SPA 106th Conference - Monday 5th June 2023 - Oulton Hall, Leeds. FULLY BOOKED!

Event Overview

The theme of 106th Conference is "INNOVATION".  

Sustainability won’t happen without practical, innovative ideas. How do we make strides along the sustainability continuum? We must be Innovative! 

We kick off Conference with yet another inspiring keynote speaker!  

Ben Edmonds is a multi-patented inventor, problem solver & motivational leader who is regarded as a leading voice on innovation & creative thinking.

Ben is currently Principal Engineer in New Product Innovation heading up the future of Environmental Care at Dyson Technology. He has lectured on Brainstorming & Innovation, Prototyping methods for innovation, and Product Design at the Dyson Institute of Engineering & Technology, Lund University, Sweden, Portsmouth University, and currently teaches Product Design (BA) at The University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham. 

Ben has been a guest speaker, featured contributor or content provider for many high profile clients including, BBC News, BBC Wiltshire, Channel 4, Evening Standard, Design Week, Dyson, Whitespace, The Defence Innovation Symposium, University Technical Colleges, Bradford Grammar School, Cotswold LIFE and The Council of British International Schools (COBIS). 

Products Ben has designed can be spotted on high streets around the world, and he has become well known for building great teams and creating the right culture for high productivity and creativity in the workplace.

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Innovation in our Industry - SUPPLIER SHOWCASE

We have provided a handful of Suppliers to our Industry the opportunity to Showcase their latest Innovations.  Each supplier will present a 1-minute ‘Micro Spotlight’ to tell you what is new and Innovative in their offering and to invite you to visit their micro stand during an "Innovation Walkaround".

Participating Companies:

Avanti Conveyors, Baumer HHS, BW PaperSystems, Filtrona Tapes, Fox Corrugated Machinery, HP Inc., Item Products, Pamarco, SBR Consulting, Sun Automation, Victory Graphics Ltd.

Innovation in Packaging

We are pleased to welcome Parisa Maleki from EasyFairs who will be giving us an introduction to the Packaging Innovations & Empack events in 2024 and we hope to be able to unveil an exclusive offer for SPA members to attend the Show.

Innovation in Business

Tim Gray, Chairman of Sheet Plant Association will be moderating a panel discussion debating what Innovation looks like in  Business. Not just Product Innovation - but Systems, Schemes of work and ‘out of the box’ thinking.  We are delighted to welcome the Discussion Panel members to SPA 106th Conference:

Innovation in Transport

Are Electric cars really the future? Concerns about electricity shortages, lack of charging infrastructure, time to charge, limited range and the very high price of battery or motor replacement would suggest they are not the solution, but perhaps a stepping stone to future sustainable transport.  Richard Aucock, transport journalist, Chair of the Guild of Motoring Writers and Director of Motoring Research will be sharing his research and will update delegates on the progress of Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered vehicles, their pros and cons, the cost and, critically, the expected timeline for their meaningful introduction in the UK - sooner than you may think!

Nick Kirby, Chief Executive at Swanline Group and Director of CorrBoard BioEnergy will be talking to us about the Innovation which has led to turning food waste into energy to run the CorrBoard corrugator in Scunthorpe. From the initial idea to bringing the plant online and what it potentially contributes to the sustainability of the corrugating process and the benefits to sheet plants and end users.

Kene Partners will be providing FREE R&D consultations for SPA Members in a pre-booked R&D Health Check in the Perkins Suite.  Sheet Plants that are innovating with new products, processes, services, equipment or specialist knowledge could be eligible for R&D tax credits.  Kene Partners will identify opportunities and risk factors that may require further investigation, followed up with a tailored report and plan of action.  You can book a 45-minute R&D Health Check with Kene Partners between 9am–13:00pm and also after 6pm.  Please contact Ross Denton:  

T.  +44 7525 482155      E. ross@kene.partners

Delegates will see the launch of the newly developed and tested Board Grade Calculator App by KM Software Systems (KMSS).

Conference staples will be delivered by our regular contributors - namely:

• UK Corrugated Industry Update - Neil Osment, NOA Ltd
• Health & Safety Update - Alan Jones, Springboard Safety
• R&D Tax Credit Scheme Update - Sofia Curbelo Maunder, Kene Partners
• Sales Masterclass Preview - Emile Hall, SBR Consulting

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CONFERENCE AGENDA

Timings and running order may be subject to change.

HOUSEKEEPING:

• 106th Conference is being held at the Oulton Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, Leeds  LS26 8HN on Monday 5th June 2023. 
• Conference will be held in the Oulton Suite at Oulton Hall.  Please use the dedicated Conference car park and entrance at the rear of the building - see map.  Day delegates do not have to use the main entrance.

• All first-time attendees and new SPA members are invited to attend an informal Welcome by the SPA Committee at 12:15 in the Oulton Suite Foyer, followed by a buffet lunch.
• Conference commences at 1:30pm and is due to end at 6:00pm.
• Check-in for Full Delegates will take place in the Oulton Suite foyer during afternoon coffee break.
• Delegates will need to register a credit card at main reception to enable drinks to be charged to their rooms.
• Dietary requirements - please contact SPA secretariat to inform of any special requirements.

• This event will be filmed by the Sheet Plant Association for use on SPA website, in Social Media and SPA Marketing.

• Try Before You Buy places are available for this event.

Book your place today by clicking on 'Register for This Event' link below.