PIMA and TAPPI to hold integrated conference in 2007

Glenview, Ill. and Atlanta (Jan. 18, 2006) -- The boards of the Paper Industry Management Association (PIMA), the pre-eminent organization for leaders in the global pulp and paper industry, and TAPPI, the leading association for the pulp, paper, packaging and converting industry, have voted to hold an integrated conference in 2007 to provide unprecedented opportunities for interaction and information-sharing among management, technical and supplier personnel from the entire industry.

The boards considered several options, including co-locating the two conferences, as well as the viability of holding separate events in separate venues, before deciding an integrated conference was the best option to ensure the most successful event possible for the entire industry.

“In deciding to hold an integrated conference, both boards recognized that everyone in the pulp and paper industry has to have a much broader understanding of the nature of the business,” said Jeff Hamilton, PIMA’s president. “This conference creates an educational opportunity that offers a wide spectrum of information that will help us all gain breadth of knowledge.”

Added TAPPI Chairman Willis Potts, “This event also creates a great opportunity for two different groups to come together and network with each other as well as benefit from the important industry information that is presented at these conferences.”

A conference city and dates will be announced as soon as they are determined; spring dates and locations in the Southeast United States are being considered.

The conference will combine the best of PIMA’s international manufacturing reliability, management and IT conference and TAPPI’s Papermakers conference which is presented by TAPPI’s Paper and Board, Process and Product Quality, and Process Control, Electrical, and Information Divisions as well as several committees of the Engineering Division. The integrated conference will also include awards ceremonies for both TAPPI and PIMA.

The conference should be a win-win situation for not only attendees, who will be able to mingle with people from all areas of the pulp and paper industry, but for exhibitors and sponsors as well, as they will be able to reach many more key decision makers in one venue.

The groups will continue their plans to hold separate conferences in 2006 – May 21-24 in Orlando for PIMA and April 24-27 in Atlanta for TAPPI.