IMM Management Conference to feature leading molders

Current and future strategies of leading custom injection molders will be spelled out in detail at the 1999 Molding Management Conference scheduled Feb. 22-23 near Phoenix. Sponsored by IMM, the '99 conference will feature presentations by 11 top executives from some of the country's largest and most successful molding operations.

"Our new, unique program offers molders an invaluable opportunity to learn from the best in the business," declared Mel Friedman, IMM's conference director. "There is also a lot of time for Q&A, for direct contact with speakers, and for networking with fellow molders."

Topics to be covered by speakers range from managing multinational programs (presented by Brian Jones, president, Nypro Clinton) to the secrets of lean manufacturing (by Joseph Day, CEO, Freudenberg-NOK), from new approaches to product development (Jeff Goble, VP, The Tech Group) to dealing with continuous change (Donald Wellington, president, Technimark).

Other molders discussing their companies' strategies for the next decade are keynoter Greg Layne, president & CEO, InteSys Technologies; Leslie Lak, executive VP, Sonoco Crellin; Doug Batliner, president, Beach Mold & Tool; Bill Flint, president & COO, Flambeau Corp.; John Bonham, VP/GM, Thermotech; and James Krzyzewski, president, Plastics Business Unit, Excel Industries.

In addition, four experts will review the latest trends in processing equipment and manufacturing productivity tools (Jack Avery, manager, operational assets, GE Plastics), new injection molding materials (Mike Berins, editor and publisher, Plastics Focus), customer relationships (Debbie Hauser, principal, Best Impressions), and acquisition or sale of a molding business (Deborah Douglas, CEO, Douglas Group).

Attendees also will visit and tour the nearby InteSys Technologies plant, an innovative, state-of-the-art molding facility, and view a number of tabletop displays by a variety of industry suppliers.