FMA and LIA Purchase ALAW
Orlando, Fla. - April 28, 2006 - The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), Rockford, Ill., and the Laser Institute of America (LIA), Orlando, Fla., announced today that they have purchased the Automotive Laser Application Workshop (ALAW) from founder Frank DiPietro.
The joint acquisition of ALAW represents an opportunity to bring together the laser technology and safety standards expertise of LIA and the metal fabricating industry and educational strengths of FMA to produce an unparalleled educational laser technology conference beneficial to both organizations' members and readers.
"This will empower the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association to provide greater access to cutting-edge laser technology to our 1,500 members and 160,000 subscribers," said FMA President and CEO Gerald Shankel.
"We at the Laser Institute of America look forward to working with FMA to continue to build on the strong tradition of ALAW. This will further emphasize our strength and presence in the laser end user community," said LIA Executive Director Peter Baker.
Laser industry icon Frank DiPietro will chair the 2007 conference and continue to provide inspiration and leadership for the conference as a consultant for five more years. "Life is a series of transitions," DiPietro said at the 2006 ALAW in Plymouth, Mich. "Such a transition is now appropriate."
Plans for next year's ALAW include scheduling it again in Plymouth, Mich., in April 2007, event organizers said.
This year's conference included three days of presentations by industry leaders on fiber lasers, Nd:Yag laser welding, remote beam laser welding, combined laser cutting and welding, and laser surface technology in automotive applications.
The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Its mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. Serving the industrial, medical, research, and government communities, LIA offers technical information and networking opportunities to laser users from around the globe. LIA publishes The Journal of Laser Applications® which is the official journal of the LIA and serves as the major international forum for exchanging ideas and information in disciplines that apply to laser technology.
The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), provides the tools and resources metal fabricating and forming companies need to improve operations through education and training. Its publishing arm, FMA Communications, publishes four industry trade magazines that cover laser technology - The FABRICATOR®, TPJ - The Tube & Pipe Journal®, Practical Welding Today®, and Stamping Journal®. FMA co-sponsors the FABTECH International® & AWS Welding Show, North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, tube and pipe, and welding tradeshow.
For more information, contact:
Dan Breed
FMA Education
Fabricators & Manufacturers Assoc., Intl. (FMA)
833 Featherstone Drive
Rockford, IL 61107
815-227-8208
danb@fmanet.org
www.fmanet.org
Richard Greene
Education Director
Laser Institute of America (LIA)
13501 Ingenuity Drive,
Suite 128
Orlando, FL 32826
407-380-1553
laserinstitute.org;
rgreene@laserinstitute.org
www.laserinstitute.org
The Laser Institute of America is the professional society dedicated to fostering lasers, laser applications and laser safety worldwide. For complete laser safety training information contact the LIA at 800.34LASER.
The Laser Institute of America is the professional society dedicated to fostering lasers, laser applications and laser safety worldwide. For complete laser safety training information contact the LIA at 800.34LASER.
