By Lindsey Munson, managing editor, Plastics Business
It’s been two weeks since 600 plastics leaders gathered in Indianapolis, and the impact of MAPP’s 2026 Benchmarking and Best Practices Conference continues to hit home throughout the industry. For three days, September 29 through October 1, the conference was centered on the theme of empowerment, engagement and excellence.
The conference opened with a welcome and inspirational message from Troy Nix, MAPP executive director, who spoke on the importance of community and bringing energy and purpose to every area of life, both personally and professionally. Sharing personal experiences and giving attendees a front-row seat to some of his most challenging moments, Nix emphasized the resilience, perspective and relationships that have shaped his leadership journey. His message reinforced MAPP’s mission of helping processors build stronger businesses through collaboration, benchmarking and continuous improvement.
A strong lineup of keynote speakers set the tone for the event, bringing attendees to the edge of their seats. Seb Terry encouraged the audience to unlock human potential by creating cultures built on connection, trust and shared purpose. Tom Taber of t4associates shared how customer experience often determines whether companies win or lose business, sharing insights gathered from more than 5,000 customer interviews (Wow!). Jay Kiew wrapped up the day by exploring how manufacturing leaders can confidently navigate economic uncertainty, workforce challenges and the increase of agentic AI through his Change Fluency™ framework. On the conference’s final day, Laurie Harbour and Mike Devereux of Wipfli delivered the state of the industry, speaking on tariffs, market trends, business valuation drivers, AI adoption and strategies. Additionally, Derek Moeller of CognitionWorks shared how MAPP members are using agentic AI to improve quoting, scheduling, forecasting and other key operations, while building a competitive advantage.
Beyond the main stage, attendees participated in BC Labs dedicated to every area of a manufacturing business, including executive leadership, operations, engineering, automation, finance, IT, procurement, human resources, sales and more. Roundtable Discussions encouraged peers to have open discussions on workforce development, financial performance, smart manufacturing and business best practices.
Innovation was at the forefront throughout the conference. MAPP’s annual Innovation Awards applauded member companies for developing creative solutions that advance manufacturing performance and efficiency. Congratulations to this year’s winners for their commitment to innovation!
HR & Workforce Innovation
- 1st: Intek Plastics
- 2nd: ADMO, Inc.
- 3rd: Mergon Group
Automated Manufacturing Solutions
- 1st: Falcon Plastics
- 2nd: RD Industries, Inc.
- 3rd: Deluxe Plastics
The conference also recognized Makuta Inc. with the Viewer’s Choice Award, voted on by attendees. WITTMANN Group sponsored the 2026 Innovation Awards, whose support helped celebrate the industry’s commitment to advancing manufacturing through innovation. In addition, the Innovation Hall showcased robotics, automation, AI-powered manufacturing solutions, ERP systems and process automation.
Attendees were treated to new experiences that expanded the conference, including pre-conference leadership development workshops, Young Professionals programming and networking opportunities, as well as the inaugural Made in America: Tooling Trade Fair that connected plastics processors with US mold builders.
In late November, check out Issue 4 of Plastics Business for an in-depth, four-page recap of the 2026 MAPP Benchmarking and Best Practices Conference!
Congratulations to the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (MAPP) team on another outstanding event. Your dedication to the plastics industry, commitment to providing members with world-class resources and unwavering support for plastics processors continue to make a lasting impact. It was an amazing conference!
Save the date: #BenchCon27 returns October 20-22, 2027!
More information: www.plasticsbusinessmag.com