ICE '98 Preview
Dateline: 01/12/98A last-minute business trip forces me to be brief this week... (And I don't recommend an Albuquerque to San Diego round trip in one day.)
The International Composites Expo starts this coming Sunday, January 18, in Nashville. This annual conference and exhibition is sponsored by the Composites Institute.
The only event on Sunday is a three hour tutorial called "Introduction to Composites." The tutorial covers the different types of consituent and composite materials, the processing methods for manufacturing composite structures, and the relationship between these factors and the end product.
Tutorial participants will receive two reference books: a handbook which expands on the topics covered in the lecture; and a buyer's guide listing over 1000 composites companies. Even if you don't get much out of the tutorial, the reference books should be worth the $75 tutorial fee.
Of more practical interest may be three hands-on demonstrations. On Monday afternoon, A&P Technology will demonstrate the layup of braided composites. On Tuesday afternoon, Micromet Instruments will demonstrate a resin flow control system for use in resin infusion processes. And on Wednesday, Venus-Gusmer will demonstrate an environmentally friendly laminating process .
The plenary session on Monday morning features four speakers who will discuss the global composites market. The expo closes Wednesday afternoon with an awards ceremony, featuring Don Mattingly as the guest speaker.
Papers are presented in 22 sessions, with typically three to five sessions running concurrently. Each session features five or six papers, and the sessions are run by a moderator and a vice moderator. Session topics primarily focus on manufacturing processes and specific applications. The processes covered include braiding, RTM, SMC/BMC, pultrusion, and compression molding. Several of the applications sessions focus on civil engineering, infrastructure, and industrial applications. Other sessions include recycling, the regulatory environment, and wood-reinforced composites.
Exhibits run daily in the afternoon. Over 100 companies will have booths. Industries represented include material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, publishers, and end-product manufacturers.
Full registration is $450 for Composites Institute members, or $600 for non-members. Single day registration is $225 ($275 for non-members), and Expo-only registration is $75. If you haven't registered yet you have until Thursday, January 15. Call the Composites Institute at 212-351-5405 for more information.
Oh yes--If you attend the Expo, make sure you don't miss the International Dessert Extravaganza on Tuesday evening.
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