IEC, ITEC combining under Global Polymer Summit umbrella

PITTSBURGH — The ACS Rubber Division and Crain Communications' Rubber News brand have agreed to bring together their premier events — the International Elastomer Conference (IEC) and International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC) — uder a common banner.

Beginning next year, the two conferences will be held under one roof and, more notably, under a newly established umbrella: the Global Polymer Summit.

The inaugural Global Polymer Summit — scheduled for Sept. 8-11, 2025, in Cleveland — will bring together the best of IEC and ITEC, melding the broader tire and rubber industries through technical programming, discussions and an all-in-one exhibition.

"We talk a lot about how it's important to listen to your audience. … This partnership is another example of listening to our audience," according to Chris Taylor, Crain Communications vice president and general manager of the Global Polymer Group, which includes the Rubber News and Tire Business brands.

"Our audience has been telling us for a while that they wished the industry had one must-attend event every year that would make it easier to connect with people in the industry and the companies they want to connect with without having to go to multiple locations at different times. It stretches their budget."

The Global Polymer Summit, he said, addresses those concerns.

"Now they don't have to choose where to spend their time and money," Taylor said.

To be clear: the Global Polymer Summit is not two shows operating under the same roof. Instead it will be a seamless event that brings together the best of IEC and ITEC, the parties said. The Rubber Division and Crain Communications teams will work together, each bringing exhibitors to the show floor, speakers to the podia and panels to the stage.

According to Rubber Division Chair Anthony Mariniello, the Global Polymer Summit — with Crain's support — fits perfectly into the mission of the Rubber Division and creates greater value for Rubber Division members.

"This event, it's about networking," he said. "It's about presenting our knowledge amongst ourselves. It's presenting our companies, it's sharing intellectual ideas, it's getting some of the academic people together outside the norm, and it is a way to get us all together. The more valuable the content that can be provided, the more value people see.

"… content is key, and this relationship with ITEC is one of the greatest first steps that we can take in that direction."

Prospective attendees will get access to all of that content — IEC- and ITEC-related — with one admission fee.

"One badge is going to get you everywhere you could traditionally go," said Lakisha Barclay, Rubber Division executive director and CEO. "You won't have to do an add-on for this or add-on for that; it is going to be one completely integrated conference."

For the near future, the Global Polymer Summit will be hosted at the locations previously chosen by the Rubber Division for its International Elastomer Conference. The dates of the Global Polymer Summit also will align with the previously chosen IEC dates. They are:

• Sept. 8-11, 2025, Cleveland;
• Sept. 28-Oct.1, 2026; Louisville, Ky.;
• Sept. 27-30, 2027; Cleveland;
• Sept. 11-14, 2028; Pittsburgh; and
• Oct. 1-4, 2029; Cleveland

The Silicone Conference, which is co-locating with the IEC for the first time this year, will continue to co-locate with the formation of the Global Polymer Summit. The Silicone Conference expo and programming, however, will not be integrated into the Global Polymer Summit offerings, and will instead remain separate.

With the Global Polymer Summit, an ITEC-branded event will move from a biennial schedule to an annual event. And that, Taylor said, is exactly the direction that Rubber News needs to move.

"We hear every other year that the audience and the industry misses ITEC when it's not around," Taylor said.

"Being able to be with that audience every year and not have to try to get the momentum going and get back in the forefront of people's minds every other year — it is much better to be in a yearly cycle. It is the way that people are navigating the world now, it is really important."

What is equally important is having a partner like the Rubber Division — and an event like the Global Polymer Summit—to grow and strengthen the ITEC brand.

"Both the Rubber Division and Rubber News work to elevate the industry with news, education and technology," said Christine Zernick, Rubber News sales director. "… (It) just makes sense to bring together a show that addresses all of these things in one place."

"One of the things I really appreciate is, I think the Rubber Division and them as an event — the IEC — really understand the power and value of Rubber News as a brand and a partner. (They see) that we can help partner to grow the (Global Polymer Summit) better than anyone else," Taylor said. "Having them put their trust in Rubber News as a brand really helps us want to grow the event with them as a (partner)."

For the Rubber Division, the new partnership with Crain and launch of the Global Polymer Summit represents fulfillment of its mission: to serve the rubber industry and its members to the best of its ability.

"As a member-based association, we get the benefit of bringing all the members of the industry together. So our whole foundation and mission is about collaboration and partnerships," Barclay said. "We are the entity that steps aside and says, 'let's everyone come into the room and exchange information, knowledge — all those things that have continued to grow the industry since we were created in 1909.'

"This is just a continuation of that."

Learn more and stay connected to the latest event news by visiting globalpolymersummit.com.