FEATURE

By XXXXXXX

Sustainability meets innovation at the RadTech UV+EB Technology Expo & Conference 2024, happening May 19-22 in Orlando, Florida.

Professionals from across industry interested in sustainable and responsible manufacturing will gather in Orlando, Florida, for the RadTech UV+EB Technology Expo & Conference 2024, the largest gathering of UV+EB industry experts worldwide. The conference, which is taking place May 19-22, will spark innovation in UV and EB technologies across a spectrum of industries. With the theme, "Today's Choices, Tomorrow's Future: UV+EB for Sustainable & Responsible Manufacturing," this unique event is dedicated exclusively to UV and EB technology.

Short Courses

The RadTech event will include several short courses for those employed in the polymer or coatings industry. The UV/EB Professional Short Course (Undergraduate-Level) will take place Sunday, May 19, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The course is designed to acquaint UV/EB chemists and other technical professionals with fundamental information about polymer chemistry. The Advanced Photopolymerization Topics (Graduate level) short course, also taking place Sunday afternoon, is geared towards people who have an extensive polymer or chemistry background. This course will offer an introduction to radiation curing, beginning with a brief review of photochemical and polymerization processes in UV/EB chemistry and then exploring topics such as pigments, environmental conditions, and radiation sources and their impact on cure reactions and on end-product performance.

The Design of Experiments for UV/EB Scientists and Engineers short course is also being offered in conjunction with the event. Taking place on Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon, this two-part course will cover the use of design of experiments to improve and optimize UV/EB curing processes and formulations. The course is designed for individuals with a range of backgrounds, from technicians to PhD. scientists and engineers. Dr. Allan Guymon of the University of Iowa is the instructor for this course.

Also offered in conjunction with the short course training is the UV 3D Printing Lunch and Learn (Intro-Level), which will take place May 20 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The course, taught by Amelia Davenport of Arkema, is an introduction to resin 3D printing. It will cover terminology and general information with time for participants to ask questions regarding machine and material suppliers. It will also cover the general UV fundamentals used in 3D printing and review different types of resin 3D printing technologies.

For additional information about the short courses offered in conjunction with the RadTech UV+EB Technology Expo & Conference 2024, including fees and potential CEU credits, visit radtech.org/radtech-2024-short-courses.

Conference Program

The conference program will offer three tracks, with many different aspects of UV/EB technology presented throughout the three days of the event. Track topics of particular interest include: Adhesives for Wearables, Packaging, 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing, Overcoming Regulatory Challenges, Measurement & Analytical, Coatings Technology Innovations, UV LED Equipment, Formulation, and Composites.

The conference will also have New Product Debut sessions on Monday and Tuesday afternoon. Among the products featured are: new products to enable UV/EB curing applications, presented by James Goodrich of Miwon North America; UV composite repair and no-bake automotive UV sealants, presented by Dave Whitinger of Applied Molecules; innovations in 3D printing custom formulations for electronics and transportation, presented by Neil Cramer of Arkema; and the Albert Invent R&D platform, presented by Gavin Chan of Albert Invent.

Among the highlights of the conference is a panel discussion on Tuesday morning, titled "Hot Melt Adhesives are Hot, Hot, Hot," that will explore the growing interest in UV hot melt adhesives. It will discuss the main forces propelling this trend — which are innovation, sustainability, and efficiency — and will showcase the impact of UV hot melt adhesives on manufacturing, product quality, and environmental practices. Among the panelists are Michael T. Waterman-High of Avery Dennison, Clay Kellam of Henkel, and Dan Gardner of Valco Melton.

Exhibition and Networking

With over 80 exhibiting companies, the exhibition promises a rare glimpse into the future of industry trends. It will take place Monday and Tuesday, May 20 and 21, from 10:00 to 6:00, and Wednesday, May 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. With leading suppliers of UV+EB technology showing off their latest innovative products, the exhibit promises to be the place for industry professionals to stay up to date on the latest curing technology.

Besides the numerous educational and networking opportunities presented at the exhibition, the RadTech UV+EB Technology Expo & Conference 2024 also includes a number of events where industry professionals will have a chance to meet with colleagues and make new connections. The RadTech 2024 Open Reception is taking place from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday evening. Tuesday evening events include a President’s Reception from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. and the Emerging Awards Dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

As an added benefit, the 2024 IUVA Americas Conference is co-located with RadTech 2024. The IUVA Americas Conference will feature two tracks of technical presentations on UV technology for healthcare, air, surfaces, water, and food disinfection and sterilization. The RadTech full conference registration includes both the RadTech and IUVA conferences.