12:00 Re-cap and welcome back
Simon Robinson, Editor, Urethanes Technology International 

CASE

12:05  Hot cast polyurethane
Filiberto Hernández Vásquez, Technical Service Manager, POLYLUBEX S.A

• What is hot cast polyurethane?
• Advantages of hot cast polyurethane over other materials
• Properties: load capacity, tear, abrasion, hydrolysis and oxidation resistance
• Application to the transportation industry

12:30  TPU injection as an efficient alternative to cast moulding in the automotive industry
Rodrigo Chinen, New Business Development Manager, Lubrizol

• Alternatives to improve the production process; manufacturing products more efficiently with less cost and higher quality
• Promoting an environmentally friendly process; how the transformation process of TPU - in contrast with other thermofixed polymers - reduces its impact to the environment
• The TPU injection advantages in scrap recycling and waste reduction

13:00   Polyurethane elastomers for extreme situations
Bruno Motta , Director of Sales for Urethane Systems of Lanxess, NAFTA and Central America

• Expanding the field of application of PU elastomers in the industry
• A look at applications where these materials are used successfully
• Identifying the most suitable material for your extreme need

13:20  Low viscosity polyester polyols for reduced VOC 2K polyurethane coatings
Jeffrey Janos, Research Associate, Stepan Company

• The characteristics and performance of new low viscosity polyester polyols
• Using these polyols to formulate coatings that satisfy the growing need for very low VOC urethane products
• Conclusions

13:40   A complete solution for the wheels industry 
Luca Fanti, Global Techno-Commercial Manager, Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri

• A look at the various hot cast polyurethanes systems used in the manufacturing of rolls, castors and wheels. The benefits of different systems, including polyester-based; polyether-based; PCL-based; and special and novel-grade systems 
• The machinery used to cast the wheels and various parts

14:00  Time to visit the exhibition

16:00  Guide to problems, causes and solutions in polyurethane elastomers caused by the casting process
Rodrigo Gustavo Huescas Villegas, Research and Development Manager, Nuceq

• Improving process times and reduce downtime during the manufacture of polyurethanes by casting
• Reducing scrap and waste of material during the manufacturing process 
• Increasing productivity 
• Prevent problems that result in losses during the manufacturing process of polyurethanes by casting. 

16:30  Hot cast urethane elastomers and end use applications
Vanessa Gallegos, Formulating Chemist, Foam Supplies

• How hot cast urethane elastomers have been growing significantly all over the world during the past 50 years
• The use of these products and how they are seen replacing rubber in high industrial areas to improve productivity and product life span
• Application use is limitless
• Reviewing end product performance needs and which specific urethane elastomers can meet these application requirements

FOOTWEAR and RELEASE AGENTS

17:00  Reducing the weight of polyurethane shoe soles to maintain durability and comfort
Salvador Mejía Gómez, Latin America PUR Foam Application Development Manager, Honeywell

• The importance of Mexico as a production centre for the footwear industry in Latin America
• How polyurethane foam is a key component when durability, chemical resistance and comfort are required.
• Despite its high-end properties, polyurethane faces strong competition from lighter materials like EVA or synthetic rubber.
• Solutions to keep competitive whilst reducing shoe sole weight, reducing environmental impact and retaining desired properties 

17:30  Optimising release agents from application through process to lower residue 
Carles Alonso, Release Agents Division Technician,  Concentrol

• Release agents; one of the most important chemicals used for polyurethane molded foam manufacturers
• The problem of misuse by customers not using or storing them properly and the resulting issues re: stability and efficiency 
• Instructing customers to provide technical recommendations to avoid these issues
• Key factors to handle release agents properly 

12:00 Re-cap and welcome back
Simon Robinson, Editor, Urethanes Technology International

BLOWING AGENTS

12:05  HFO blowing agent for semi-continuous panels and spray polyurethane foam applications in construction
Salvador Mejía Gómez, Latin America PUR Foam Application Development Manager, Honeywell

• How changes in blowing agent regulations have delivered novel materials to the market with better properties
• A new brand of HFO blowing agents to address construction industry challenges: more efficient insulation, and better physical and structural properties in applications 
• A comparison of blowing agent properties as well as a brief synopsis of the polyurethane foam formulations and properties that can be achieved with HFO blowing agents 

12:30  Blowing agent blends for PUR rigid foams 
Ercan Unveren, Business Development Manager, Solvay

• Non-flammable liquid foam blowing agents successfully used in thermal insulation applications for more than 15 years.
• Brominated polyether polyols providing good flame retardancy to fulfil fire classifications required for the building and construction industry. 
• Comparison of PU formulations with non-flammable Solvay blends 

13:00  Comparative performance of Honeywell’s LBA and other alternatives in the appliance industry
Salvador Mejía Gómez, Latin America PUR Foam Application Development Manager, Honeywell

• Blowing agents: a key raw material in the production of polyurethane rigid foam
• How different options have been developed to meet processing and more stringent energy-consumption regulations.
• Demonstrating superior insulation performance in commercial and domestic appliances compared with water-blown systems, hydrocarbons or hydrofluorocarbons
• New trends in blowing agent technologies 

13:30  Next generation blowing agents: The challenges ahead
Raul Dacomba, Senior Formulating Chemist, Foam Supplies 

• Ever-increasing demands for energy efficiency and regulatory compliance: how the polyurethane foam insulation industry is tasked with transitioning to a new generation of blowing agents. 
• The next generation blowing agent options offered to the formulator 
• How these new offerings seem to offset the trend of decreased insulation performance of foams. 
• A look at the importance of formula optimization via a case study; delving into how raw material selection is crucial to excellent foam performance.

Jorge Lemus, Development & Technical Service Manager, Productos Eiffel

• How each region in the world has its own challenges for spray foam applications; from raw material availability, to processing environment and applications and their requirements.
• The Mexico spray foam industry and its transition from HCFC technology; is distinctive needs re: environmental conditions and its different application markets
• A look at formulating spray foam formulations with Solstice LBA to meet these challenges.

16:30  Catalyst solutions for next generation blowing agents
Frank Rodriguez, MBA, Regional Marketing Manager - PU Additives, Huntsman Performance Products

• How global conditions and environmental changes have brought forward the importance of developing the next generation blowing agents for polyurethane foam applications.  
• The influential effect of tertiary amine catalysts on the reaction speed of polyurethane applications.  
• Formulation challenges have been observed with these new blowing agents and have created an emphasis on Research & Development throughout the industry.  
• A demonstration of  Huntsman’s involvement in developing catalytic solutions for the next generation blowing agents.

RIGID FOAMS

Courtney Knapp, Technical Service Leader, Carpenter Co

• Polyester polyols made out of recycled PET (water bottles + films) used to produced rigid PU foams used in the construction industry. 
• A review of the benefits of these foams on energy saving and reducing environmental impact of plastic waste.

COMPOSITES

17:30  Stretching the limits of composites spray moulding through novel polyurethane resin spray systems
Jorge Brito Ortuño, Polyurethanes Account Manager, Technical Sales, Huntsman Polyurethanes

• Composites spray molding of glass fibre-reinforced paper honeycomb panels; how it has deserved its merits in the automotive industry. 
• A highly productive and affordable process to manufacture very lightweight semi-structural parts for automotive interiors. 
• The resulting strong market pull today to push the boundaries of this process further, requiring also superior material solutions. 
• Novel characteristics of newly developed Huntsman Polyurethanes resin spray systems.