o say that our industry and the overall business climate was been interesting this year is an understatement. While we are all under pressure to produce results in a tough year, we in this room are also the people in our industry who understand that it is still important to work on the strategic things that will protect and advance our industry for the years to come.

So, let’s talk about strategy and look back at the last two years of IAPD. In early 2023, we surveyed leaders across our member companies asking them how IAPD could help their companies and what IAPD should focus on.

The three areas that we heard the most, by far, were:

• Attracting, Recruiting and Retaining Talent (Workforce Development)
• Government Relations
• Sustainability

t is a privilege to serve as the incoming president of IAPD — The Performance Plastics Association. I want to thank Peter DelGado for his leadership and dedication as president, his steady guidance over the past two years has strongly positioned IAPD for the future. Now, it’s my goal to carry that momentum and continue strengthening the value IAPD delivers to every member.

My focus as your president this coming year is driving value forward, ensuring that IAPD continues to be relevant and resilient in a changing world.

Over my 40 years with PLASKOLITE, I’ve often heard the same question that many of you may ask: What’s the value of membership? Why should my company do more than attend the convention or an occasional event?

What makes Nomura particularly compelling is the material choice: with more than 60% biobased content derived from castor beans, Rilsan Clear offers a significantly lower-carbon-footprint alternative to traditional fossil-based plastics, aligning durability with sustainability. The project uses large-format additive manufacturing (not filament) and recycles waste plastic (e.g., from used eyewear frames), regrinding it into high-quality granules for printing.

Produced through an energy-efficient manufacturing process, the foams feature a fine, homogeneous cell structure with density and material properties that can be tailored to customer requirements. Depending on the base polymer, the materials can withstand temperatures up to 300°C and exhibit strong resistance to oils, greases, cleaning agents and solvents. These properties make them suitable for lightweight structural components, impact-resistant parts and applications requiring long-term durability in chemically aggressive environments.

urbell Plastics, Inc. is demonstrating that community impact extends far beyond the workplace. Through the company-wide Curbell in the Community initiative, employees across the United States are dedicating their time, talents and creativity to support local charities, families and neighborhoods. From fundraising to hands-on volunteering, team members are making a meaningful difference where they live and work.

In Western New York, Senior Outside Sales Representative Jeffrey Wangler organized Curbell’s involvement in the first annual Christ the King School Golf Tournament, helping raise funds for campus improvements that will enhance safety and comfort for students and staff. In Phoenix, Senior Inside Sales Representative Kevin Sheely combined his passion for music and service by hosting a benefit concert supporting the Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank, raising US$535 and collecting 29 cases of bottled water for families facing extreme heat.

ach year, IAPD honors member companies that demonstrate outstanding commitment to environmental responsibility through the Environmental Excellence Awards and the Environmental Impact Award. These recognitions highlight the innovative recycling programs, resource-conservation efforts and creative problem-solving taking place across the performance plastics supply chain. From companywide initiatives that reduce waste and improve efficiency to project-specific achievements that divert challenging materials from landfills, this year’s winners exemplify the leadership and environmental stewardship that continue to move our industry forward.

Curbell Plastics, Inc. earned Gold-level recognition for its comprehensive, companywide sustainability program. The company diverts 51–90% of its plastic scrap from landfills through partnerships that return material for reuse, convert scrap into reprocessed products and support zero-landfill operations at multiple locations.

he data center industry is in the throes of an AI-fueled transformation, with data center capacity projected to grow from 60 gigawatts (GW) today to as much as 298 GW by 2030, with about 70% of that dedicated to AI. That means we can expect a massive influx of new data centers, most of which will feature new approaches to design and infrastructure to support AI workloads. As a result, the industry is expected to make nearly US$7 trillion worth of capital expenditures over that time, with $5.2 trillion of that investment dedicated to AI.

