Plastic Product Decorating summit

Schedule

2025 event theme: The Economy of Decorating

Wednesday, September 3rd

1:00 – 4:00 pm

Registration

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Optional Event: Charlotte Knights Baseball Game

Thursday, September 4th

General Sessions – All Attendees

7:30 – 8:30 am

Registration

7:30 – 8:30 am

Continental Breakfast and Supplier Trade Fair

8:30 – 9:30 am

Market Trends and Economic Factors Affecting the Plastics Industry

Keynote Speaker: Laurie Harbour, Wipfli

9:30 – 10:15 am

Selling the Savings: Direct-to-Object and In-Mold Labeling & Decorating Technologies for Plastics

Bob Travis, InkWorks Printing; Paul Strunk, Inkcups; Lindsey Dimon, Falcon Plastics

10:15 – 10:30 am

Supplier Trade Fair and Networking Break

10:30 – 11:15 am

Efficient Operations with Automation

Michael Sansoucy, ARBURG; Mark Patterson, FANUC America Corporation

11:15 – 11:45 am

Advantages of Digital Inkjet: Best Applications for 3D Decoration

Vaughn Pollman, Innovative Digital Systems; Ken Stack, Engineered Printing Solutions

11:45 – Noon

Technology Showcase: YUPO

Ryan Kight and Deborah Holtzscheiter, YUPO Corporation America

Noon – 1:30 pm

Extended Buffet Lunch and Supplier Trade Fair

1:30 – 2:00 pm

Innovations in IML: New Technology for Expanded Applications

Mike Licata, IMDA Board of Directors; Maurizio Carano, MCC Label; Bill Fogg, ALPLA

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Decrease Waste and Increase Productivity with Surface Treatment and Cleaning

Wilson Lee, Enercon Industries Corporation

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Circularity with Recycled Resins

Tamsin Ettefagh, PureCycle

3:00 – 3:15 pm

Break and Supplier Trade Fair

3:15 – 3:45 pm

AI Vision Systems: Quality Control & Cost Reduction for Molding and In-Mold Labeling Operations

Edward Schneeweiss, Krevera

3:45 - 4:30 pm

Brand Perspectives: The Dollars & Cents Behind IML and IMD

Peter Kirchoff, Church & Dwight; Josh Hanson, Serigraph

4:30- 5:15 pm

2025 IMDA Awards

The winners of the 2025 IMDA Awards Competition are announced, and IMDA Charter Members are recognized in honor of the association’s 20th anniversary.

5:15 – 7:00 pm

Networking Event: Supplier Trade Fair and IMDA Awards Reception

Friday, September 5th

General Session – All Attendees

8:00 – 8:30 am

Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:15 am

Keynote, Day 2: Design Trends in Decorating

Vanessa Martins, KURZ

9:15 - 10:15 am

Storyteller Sessions: An inside look at how innovative decorating objectives were achieved

Featuring:

Bart Lavrijsen, iPB Printing: Durable Cold Foil IML cup application

Keith Farthing, PolyFab, and Bob Travis, InkWorks Printing: Rebel IMD Canister

Erik Johnson, Churchill Container: 16oz Run It Back^TM Cup

Micah Swett, Diversified Printing Techniques: Hard Hat Application

Roundtable Discussions: Attendees will choose one per time slot

10:15 – 11:00 am

Continuing Conversations: Plastics Industry Updates

Laurie Harbour and Lisa Lehman, Wipfli

10:15 – 11:00 am

Applying Automation and Robotics for Efficiency & Cost Savings

Micah Swett, Diversified Printing Techniques; Mark Patterson, FANUC America Corporation

11:00 - 11:45 am

From Recruiting to Retention: How Marketing Communication Can Help Win the Talent Battle

Shelly Otenbaker, Waypoint Marketing Communications

11:00 - 11:45 am

Choosing the Right Direct-to-Object Decorating Process

Eric Steinwachs, CDigital; Chris DeMell, ITW IDS

11:45 am – Noon

Final Remarks / Conference Adjourns