UTECH Europe 2003: On track to deliver the world’s biggest polyurethane technology forum

UTECH Europe, the triennial showcase dedicated to the international polyurethane industry, is on track to again deliver the largest forum in the world for this specialised sector. Coinciding as it does with a strengthening in economies globally, UTECH Europe will provide a valuable window on the issues and opportunities facing the industry.

To be staged 25–27 March 2003 at the Netherlands Congress Centre (NCC) in The Hague, UTECH Europe has already contracted 85 percent of its exhibition space. Exhibitors include industry majors such as Atofina, Air Products, Bayer, Cannon Group, DuPont, Elastogran, Goldschmidt, Great Lakes, Hennecke, Huntsman, OSi Specialties, Repsol, Shell Chemicals, and Tosoh representing all segments of the polyurethane business. Their participation reflects the importance of the event as a marketing and sales platform, as well as a venue for the exchange of ideas and updates on technological progress.

UTECH Europe has developed a wide following over the course of its 16-year history and its regular visitors - normally more than 3000 people - comprise commercial and technical specialists from virtually every section of industry. The industries involved include automotive, aerospace, electrical and electronics, building and construction, and furnishings, as well as the medical field.

In addition, the number of visitors is boosted by the hundreds of delegates that attend during the three days of the associated UTECH Europe conference organised by Crain Communications Ltd, publishers of Urethanes Technology magazine. The 2003 conference programme is structured around four specialist sessions, along with a plenary session discussing the pending European Union legislation on chemicals testing, measures which could drastically impact the whole of the chemicals industry, including the manufacture of polyurethane raw materials and finished products. A total of 57 presentations will report on the latest developments in polyurethanes technology for coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers, automotive applications, appliances and rigid foams, and flexible slabstock foam. Full conference details can be obtained from UTECH 2003 Conference, Crain Communications Ltd in London; E-mail: UTECH-2003@crain.com.

As the general economic recovery gathers pace, the global polyurethane business—already in excess of 8.5 million tonnes—is projected to grow at around five percent per year. Against this background, optimism within the industry is evident both in new application developments and renewed interest in areas such as the use of reaction injection moulding for thin-wall structural components, and speciality developments such as PU systems for use in footwear manufacturing, rigid foam construction products and new, high-performance flexible foams.

Concern and opportunity comes to the rigid foam sector with the phase-out of CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) blowing agents and the commercialisation of third-generation HFCs (hydrofluorocarbon). While more expensive than their predecessors, these new blowing agents will enable polyurethane to maintain its present leadership in thermal insulation performance and, consequently, its market share. UTECH Europe provides the platform on which these and many other guiding issues will be examined and their advantages identified, as well as the exhibition of new PU solutions and ancillary services.

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