Annual Polymer Conference – 18th April 2024

Annual Polymer Conference – 18th April 2024

Companies and individuals are invited to attend the Annual Polymer Conference on 18th April 2024, at Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. The event held in association with Polymer Technology Ireland and First Polymer Training, will bring together Irish and International industry plastics leaders, engineers and scientists to discuss the latest developments and challenges facing the industry through a mix of networking, expert talks and interactive industry displays. 

Keynote: Declan O’Rourke, CEO, Irish Life Sciences 

Keynote Speaker for the day will be Declan O’Rourke, CEO, Irish Life Sciences.  Declan will discuss his journey and learnings as CEO of a leading supplier to the Medical Devices sector in Ireland. 

Agenda  

  • 09.10 am. KEYNOTE: The 40 Year Polymer Chain Declan O’Rourke, CEO – Irish Life Sciences 
  • 09.50  Defined Use of Post Industrial Recyclate in Medical Device Applications. Donough McGrath, Director of Engineering – Johnson & Johnson Vision Care 
  • 10.20  Smart Moulds – with Conformal Cooling, Sensors and Much More! Christopher O’Hara – an I-Form & SFI funded researcher with PEM Centre in ATU Sligo. Colin Meade – Additive Technologist – Irish Manufacturing Research 
  • 11.00  Coffee Break. 
  • 11.20  AI in Plastic Moulding & Manufacturing: Possibilities and Challenges Bob Struijk, European Business Development Manager at FANUC Europe 
  • 11.50  Consideration of the Economic & Ecological Potential of Hot Runner System using practical examples. Silvio Paesano, Senior Hot Runner Expert – Ewikon 
  • 12.20  Introduction to AO – Retailer turned Recycler. Chris Caffrey, Business Development Manager – AO Recycling 
  • 12.40  Polymer Connect. Caitríona Mordan, ATIM Cluster Manager 
  • 12.50  Polymer Technology Ireland Update. Mark McAuley, Director PTI 
  • 13.00 Injection Moulding in the Virtual World. Alan Harrington, Technical Training Specialist – First Polymer Training Skillnet 
  • 13.10  Lunch. 
  • 14.10  Building a Circular Future for Plastics. Fireside Chat including: Neil Skeffington, CEO – Novelplast Ian Barry, CEO – Greentech Plastics Romina Pezzoli, Applied Packaging Platform Lead – Applied Polymer Technology Chris Caffrey – Business Development Manager – AO Recycling 
  • 15.00  Solutions for Overcoming the Challenges of Processing Recyclates in Injection Moulding – focusing on 2-stage process Patrick Grüner, BSc – Sales Director Business Development & Key Account Management ENGEL Austria 
  • 15.40  Building Polymer Research Capacity in TUS Ciara Buckley, Research Scientist at TUS and APT 
  • 16.00  Summary & Close. 

About Irish Polymer group  

The Irish Polymer Group is a club formed by individuals from the Polymer industry in Ireland.  The group objectives areTo foster, promote and co-ordinate the sharing of knowledge and understanding within the Polymer industry in Ireland, with educational establishments and with the public at large. The IPG is a not-for-profit club. 

How to register  

Registration

Event details: Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, Co. Westmeath 

Date: 18th April 2024 

Time: 9am – 4pm