CONFERENCE PROGRAM 2019
OVERVIEW
12:00 Introduction to UTECH Las Americas
Simon Robinson, Editor, Urethanes Technology International
12:15 Welcome / Keynote Address
Jan Buberl, Vice President – Americas, Huntsman Polyurethanes & Global PO/MTBE Business
12:45 Keynote Address: A review of global polyurethane feedstocks supply/demand
James Elliott, Senior Analyst, IHS Markit
- How polyurethane feedstocks markets (MDI, TDI, propylene oxide and polyether polyols) are complex and dynamic
- A review of the previous few years and how the outlook for the future direction of the polyurethane feedstock markets has changed
- A look to the future
FLEXIBLE FOAMS
13:15 Viscoelastic foams with enhanced performance and comfort
Netzahualcóyotl López, Senior Account Manager NAFTA Region, Carpenter Co
- How typical Viscoelastic PU foams (memory foams) exhibit poor performance at low or high temperatures.
- Looking at a novel technology which produces Viscoelastic PU foams that retain their performance at a wide gradient of temperatures.
- Applications for these foams: the automotive, flexible foam and consumer markets
13:45 Time to visit the exhibition
16:00 Next generation surfactant for increased block yield and broad processing latitude for low emission slabstock foam
Celso Toyoshima , Technical Application Manager, Evonik
- Introduction of the development of a new low VOC silicone surfactant optimized to increase the gas yield of conventional flexible slabstock foam.
- Data from lab studies and machine trials that show reduced top-to-bottom density spreads and increased block heights when using this new surfactant in both discontinuous (cylinder and box) as well as continuous block foam processes.
- How flexible foam manufacturers will be able to improve their chemical conversion efficiencies and produce foam at a lower cost by unit volume.
16:30 EcoSlab, a new continuous line
Jonathan Rayner, General Sales Manager, Cannon Viking
- EcoSlab - a new compact, small footprint continuous foaming plant
- Combining liqud laydown and fallplate trough technology on the one foaming machine with high pressure metering for optimum foam quality and variety
- Advantages of this technology
17: 00 The advantages and disadvantages of automation in polyurethane injection processes
Luis Arturo Maciel Miranda, Maintenance Manager, Lear Corporation
- A closer examination of process automation
- The problem of the high cost of automation, and how to reduce it
- The disadvantages of automation
- Obtaining clear ideas to automate the processes of your company
17:30 Efficient production of specialty flexible foam grade
Joachim Bahlke, Sales Manager Molded Foam Lines, Hennecke GmbH
Moisés Abreu, Sales Manager Slabstock, Hennecke GmbH
- Technical aspects leading to higher production efficiency
- A look at the latest high-quality equipment for moulded foam applications
- Oval conveyor lines and metering machines
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.
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