The BioComposites Centre Teams up with Pira International to Present this Year's International Panel Products Symposium - IPPS 2009

Bangor, UK (PRWEB) May 31, 2009

IPPS 2009, the International Panel Products Symposium takes place 16-18 September 2009 at La Cité Internationale des Congrès, Nantes, France.

The BioComposites Centre, Bangor University, have this year forged a partnership with Pira International to present the 2009 IPPS event. The three day symposium will take place in mid September in the historic city of Nantes in the heart of the Loire Valley of France.

The event provides a valuable platform for the industry to not only hear about the latest case studies, technical developments and trends, but also to network and form the business ties that will propel the industry forward.

Topics covered in the programme:

• Sustainability and sustainable buildings
• Indoor air quality and formaldehyde
• Plywood and laminated products
• Lightweight panels
• Machinery, process control and machining
• Wood based panels - recycling and novel feedstocks
• Resins

'Innovation and collaboration are the key topics to explore at IPPS 2009' says Dr Rob Elias, commercial manager for the Centre of Advanced and Renewable Materials at the BioComposites Centre (part of Bangor University, Wales).

'Working closely with suppliers, customers and the research community will help to achieve this' explains Rob. 'In the past the focus was on process improvements, but now we need to think more about markets and products. I see great opportunities for panel materials in sustainable construction but we need to be more innovative to exploit these opportunities.'

Key speakers include:

• Kris Wijnendaele, Secretary General, EUROPEAN PANELS FEDERATION and EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF THE PLYWOOD INDUSTRY (FEIC), Belgium
• Maureen F. Gorsen, formally Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control, CALIFORNIA EPA, US
• John Guerin, European Commercial Director, WEYERHAEUSER, Belgium
• Dennis Jones, Senior Consultant, BRE (Building Research Establishment), Wales
• Jussi Silventoinen, Head of Forest Industry, INDUFOR OY, Finland
• Mark Irle, Chairman of COST Action E49, France

The conference has a full and exciting programme, accompanied by a poster session on the first day of the conference..At the end of the second conference day, delegates will be invited to attend a conference dinner at a nearby restaurant to continue discussion of the proceedings thus far and to enable networking.

For additional details about the event, speakers, programme and press passes/media partnerships, please log onto: http://www.ipps.uk.com or contact Anne Schofield.

About the BioComposites Centre
The BioComposites Centre has 20 years experience in wood based panels, pulp and paper, natural fibre composites, phytochemicals and bio-derived polymers. The team of experts have led the way in many panel product developments and research into biocomposites. In addition, the BC Technology Transfer Centre allows scale-up and industry trials of new additives, resins or processes. The BioComposites Centre has been designated a centre of excellence in panel products, and is at the forefront of panel research for both publically funded and commercial consultancy.

About Pira International
Pira International is a leading provider of events, training, online information, publications and consultancy across a wide range of topical issues affecting varied industries including wood panels. Its 100% independent products are provided globally 24/7 and delivered by teams of independent experts at sites in London, UK and Portland, ME, US.

Contact:
Anne Schofield, Head of Events Marketing
Pira International
T: +44 (0)1372 802042
IPPS 2009 website
http://www.ipps.uk.com

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