February 20, 2008 Having successfully passed Responsible Distribution Process Document Verification, Regular members are entitled to all Association benefits. Regular members are required to demonstrate implementation of environmental, health, safety, and security policies and procedures under RDP's Code of Management Practice to independent 3rd party verifier in second verification, RDP Verification. RDPV, an on-site verification, is required once every 36 months.

February 20, 2008 Scheduled for March 20-22, 2008, China International Machine Vision Exhibition will include fundamentals training session led by Valerie Bolhouse, machine vision expert and former staff technical specialist with Advanced Manufacturing Group at Ford Motor Company. International Pavilion enables companies worldwide to meet distribution partners, forge relationships for project cooperation, and coordinate direct investment for localized presence.

February 20, 2008 Don W. Cochran, Chairman and CEO of Pressco Technology Inc., was presented with the 2008 Automated Imaging Achievement Award at the AIA's 16th Annual Business Conference in Orlando, Florida. Presented by John Merva, the award recognizes Cochran for his outstanding contributions to the machine vision and imaging industry. He founded Pressco Automation Group in 1982 and holds 17 US patents relative to machine vision, lighting, and optics.

February 20, 2008 A new Validation Framework for testing the compliancy of products implementing GigE Vision(TM) was first used at the GigE Vision(TM) Plug Fest, held during the VISION 2007 trade fair in Stuttgart, Germany in November, 2007. Using the framework, 17 camera, software, and frame grabber manufacturers that have developed or are developing GigE Vision(TM) products were able to publicly test the interoperability of their products. The tests resulted in complete compliancy for all vendors.

February 20, 2008 Michael Cyros, President of Allied Vision Technologies, Inc., has been elected 2008 President of the AIA. Succeeding John Merva who served 3 yr as President, Cyros will also serve on the Automation Technologies Council (ATC) Board. In addition, the 2007-2008 board of directors are: Jorgen Andersen, Glenn Archer, Rob Giesen, Mike Kelley, Dietmar Ley, Marilyn Matz, John Merva, Amir Novini, Rusty Ponce de Leon, Keith Reuben, and Edward Roney.

February 20, 2008 The IMTS 2008-hosted Manufacturing Business and Technology Forum, Where Technology and Business Connect, will be held during IMTS on September 8-13, 2008. It will feature educational sessions conducted by the SME, CAR, ASPE, NTMA, and AMT. The sessions will cover technologies that can change the way companies manufacture, business development and optimization, workforce efficiency, and productivity as well as MT Connect interoperability standard.

February 19, 2008 Created by international team of Certified Laser Safety Officers, Best Practices in Laser Safety handbook offers compendium of procedures, policies, and practical advice to be used by laser safety professionals using Class 3B and Class 4 lasers. Chapters cover areas of laser safety practices that are typically needed in anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of laser hazards as well as rules and regulations that have been established to minimize risk.

February 19, 2008 From March 2-7, 2008 AMCA International will host annual educational and informative meetings in Las Vegas, NV. AMCA International Sales and Marketing Council Meeting will cover topics such as Branding and Positioning Your Green Building Offerings, Digital Buildings and Your Technology Roadmap, and Growing a Green Marketing Plan. AMCA International Engineering Conference is open to non-AMCA members and is accredited for 12 professional development hours.

February 19, 2008 Presented by AME who have partnered with SME and Shingo Prize, Lean Bronze Certification Review Class will be held on Feb 25 and 26 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Optional Certification Exam will be conducted on Feb 27. Class activities will include review of the Body of Knowledge and recommended reading materials, discussion of Lean Concepts, practice exercises, sample test questions, and discussion of Lean Certification Portfolio and mentoring requirements.

February 19, 2008 Advance Program for 3rd Pacific International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics provides details for technical sessions, poster presentations, Vendor TableTop Display and Reception, and the International Enterprise Summit during PICALO. Program includes Plenary Session; Laser Materials Processing Conference; Micro, Nano, and Ultrafast Fabrication Conference; and Pre- and Post-Conference tours. PICALO is scheduled for April 16-18, 2008 in Beijing, China.

