SME's Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference And Exposition Returns To Cincinnati April 29 - May 2
"RP&M 2002 is North America's most comprehensive conference and exposition dedicated to rapid manufacturing technologies. The event covers the full range of design, rapid prototyping, additive and subtractive processes used throughout the rapid product development process, and rapid processes for rapid production," said Beth Israelnaim, FineLine Prototyping, RPA/SME chairperson.
The RP&M conference offers more than 20 events and sessions that provide the latest RP technologies and process strategies. On Tuesday, April 30, the Plenary Session opens the conference with keynote speaker Doug Hall presenting Jump Start Your Business Brain. Hall, a noted author and product development expert, will provide his insight into how businesses can improve their success. The State of the Industry presentation by Terry Wohlers, followed by the Industry Panel Discussion round out morning events. As an enhancement to the conference, plant tours and tutorials are scheduled for Monday, April 29. The tours will take place at Bastech, Inc., Harrington Product Development and the University of Cincinnati's Center for Electronic Reconstruction of Historical and Archaeological Sites. The tutorials will include: Fundamentals of RP & Tooling and Laser-based Metal Deposition Technologies.
New for 2002, free exhibitor-sponsored end-user forums will showcase many of the key technologies and products on the show floor. Live demonstrations and case studies presented by actual users will provide attendees with first-hand knowledge of leading RP equipment, products and services.
Technical sessions running April 30 – May 2 will be divided into two tracks – the Strategic Track for RP business leaders, and the Design and Manufacturing Track containing the applications-based, useable technical information. Strategic Track sessions include: Assessing New RP Technologies from a Business Perspective; The Outsourcing Decision; Product Development; Trailblazer Training at Eureka! Ranch; and Challenges in Rapid Product Development: Leadership Perspective. Examples of sessions in the Design & Manufacturing Track include: Current Technologies and Advancements in RP; Rapid Tooling: Processes, Techniques & Alternatives; International Developments in RP (GARPA); and Rapid Manufacturing. The conference will conclude with the Future of RP panel discussion with leaders in the RP industry offering their insight on what the future holds.
Opening April 30, the exposition will showcase over 100 exhibitors displaying and demonstrating more than 50 advanced product development technologies, materials and services including: CAD/CAE/CAM; rapid prototyping equipment and service bureaus; reverse engineering; solids modeling; virtual prototyping and virtual reality; mold making; plastic tools; direct metal deposition and fabrication; stereolithography; three dimensional printing; fused deposition modeling; finite element analysis; composites; polymers; resins; and more.
"In today's economy with increasingly competitive business conditions, manufacturers must get higher quality products to market faster, and the Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing event can help them do that," said Gary Mikola, SME director of expositions. "RP&M 2002 has all the key resources for successful rapid product development and manufacturing."
Exposition hours are: Tuesday, April 30, Noon – 5 p.m.; Wednesday, May 1, 9 a.m. –
5 p.m.; and Thursday, May 2, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For more information on the Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference and Exposition, visit the event web site at www.sme.org/rapid; contact SME Customer Service at 800/733-4763 or 313/271-1500, ext. 1600, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, M-F; or fax to 313-271-2861.
RPA/SME, founded in 1993, is dedicated to the advancement of rapid prototyping technologies in manufacturing.
Celebrating its 70th anniversary, 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 engineers and executives annually. The Society has members in 70 countries and is supported by a network of hundreds of chapters worldwide. Visit us at www.sme.org.