When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
In 2012, the plastics and chemical industries expect they will be doing more education than advocacy in Washington, D.C., writes Mike Verespej of Plastic News. “The amount of activity at the federal level affecting the plastics industry isn’t expected to be high this year, as election-year politics are likely to slow things to a crawl,” he explains.
Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council in Washington, told Plastics News “most folks don’t sense an opportunity to get much across the finish line.”
Verespej writes that “other than the R&D tax credit, everything is up in the air.” The R&D tax credit, which was first enacted in 1981, is expected to be extended for the 15th time, according to lobbyists who spoke with Plastics News.
Although each organization that represents a sector of the plastics and chemical industry has its interests, most of them are tracking issues and watching for new initiatives related to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Specific topics include revision of the Toxic Substances Control Act, tax reform, trade pacts, energy policies, and growing overseas markets, according to Verespej. However, lobbyists told him, efforts and expectations have been scaled back relative to past years related to energy security and reform of the toxic substances control.
Confidential business information is a developing issue related to EPA that lobbyists said could turn out to be the year’s biggest regulatory challenge. Bill Allmond is a senior lobbyist and vice president of government affairs for the Washington-based Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA). He told Verespej that EPA has:
[A] proposal currently being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget that would require manufacturers to justify the confidentiality of information even before a chemical is manufactured. If that rule would go into place and companies can’t claim the identity of chemicals as confidential, the information would immediately go overseas, and be manufactured.
Allmond added that 40% of SOCMA’s member companies make active pharmaceuticals that help fight cancers at advanced stages, and they might not have been developed if there had been rules requiring the release of confidential business information.
Verespej notes that “associations and business groups will also be pressing the administration and Congress on issues related to jobs and the economy,” as job creators face more regulations than ever before.
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