Major conference focus on rigid urethane foams

By David Reed, Organiser UTECH Europe 2006 ConferenceLondon-The latest advances in key materials and technologies for making rigid polyurethane foams, will be a major focus of the UTECH Europe 2006 conference, running 28-30 March.New catalysts for making PIR (polyisocyanurate) foams, novel blowing agents, and innovative strategies for improving the flame retardancy of finished products are just three of the 17 rigid-foam-related topics to be discussed in three separate sessions of the conference (see below for full details).Other sessions of interest at the event include a Plenary Session focused on the opportunities opening up in the key developing markets of Eastern Europe, India and the People's Republic of China, and further technical sessions on the latest developments in making automotive components, flexible foams, as well as coatings and elastomers - will be discussed by international specialists.Companies and individuals active in sectors supplying or using rigid foams will find this an ideal opportunity to hear of the latest situation in the key materials and processing technologies used in their manufacture.UTECH Europe 2006, to be held 28-30 March in the Maastricht Exhibition and Conference Centre, in the Netherlands, is the key event for the polyurethanes industry in 2006. It comprises a 100-strong exhibition of suppliers of materials and processing technologies to this innovative sector, and a major international conference, and is expected to attract more than 3000 people to the south eastern corner of the Netherlands.Make your date to find out what's happening in the fastest-growing segment of the polymer industry now; And note that conference reservation before 17 Feb. saves £95 over the on-site price.For further details, including the full conference programme and details of on-line registration, please visit www.utech-2006.com, or Email: [email protected] FOAMS SESSION A, 28 March 14:00-17:30New foam formulations for PIR in construction applications, JacquelineKussan-Bindels, Bayer MaterialScience AGAdvances in Polyurethane and Polyisocyanurate Solutions for the Metal-faced Insulating Panels' Industry, Paolo Golini, Dow Italia SpANovel High performance PIR-Systems for Continuous Panels with Easy Processing, Allard van der Wal, Resina Chemie BVNovel Polyester Polyols - Helping MDI Go Further in Rigid Foams, RobSewell, Stepan CoA Revolutionary New Blowing Agent for Europe, Dennis Jones, BOC GasesMethylal's Use As A Blowing Agent For Polyurethane Foams: An Overview, Michel Beaujean, Lambiotte et Cie SARIGID FOAMS SESSION B, 29 March 10:00-12:50Innovative Trimerisation Catalyst Systems for Polyisocyanurate Foams, Hiroyuki Kometani, Tosoh Corp.Rigid Polyurethane Foams Modified with Vegetable Oil-Based Polyols, Aleksander Prociak, Cracow University of TechnologyWater-blown Polyisocyanurate Foams from Vegetable Oil (Oleochemical) Polyols, Ugis Cabulis, Institute of Wood ChemistryNovel Spray Foam Development, Josep Gimeno, Synthesia Espanola, SANew Surfactants for Pentane-blown Rigid Foams Able to Minimise Surface Voids for Continuous and Discontinuous Technologies, Pierre Chaffanjon, GE Advanced Materials, SiliconeComputational Techniques for Benchmarking OCF Cell Structures and Textures, Ricardo Simoes, University of Minho, Portugal, with Aster De Schrijver, Altachem NVRIGID FOAMS SESSION C, 29 March 14:00-16:25Strategies for Flame-retarded Rigid Polyurethanes Foam Problems and Solutions from the Perspective of an Additive Supplier, Christian Eilbracht, Degussa Goldschmidt AGDetermination of the Blowing Agent Content in Polyurethane Foams, Mary Bogdan, Honeywell Fluorine ProductsDevelopment of Environmentally Friendly Refrigerator in Taiwan, Lucky Lee, Taiwan Industrial Technical Research InstituteInnovation and Development in Refrigeration Technology, Gianmario Bossi, Krauss Maffei Kunststofftechnik AGBlowing Agent Solution Sets: Performance / Economic Impact Analysis, David Williams, Honeywell Fluorine Products"