30th Annual Vinyl Compounders Conference

July 14 - 16, 2019 Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Sunday, July 14, 2019

10:00am – 3:00pm Golf Outing – Ocean Course Additional cost: $225 Ponte Vedra

5:30pm – 6:00pm First-Timer and FLiP Attendee Reception Terrace A-B, and the Park

6:00pm – 7:30pm Opening Reception for all registrants Terrace A-B, and the Park

Monday, July 15, 2019

8:00 am - 9:00am Breakfast Buffet Ballroom Patio

8:00am – 10:00am Spouse Breakfast Lagoon Room

9:00am – 9:05am Opening and Greeting Ballroom

Mary Beth Nooney, Marketing Manager, Mexichem Chair, Vinyl Compounders Division

9:05am - 9:45am Keynote : United States Economic Outlook J.D. Foster, Senior VP, Economic Policy Division & Chief Economist US Chamber of Commerce After all the talk of recession at the end of 2018, the U.S. Economy continues to advance smartly. What drives it forward and what might stand in the way of further growth through 2020? The threats are many, but are they material? What about the ever-present unknown unknowns?

9:45am – 10:15am Global Overview of Feedstocks and Markets Ana Lopez, Associate Director Chlor-alkal, Vinyls IHS Markit

This presentation will cover the recent supply/demand fundamentals analysis for ethylene and chlorine with emphasis in the Americas. We will also review the short-term outlook for both commodities and their impact on the vinyls market.

10:15am – 10:30am Break

10:30am – 11:15am Plastisol Rheology: Measurement and Adjustment Ralph Purtell, Manager Purtell Vinyl Consulting LLC The presentation will briefly review equipment used to measure plastisol rheology and compare the effectiveness of typical plastisol ingredients in adjusting viscosity both up and down.

11:15am – 11:45am PVC Global Update Fernando Garcia, Global Business Director, Technical Coatings and Specialties Mexichem

11:45am – 12:15pm PLASTICS Update; The Plastics Journey Starts with Us

Patty Long, Interim President & CEO Plastics Industry Association

12:15pm – 1:30pm Open Lunch

1:30pm – 1:45pm Future Leaders in Plastics – FliP Update Blake Gleaves, Product Manager – Wire and Cable Compounds Westlake Chemical Corp.

1:45pm – 2:45pm Automotive Presentation

Jean-Francois Vautrin, General Manager, Automotive Interior Nakan

Vinyl compounds for car interior parts: Business insights and megatrends, and how Nakan’s products and innovation provide answers.

2:45pm – 3:30pm Theory of Wetting and Dispersing Pigments and Fillers Stan Walzak, Technical Consultant, PVC North America BYK USA Inc. To give an overview of the technology of the wetting and dispersing of pigments and fillers into flexible PVC compounds. This will include the theory and practical examples of the proper method and procedure of dispersing solids into liquid carriers.

3:30pm – 4:10pm Commercial Sessions

3:30pm – 3:50pm Hanwha Presentation

Joseph Myungik Yoo Hanwha Chemical Corporation

3:50pm – 4:10pm Arkema - Arkema Primary and Secondary Bioplasticizers for Flexible PVC Zuzanna Donnelly, PhD, Senior Research Scientist Arkema, Inc.

5:30pm – 7:00pm Reception Surf Club Patio/Beach

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

8:00am – 9:00am Breakfast Buffet Ballroom Patio

8:00am – 10:00am Spouse Breakfast Lagoon Room

9:00am – 9:30am Test Methodologies Panel Session

Paul Daniels (Retired) Ralph Purtell, Manager, Purtell Vinyl Consulting LLC Stan Walzak, Technical Consultant, PVC North America, BYK USA Inc.

9:30am – 10:00am Plasticizer Presentation

Michael Malveda, Principal Analyst, IHS Chemical

10:00am – 10:15am Break

10:15am – 10:45am Update on FDA Phthalate Retirement Process

Kevin Ott, Executive Director Flexible Vinyl Alliance

10:45am – 11:45am Vinyl Industry Sustainability Update

10:45am – 11:15am Sustainability Benchmarking Report Ashley Hood-Morley, Director, Sustainability Plastics Industry Association

PLASTICS recently concluded their second sustainability benchmarking survey among member companies of the association. As the champions of this work, the Flexible Vinyl Products Division and attendees of the Annual Compounders Conference will receive the first preview of the survey results. Ashley Hood-Morley will present preliminary findings and key takeaways.

11:15am – 11:45am Vinyl Sustainability Council

Cristian Barcan, VP Sustainability & Industry Affairs, The Vinyl Institute Executive Director, Vinyl Sustainability Council

The Vinyl Sustainability Council. an unincorporated council managed by the Vinyl Institute, has branded and launched the industry first sustainability initiative: +VANTAGE VINYL.

This continuous improvement initiative provides a platform for members of the vinyl value chain to contribute to the industry's efforts to advance sustainable development and be recognized while doing so. The presentation will review the process, the involvement criteria, and the path forward.

11:45am – 12:00pm OPEN SESSION

12:00pm – 1:30pm Open Lunch

1:30pm – 2:15pm

Tax Reform Impact on Vinyl Compounders Michael J. Devereux, II, CPA, CMP, Partner and Director of Manufacturing, Distribution of Plastics Industry Services Mueller Prost

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) overhauled the U.S. tax code, changing numerous tax code provisions important to the manufacturing sector. Attendees will learn about the changes to the tax laws governing their business, as well as the following topics:

• The increased value of the R&D tax credit; • New methods of accounting available to manufacturers; • The elimination of the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT); • 100% bonus depreciation on capital expenditures and increased §179; • New limitations on deducting interest expense and entertainment

2:15pm – 3:00pm Commercial Sessions

2:15pm – 2:35pm Eastman Presentation

Curt Schilling, PhD, Technical Associate Eastman Chemical Company

2:35pm – 2:55pm Troy Presentation

2:55pm – 3:15pm Break

3:15pm – 4:00pm Vinyl Market Economic Review

Perc Pineda, PhD, Chief Economist Plastics Industry Association

The stage is set for comparatively lower U.S. economic growth in 2019, but the risks of recession remains muted. External and internal factors will continue to impact the supply and dynamics of the world’s most versatile plastic – vinyl. Will the plastics industry’s growth momentum continue?

5:30pm – 7:00pm Table Top Reception Ballroom

Join us for the closing reception. Meet the program sponsors at their tabletop displays. Enjoy good food and networking as the program comes to a close. Thanks for Attending!

This will also include a Technical Advisory Table for attendees to ask questions of a panel of experts.