More than 30 expert speakers from around the world will be sharing leading edge insight about the latest technical, market and sustainability trends in the vinyl industry at PVC AUS 2018: Shaping the Future.

Organised by the Vinyl Council of Australia, this two-day premier vinyl conference brings together Australasia’s vinyl value chain in Sydney from 13 to 15 March 2018. Supporting the event are headline sponsors Austria-based Greiner Extrusion GmbH, Krauss-Maffei Berstorff from Munich, Germany and Italian machinery manufacturer PlasMec.

In his global outlook for PVC supply/demand, Eddie Kok, Senior Director at IHS Chemical will provide expert analysis on pricing, supply/demand dynamics and whether supply will tighten in the next five years.

Sustainability developments in the European PVC industry and how the VinylPlus Voluntary Commitment is supporting the Circular Economy objectives for PVC will be covered by Arjen Sevenster, Technical and Environmental Affairs Senior Manager at the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM).
He will also discuss the ‘legacy substances’ issue, the development of an effective recycling system and an ‘Additives Sustainability Footprint’ methodology to evaluate the use of PVC additives from a sustainable development perspective.

Delegates will be updated on the American vinyl industry’s ‘journey of continuous improvement’ by Cristian Barcan, VP Sustainability & Industry Affairs at The Vinyl Institute. In his ‘Vinyl for a Purpose-Driven Sustainable Development’ talk, he will highlight current initiatives including an industry-wide materiality assessment, and how vinyl products can play a major leadership role in contributing to sustainable development.

Technological advances in processing and machinery will be explored by representatives from the event’s sponsors - Gerhard Hoffman, of Greiner Extrusion, Dario Soncin of Plasmec and Christian Birzer of Krauss Maffei.

Topics in this session include an overview on expanding market opportunities for PVC windows, latest developments in PVC mixing and how machine and processing technologies can prepare plastics manufacturers for future challenges.

PVC’s versatility and sustainability in construction applications include Andrew Swann of Tech Plas Extrusions Pty Ltd introducing TechBoard, an innovative product for a previously unexplored market; while David Baggs of Global Green Tag Pty Ltd will offer a comparative life cycle evaluation of PVC versus other flooring materials.

Recycling is another key theme to be examined by several speakers such as Dennis Collins, an Australian inventor of new recycling technologies for challenging waste materials. Creative concepts and ‘Wicked’ sustainable designs for tackling end-of-life PVC will be presented by Helen Millicer, the Vinyl Council’s Recycling Projects Manager and Mark Richardson from Monash University.

Economic, financial and construction market outlooks from leading commentators will conclude the comprehensive program.

Vinyl Council Chief Executive Sophi MacMillan comments: “Our second conference, PVC AUS 2018: Shaping the Future provides an unmatched opportunity for Council members and their stakeholders to learn about industry trends and developments specific to the manufacturing, use and re-use of vinyl.

“It’s the only event designed to shape the future of the vinyl industry in the region. We look forward to welcoming – and inspiring - you in Sydney!”

The Vinyl Council of Australia has launched a new conference app for mobile and tablet devices to keep PVC AUS 2018 delegates and prospective attendees up to date with all the very latest information about their biennial event.

Available for both Android and Apple devices, the convenient conference tool is designed to deliver all of the latest news and updates in one place.

As well as being a useful on-the-day tool for the two-day conference in Sydney from 13 to 15 March 2018, the free app also includes all the key information needed ahead of the event, including the very latest program, speaker, sponsor and exhibitor information.

PVC AUS 2018: Shaping the Future is Australia’s premier vinyl conference. Organised by the Vinyl Council of Australia, it brings together Australasia’s vinyl value chain to meet, educate and innovate. In a packed program, more than 30 expert speakers from around the world will be sharing leading edge insight about the latest technical and market trends in the vinyl industry.

Commenting on the App, Vinyl Council Chief Executive Sophi MacMillan says: “We recognise the advantages of having a custom mobile app that provides all the information you’ll need at your fingertips to enjoy the whole event.

“We will be keeping this current from now to the close of the conference, so stay in touch with all things PVC AUS 2018 by downloading the ‘pvc aus 18’ app to your mobile or tablet now.”

If you’ve still not registered for the event at the Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, you can book directly via the app, or here.

Significant economic trends and sustainability progress in the PVC value chain will be explored by a host of global experts at the two-day PVC AUS 2018: Shaping the Future, Australia’s premier vinyl conference, in Sydney next March.

