SME Conference moves to Florida.
Press Release Summary:
The SME RAPID Conference and Exposition will be held at the Coronado Springs Resort and Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, FL on May 20-22, 2008. The move was made to take advantage of the more than 16,000 manufacturing establishments, which include medical, aerospace, and defense industries, located throughout the state. Speakers are being sought to offer information on selection and applications as well as discussions of new technology advances.
Original Press Release:
RAPID 2008 Makes a Move to Florida
Conference Call for Speakers Open
DEARBORN, Mich., October 2, 2007 - The Society of Manufacturing Engineers' (SME) RAPID Conference and Exposition comes to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on May 20-22, 2008. This premier rapid technologies and additive manufacturing event highlights the latest advances and provides an opportunity for industry experts to reach manufacturing professionals involved in product design and development.
"The future of design and manufacturing for the medical industry will be strongly related to customized part production, both for internal and external devices," says advisory chairman, Michael Siemer. "Additive fabrication is the enabling technology that will allow for this trend of medical product mass customization and RAPID is the premier event to become educated in the field." Advisor Terry Wohlers adds, "The RAPID event is the most important conference and exposition on rapid product development in North America. Most of the key companies and their products and services will be in attendance. It could mean lost opportunities for those who miss the event."
The event's move to Florida was made to take advantage of the more than 16,000 manufacturing establishments located throughout the state. Florida has a diverse economy that involves several major industries - such as medical, aerospace and defense - that can benefit from rapid manufacturing technologies.
The annual conference and exposition is looking for speakers to offer practical information on selection and applications as well as discussions of new technology advances. Experienced users are invited to take an active role in this cutting-edge program as a speaker to share their knowledge and experience with new, current, and expert users. Conference organizers are looking for speakers to offer practical information on selection and applications as well as presentations on new technological advances. Industry experts and experienced users are invited to share their knowledge with their peers through an active role in this cutting-edge program.
Guided by and with the active involvement of SME members, along with other industry and academia professionals, the event addresses those issues of highest interest to rapid manufacturing professionals. The 2008 conference advisors are:
Kevin Ayers, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Vesna Cota, Tyco Electronics Canada
Carl Dekker, MET-L-FLO Inc.
Boris Fritz, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Timothy Gornet, University of Louisville
Todd Grimm, T.A. Grimm & Associates, Inc.
Sheku Kamara, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Douglas B. Mitchell, Ford Motor Company
Scott Schermer, SC Johnson & Son
Michael Siemer, Mydea Technologies
Thomas Sorovetz, Chrysler Jeep & Truck
Brent Stucker, Utah State University
Graham Tromans, Loughborough University
Terry Wohlers, Wohlers Associates
For additional information on RAPID 2008, including topics of interest, conference abstract guidelines and submission form visit http://www.sme.org/rapid.
About SME:
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers is the world's leading professional society supporting manufacturing education. Through its member programs, publications, expositions and professional development resources, SME promotes an increased awareness of manufacturing engineering and helps keep manufacturing professionals up to date on leading trends and technologies. Headquartered in Michigan, SME influences more than half a million manufacturing practitioners and executives annually. The Society, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2007, has members in more than 70 countries and is supported by a network of hundreds of technical communities and chapters worldwide.
