Informa Markets – Engineering Announces Virtual Engineering Days Taking Place June 15-17

Today, Informa Markets – Engineering, the organizers of the nation’s largest advanced manufacturing events, announced Virtual Engineering Days, an all-new digital conference and exposition for plastics, packaging, and manufacturing professionals to gain new insights and meet suppliers that can help drive their businesses forward. Taking place June 15-17, 2021, the digital event will feature more than 30 free content sessions across four tracks – 3D printing; Sustainability; Plastics, Processing & Materials; and Smart Manufacturing and Robotics – as well as a robust showcase of suppliers spanning the Pack, Plastec, Automation Technology, and Design & Manufacturing event brands. Furthermore, the event includes a bonus track on packaging education for the booming cannabis market presented by the Cannabis Packaging Summit and Packaging Digest.

To tune in to the event, both attendees and press can register here.

Virtual Engineering Days aligns with Informa Markets – Engineering’s efforts to provide the manufacturing community more opportunities for education and connection via both virtual and in-person offerings. Following a successful Virtual Engineering Week event, which took place November 30 – December 4, 2020, Virtual Engineering Days is the second digital event offered ahead of the upcoming Informa Markets Engineering West event, which will take place August 10-12 in Anaheim, CA.

“We are thrilled to offer another touchpoint for professionals to gain valuable education on timely topics as well as meet and network with innovative suppliers from across the nation at Virtual Engineering Days,” said Suzanne Deffree, Group Event Director, Informa Markets – Engineering. “We look forward to bringing crucial education on trends and technologies impacting a broad spectrum of manufacturers.”

A sampling of Virtual Engineering Days featured sessions, speakers, and exhibitors are below:

Keynotes

June 15, 2021, 11:00 a.m. EDT

Title: Motors in Space: To Mars and Beyond

Keynote Speaker: Robin Phillips, Head of the SpaceLab, maxon

Abstract: There is no denying that the Martian environment can be harsh and unaccommodating to systems made to operate on Earth. Through a combination of standard industrial motors and creative collaboration, technology-forward customizations allow high-precision, long-life motors to make it to Mars and beyond. Robin Phillips, head of SpaceLab at maxon, will discuss how designs must push beyond their limits to offer greater precision while operating in harsh environments—with a no-fail requirement—as NASA and partners push beyond their limits, launching rovers and helicopters to the Red Planet.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021, 11:00 a.m. EDT

Title: Designing for Sustainable Manufacturing

Keynote Speaker: Ernel Simpson, Global Vice President of Research and Development, TerraCycle

Abstract: Sustainability proposes a unique and urgent challenge to engineering and manufacturing. But it also offers opportunity, particularly around packaging and materials. In this keynote, Dr. Ernel Simpson will discuss the creation of sustainable products and processes that conserve energy and natural resources, have lessened negative impacts upon the natural environment and society, and offer opportunity in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In doing so, Dr. Simpson will draw knowledge from his current position as Global Vice President of Research and Development at TerraCycle and his 40 years of industrial experience at companies including Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical and The DuPont Company.

Featured Sessions and Speakers:

Track: Packaging

Rapid Fire with Medical Packaging Trailblazers

Speakers:

• Jennifer Benolken, MD&M & Regulatory Specialist, DuPont
• Rod Patch, Sr. Director, Package Engineering & Product Labeling, Johnson & Johnson Vision
• Dan Burgess, Fellow - Packaging Engineer, Boston Scientific
• Thierry Wagner, Global Director Regulatory & Standards - Healthcare, DuPont
• Jordan Montgomery, Distinguished Packaging Engineer, Medtronic
• Geoff Pavey, Technical Fellow-Technology Manager, Oliver HCP

Abstract: Join Rod Patch of Johnson & Johnson and Jennifer Benolken of DuPont as they discuss the latest hot topics for medical device packaging. You’ll hear their interviews with top industry experts on issues like innovation and collaboration, accomplishments in test methods, and regulatory standards.

Track: 3D Printing

Medical Applications with Pellet Based 3D Printing – Highlighting Implantable Materials and Pharmaceuticals

Speakers:

• Gerry Berberian, National Sales Manager, Additive, Arburg
• Dr. Sheng Qi, PhD, Bioengineering Researcher, University of East Anglia School of Pharmacy
• Balaji Prabhu, Director of Strategic Marketing, Medical Device Solutions, Evonik

Abstract: Pellet based 3D printing allows users to print real materials, opening up a variety of unique medical applications. Join Arburg's Gerry Berberian, as he highlights some unique applications enabled by the APF (Arburg Plastic Freeforming) technology. This session will cover several medical applications but focuses on two main areas: Implantable Materials; and Pharmaceuticals (Printed Medication). Hear Balaji Prabhu of Evonik and Dr. Sheng Qi of the University of East Anglia’s School of Pharmacy share their experiences and results achieved when printing with their own materials.

Track: Plastics Processing & Materials

New Automotive Requirements Drive Increased Opportunity for Plastics Industry

Speaker: Adam Halsband, Managing Director, Forward Engineering North America

Abstract: Thanks to the Electrification of Powertrains and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), the Automotive Industry is in the midst of a tectonic shift in customer and technical requirements. Customer expectations and vehicle use cases are shifting dramatically, creating new opportunities and challenges for the next generation of light vehicle design, development, manufacturing, and assembly. Chief among those challenges is the ability to meet all of the customer and technical (OE & Regulatory) requirements within the available design space. In this presentation, the author will highlight the trends driving new requirements for the automotive industry and focus on exciting new design, material, and manufacturing process technologies that are leading the shift in vehicle material mix and paving the way for new applications of plastics in the vehicle.

Track: Plastics Processing & Materials

An Outlook for the Plastics Industry: Politics, Policy & Economics

Speakers:

• Tony Radoszewski, President & CEO of PLASTICS
• Perc Pineda, Chief Economist, PLASTICS

Abstract: COVID-19’s impact on the U.S. economy has been far-reaching across plastics end-markets, from the auto sector to healthcare. The pandemic’s effects on each has been different. However, the utility of plastic to virtually every industry remains unchanged, and the material will be even more important in the future, not only as a result of healthcare trends. PLASTICS member companies are providing novel solutions to energy, transportation, construction, agriculture, and electronics. Yet despite its necessity to modern life, plastics faces perception problems, because of the same properties that make it the material of choice for so many applications. Lightweight and resilient, it flies in the air and floats on the water, making environmental sustainability and recycling top priorities for consumers and plastics companies that serve them. Through cooperation and hard work, we can develop workable policy solutions to waste management that allow us to reach our environmental goals and avoid arbitrary, harmful bans on materials and products that serve an important purpose in society today.

Featured Exhibitors:

• B9Creations
• Boston Micro Fabrication
• Canon Virginia, Inc.
• Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology LLC
• Formlabs
• ISO-AID LLC
• Protolabs
• Sonoco Alloyd

Follow Virtual Engineering Days on social media: #VirtualEngineeringDays

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About Informa Markets – Engineering:

Informa Markets’ Engineering portfolio is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organized by Informa, the world’s leading exhibitions organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

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