5 Markets Expected to Advance Urethane Growth

Good news for our industry: Cast polyurethane use is growing and is only predicted to expand even more in 2011. Processors and suppliers are eager to capitalize on material advances that are leading to new market opportunities.
The latest PMA Post-Recession State of the Cast Polyurethane Industry research study revealed the top 5 markets where processors and suppliers are expecting to see growth.

Tires / Wheels
Cast polyurethane has always had a strong presence in Tires and Wheels, and that’s not going to change. With material advances, cast polyurethane has become more durable and able to withstand tough conditions, producing significant results.

Defense and Medical
These two markets are projected to grow in the next few years. As defense and medical spending remain strong, cast polyurethane has the opportunity to not only continue producing materials, but to expand its role into new applications. Cast polyurethane has already shown its ability to perform consistently; now it just needs designers/engineers to see how it could do more.

Mining and Oil/Gas
Cast polyurethane’s superior abrasion, impact and cut resistance has always made it a great fit for mining and oil/gas applications. The material is resilient in harsh conditions and provides users with longer service life compared to other materials. Cast polyurethane processors and suppliers will continue to develop advanced urethane formulations to better serve mining and oil/gas conditions. As members cater to these industries, processors and suppliers plan to penetrate the existing market and actively seek new opportunities.

With expected material usage increases in these 5 markets, processors and suppliers are also using the material’s advancements and advantages to attract new customers across a more diverse array of markets. The sheer versatility of cast polyurethane makes it a perfect fit for a number of industries. For example, the following markets are already using cast polyurethane in specific applications:

• Entertainment (Recreation/Amusement)
• Electronic
• Food Processing
• Automotive
• Packaging

Get the Most Out of Your PMA Membership

Did you know about these great member benefits?

In addition to serving as the collective voice for our members, the PMA offers an extensive array of benefits. After all, that’s what we mean by Our strengths. Your gains.

You may be surprised to discover some of the following perks:

• Complimentary attendance at Processing Technique Seminars
• Discounted fees for exhibit space and attendance to the Annual Meeting
• Discounts of up to 40% on over 500,000 products
• Free consultations about regulations, health and safety from Industry Hygienist Ted Hogan of Theodore J. Hogan & Associates
• Free industry-related legal advice from Reinhart Boerner Van Dueren, SC Environmental Department shareholder Donald P. Gallo
• Updates on industry regulations
• Exclusive access to industry data, including technical papers and manuals
• Collaboration across PMA members regarding best practices, new and emerging technologies, and networking

We know that ROI is a major topic. The first five bullets alone are valued at $6,000—while the updates, exclusive access and collaboration can benefit your organization exponentially.

To learn how you can take advantage of these member benefits, please contact PMA Member Services’ Sam Ferrito (262-796-4088, sam.ferrito@rexnord.com) or Andy Clock (203-573-2860, andy.clock@chemtura.com).

In One Word – MORE

PMA’s “The Post-Recession State of the Industry” study shows cast polyurethane is gaining new fans by giving customers more advantages

More products and parts are made out of cast polyurethane than ever before. More OEMs and product designers are choosing to use cast polyurethane instead of popular materials including rubber, metal and plastic.

Why? Because cast polyurethane as a material has become more durable, more resistant to chemicals and more abrasion resistant. And because PMA members are doing more to promote these advantages in the marketplace.

Gaining new fans by giving customers more was one of many key themes that arose from the PMA’s “Post-Recession State of The Industry” study. Read a brief synopsis or download the full report.

Thanks to our fellow PMA members’ material advancements, cast polyurethane is making inroads into a variety of new markets. Look for cast polyurethane to play a greater role in applications involving tires/wheels, defense, medical, automotive, mining and oil and gas production. You’ll also find PMA members reaching out to new verticals where cast polyurethane is well suited for specific applications.

With cast polyurethane growing in popularity and in features, OEMs and product designers will be looking for more information and greater guidance on the material. To continue to increase overall use of the material, we must be diligent in our efforts to educate decision-makers on the versatility of cast polyurethane and its many applications.

Have any education ideas? Or have a story related to cast polyurethane growing in popularity among your customers? Share it! Send an email to Brenda Campbell at bcampbell@insideSH.com or call her at (414) 270-3521.

Tips to Make Your Company a Safe and Healthy Workplace

PMA members can benefit from free safety and health advice

As we approach the end of the year, PMA members should take the time to reflect on their safety practices.

A safe and healthy work environment is proven to significantly reduce direct costs from workers’ compensation payments, medical expenses and legal services, as well as indirect costs including lost productivity, accident investigation, and training and replacing employees.

