Professional Development Program enhanced for Polyurethanes 2011 Technical Conference

The chair and vice chair of the PDP Committee for CPI, Juan Carlos Medina of Dow and Dick Werner of Cannon USA, have spearheaded an enhanced program that will be part of the Polyurethanes 2011 Technical Conference, which takes place September 26-28 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

In response to student feedback, the program’s three introductory courses – PU 101, PU 102 and PU 103 – have been scheduled to allow beginners to attend one introductory course each day. In addition, the formerly one-day PU 104 CASE course has been expanded into two full-day seminars – PU 104A and PU 104B – to enable attendees to achieve a greater understanding of each polyurethane application and to allow for increased classroom discussion. This year’s two PU 104 courses have also been scheduled to allow participants to attend both the conference’s elastomers and footwear, and CASE technical sessions.

“The Polyurethanes Professional Development Program, as part of the Polyurethanes 2011 Technical Conference, offers an unmatched education and training opportunity for the global polyurethanes industry,” said Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI. “The changes to this year’s PDP schedule allow attendees to get the most out of the conference. This is the eighth year CPI has offered the PDP program, and we look forward to continually enhancing the curriculum to fit our industry’s evolving needs.”

Kicking off one day ahead of the official conference opening, the Polyurethanes PDP will begin on Sunday, September 25 and offers eight seminars taught by industry experts. During the three-day program, attendees can take advantage of seminars on topics ranging from introductory polyurethane chemistry and technology to physical testing and raw materials. This year’s courses include:

• PU 101: Introduction to Polyurethane Chemistry
• PU 102: Introduction to Polyurethane Technology and Products
• PU 103: Polyurethane Markets and Applications
• PU 104A: Polyurethane Sealants, Adhesives and Binders
• PU 104B: Polyurethane Elastomers and Coatings
• PU 105: Polyurethane Processing Equipment
• PU 201: Polyurethane Raw Materials Testing, Specifications and Performance: The Myth and the Magic
• PU 204: Physical Testing of Polyurethane Foams

Registration for the Polyurethanes 2011 Technical Conference as well as for the Professional Development Program is now open at www.americanchemistry.com/polyurethane.