CPI seeks nominations for 2014 Polyurethane Innovation Award

Nominations for this year’s award must be submitted to CPI no later than 5 p.m. EDT on 18 June 2014. The award winner will be announced during the 2014 Polyurethanes Technical Conference, which will be held from 22 – 24 September 2014 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Dallas, TX, USA. The 2013 Innovation Award winner, Romeo RIM, Inc.’s Class A, In-mould Decorated Long Fibre Injection, will also be showcased at this year’s conference.

“Each year, we are impressed by the breadth and depth of innovation in the polyurethanes industry and its downstream partners,” said Lee Salamone, Senior Director of CPI. “CPI’s Polyurethane Innovation Award seeks to recognise the exciting and visionary technologies, products and initiatives being developed around the world.”

Award entries in polyurethane chemistry may include raw materials, finished products, initiatives, training or education programmes, or processes or processing equipment. Entries pertaining to a polyurethane product or polyurethane manufacturing must relate to polyurethane chemistry, defined as the reaction of an isocyanate with a polyol. Entries must represent innovations that have not previously been submitted for consideration for the Innovation Award and have not been available for commercial sales longer than 15 months prior to 18 June 2014.

All eligible submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprised of experts representing technical disciplines and the polyurethane supply chain. Judges will determine three finalists from the entries based on impact on the polyurethanes industry, uniqueness of the innovation, quality of the science and societal impact. Conference attendees will vote for one of the three finalists during the Opening Session of the Polyurethanes Technical Conference. The judges’ scores will represent two-thirds of the final score, while the attendees’ votes will be tabulated for the final one-third of the score to determine the 2014 Polyurethane Innovation Award winner.

Each of the three finalists will be notified by 28 July 2014 and will receive one complimentary, full registration to the 2014 Polyurethanes Technical Conference. During the Opening Session of the conference, finalists will give a three-minute presentation on their innovation, which will also be featured in the conference poster sessions. The winner of the 2014 Innovation Award will be announced on Wednesday, 24 September 2014, during the Closing Session.

Details on the award, including an entry form, can be found on the CPI website www.americanchemistry.com/polyurethane.