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On the Agenda: A Fall Full of Meetings, Presentations

Aug. 21, 2007
Trade shows planners stage their events in the spring — when purchasing budgets are still flexible, perhaps — but the fall months are for meetings. That is, September through November are the time for assessing, strategizing, and planning. As fall 2007 ...

Trade shows planners stage their events in the spring — when purchasing budgets are still flexible, perhaps — but the fall months are for meetings. That is, September through November are the time for assessing, strategizing, and planning. As fall 2007 approaches, here's a tipsheet to the meetings that should matter to the metalcasting industry.

September
From September 16 through 18, the American Foundry Society will present the 2007 Foundry Executive Conference in New Castle, NH, at the Wentworth by the Sea resort. AFS is keying the promotion of this annual summit to presidential politics, in deference to the locale, but the presentation agenda covers various subjects: "How Globalization Killed U.S. Metalcasting (a fictional novel)" and "Opportunities to Enhance Productivity via National Science Foundation Partnerships" — and that will be just the morning of the first day. The rest of the schedule includes two presentations by academics on the metalcasting industry's need for young minds, and the importance of university/industry relationships.

Of course, the three-day event includes recreational opportunities like golf and tennis, too, as well as local tours and a whale-watching excursion. To register your attendance, contact AFS at Tel. 847-824-0181, or visit www.afsinc.org

The North American Die Casting Association will hold its 2007 Plant Management Conference at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, in Milwaukee, September 19-21. The meeting starts with an evening reception on September 19. Sessions run all day Thursday and Friday. The event is structured for industry professionals to share experience and gain knowledge and information via discussions, topical presentations, and facility tours. Topics scheduled for presentation include defect tracking, vacuum systems, and air treatment systems.

For details and to register, contact NADCA at Tel. 847-279-0001, or visit www.diecasting.org

October
The Non-Ferrous Founders' Society's Annual Meeting will take place October 7-10 at The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, AZ. This gathering draws foundry owners and managers as well as suppliers (who will conduct table-top exhibits of their products and services), for a series of presentations on management theories and successful operating strategies. A tour of a local manufacturer (Dolphin Inc., producer of PING golf club heads) should be well appreciated.

In addition to golf, the NFFS' recreational plans include a cooking class and tour of the nearby desert in all-terrain vehicles. Potential attendees should contact NFFS at Tel. 47/299-0950, or visit www.nffs.org

During the same days as the NFFS Annual Meeting, October 7-10, the AFS plans to conduct its 19th annual Environmental Health and Safety Conference, at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville. The four-day schedule will cover a series of important topics, including the REACH system (a new regulatory standard for the European Union, encompassing "registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals"); metalcasting and global warming; beneficial reuse and a civil lawsuit; heat stress management; silica control; and a recycling workshop.

A highlight of the EHS conference agenda will be a tour of the General Motors assembly plant in Bowling Green, KY, where the Chevrolet Corvette is produced. For details or to register as an exhibitor, contact AFS at Tel. 800-537-4237, or visit www.afsinc.org

The Investment Casting Institute will conduct its 55th Technical Conference and Expo October 14-18, at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, in Cleveland. According to ICI executive director Michael Perry, the event's 24 technical presentations represent a balance of foundries, colleges and universities, and suppliers. "It's about education, providing information on new techniques, best practices, new processing ideas, new testing methods, and new ways of doing things," according to Perry.

For information on attendence or registration, ICI at 201-573-9770, or visit www.investmentcasting.org

November
The Foundry Eductional Foundation's annual College Industry Conference is scheduled a week earlier than usual in 2007, November 8-10 — but as always it will be set at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. FEF will uses this year's CIC to celebrate its "diamond anniversary," 60 years of encouraging, supporting, and mentoring leadership development in the metalcasting industry.

The first day of the CIC is highlighted by the Industry Information Session. This tabletop event is an opportunity for companies to meet more than 100 of the top engineering students in North America, to promote their strengths and goals, and to develop connections for their mutual development.

The conference general session begins the following day, with a keynote presentation by Van Richey of American Cast Iron Pipe Co. Panelists will be Michael Belger, Spartan Light Metal Products; Gene Muratore, Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium America; and BethAnne Shaup, Pyrotek Inc.

The luncheon event that day will be highlighted by a review of FEF's history, and the FEF Awards Banquet that evening will include industry recognition awards, the E.J. Walsh Award, and the delegate scholarships, and special recognition for former FEF former students in attendance. Contact the FEF office at Tel. 847-490-9200 for more information.

Finally, the Casting Industry Suppliers Association will gather in Rosemount, IL, November 15-16 for their annual meeting and business outlook. For full details, contact CISA at Tel. 623-547-0920, or visit www.cisa.org