Expanding influence.

You would think that the rubber industry and the plastics industry would do more socializing, considering they're both offspring of polymer chemistry. In most of the world they do, but not here in North America. That is, until the recent National Plastics Exposition in Chicago.

The rubber industry was an honored guest at NPE, the triennial exposition hosted by the Society of the Plastics Industry. It's not that companies in the rubber industry have avoided the NPEs; many companies have routinely exhibited. But when you are interspersed among 1,900 other exhibitors, it is easy to see why their presence would be overlooked.

This year, there were 1,850 companies exhibiting, occupying 949,500 sq. ft. (88,210 sq. m.) of space. This number of exhibitors is actually 4% fewer than 2003, reflecting industry consolidation. NPE 2006 attracted 64,451 registrations.

This year, however, the Rubber Manufacturers Association formed a rubber pavilion, where 26 companies exhibited within the same 6,500 sq. ft. area. The rubber industry was also active in the educational programs at this NPE. The RMA conducted TPE/rubber conference sessions, and the Rubber Division, ACS, ran four seminars.

The bridge between the rubber industry and plastics industry is thermoplastic elastomers. The plastics industry is keen on this technology that has been a part of the rubber industry going on three decades. The RMA seminars were "TPEs 101" and "TPEs for dummies," both heavily attended. Three of the Rubber Division's were TPE themed.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the TPE design competition sponsored by GLS. The company also conducted a TPE overmolding design seminar during the show. GLS received more than 30 entries, displayed the entries at a booth and allowed expo attendees to vote for the various submissions. GLS received such a good response that it is planning to make the competition an annual event.

The exposure the rubber industry created and received during this show can't be measured now. The ripple effect from more than 64,000 registrants could take months. Nearly one quarter of that number was international visitors.

TPEs represent growth potential, whether it be from the rubber or the plastics industry. The rubber industry has a leg up when it comes to experience with these materials. It was a wise move for the rubber organizations to showcase that expertise at the National Plastics Exposition.