What's Happening Around SPE
Nominations are now open for the SPE Honored Service Member (HSM) Awards. HSM recognizes those SPE members whose volunteer service has made an exceptional impact on the Society, its members, and its objectives. Click here for details.
SPE is currently seeking nominations for its prestigious Fellow of the Society. The Fellow of the Society is one of SPE’s highest membership distinctions, recognizing members whose exceptional professional achievements have advanced plastics engineering, science, technology, or the management of those activities. Nomination details here.
SPE members and stakeholders with expertise in plastics machinery and safety are invited to participate in the PLASTICS Industry Association’s PLASTICS B151 technical committees that develop and update safety standards for plastics machinery. Your technical knowledge and industry experience can help ensure these standards are practical, current, and aligned with evolving technologies and industry practices. Interested in participating? Express your interest here.
Dr. Raymond A. Pearson of Tatamy, PA, passed away Sunday, September 27, 2026, at St. Luke's Hospital Anderson Campus. He was an SPE Fellow and served on the SPE executive board. Ray joined the graduate faculty of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Lehigh University in 1990. Read more here.
The Injection Molding Innovation Summit, taking place October 22 at the Corporate College Conference Center in Cleveland, OH, is designed for professionals who want practical ideas they can take back to their facilities and apply quickly. The event, hosted by SPE’s Injection Molding Division and Cleveland Section, is the perfect place to connect with injection molding leaders and decision makers! More information here.
SPE's Automotive Division announced the finalists for its 55th annual Automotive Innovation Awards Program, the automotive and plastics industries’ oldest and largest recognition event, established in 1970. Following pre-qualification and reviews by industry experts on September 24–25, 2026, finalists advanced to Blue Ribbon judging on October 2. Category and Grand Award winners will be announced November 4 at the SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala at Laurel Manor in Livonia, Michigan. Finalists can be viewed here.
Plastics Industry Association
Two industry events, one week in Charlotte. Vinyl Week brings together the Vinyl Compounders Conference, presented by PLASTICS, and the Vinyl Sustainability Summit, presented by the Vinyl Sustainability Council. Sessions will explore regulatory developments, formulation and feedstock trends, market demand, and circularity in medical PVC. Attendees can also connect with peers from across the vinyl value chain. Registration is open with a discounted combined rate available for attendees who register for both events. More info here.
September’s slower U.S. job growth made headlines, but plastics and rubber products manufacturing added 4,600 jobs, leading employment growth within nondurable goods manufacturing. Slower national hiring doesn’t tell the whole story. PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda, Ph.D., explains why the broader labor market remains stable and highlights projected growth in plastics industry engineering and mechanic jobs through 2034. Read the full analysis.
The PLASTICS Industry Association FLiP files showcase future leaders in the plastics industry. Each month SPE News will feature a new FLiP Member!
SPE News Story Ideas?
Know a member who is doing outstanding things in plastics or in SPE? Are you part of a chapter that is making an impact or a difference in the industry? Let us know if you have any story ideas for SPE News! Feel free to contact Chris Barry at cbarry@4spe.org.