New safety processes are even resulting in improvements in productivity and profitability. One OSHA study cited a plant with 50 employees that decreased defects and saved more than $265,000 by following a more rigid health and safety program.

At the PMA, we take health and safety seriously and strongly encourage our members to do the same. For example, we’ve issued extensive MbOCA guidelines. We’ve also partnered with Dr. Ted Hogan, a leading Industrial Hygienist, who has developed the Comprehensive Safety and Health Model Program for our organization.

As a member, you can get up to up to two hours of industrial safety and health guidance from Dr. Hogan per year—at no charge. He can be reached at (877) 94-HOGAN or (630) 257-3939.

In the meantime, here are some tips from Dr. Hogan’s plan to help you create a safe and healthy working environment for employees.

• Have a mandated health and safety program.
• Develop a checklist and guidelines.
• Form a safety committee to improve and develop procedures.
• Maintain detailed records of accident reports and fatalities, illness or injuries.
• Schedule periodic safety inspections to examine equipment, hazards & jobs.
• Keep all work areas, floors and aisles in a clean condition.
• Clean up spills and leaks properly, particularly of TDI and MbOCA.
• Develop a written emergency evacuation plan and train each employee.

Breaking the Chain: Belts Bring New Benefits to Bicyclists

Polyurethane belts replace traditional metal roller chains

Bicycle chains are receiving a well-deserved upgrade, thanks to PMA member Gates Corporation. As featured in a recent New York Times article, polyurethane belt systems are all the rage among commuter and city bicyclists, who no longer have to bother with the burden of oiling and cleaning standard metal rolling chains.

Gates Corporation’s grease-free alternative belts are made of polyurethane and shot through with carbon cords, which increase tensile strength and resistance to weathering. On one side of the belt, a series of teeth work with metal pulleys to turn the belt as the pedals rotate.

The benefits of cast polyurethane belt systems extend beyond lower maintenance into greater durability and a quieter biking experience. Polyurethane belts last far longer than metal chains and are expected to grow immensely in popularity among bikers. They’re already included on models from top brands including Trek, Raleigh and Specialized Global.

The Gates Corporation, based in Denver, makes industrial and auto parts for a number of applications. The company has been developing bicycle belt systems since 2007. Its latest system, CenterTrack (available next year), expands its offerings in the growing bike commuter market.

Have your own polyurethane success story you want to share? Shoot us an email at bcampbell@insideSH.com

What Makes a Surprisingly Versatile Story?

PMA is always on the lookout for great stories, industry trends and case studies to use in our marketing efforts.

Your story ideas are vital, so that we can demonstrate the benefits of cast polyurethane in consistent and compelling ways.

We can reach out with these stories to our core industry publications, along with media related to members’ different industry segments—mining, oil and gas, tires and wheels, among others—because if we don’t share these stories, nobody else will.

So what really makes a good story?

Here are a few pointers on the types of stories we’re looking for:

• New urethane material or product announcements
• Examples of replacing parts traditionally made of metal or rubber with cast polyurethane
• How your company is advancing the cast polyurethane industry
• Industry trends you’re experiencing
• New industries you’re breaking into using cast polyurethane products
• Business issues you’re struggling with (i.e. lack of talent in the workforce)
• How you find value in your PMA membership
• Impact of regulations on member companies

By no means is that a full list—just some general guidelines. So if you or someone else at your company has a great story to share, we’re eager to hear it.

Tell us today in the comments. Or contact Brenda Campbell at bcampbell@InsideSH.com 414-270-3521.

End-of-Year Marketing Momentum: A Scholarship, a Survey and More

As the weather gets colder, PMA marketing efforts are heating up. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store for the rest of the year.

Scholarship Competition
We’re happy to launch the second annual Surprisingly Versatile design scholarship competition.

This year, we’ve adjusted the program slightly to encourage more entries. One winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship and $1,000 for travel expenses to the 2011 PMA Annual Meeting and Supplier Showcase.

Please spread the word to engineering students who may be interested in this fantastic opportunity. Read all the scholarship details.

Member Survey
Next month, we’ll be releasing the results from our member survey. We received a strong response from our membership and have a number of key findings to report.

By sharing findings with the media, as well, the report will help generate greater visibility for the association and our industry.

News and Networking
PMA continues to bring members new stories and information through this blog while also promoting content on Facebook and LinkedIn.

We’ll also be looking at speaking and partnership opportunities with similar associations and business groups.

And as always, we’re open to new marketing ideas, so please feel free to share yours with our marketing partner, Scheibel Halaska Inc., contact Brenda Campbell at bcampbell@InsideSH.com 414-270-3521.