SHROPSHIRE, UK - iSmithers, formerly the Information division within independent testing, research and consulting organisation Smithers Rapra, has announced dates for its second international High Performance Plastics conference. The conference will take place in Cologne on 23-24 February 2011 and will be dedicated to the advances in plastic materials that are tuned to excel even in harsh environments and tough service conditions.

The conference will look at a number of industries including microelectronics, oil and gas, and aerospace where there has been a proliferation of light weight composites to replace metal parts.

Speaking about the conference, a spokesperson for iSmithers elaborated "This is an exciting and dynamic area that is characterised by differentiation and diversity. The challenge is to create customised materials to meet the demands of today and to be ready for the new emerging applications of tomorrow. This conference will cover all aspects from the resins, to blends, specialty fillers, stabilisers, compatibilisers and other modifiers. As well as learning about the materials themselves, this is the ideal opportunity to hear about industry trends, regulations that affect the future and how globalisation can impact your business".

iSmithers is currently recruiting speakers for this high profile event with papers devoted to  plastic materials performance; enhancing materials through formulation with additives; testing methods and qualification procedures and new emerging materials in the developmental phase being particularly welcome.

All abstracts should be directed to Alix Reeves, areeves@ismithers.net  by the deadline 30 September 2010. For more information about this conference please visit www.polymerconferences.com .