Solar flight pioneer kicks off polyurethanes conference

Orlando, Florida – More than 1,000 polyurethane professionals met in Orlando for the 58th annual Polyurethanes Technical Conference at the Gaylord Palms Hotel. The conference featured 75 technical presentations, 38 poster presentations, industry table-top exhibits, a professional development program, and the polyurethane industry’s premier networking events.

 

Keynote speaker André Borschberg, one of the pilots and co-developer of the Solar Impulse solar-powered aircraft, kicked off the conference by describing his recent record-breaking 5-day flight from Japan to Hawaii in the Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered airplane which relies heavily on strong, lightweight polyurethane components.

 

Other highlights of the conference included the competition for the prestigious Innovation Award and the unveiling of the 2014 End-Use Market Survey on the polyurethanes industry in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.