April 7, 2008 During Third Annual Interoperability Week, scheduled for April 28-May 2, researchers will tackle emerging standards for transmitting data from machines that use different software programs, and formal rules for understanding meaning of terms in data and their relationships. Week will include Ontology Summit, meeting of Open Applications Group, Inc, Collaborative Expedition workshop, Sensor Standards Harmonization Working Group, and 2D/3D Content Representation, Analysis, and Retrieval workshop.

April 7, 2008 As AEM director, Douglas R. Oberhelman, Group President of Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria, Illinois, helps set guidelines and operating policies of association on behalf of its members. Areas addressed include technical and safety services, market information and equipment statistics, global public policy, and trade shows, as well as international support services, education and training, workforce development, and worksite safety/ educational materials.

April 7, 2008 Approved by ANSI on Aug 17, 2007 and by ASHRAE on March 18, 2008, ANSI/AMCA STANDARD 210-07-ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 51-07 establishes uniform methods for laboratory test of fan or other air moving device to determine aerodynamic performance in terms of airflow rate, pressure developed, power consumption, air density, speed of rotation, and efficiency for rating or guarantee purposes.

April 4, 2008 During IFPE Technical Conference hosted by NFPA and held in conjunction with IFPE 2008, NFPA presented proceedings of 51st National Conference on Fluid Power. Ninety-six presentations covering latest power transmission and motion control practices and ideas were discussed during IFPE's Technical Conference. Presentations are available in book or CD format. Individual papers may also be purchased.

April 4, 2008 During annual meeting of IFPAC, representatives from NIST, NIH, FDA, and MIT co-chaired session to develop vision for future of biomanufacturing. Group detailed challenges facing industry over next 10 years, such as on-line process tools, improved sensor calibration, and data analysis methods. Group announced intention to stimulate discussion and cooperation among stakeholders, including federal government, academia, and research interests, to address technological and scientific hurdles.

April 4, 2008 Carol Sturman, founder and President of Sturman Industries, Woodland Park, CO, will receive SAE International's J. Cordell Breed Award for Women Leaders during SAE 2008 World Congress Award Ceremony on April 15. Award recognizes women who have significantly contributed to mobility engineering industry through service, leadership, innovation, technical skills, and involvement in SAE International.

April 4, 2008 Matatoshi Shimoda and Jiro Tsuji are the recipients of SAE International's Colwell Merit Award and will be honored at the SAE 2008 World Congress Award Ceremony on April 15 in Detroit. They will be recognized for co-authoring Non-parametric Shape Optimization Method for Rigidity Design of Automotive Sheet Metal Structures.

April 4, 2008 Ming Lang Kuang of Ford Motor Company is the recipient of SAE International's Henry Ford II Distinguished Award for Excellence in Automotive Engineering. He will be honored during the SAE 2008 World Congress. Kuang has worked at Ford for 17 yr in the areas of hybrid vehicle system controls, vehicle dynamics and controls. He has authored or co-authored 12 technical papers in various engineering journals and holds 26 U.S. patents, with 16 in production, and 6 international patents.

April 4, 2008 The SAE 2008 World Congress from April 14-17 at Cobo Center in Detroit will feature more than 35,000 automotive professionals. The event will include 3 executive-level business theaters to serve as focal points, including the AVL Technology Leadership Theater, the FEV Powertrain Innovation Forum, and the SAE Executive Business Theater co-sponsored by ATX Group and Consulting4Drive. Chairman of the event is Frank Klegon, executive VP of product development at Chrysler LLC.

April 4, 2008 Recipients of SAE International's Technical Standards Board Outstanding Contribution Award include Robert Baker, who has held various leadership positions in the Acoustical Materials Committee, and Paul Belanger, of Chrysler LLC, responsible for the engineering design and development of the next generation Dodge Ram Cab. Gerald Veen, who has led the reverb room task force for the past 5 yr, and Barry Wyerman, Chair of the SAE Acoustical Materials Committee, are also recipients.

April 4, 2008 According to the MAPI Quarterly Industrial Outlook, most industries experiencing an economic decline in 2008 should rebound in 2009. Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., concluded that 5 industries are in the recovery phase of the business cycle, 11 are in the expansion phase, 9 are in early- or mid-recession phase, and 2 are in decelerating decline. The forecast is for 10 of 24 industries to show growth in 2008 while in 2009, 20 of 24 industries are expecting growth, with 2 remaining flat.

April 4, 2008 Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, said that "..economic uncertainty and tightened credit availability, amid high and rising costs for energy, is not a conducive environment for business investment in capital equipment." He added that "An important support for the industrial equipment sector is that exports are booming and imports are weak."

April 3, 2008 American Foundry Society has established task force for Area Source Rules for aluminum, copper-base, and other nonferrous metalcasters under development by EPA. Comprised of representatives from metalcasting facilities, environmental consultants, and industry associations, task force works with EPA during rulemaking process to ensure agency understands concerns of metalcasting industry and effect increased environmental control will have on casting manufacturers.

April 3, 2008 MAPI announced the meeting dates of the Council program as well as 2 special forums, including the Benefits Forum on June 3 and the Talent & Leadership Development Forum on June 4, in Chicago, IL. The schedule includes 28 meetings being held between January 31 and June 4. The Council program allows industry executives to engage in frank dialogue with their peers, with more than 2,100 senior executives currently participating.

April 2, 2008 The purpose of this alliance is to provide crane, hoist, and monorail system owners and operators with information, guidance, and access to education and training resources. The statement of renewal also emphasizes the alliance's efforts to protect Spanish-speaking and other hard to reach employees. As part of the alliance, originally signed in October 2005, OSHA participated in ProMat 2007 and members have developed various safety and health materials.

April 2, 2008 MHIA's Roundtable of Industry Leaders includes Material Handling Industry Board of Governors and MHIA Directors at Large. Serving as Board of Directors for Material Handling Industry, Board of Governors consists of officers of Material Handling Industry plus Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of corporation. Primary mission is accomplished through regularly scheduled activities of Board, budget and finance, planning, and standing committees.

April 2, 2008 In its 46th year, 2008 Design Awards Competition will accept structures in U.S., Canada, or Mexico completed within last 3 years and substantially constructed with plant-manufactured precast, prestressed concrete, glass-fiber reinforced concrete, or architectural precast concrete. Jurors will consider creativity and ingenuity used to achieve aesthetic expression, function, economy, and sustainability, and will recognize excellence in design, engineering, manufacturing, and erecting.

April 2, 2008 PMMI announced the 17 packaging industry professionals who will serve on the Conference Program Advisory Committee for the Conference at PACK EXPO, being held in conjunction with PACK EXPO International 2008. Committee members will review proposals and offer guidance to potential speakers at the Conference. The program theme is Change, Innovation, and Sustainability.

April 2, 2008 According to the 2008 U.S. Packaging Machinery Purchasing Plans Study, consumer and industrial goods companies plan on spending 0.6% more for packaging machinery in 2008 over 2007 levels. The report shows that food and personal care products segments will show growth, while beverages; pharmaceuticals; chemicals; consumer, commercial, and industrial durables/hard goods; and paper products, textiles, and other non-durables will show moderate declines.

April 2, 2008 With more than 90% of exhibit space sold, PACK EXPO International, scheduled for Nov 9-11 at McCormick Place in Chicago, will highlight innovation across all aspects of packaging, including equipment, components, materials, and containers. Attendees will have access to more than 2,000 exhibitors occupying over 1.1 million net sq-ft of space. Some exhibits include Containers and Materials Pavilion, RFID Pavilion, Brand Protection Center, and Contract Packaging Pavilion.