May 18, 2023
International Molded Fiber Association's 25th Annual Conference Celebrates Milestone Year
The International Molded Fiber Association (IMFA) is proud to announce its 25th Annual Conference, which will take place from October 4-6, 2023, at the Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale. The Annual Conference serves as a platform for molded fiber manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals to share insights, network, and explore the latest innovations and trends in the molded fiber industry.
The 2023 conference will feature a wide range of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and interactive workshops focused on sustainability, innovation, and emerging technologies in molded fiber manufacturing. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with other industry professionals, participate in hands-on demonstrations, and learn from experts in the field.
"We're thrilled to celebrate our 25th year of bringing together molded fiber manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals from around the world," said Gary Visser, IMFA Chairman. "As we reflect on our history, we're excited to look toward the future of the industry and explore new opportunities for growth, innovation, and sustainability."
The conference will feature several dynamic speakers, each with a specific focus area. Susanne Haase, Program Director of the 4evergreen Alliance, an initiative of Cepi, has over 15 years of experience reporting on the pulp and paper industry and will speak about 4evergreen Alliance's goal of increasing the recycling rate of fibre-based packaging up to 90% by 2023.
Huqiu Zhang, a Senior Chemist at Sevee & Maher Engineers, will present the global regulations on paper food packaging and food contact materials with a focus on the US, EU, China, and other markets. Zhang will also discuss strategies for ensuring safety and regulatory compliance, managing safety perceptions, keeping up with regulatory landscape changes, and accessing global markets.
Conor Carlin, the Managing Director of ILLIG North America LP, who has over 20 years of international experience in packaging machinery, tooling, and advanced materials, will present new technology for thin film lamination of molded fiber products.
Alexander Koukoulas, a Director in the Bioindustry Division of AFRY Management Consulting, will discuss the global capacity outlook for type 3 molded fiber packaging. The presentation will examine the drivers for growth and discuss the expectations for capacity developments in response to continued advancement. He will also discuss how technical challenges in meeting certain end-use performance requirements may limit growth potential, especially in food service applications, and how to overcome these challenges.
To present the relevance of molded fiber lamination in a plastic-restrictive framework, Salvador Diaz, Sales & Marketing Director, and Board member at Hamer Packaging Technology will present with his colleague, Pol Casado, Ecological Business Unit Manager. They will elaborate on how the molded fiber industry is becoming increasingly significant while the growing regulatory landscape limits the use of plastics in single-use packaging.
The conference will also feature Tom Larson, Head of Business Development at Fiberlean Technologies, who will discuss the benefits of Microfibrillated Cellulose (MFC) as a bio-binder enhancing strength and barrier properties in fiber-based systems.
The conference is open to all molded fiber manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals, and registration is now open on the IMFA website. There will also be an optional golf outing at the end of the conference. All conference activities will be held at the Mountain Shadows Resort. Sponsorship and Tabletop display opportunities are available. Please email jenn@imfa.org for sponsorship details.
For more information about the IMFA and the 25th Annual Conference, please visit the conference website at https://www.imfa.org/annual-conference/.