A brand owner needs to understand the materials and resins that are available for a product from a wide range of perspectives: its development team, its sustainable nature, its properties and benefits, the necessary machinery and auxiliary equipment, recent advances in processing, prospective processors, and the development of products for reuse or recycling. One of NPE’s primary focuses in 2015 is to deliver the knowledge and service options that can allow brands to make more educated product and packaging decisions. 

There is a greater need than ever to understand the full supply chain of plastics. In March, Orlando will become the home of NPE2015, which will focus on conveniently delivering suppliers from every phase of the supply chain to the brand owners in attendance.

Here are a few items the brand owner can look forward to at NPE2015.

• Design: A brand owner’s vision starts with a design. For 2015, NPE is partnering with the Industrial Design Society of America in an effort to provide education around designing for sustainability, as well as an exhibit floor Design Center to introduce attendees to the companies impacting and delivering innovative design.
• Materials: Material suppliers are coming to NPE0215 in full force with major presences in both the West Hall meeting rooms and the South Hall meeting rooms and exhibit floor. Just a few of those being represented include: Ascend Performance Mat­erials, BASF, Braskem, Dow, DSM, DuPont, Eastman, ExxonMobil, Formosa, LyondellBasell, PolyOne, PPG Industries, SABIC, Sasol, Westlake Chemical, and 3M.
• Machines: With nearly 2000 exhibiting companies on the floor, NPE is known as the show where exhibitors can actually run their machines, allowing attendees to see them operate firsthand, test their quality, and get answers to questions. (Test before you invest!)
• Processors: NPE2015’s exhibit floor also features processors show­casing their latest services to brand owners. This is an opportunity that comes only once every three years to have the necessary discussions in choosing which company to trust with product production. 
• Recycling & Sustainability: NPE2015 will feature exhibitors and edu­cation around these critical issues both through conference education and the Zero Waste Zone on the South Hall exhibit floor.
• Maximizing the Brand Owner Experience: Any company planning to bring buying and product development teams to NPE2015 should consider contacting SPI to discuss a Mission Control Center. In an effort to make the NPE2015 experience a positive and successful one, NPE will provide buying teams with a complimentary meeting room for conducting business internally or with exhibitors, strategizing, sharing notes, and just relaxing. 
  
  

The brand owner is the most important player in the supply chain, as it is their product vision that drives plastics manufacturers and suppliers. SPI is focused on a designing a show that will allow companies to expedite their research, education, and decision making around the products of today and the future. 

SPI hopes you will take us up on the offer to join us at what is shaping up to be the greatest NPE to date. NPE2015 will take place March 23-27, 2015, in Orlando, Florida. You make great things, and together we make great things happen!