The TPA is an association of people involved in the Plastics and Rubber Industry mainly in Shropshire but with significant numbers in surrounding areas. The title "Telford Polymer Association" is based on a membership living and/or working in an area originally envisaged as being located within a radius of 40 km centred on Telford. In fact the membership stretches much further, taking in parts of the Welsh border, Staffordshire, etc, and even further afield for a few members who visit the area. We have an annual programme of activities covering lectures, works visits, and social events. We are also very fortunate in having at convenient locations, Smithers Rapra & Pira Ltd and Independent Polymer Technology Ltd with their excellent lecture facilities generously made available to us. Other excellent venues have been used where appropriate such as Priorslee Hall on the Wolverhampton University Shropshire Campus and Ironbridge Gorge Museum.

 

To provide a forum for members to enable the exchange of ideas and information

To promote the dissemination of knowledge through seminars, evening meetings, and discussions.

To establish a fraternity of people in Shropshire and surrounding area who are employed in, or have an interest in the Polymer industry.
To promote and protect the interests of members of the Association and the Polymer industry in general.
To promote the objectives of the Institute of Materials

 
Events are held mainly in the evening with lectures on a very wide range of topical subjects covering business and management, in addition to technical topics aimed at the diverse nature of local industry in "Plastics Valley" as it has been described. We are also fortunate in having a number of "state of the art" companies who are willing to have works visits. Social events are friendly and biased towards informality: the "Summer Ball" at the Telford Holiday Inn being praised by sponsors for its convivial atmosphere. Non-members, IoM3 members from other sections, friends and students are always welcome. Symposiums of a less parochial nature (in terms of attendees) have been held in collaboration with Rapra Technology Ltd. attracting delegates from mainland Europe as well as throughout the UK. More info.

 
Membership is automatically open to all members of good standing in the Institute of Materials (IoM3) at no cost. Annual subscription for persons not currently members of the IoM3 is currently £12.00 per annum. Corporate membership is available to companies wishing to nominate up to 10 employees to attend meetings and other events. Corporate membership is currently £100.00 per annum. The association has links with many local companies and societies and holds its meetings at Rapra Technology LTD, The British Polymer Training Association (BPTA) and on occasion at Priorslee House. Lectures will most often have a technical bias and should be of interest to all levels of engineering from the most junior technician through to technical director. The informal atmosphere allows members to discuss those subjects directly affecting their business and at the same time make contacts in related industry sectors. More info.  

 
TPA origins go back to 1988 when the Midlands Section of the Plastics and Rubber Institute inaugurated a sub-section in Telford; the growth of "Plastics Valley" being recognised as an important addition to the West Midlands polymer industry. Within 4 years the subsection was sufficiently well established to be granted "full section" status. Following the merger of PRI with the Metals and Ceramics professional societies to form the Institute of Materials, the Telford Polymer Section with encouragement by the IoM3 obtained permission to become an IoM3 affiliated society which is an autonomous body responsible for its own financial affairs. Following IoM3 approved procedures, the Telford Polymer Association was inaugurated at Ironbridge Gorge Museum on 12 May 1994. More info.


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