Organised by the Vinyl Council of Australia, the two-day event from 13 to 15 March will cover current and future issues influencing the PVC value chain, from additives, processing and technology to the material’s role in construction, industry and future sustainable development.

Supporting the event are headline sponsors Austria-based Greiner Extrusion GmbH, Krauss-Maffei Berstorff from Munich, Germany and Italian machinery manufacturer PlasMec.

Announcing the packed program, Vinyl Council Chief Executive Sophi MacMillan says: “Places are filling up fast for the only conference that brings together Australasia’s vinyl value chain to meet, educate and innovate as this sector moves towards greater sustainability. It promises to be a stimulating event for all involved in this global market.”

Australia’s PVC manufacturing industry consumes more than A$1 billion of raw materials and over A$3 billion of products containing PVC are sold in Australia. Top-level international speakers discussing topics related to this sector and worldwide will include government and industry leaders, technical experts and commercial representatives from Australia and overseas.

Expert speakers will include Eddie Kok, Senior Director at IHS Chemical whose global outlook for PVC supply/demand will provide an insight on pricing direction. Arjen Sevenster, Technical and Environmental Affairs Senior Manager at the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM) will talk about how the VinylPlus Voluntary Commitment supports the Circular Economy objectives for PVC and outline the forthcoming EU’s Plastic Strategy on plastic recycling and reuse.

Among the speakers on technological advances will be Nigel Jones, Technical Manager at Australian Vinyls outlining new developments in performance and delivery of PVC for that market, while Stuart Douglas of Innovyz and Dennis Collins at PVC Separation will explain a new fast and eco-friendly chemical technology to separate PVC laminated materials that provides an Australian solution to a challenging waste stream.

In the Trends in Additives session, Dane Tallen, Technical Sales Manager at Baerlocher UK Ltd, will update delegates on an innovative Ca-based solution that fits all PVC injection moulding requirements.

Recycling will be a theme pursued by several speakers such as Michael Barnacoat of ProGeneus, explaining how their innovative Resysta product can reduce building waste and pollution using rice husks and PVC. Following him, Helen Millicer, the Vinyl Council’s Recycling Projects Manager and Mark Richardson from Monash University will showcase sustainable and creative design concepts for tackling end-of-life PVC.

Sophi adds: “Our second conference provides a unique opportunity for Council members and their stakeholders to share knowledge and identify the challenges and drivers for the future. It’s a much-anticipated event and we look forward to welcoming you there!”

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Special rates available for Vinyl Council of Australia members. There are further discounts for company group bookings of three or more delegates, and great rates for social partners to join the welcome reception and dinner.

Register through TryBooking.com.

The 2017 Banksia Award Judges have released their assessments of the PVC Recycling in Hospitals Program initiated by the Vinyl Council of Australia. 

Describing the scheme as a ‘world first’, the judges praised it as an ‘excellent case study of an industry's response to keeping its social license’ and ‘embracing product stewardship’ as its means to achieve that.

The PVC Recycling in Hospitals Program was one of five Australian finalists for the Circular Economy category at the Awards night in November 2017. While not winning against tough competition in this category, the extremely positive feedback from the judges on our award submission has given the Vinyl Council of Australia team much encouragement to take this successful medical plastic recycling scheme - now operational in more than 120 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand - to even greater heights. The scheme is aiming to recycle a total of 2,500 tonnes per year throughout Australia.

They also commended the ‘good leadership shown by the health industry and good collaboration between industries’, as well as recognising ‘good circularity – PVC is a good material for a circular economy’.

Established in 2009, the program has overcome challenges to divert quality PVC from landfill. Two Vinyl Council members, Baxter Healthcare (multinational and Australian-based manufacturer of IV bags) and Welvic Australia (Australian compounder), collect and recycle IV bags, oxygen masks and oxygen tubing. These are turned into into durable, locally-manufactured products such as industrial and garden hose and children’s playground mats. 

Recognising this, the judges stated: “The program stands out as a unique solution taking a waste stream that would historically go to landfill and re-purposing it thus preventing virgin components required for new products.

“The issue of plastics and chemical use in hospitals is enormous and the lack of sustainability focus in that sector is well-known. Seeing a project that brings change to that sort of culture is great. Overall it’s an innovative solution filling a niche that can be expanded globally and sets an example.”

Vinyl Council Chief Executive Sophi MacMillan comments: “We appreciate this valuable feedback and agree completely with the judges’ view that there is much potential to scale this and expand it across other industries. Watch this space!”