Programs

FLiP (Future Leaders in Plastics) is a platform for young professionals in plastics to accelerate their careers through education, networking, and leadership opportunities. This rapidly growing committee is open to industry members under 40 years old who are passionate about innovation and making a positive impact.

FLiP maintains multiple ongoing programs and task groups overseen by FLiP members themselves. Initiatives span three key areas – professional development, empowerment, and fostering connections.

Development

Offerings focused on expanding skills and knowledge include:

• FLiP Speaker Series: Quarterly presentations and workshops with experts tailored to young professionals.
• FLiP Book Club: Discussions exploring leadership books and industry trends to exchange perspectives.
• FLiP Mentorship Program: Pairs less-experienced members with seasoned executives for mutually beneficial learning.

Empowerment

Efforts centered on contributing to communities/causes consist of:

• Annual Litter Cleanup: Volunteers remove plastics and waste from local areas after PLASTICS events.
• Cleanup Champions Initiative: Equips members to execute cleanups nationwide by providing a planning guide.
• Plastics Gives Back Campaign: Spotlights member volunteer work on social media to inspire participation.

Connection

Offerings allowing engagement with industry peers include:

• Networking at PLASTICS Events: Facilitated meetups alongside major industry conferences and trade shows.
• FLiP & Sip Reception at NPE: Exclusive gathering for young professionals at PLASTICS’ flagship exhibition.
• Manufacturing Day: Promotes and assists member participation in nationwide events that showcase manufacturing career opportunities.

The Flexible Vinyl Products Division (FVPD) represents all companies involved with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Key focus areas include:

• Education: Provides technical instruction to drive vinyl innovation.
• Advocacy: Engages regulatory bodies from local to international levels to support responsible PVC policies.
• Economic Growth: Supports vinyl jobs and business expansion.
• Members: Serves formulators, resin/additive suppliers, processors, OEMs, designers, and more.

Offerings and resources:

• Test Procedures for Flexible Vinyl: A published guide of over 50 analytical assessment methods for material characterization.
• Annual Compounders Conference: The industry’s largest annual event for plastisol and organosol producers/suppliers.

The Fluoropolymers Division (FPD) consists of PLASTICS member companies involved with manufacturing, processing, compounding, or formulating fluoropolymer resins. Key focus areas include:

• Education: Highlights innovations in fluoropolymers through communications and the annual FPD Conference.
• Regulation: Works to retire chemicals posing threats to consumers/workers while meeting essential fluoropolymer needs.
• Collaboration: Partners with agencies guiding responsible use of these materials.
• Awareness: Keeps members updated on developments via a bi-monthly PFAS industry report.

Offerings and resources:

• Wire and Cable Committee – Subsection concentrating specifically on wires/cables applications.
• Annual Fluoropolymers Conference – Covering regulatory, market, and technology updates across fluoropolymers and PFAS.

While wireless devices and electronics become more sophisticated, with greater power needs, this can degrade cabling over time if not properly insulated. Plastic protects wire and cable in these applications.

The Wire and Cable Section has worked with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to identify related safety hazards, contributing data that has been integrated into the National Electrical Code to define appropriate wattage levels for existing cabling.

The Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES) tracks and reports orders/shipments data for plastics machinery suppliers on a monthly and quarterly basis. Information includes injection molding machines, extruders, blow molding equipment, auxiliary systems, and more from North American markets.

Offerings and resources:

• Confidential Data Review: A third-party fiduciary ensures the privacy of individual submissions.
• Published Reports: Participant benchmarking based on a significant industry percentage.
• Cross-Sector Analysis: Correlations with macroeconomic trends for deeper understanding.

As an ANSI-accredited developer of plastics machinery safety standards, PLASTICS actively monitors and engages in codes/standards development for plastics machinery safety and materials usage. This includes domestic standards and international efforts through ISO, IEC, and other groups.

We keep our members informed about code and standard-related issues, ensuring their active participation and representation throughout the decision-making process.

Key focus areas include:

• Machinery Safety: Leads U.S. contributions on injection molding, extruder, and clamp safety.
• Materials Impacts:  Coordinates input on storage, dust hazards, fire prevention, and related standards.
• Participation: Ensures plastics industry interests are represented in development processes.

Offerings and resources:

• U.S. Technical Advisory Group: ISO coordination across plastics/rubber machines categories.
• Guidelines and Reports: Publishes supplemental resources beyond formal standards.

Through this diverse blend of programs, PLASTICS empowers professionals and companies across plastics manufacturing, processing, and support functions to both protect and expand opportunities for business growth.