ARPM announces 2026 advanced rubber manufacturing training
Indianapolis, IN — The Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) is pleased to announce that the agenda for the 2026 Advanced Rubber Product Manufacturing Technologies Training, part of the ARPM Training Academy, is now complete. This premier, in-person program brings together leading technical experts to deliver a comprehensive, systems-level view of modern rubber manufacturing focused on improving consistency, reducing cost, and enabling smarter adoption of advanced technologies.
Slated for February 16–18, the multi-day training covers the entire rubber manufacturing lifecycle, from materials and compound development through fabrication, automation, and product liability considerations. The finalized agenda reflects ARPM’s commitment to practical, forward-looking education that helps manufacturers connect technical decisions to operational and business outcomes.
Agenda Highlights Include:
Day 1 – February 16: Technology Development, Raw Materials & Quality
Manufacturing cost-reduction strategies
Joe Walker, Elastomer Technologies, LLC
Printing of real rubber
Dr. Joey Mead, UMass Lowell
Virtual manufacturing for rubber molding
Harshal Bhogesra, Moldex3D
Printing molds for rubber applications
Scott Kraemer, Xact Metal, Inc.
Incoming inspection and failure analysis using FTIR and handheld Raman
Cory Nicely & Keara Lydon, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Quality testing and raw material risk mitigation
Spencer Bagan, Montech USA; Joe Walker, Elastomer Technologies, LLC
Day 2 – February 17: Material Development, Mixing & Automation
Sequential material design
Dr. Bob Keller
Optimizing rubber manufacturing with automated additive dosing systems
Murray Steeves, Dositech USA
Advanced rubber mixing technologies
Georgia Sharp, HF Mixing Group GmbH
Rubber machine automation: what’s new and what’s next
Barry Brian, DRM LLC
Measurement confidence and metrology training
Spencer Bagan, MonTech USA
Automated part marking and inspection
Matt Foundos, Keyence Corporation of America
Day 3 – February 18: Fabrication, Automation & Risk Management
Automation solutions for rubber molding
Tony Molesworth, Maplan
Product liability: responsibilities, warranties, and specification pitfalls
Ice Miller
Case study: avoiding “word traps” in specifications and communication
Dr. Bob Keller & Joe Walker
‘“The strength of this program is its lifecycle perspective,” said Letha Keslar, executive director of ARPM. “By addressing materials, processing, automation, and product risk as interconnected decisions, this training helps manufacturers operate smarter, not just more efficiently, while reducing exposure and strengthening long-term competitiveness.”
The 2026 Advanced Rubber Product Manufacturing Technologies Training continues ARPM’s long-standing tradition of delivering high-impact technical education that supports both individual professional development and smarter manufacturing operations across the rubber products industry.
For more information about the ARPM Training Academy and upcoming programs, visit www.arpm.com.