Plastics Engineering articles from December 2004

Plastics Engineering archives from December 2004

PE's machinery annual.(From The Society Of Plastics Engineers)(Plastic engineers)
December 1, 2004... Primary processing machinery: the manufacturers of primary gear are steadfast at developing and producing more efficient machines and at updating their existing equipment. We've seen this from primary and auxiliary gear manufacturers. PE...

Flow and release at lower temperatures.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... MoldWiz INT-38HM, a process aid additive from Axel Plastics Research Laboratories, is said to enhance processing of polyamide resins by achieving better flow and release at lower melt temperatures. This combination of capabilities reduces the...

More labels per pound.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Eastman Chemical Co. has introduced Embrace High Yield developmental copolyester for shrink labels for packaged consumer goods. The addition of "microvoids," tiny air pockets produced in the manufacture of shrink labels, changes the density and...

Better bonding.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... An improved version of its Alcryn MPR 2100 Series materials that is said to perform better during the processing of molded parts has been introduced by Advanced Polymer Alloys. The company reports that in addition to processing better, the...

Machinable glass-ceramic.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Aremcolox 502-600 is an advanced machinable glass-ceramic used to produce thermally insulative and high-dielectric components and fixtures for electrical/electronics and high-temperature applications to 1100[degrees]F (593[degrees]C). Features...

Reinforced compounds.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Premix Thermoplastics has added a full line of carbon fiber-reinforced compounds to its PreElec product portfolio. Based on chopped carbon fiber, milled carbon fiber, and carbon nanotubes, the new compounds provide the increased rigidity of...

Polycarbonate film.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Coburn Graphic Films' line of Claritex polycarbonate films for digital printing, flexographic printing, or screen-printing uses either conventional solvent-based or UV ink systems. The extruded films are said to be ideal for graphics...

High-quality composites.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Said to be ideally suited to processes such as pultrusion, filament winding, molding, potting, encapsulation, and extrusion, Structural Engineered Plastisol (SEP) resins from Rutland Plastic Technologies are intended for the production of...

PPS for electronic components.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... For applications that include desktop and laptop hard disk-drive connectors and other electronic hard-drive connectors used in the consumer electronics digital video recorder and gaming markets, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. has introduced a...

TPUs for automotive and sport and leisure markets.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Merquinsa has introduced new grades of its Pearlthane thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) specialty elastomers for the automotive and sport and leisure markets. Based on aliphatic and polycaprolactone TPU technologies, the grades include...

Plasticizer-free elastomers.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Bayer MaterialScience has developed a group of polyurethane cast elastomer systems that are said to enable the production of extremely soft and flexible parts with excellent tear resistance. The Baytec technology provides low-durometer...

Flexible flame retardant.(Materials)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Techsperse PM1356E25 flame retardant from Techmer PM enables the processors of polypropylene extrusions and moldings to meet stringent specifications such as UL-94 Sections V-0, V-1, and V-2; CPAI-84 Section 7; and NFPA-701. Passing less...

Aesthetics, economics drive growth of in-mold decoration.
December 1, 2004... In-mold decoration is a fast-growing technology that offers high-impact aesthetics, manufacturing economies, and improved product quality through the use of Specialty films. The process isn't new, but advances in materials, coupled with...

Primary processing machinery: versatile machines for smart manufacturing.
December 1, 2004... Manufacturers of primary processing machinery continue building productivity enhancements, performance improvements, and new efficiencies into their products. That was evident at K 2004 in Germany during October, where new models of injection...

Horizons cover the earth.
December 1, 2004... Geosynthetics are unique in their massive potential. For example, the film needed for roadbeds is measured in miles; and some of the anti-erosion materials are measured in acres. Although many of these applications involve only commodity...

Safety-versed for "safety first": strict procedures, training, and alternative technologies--such as robotics--combine to keep operators out of harm's way.
December 1, 2004... Periodically, plastics processors are reminded of the inherent dangers of their trade. Despite the increasing use of automation in higher-risk processes, too often we still hear of fatal accidents in production facilities, such as last year's...

One grade of nylon--three cooling-system parts.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A single grade of BASF nylon 66 has simplified the design and reduced production costs for the cooling system of the new Renault Mascott light truck. The header tank, intercooler inlet/outlet pipes, and the radiator's supporting brackets had...

Allergen-barrier polyester bedding.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... New Breathe Right Luxury Allergen Barrier Bedding encasements are made of 100% polyester microfiber woven tightly to form a "virtually perfect" barrier to household allergens. Yet the fabric breathes and wicks away moisture better than cotton....

Fluoropolymer-based film provides global coverage.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... This 66-ft (20-m)-diameter "soccer-ball globe," serving as a cultural/artistic icon for the 2006 World Cup games in German host cities, is sheathed in Dyneon ETFE high-performance plastic. Like an actual soccer ball, the globe consists of 20...

No corkscrew necessary.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Solvay Advanced Polymers reports that its Amodel polyphthalamide (PPA) has found a new use in the wine industry, where it serves as a threaded anchor for the patented "twist-to-uncork" wine packaging designed by Gardner Technologies of Napa,...

Museum gift-shop shelves sport. Mammal-skin pattern.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Shelving at the new Smithsonian Hall of Mammals museum store in Washington, D.C., uses membrane-pressed and miter-folded Kydex thermoplastic sheet to achieve durability and a three-dimensional mammal-skin pattern that complements the exhibit...

Modular composite utility poles.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Resin Systems Inc. (RSI) has announced that its modular transmission utility poles in lengths up to 75 ft have successfully completed independent testing and can now be shipped to power utility companies in the United States and Canada. The...

RIM system forms core of metal composite wall panel.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Centria FormaBond composite wall panel system features a custom core made using Bayer MaterialScience's Baydur RIM (reaction injection molding) polymer-forming system. Described as unique to the metal architectural cladding market,...

Prototype resin simulates ABS.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Valla s.a., a specialist in rapid tooling and prototype manufacture based in Villeurbanne, France, has collaborated with DSM Somos of Europe to develop a premium-grade white resin for prototyping white goods. Called Somos White, the new resin...

Probe With PEEK stands up to saturated steam.(Products & Applications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Designed with a Victrex PEEK polymer seal component, a Guided Wave Radar (GWR) probe from Magnetrol international provides reliable level measurement in saturated steam environments. A 30% glass-fiber-reinforced grade of PEEK is used for the...

Mustang corrals top prize at 34th auto awards program.
December 1, 2004... On November 10, SPE's Automotive Division announced the winners of its 2004 Innovation Awards at the 34th annual Innovation Awards Program dinner at Burton Manor in Livonia, Michigan. More than 600 executives and representatives of trade...

Alignment Kit for keeping tools straight.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Pinpoint Laser Systems new Microgage Universal Alignment Kit enables maintenance and production personnel to check machine-tool alignment for improved operational efficiency. Fast and precise measurements of the straightness of machinery rails,...

Damage-free handling.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A press-feed and payout system that can feed several rolls of delicate materials, die-cut multiple plies, and safely pull them through has been developed by Joraco, Inc. The company's Custom Press Feed Payout System for delicate materials...

High-speed welders.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Two vibration welders for automotive, appliance, and medical equipment parts are designed to handle a wider range of tooling with high reliability and shorter weld times than those of competing units, according to manufacturer Dukane Corp. The...

Simultaneous compounding.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Yellow Jacket Multiphase Twin-Screw Extruders are described as highly flexible systems developed to simultaneously compound multiphase ingredients for the production of engineered thermo-plastic compounds. Unlike typical laboratory twin-screw...

Inspecting and sorting.(Machinery & Processing)(Resec Systems, Inc)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Capable of inspecting and sorting up to 3600 parts per hour with an accuracy of [+ or -]0.0001 inch, the Automatic Parts Sorter from Resec Systems is available in several models for parts ranging in size from 0.25 inch to 2 inches. Employing a...

Robot assists wire EDM machines.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A Fanuc robotic EDM cell, from Methods EDM, greatly increases production capacity through automated loading and unloading, according to the company. The cell features a high-speed 6-axis Fanuc M-710iB/70 robot and can be configured to serve...

Dryers for nonhygroscopic materials.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The SHA Series of hot air dryers, recently introduced by Sterling, features a single blower design that provides heated air to nonhygroscopic materials. The units employ process temperature control up to 300[degrees]F (149[degrees]C) and...

Compounding bimodal PE.(Machinery & Processing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer has introduced the ZSK-NT two-stage compounding extruder for compounding bimodal polyethylene. Bimodal polymers contain short polymer chains for good processability and chains of high molecular weight for good...

Plan January.(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... SPE & Industry events at a glance... MON TUE 2 3 4 DID YOU KNOW? January 4, 1962 The...

Plan February.(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... SPE & Industry events at a glance... MON 6 7 Technical Paper Submission Site Closes 5:00 pm 13 14 DID YOU KNOW? February 14, 1 978 The first ...

U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board report.(Industry News)
December 1, 2004... On March 13, 2001, three people were killed as they opened a process vessel containing hot plastic at the BP Amoco Polymers (now Solvay Advanced Polymers, L.L.C.) plant in Augusta, Georgia. They were unaware that the vessel was pressurized. ...

Demand for injection molded plastic continues to grow in the U.S.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The demand in the United States for injection molded plastics is projected to grow 3.2% annually to 16.5 billion lbs in 2008, valued at $10.5 billion (resin content only). Thermoplastic resins will advance at a significantly faster pace than...

Paper and plastics compete for packaging market share.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Looking at markets where plastic and paper compete as packaging materials, a new study from Freedonia projects that plastic will increase its share of packaging demand to nearly 50% (in pounds) in 2008. Moreover, says Paper Versus Plastic in...

UL Announces Fire-Protection Program.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., has announced Fire Protection Analytical Services, a new program that enables manufacturers to build safety compliance into their products throughout the development cycle, thus avoiding losses incurred by...

New materials for boat building.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Many new material solutions for the boat-building industry were launched at the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) held in Miami, Oct. 25-27. Owens Coming and BASF presented two very different products--both, however,...

Bethel, Conn.-based supplier of medical-device components Memry Corp. has closed a transaction to acquire substantially all the assets and selected liabilities of Putnam Plastics of Dayville, Conn., which produces specialty extruded polymers.(Acquisitions)
December 1, 2004... Bethel, Conn.-based supplier of medical-device components Memry Corp. has closed a transaction to acquire substantially all the assets and selected liabilities of Putnam Plastics of Dayville, Conn., which produces specialty extruded polymers....

Ashland Composite Polymers of Dublin, Ohio, has signed an agreement to purchase the Derakane epoxy vinyl ester resin business (which includes the Derakane Momentum product line) from The Dow Chemical Co.(Acquisitions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Ashland Composite Polymers of Dublin, Ohio, has signed an agreement to purchase the Derakane epoxy vinyl ester resin business (which includes the Derakane Momentum product line) from The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.). The transaction is...

GLCC Laurel, LLC (West Lafayette, Ind.), has completed the transition of manufacturing for FireShield and Thermoguard flame retardants and PetCat catalyst grades of antimony oxide from LaPorte, Texas, to Reynosa, Mexico.(Consolidation)(Occidental Petroleum Corp)(Great Lakes Chemical Corp)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... GLCC Laurel, LLC (West Lafayette, Ind.), has completed the transition of manufacturing for FireShield and Thermoguard flame retardants and PetCat catalyst grades of antimony oxide from LaPorte, Texas, to Reynosa, Mexico. This consolidates...

Durakon Industries.(Expansions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Durakon Industries is expanding its automotive paint film technology through the acquisition of equipment for its Lapeer, Mich., and Clinton, Tenn., facilities.

The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, Mich.) and Polipropileno del Caribe S.A. (Propilco) have announced an agreement for Propilco to expand its plant in Cartagena, Colombia--which uses Dow's Unipol PP Process technology--from 120 KTA to 200 KTA.(Expansions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, Mich.) and Polipropileno del Caribe S.A. (Propilco) have announced an agreement for Propilco to expand its plant in Cartagena, Colombia--which uses Dow's Unipol PP Process technology--from 120 KTA to 200 KTA....

Butler-MacDonald, Inc.(Expansions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Butler-MacDonald, Inc., has made a $1 million investment to expand its Indianapolis-based business through relocating to an 80,000-[ft.sup.2] facility that doubles the company's processing capacity and accommodates more than 30 employees....

BASF.(International Organization for Standardization certification)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The following has received ISO, QS, or other Certification: BASF, New Jersey, ISO/TS 16949, for its Engineering Plastics business sites in Wyandotte, Mich.; Mount Olive, N.J.; Sparta, Tenn.; and Prince George, Va.

Great Lakes Chemical Corp. of Indianapolis and Teijin Chemicals Ltd. have announced plans to combine their global brominated carbonate oligomer (BCO) activities as part of a 50/50 joint venture to market flame retardants for various engineering polymers and blends.(Joint Ventures)
December 1, 2004... Great Lakes Chemical Corp. of Indianapolis and Teijin Chemicals Ltd. have announced plans to combine their global brominated carbonate oligomer (BCO) activities as part of a 50/50 joint venture to market flame retardants for various engineering...

Cyclics Corp. of Schenectady, N.Y., and Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy, based in Helsinki, Finland, have announced an R&D agreement for the joint development of wind-power and marine composites.(Joint Ventures)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Cyclics Corp. of Schenectady, N.Y., and Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy, based in Helsinki, Finland, have announced an R&D agreement for the joint development of wind-power and marine composites. Their work will use Cyclics' CBT resin in combination...

Metabolix, Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.), and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) (Decatur, Ill.) have formed a 50/50 joint venture to commercialize PHA polymers, natural plastics derived from agricultural raw materials such as corn sugar.(Joint Ventures)
December 1, 2004... Metabolix, Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.), and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) (Decatur, Ill.) have formed a 50/50 joint venture to commercialize PHA polymers, natural plastics derived from agricultural raw materials such as corn sugar. The two will...

Accel Corp.(Literature on its AccelMax SC series 'super concentrates.')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Accel Corp. of Northridgeville, Ohio, offers literature on its AccelMax SC series of "super concentrates." The new masterbatches provide colors for a broad array of polymers, from commodity to engineered materials. To order a copy, contact Lisa...

Vimax Industries has announced that it will open two sodium hydrosulfate (SHS) facilities in North America, headquartering its operations in Mobile, Alabama.(New Facilities)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Vimax Industries has announced that it will open two sodium hydrosulfate (SHS) facilities in North America, headquartering its operations in Mobile, Alabama. The first plant is to begin production in January 2005 at the former Virginia...

BASF Corp.(Price Changes)(engineering thermoplastics product lines)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... BASF Corp., headquartered in New Jersey, has announced price increases for its engineering thermoplastics product line in the United States and Canada, effective Nov. 1, 2004, as follows: Ultramid and Celanese standard nylon resins--$0.12/lb;...

Ciba Specialty Chemicals.(Price Changes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Ciba Specialty Chemicals, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, has announced that its Plastics Additives segment has increased prices globally for its entire line of plastic additives, effective Nov. 1, 2004. Depending on the product line and...

The Dow Chemical Company.(polymeric Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate price Changes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, Mich.) has announced price increases in the U.S. and Canada, effective Dec. 1, 2004, as follows: all pure and polymeric MDI products sold into all polyurethane market segments--$0.10/lb (in addition to the...

Rhodia Engineering Plastics.(Price Changes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Rhodia Engineering Plastics, headquartered in Lyon, France, has announced price increases of $0.09/lb at a minimum for the complete Technyl, Technylstar, and Technyl Alloy product range of polyamide 6 and 6.6 grades in North America, effective...

Ticona.(Price Changes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Based in Florence, Ky., Ticona has announced price increases (effective Dec. 1, 2004) of $0.10/lb for Celcon, Hostaform, and Duracon acetal copolymer; Celanex and Duranex polybutylene terephthalate (PBT); Impet polyethylene terephthalate (PET);...

SpecialChem.(Websites)(www.matchmycolorcom)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SpecialChem, Paris, France, www.matchmycolorcom--service-only platform to assist color-related professionals with color matching; launched by SpecialChem partnered with Ciba Specialty Chemicals, X-Rite, DuPont Titanium Technologies, and Nelly...

Lenstar.org.(Websites)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Lenstar.org, Chaska, Minn., www.lenstar.org--interactive resource on the lenticular process; sponsors include Eastman Chemical Company, Pacur, Inc., Heidelberg Druckmaschinene AG, KBA-Koenig & Bauer AG, MAN Roland, Inc., Komori Corp., Presstek,...

Great Lakes Chemical Company.(Websites)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Great Lakes Chemical Company, Indianapolis, www:fr.greatlakes.com--flame-retardants website exclusively for plastics producers.

DuPont Engineering Polymers.(Websites)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... DuPont Engineering Polymers, Wilmington, Del., www.dupont.com/industrial-polymers/woodalternatives/--website for the natural/wood plastic composites and other segments of the wood-alternatives industry; includes specific coupling agent...

