The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD, Overland Park, Kansas / USA; www.iapd.org) and the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA, Glen Ellyn, Illinois / USA; www.ppfahome.org) recently entered into a cooperation to promote plastic industrial piping systems to engineers.

The cooperation has its roots in the commitment of IAPD’s Pipe Valves and Fittings Common Interest Group (PVF CIG) to grow its membership, content and education on thermoplastic industrial piping systems, as well as integrate PVF information into IAPD’s publications, events and marketing activities.

A first step of their mutual work will be a marketing campaign targeting end-users such as engineers. In the future, the two associations plan to focus on educating both end-users and the public about the benefits of engineering plastics, particularly thermoplastic industrial piping systems, and expanding the market.

Both associations share a number of common interests and their "decision to work together will allow for the individual goals of IAPD and PPFA to be met through maximising shared resources," said IAPD's executive director Susan Avery.