The Rubber Manufacturers Association will team with two other groups to sponsor "Scrap to Profit -- a Symposium on Recycled Rubber in Plastics and Rubber Products." It will be held April 16–17 at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, S.C.
The RMA will co-sponsor the event with Asphalt Rubber Technology Services at Clemson University, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
"The use of ground rubber in molded and extruded rubber and plastic products is one of the largest markets for ground rubber," says RMA Senior Technical Director Michael Blumenthal. "This is the first time anyone is having a conference in the United States specifically focused on this topic."
The nature of the ground rubber industry has changed dramatically over the last several years, he adds.
The "Scrap to Profit" conference will feature presentations on four major issues affecting this use of ground rubber. Topics to be discussed include:
Ground Rubber as a Raw Material.
* "What is it, and how is it made?"
* "What are the key quality parameters?"
* "What are the costs of these materials versus virgin raw materials?"
* "What is the supply situation?"
* "How to get started" (e.g., materials, technical issues, etc.).
Compounding with Ground Rubber.
* "How to compound with crumb rubber in rubber and plastic products."
* "What are the main concerns, what are the advantages?"
Existing Uses of Ground Rubber in Rubber and Plastics.
* "What products presently use crumb rubber successfully?"
* "What emerging markets are there, and what does the future hold for crumb rubber?"
How to Sell It.
* "Government programs for developing the use of recycled rubber."
* "Preferential purchasing treatment for products with recycled content."
* "Special marketing outlets for products with recycled content."
For more information on the RMA and its programs, visit www.rma.org.
