SPE-PLASTICS merger combines resources: Councilor's Report

By Geoff Ward

Councilor, SPE Blow Molding Division

I’m sure by now you’ve heard that SPE has merged with the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS). If you’re like most people, you are probably wondering what this means for SPE going forward.

The short answer is I don’t think anyone knows for sure. The merger officially took place Jan. 1, and leaders from both organizations are working together to determine the answer to that question. 

In the short term, it’s going to be business as usual while this planning takes place. Structurally, while SPE is now a division of PLASTICS, the arrangement is considered a merger of two coequal partners.

The biggest change at a high level this year is that ANTEC is now officially a PLASTICS event. As of this writing in March, before ANTEC 2026 took place, I don’t expect that the conference changed much, if at all. However, partners for SPE and PLASTICS certainly hope to leverage this new arrangement to make improvements going forward.

As far as our Annual Blow Molding Conference (ABC) is concerned, this and other division-run TOPCONs will still be run by SPE and its divisions. We will continue our effort putting together the best conferences for our industry. We are working hard on what is shaping up to be another great ABC event in Chicago Oct. 5-7. I hope to see you there! 

If you are wondering why this merger took place, the primary reason is to combine resources into the single largest organization representing the plastics industry in the world. “Better together” is the theme that has been used to describe the vision, which is to align the mission and goals of the two organizations and create a sustainable plastics industry.

It is important to note that as an SPE member, you do not become a member of PLASTICS, as that part of the organization retains its separate corporate membership structure. 

SPE has put together some FAQs on its website for those of you who would like to learn more: www.4spe.org/BetterTogether. If you want to submit a question, you can go to www.4spe.org/MergerQuestions. If you have more questions, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected], and I will do my best to get you some answers.

In the meantime, you can continue to follow the Blow Molding Division on LinkedIn for updates on activity in our corner of the organization.

This article appears in the spring 2026 issue of The Journal of Blow Molding. 

© 2026, Society of Plastics Engineers Blow Molding Division