SPE and GPCA to hold joint technical conference

SPE (Society of Plastics Engineers)  and GPCA (Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association) have agreed to join forces in bringing information and technical knowledge to the polymer and plastics industry in the GCC region.  

The well-known PlastiCon conference from the GPCA and SPE's renowned technology conference, ANTEC, will be merged into one event for the GCC market. PlastiCon is a yearly, prominent conference, which provides an up-to-date view on trends and developments in the regional and global plastics industry, and ANTEC was successfully organized in Dubai in 2014.

The joint conference will take place for the first time in early 2016 in Dubai and will also host the 6th edition of the GPCA Plastics Excellence Awards. The exact date and venue to be communicated soon. Both SPE and the GPCA believe that joining forces will ultimately benefit the entire industry.

Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General of the GPCA said: "Now in its 7th edition, PlastiCon has gained a reputation as the unique venue for gaining critical insights along the entire polymer value chain with an unbeatable line up of speakers. Partnering with SPE allows us to reinforce our commitment to providing a forum for plastics producers and converters to meet and to tap into the network and technical know-how of SPE."

SPE's CEO Willem De Vos added: "Partnering with the GPCA gives us access to a strong forum of polymers and plastics producers in the GCC and will allow SPE to reach a wider audience and to bring valuable knowledge to a region where polymer and plastic converting is growing and evolving from commodities to more engineering and specialty products."

The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) represents the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Established in 2006, the association voices the common interests of more than 240 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95% of chemical output in the Gulf region. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing up to US$102.6billion worth of products a year.