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Sixth European Thermoforming Conference in Berlin (Germany), April 3rd-5th 2008
Berlin was the venue, from April 3rd to 5th, of the sixth European Thermoforming Conference. This year’s main event of the European thermoforming industry was organised by the European Thermoforming Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers. This conference, which is the sector’s most important platform for information and communications between decision makers in business, non-partisan experts from the sector, leading suppliers of solutions and the related scientific community, has established itself as the forum for thermoforming technology. The unique metropolis of Berlin provided an outstanding setting for the event, and the Maritim Hotel Berlin proved to be a fine place in which to hold such a gathering. Presentations, discussion workshops and an exhibition – where the accent was on dialogue – all contributed to informing the approximately 250 participants from Europe and USA on the subjects covered by the conference. The title of the conference “Crossing Frontiers - Knowledge, the Key to your Success” acted as a thread to link together the exhibitors, whether from the world of science, the supply sector or the applications business. This year’s presentations were again comprehensive and all-encompassing in terms of the materials, processes and applications that they covered. Of particular note were the presentation made by Boeing of the United States on thermformed aircraft components and their fire resistance, along with the contribution from Samsonite on innovative suitcase-design. New developments in materials based on PLA and PEEK also stood out. Another point of special interest, alongside the main subjects related to thermforming, was the presentation, by keynote speaker Dr.-Ing. Horst Zuse, on the life and work of Konrad Zuse, the inventor of the computer. The discussion workshops focussed on the subjects of “thermoforming vs. alternative technologies”, “materials analysis” and “the shortening of processing times”. The winners of this year’s (and the second to date) Thermoforming Parts Competition also received their awards. The range of moulded components on show gave visitors a good overview of how designs, materials and processes go together. Winners of the Parts Competition:
The Thermoforming Parts Competition Award goes to outstanding and innovative designs or processes in the field of thermally moulded components.
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