification and how to implement the European Union’s circular economy package.
Recycling, sustainability and end of life are prominent topics, with panel discussions and roundtables debating how to put circular economy legislation into action; how to overcome the key obstacles of recycling in the foam industry; the challenges in commercialising bio-based materials and green chemistries; and what the industry should expect from the EU and national governments in the years ahead.
Launching with a bang, the opening keynote deep-dives into global trends in the polymeric foam market, with Europur’s president Bart ten Brink exploring market trends and discussing where new markets are opening up, how to stay cost-competitive and the likely effect of Brexit on the industry.
The conference is tailored to educate, inform and help delegates grow their business. Networking lunches ensure ample opportunity to forge new business connections – and strengthen existing ones.
Previous years have seen the event receive an overwhelmingly positive response. Following last year’s conference, Jaguar and Land Rover’s Frederic Sicard praised the “industry-focused conferences, which can be upon your choice technical, market or application-centric”, while application engineering manager José V. Fernández Morales from Trocellen Ibérica said that the exhibition was “complemented by interesting technical conferences”.
New for 2019
Building on this success, the 2019 edition of Foam Expo Europe welcomes a brand-new element: 360 Sessions – a dynamic programme of roundtable discussions, workshops and material jam sessions. Designed to enable focused peer-to-peer discussions, the sessions cover topics ranging from eliminating hazardous chemicals to reimagining foams and the new processing methods they require. Thought-leaders from across the industry are billed to moderate the sessions.
Don’t miss the supply chain exhibition!
Running alongside the conference, the trade fair will feature 200 exhibiting companies profiles all segments of the supply chain from raw materials suppliers; chemicals manufacturers/suppliers; equipment manufacturers; tool and processing manufacturing; foam manufacturers; foam converters and fabricators; end users; additive/compound suppliers.
Engineers, buyers and procurement professionals will have the opportunity to source all types of foam and materials from moulded, rigid and flexible foams, as well as materials ranging from urethanes to polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and elastomers. Foam Expo Europe will showcase materials and solutions for multiple applications, including automotive, aerospace, industrial, packaging, sports & leisure, construction, medical and more.
Featured exhibitors include FoamPartner, BASF, Rogers Corp, Sabic, Huntsman, Recticel, Sekisui, Zotefoams, Nitto Belgium, Eurofoam and many more.
Visit the event website to view the full list of participating companies and speakers and for timings of the sessions that are business-critical for your organisation. No other trade show in Europe brings together the entire foam supply chain for all foam chemistries and technologies, so register now for your free conference pass and position your company at the vanguard of foam industry expansion.