The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) is an international organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and education for all plastics professionals.

The SPE was founded in 1942. Today it is home to more than 20,000 plastics professionals in the United States, and more than 70 countries around the world.

Communities

The organization is divided into five parts: local and geographical sections, technical divisions, staff, volunteer leadership, and student organizations. There are also groups which are under formation, such as Sections in Formation (SPE Sections) or Special Interest Groups (SPE Divisions.)

Local Sections

Sections exist around the world in over 70 countries. Sections publish local news letters as well as organize technical and social meetings.

Technical Divisions

Members of the SPE are also members of one or more of 26 specific technical affiliations. Affiliations include processing techniques, analysis, material specifics, markets, job function, and others. The Divisions are varied and include areas such as Blow Molding and Extrusion to types of plastics like Vinyls or Thermosets

Staff

Management and direction of the professional paid staff is done by the Executive Director of the Society. The Executive Directive is under the supervision of the Executive Committee, a core group of elected and appointed volunteer leaders with rotating terms of office.

Leadership Community

The leadership community is made up of the leaders from the various affiliations and other groups listed above.

Special Interest Groups and Sections in Formation

14 groups exist for the interest of development of new technologies or special interest areas that may at one point become a Technical Division. Locations without an active SPE Section that have formed a core group of interested members and potential officers are known as SIFs or "Sections in Formation."

Student Chapters

Over 120 student chapters exist internationally and includes the Honor Society - Sigma Pi Epsilon

ANTEC

The Society holds an "Annual Technical Conference" or ANTEC for short, each spring. Usually the meetings are in early May in various locations around North America. The meeting includes the largest presentation of peer-reviewed technical papers about plastics in the world, with usually over 700 submissions in sessions running all day from Monday thru Wednesday afternoon. In 2009, ANTEC will be held in Chicago in conjunction with the National Plastics Exposition (NPE) from June 22 through the 24th in McCormick Place in the West Building.