A growing chunk of that investment is going to thermoplastics, which are becoming increasingly common in chip and facility design as AI changes the power and thermal profiles of the data center. Thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, PVC and CPVC are replacing perforated metal and other materials because they perform as well or better than legacy materials and have other advantages. More specifically, materials like multiwall PC, monolithic PC, acrylic, HDPE and PP are also designed for places where metal can’t be used and corrosion or flame resistance is needed. Applications where these thermoplastics are best suited include:

• Airflow and containment systems
• Door and panel glazing

aterial selection is a critical and complex challenge in semiconductor manufacturing, driven by the need for ultra-high purity, extreme precision, and resistance to harsh processing environments. While the primary chip material is typically silicon (or other III-V materials like Gallium Arsenide), specialized high-performance plastics are essential for the manufacturing equipment and cleanroom infrastructure.

The technical selection criteria for these support materials are stringent, focusing on factors like:

• Contamination Risk: Ultra-low outgassing and leachables to prevent micro-contamination of the wafer.
• Chemical Resistance: Impermeability to corrosive acids, solvents, and plasma used in wet and dry etching.
• Thermal and Dimensional Stability: Ability to maintain shape and performance under high-temperature processes and precision machining requirements.

n semiconductor manufacturing, the pursuit of ever smaller and more powerful devices has made controlling contamination a key priority. Cleanrooms form the backbone of this effort, and the materials chosen for their construction and outfitting are crucial for maintaining the necessary cleanliness. The standards for semiconductor cleanrooms are strict. ISO 14644 classifications, which specify the maximum allowed particle counts, are just the starting point. Material manufacturers must ensure their products do not shed particles, outgas, or generate static. They must also endure repeated cleaning with aggressive agents and disinfectants, such as PDI disinfectant wipes, while maintaining their structural integrity and appearance. These requirements apply to every surface and component, from large wall panels to the smallest tool covers.

When the right thermoplastic is used, it can offer a combination of properties that make them ideal for semiconductor cleanrooms:

• Non-shedding surfaces: Unlike painted metals or composites, thermoplastics provide smooth, sealed surfaces that resist particle generation.
• Chemical resistance: Thermoplastics can withstand aggressive cleaning agents and process chemicals, ensuring longevity in harsh environments.

he plastic materials used in semiconductor fabs have to meet stringent requirements for purity, flammability and chemical resistance. Fluoropolymer materials excel in these areas and these plastics are frequently specified for semiconductor IC chip manufacturing applications. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the fluoropolymers used in semiconductor processing and also describe some of the common applications for fluoropolymers in the semiconductor industry.

Semiconductor equipment designers have a wide range of fluoropolymers to choose from including PTFE, FEP, PFA, PVDF, ETFE and ECTFE. These plastics can be divided into two categories: fully fluorinated fluoropolymers (PTFE, FEP and PFA) and partially fluorinated fluoropolymers (PVDF, ETFE and ECTFE). As shown in the graph below, fully fluorinated polymers have lower flexural modulus (stiffness) than partially fluorinated polymers, which means that PTFE, FEP and PFA are softer and easier to bend than PVDF, ETFE and ECTFE. Because of this, fully fluorinated polymers are often used for applications such as flexible tubing where the ability to be bent into position for assembly is required.

APD – The Performance Plastics Association, concluded its 69th IAPD Annual Convention + connecX on October 2, 2025, at the Marriott Marquis Chicago in Chicago, IL, USA. This event welcomed delegates from across the world for a week of critical industry conversations about workforce retention, upcoming federal legislation/regulations and economic forecasting; as well as supplier meetings and ample professional networking opportunities.

The General Sessions featured insightful keynote presentations exploring artificial intelligence with Sam Richter and channel conflict with Ian Heller.

The IAPD connecX showcase was held on Wednesday. The new Technical Showcase sessions added additional educational opportunities for trade show attendees and strong engagement was seen across the show floor.

Convention delegates enjoyed a taste of Chicago throughout the week, starting with classic deep dish pizza and hot dogs served at the Welcome Reception and wrapping up the week with scenic views of the skyline at the VU Rooftop.

Save the date: The 70th IAPD Annual Convention + connecX will be held September 28 – October 1, 2026 in Atlanta, GA, USA.

Vortex Tool Company, Inc. designs and manufactures a wide variety of standard and custom high-performance router and insert cutting tools for the woodworking and plastics industries, and provides retipping and sharpening services for all makes and models. www.vortextool.com, phone (800) 355-7708.