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Charite Artificial Disc, a device that treats severe low back pain by replacing a damaged or worn-out spinal disc with an artificial one.(Other Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Charite Artificial Disc, a device that treats severe low back pain by replacing a damaged or worn-out spinal disc with an artificial one. The Charite disc is a high-tech device made of...

BASF reports that the U.S. FDA has approved its phthalocyanine pigment Heliogen Green K 9360 for use as a food-contact substance in all types of polymers.(Other Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... BASF reports that the U.S. FDA has approved its phthalocyanine pigment Heliogen Green K 9360 for use as a food-contact substance in all types of polymers. BASF notes that it is the only supplier of a pigment with this color index number...

NEC Corp.(Other Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Using fly ash, a by-product of thermal power-plant operation, Japanese company NEC Corp. reports that it has developed a low-cost, flame-resistant polycarbonate that cuts manufacturing energy consumption by 20%. The new material is said to...

PAS.(Polymers nonlinear advanced control and optimization solution)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... PAS has announced Polymers NLC, a nonlinear advanced control and optimization solution for polymer process applications. This is the first new release of the product since PAS acquired the original NLC technology upon merging with DOT Products...

EPA lauds industry's efforts to resolve PFOA issues.(SPI News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... In October, officials of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) again commended SPI and its Fluoropolymers Manufacturers Group (FMG) for their efforts to resolve a number of questions surrounding perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a...

SPI member completes training, certification program.(SPI News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Precise Technology, Buffalo Grove, Illinois, last month celebrated the completion of a training and certification project funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. A total of 102 employees of Precise Technology...

SPI seeks feedback on proposed OSHA rule.(SPI News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SPI's Food, Drug and Cosmetic Packaging Materials Committee (FDCPMC) and its Color and Additive Products Subcommittee are seeking member input on the implications of a recently proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule...

FBF honors Fredy Steng.(SPI News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SPI's Film and Bag Federation (FBF) has presented a lifetime achievement award to Fredy Steng, vice president of sales for Pliant Corp., Wilbraham, Mass. Steng, who served as chair of the FBF for four years, has been active in the group's...

Free data a benefit of membership.(SPI News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SPI's one-of-a-kind industry statistics reports, available through the association's Plastics Data Source, are now free to SPI members. Included in the Plastics Data Source portfolio are reports on all facets of the plastics industry. The...

Carson Industries.(appoints J. Leo Lovato )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Carson Industries LLC, Glendora, Calif., has announced that J. Leo Lovato has joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing.

Saint-Gobain.(Personnel)(Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics appoints John Crowe )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... John Crowe has been appointed president of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics.

Speck Plastics.(appoints Richard Brashier )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Speck Plastics, Inc., Nazareth, Pa., has announced Richard Brashier has joined the company as director of engineering.

CCP.(Personnel)(Cook Composites and Polymers appoints Scott Kaphingst and Tom Faris)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Cook Composites and Polymers, Kansas City, Mo., has announced two new management assignments within the Composites Division. Scott Kaphingst has been named director of sales, and Tom Faris will serve as director of market development.

BASF.(appointments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... BASF, Wyandotte, Mich., has appointed three people to customer-support positions for the TPU business unit in North America. Dr. Rabeh H. Elleithy has been named senior TPU technical service representative; Mahmoud Ghamen has been appointed to...

American Maplan.(Personnel)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Kurt Waldhauer has been named president and CEO of American Maplan Corp., McPherson, Kan.

Sika.(Personnel)(Sika Automotive appoints new vice president)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Sika Automotive, Madison Heights, Mich., has announced that Dr. Frank Hoefflin has assumed the position of vice president, research and development, and Dr. Cheong Kow has been named Sika fellow of acoustic and material science.

Obituary.(John T. Lutz, Jr.)(Society and a board member of the Vinyl Plastics Division)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SPE notes with sorrow the death of John T. Lutz, Jr., a fellow of the Society and a board member of the Vinyl Plastics Division. He was a member of the Philadelphia Section.

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... * SPE CONFERENCES Feb. 24-25, 2005. SPE's GPEC 2005. Creating Sustainability for the Environment. Site: Atlanta. Contact: Michelle Mikulec, GPEC Technical Chair, at (313) 274-9712, or e-mail: michelleMikulec@peoplePC.com. Feb. 27-Mar....