PFA Spring Meeting

Polyurethane Foam Association Fall Meeting Addresses Sustainability, Industry Innovation

Manning and Gallagher Win Dr. Herman T. Stone Technical Excellence Award

Dr. Herman Stone Technical Excellence Award Winners: Michael Gallagher of The Mattress Recycling Council and Liz Manning of Econic Technologies were winners of the Dr. Herman Stone Technical Excellence Award for their presentations on New Markets for Recycled Foam and CO₂-Based Polyols. The Award is voted on by the audience in PFA’s Technical program. Gallagher and Manning tied in the voting, so two awards were given.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (May 31, 2024)—
The Polyurethane Foam Association’s
Spring Meeting in St. Petersburg featured a
spectrum of presentations on topics of
interest to the flexible polyurethane foam
industry, many focusing on a common
theme: Sustainability.

PFA’s Industry Issues Session provided updates on isocyanates, end use markets, sustainability programs, and “Made In USA” claims.

In the Technical Program on the following day, presentations covered foam recycling, new polyol technology, equipment for process controls, memory foam evaluations, sustainability certifications and circular economy.

Philippe Knaub of FXI, PFA’s President, recognized new PFA members including Midwest Foam and Dynamic Systems, and noted that the association’s work for its membership is more valuable than ever.

“PFA has earned a reputation as a resource for good science and accurate information about flexible polyurethane foam,” Knaub said. “This credibility is important as we address challenges such as sustainability, reliable testing and proposed regulations that may affect our business. PFA has proven that cooperative efforts by its members can be much more effective than any individual company managing such challenges alone.”

After PFA’s Technical Program, two presenters were named as winners of the Dr. Herman Stone Technical Excellence Award. The award is voted on by the audience at the Technical Program, and the vote resulted in a tie. Liz Manning of Econic Technologies won for her presentation, “Update: CO₂-Based Polyols for Polyurethane Applications,” and Michael Gallagher of the Mattress Recycling Council won for his presentation, “Developing New Markets For Recycled Foam.”

 The award is named for Dr. Herman T. Stone, who served as PFA’s first Technical Director. In 2007, Dr. Stone was inducted into the Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame.

“A number of attendees told me that this year’s technical presentations were exceptionally good,” said Bill Gollnitz of Plastomer Corporation, Past PFA President and moderator of the Technical Program. “It’s very fitting that we were able to provide awards to two presenters.”

The Polyurethane Foam Association is a trade association founded in 1980 to help educate regulators, users, allied industries, and others about flexible polyurethane foam. PFA provides facts on environmental, health and safety issues and technical information on the performance of flexible polyurethane foam (FPF) in consumer and industrial products. FPF is used as a key comfort component in most upholstered furniture and mattress products, along with automotive seating, carpet cushion, packaging, and numerous other applications.

To learn more, visit www.pfa.org.