Focus on sustainability and market opportunities in South East Asia

Organisers of the first UTECH South East Asia polyurethanes conference and exhibition, taking place at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from 13-14 November 2024, have announced a comprehensive speaker programme for the event’s conference and PUdaily is the media supporter for this conference..

Sustainability and market opportunities in the polyurethanes sector in South East Asia are among the conference’s key themes. Visitor registration for the free-to-attend two-day conference and exhibition is now open at: www.utechseasia.com

In additional to a full two-day programme of leading polyurethanes industry speakers, the conference will also feature panel discussions looking at: the roadmap for sustainable polyurethane production in the Middle East; the real potential for the South East Asian polyurethane market; and sustainable, energy-efficient polyurethane solutions within construction in the region.

Leading industry figures already confirmed to speak include:

• Damini Dabholkar, Markets Editor, ICIS: Opportunities and challenges: Insights into the Asian polyurethane industry
• Jose Naraval, Material and Technology Engineer-Foams Material & Innovations, IKEA Purchasing Services Poland: Circular foam for the many
• A Sustainable Journey with Dow Polyurethane
• James Elliot, VP, Business Development – Chemicals, Argus Media: Complexity and volatility: unpicking the market and price drivers for isocyanates and polyols in Asia
• Patcharaporn Chainiwatana, SEA Market Development Manager Polyurethane, Dow Chemical Thailand: A Sustainable Journey with Dow Polyurethane
• Kuanliang Bao, Technical Service Manager of Polyol Business, Wanhua: Innovation and solution introduction of polyether polyols
• Stefan Hermes, Chairman APBA, Asian PU Business Association: Promoting PU as material in the South East Asian region and a look at the difference between comfort foams and technical foams
• Richard Stevenson, Senior Scientist – Polyol & Application Development, Econic Technologies: Redeeming CO2: coupling sustainability and performance for future polyurethanes
• Ilhan Kurt, Head of Research and Development, Pearl Polyurethanes: Improved properties of sandwich metal panels with modified Isocyanates components
• James Zhao, Technical Marketing Manager, Cardolite Chemical: Bio-based polyols, diols and diluents for EV PU applications

“We are delighted to be bringing the long-established UTECH polyurethanes trade show and conference experience to South East Asia,” said Matt Barber, Global Events Director at event organiser Crain Communications. “Our recent PU China/UTECH Asia and UTECH Europe events attracted record attendance and we look forward to bringing the same successful formula to Singapore in November.”

Leading international and regional companies and organisations who have already confirmed their attendance as exhibitors include: APU, Chemie Products, Eastsun, Pearl Polyurethane Systems, Menhover, Kai Ping, Chang He, Jiangsu Maysta Chemical, Kuraray, Purplan, SD Korea, Saan Global and Zhejiang Wansheng. The event is also supported by the Asian PU Business Association (APBA).

As one of the most effective thermal insulation materials, polyurethane offers huge unrealised potential to reduce the energy used to heat and cool buildings. Once seen as harder to recycle than other polymer-based materials, commercially viable innovations are emerging for the mechanical and chemical recycling of polyurethanes. With rising CO₂ emissions being the fundamental driver of global warming, many companies are using CO₂ to produce new raw materials for polyurethane. Bio-based polyols derived from natural raw materials including soya beans, caster beans and cashew nuts are becoming increasing available. In the automotive sector, innovative polyurethane materials are helping manufacturers to enhance vehicle sustainability and playing a key role in EV battery development.

For full details of the conference programme and to register to attend, visit the UTECH South East Asia website: www.utechseasia.com