February 19, 2008 Scheduled for May 19, 2008, Basic Liquid Filtration and Separation Course and Basic Gas/Air Filtration and Separation Course will teach attendees basic principles behind liquid filtration and gas/air filtration, respectively, so they can determine what type of filter will meet their requirements. Overviews of competing technologies will be provided. Courses will kickoff 21st Annual Conference in Valley Forge, PA from May 19-22.

February 19, 2008 Being developed by Subcommittee C09.49 on Pervious Concrete, WK16885 Test Method for Density and Void Content of Pervious Concrete will be used to verify that fresh pervious concrete being delivered represents producer's mix design for given project. Proposed standard will also be used by engineers, test laboratories, and producers investigating different mixture proportions. All interested parties are invited to join in development of standard.

February 19, 2008 Under jurisdiction of Subcommittee C16.33 on Insulation Finishes and Moisture, proposed standard, WK16466, will aid laboratories and materials manufacturers in testing moisture properties in construction materials. Standard focuses on test for pressure plate apparatus, which is used to characterize ability of materials to hold moisture under very high relative humidity conditions greater than 97%.

February 19, 2008 On April 7, ASTM International Committee D10 on Packaging will present a Distribution Packaging Workshop. It will cover Single-Parcel Shipping Environment, focusing on direct-to-consumer shipments and how packages are routed. Transportation Vibration Measurement discussion will focus on measurement and analysis of truck and rail distribution among distribution centers worldwide, and Dangerous Goods Shipments will address maintaining integrity of packaging during high altitude transportation.

February 19, 2008 Developed by Subcommittee G03.02 on Natural and Environmental Exposure Tests, proposed standard WK16895 will aid in testing of automotive interior materials and parts, draperies, or other applications in which durability behind glass is desired. Proposed standard introduces black panel that thermostatically controls recirculation fan, allowing materials to be tested under broad range of temperatures without exceeding end-use temperatures.

February 19, 2008 Governments of U.S., Brazil, and European Union released analysis of current biofuel specifications with goal of facilitating expanded trade of these renewable energy sources. Spurred by increased market demands, report was conducted by international group of fuel standards experts, who found that bioethanol and biodiesel standards, and specifications they contain, share much common ground and, therefore, impose few impediments to biofuel trade.

February 18, 2008 In response to requests from fuel producers worldwide, ASTM International Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle has developed standard for using total evaporation method to determine uranium or plutonium composition. With properly equipped mass spectrometer, method is suited for analyzing very small samples and will find application with uranium enrichment facilities, nuclear fuel producers, and fuel reprocessing facilities.

February 15, 2008 On Feb 21, 2008, PMA Tennessee District will host meeting to provide metalformers with industry benchmarking information. Speaker Bill Gaskin, president of PMA, will highlight several critical management, quality, and productivity measures from PMA's benchmarking service. Training hours, lost workday injuries, employee turnover, average setup time, earnings before interest and taxes, and many other key measures will be reviewed.

February 15, 2008 At U.S. Department of Commerce conference on "Powering Our Low Carbon Future", John E. Shelk, president and CEO of EPSA, reaffirmed that competitive electricity suppliers are leaders in adopting more efficient and innovative methods of generating electricity to meet nation's future electricity needs. EPSA members are pushing forward on wind, solar, geothermal, and clean coal, and filed first applications for new nuclear plants in over a decade.

February 15, 2008 Updated by AAMA, AAMA 925-07 specification establishes standard method of evaluating side-hinged door leaf for ability to resist vertical load along lock stile in typical door frame. Edits were made to requirement of max force-to-latch load in test report, and 15 lb pass-fail criteria was replaced with procedure for conducting force-to-latch tests. Force-to-latch testing protocol was modified to coincide with North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights.