The Forging Industr y Association has spent several months planning the program and exhibition for the 2008 International Forging Congress, slated for September 7-9, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. 2008 marks the first time since 1986 that the United States will host the congress, which is held every three years. (IFC 1986 was held in Orlando, FL; IFC 1968 took place in Washington, DC.)
With exhibit space sold out for several months, the 2008 edition will feature displays from over 40 companies, offering supplies and equipment, to the industry. Approximately 18 technical seminars by presenters from North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim will cover topics: automation, die life, equipment developments, heating systems, lubrication, materials, net shape, and simulation. The IFC also will address the world forging industry’s business conditions, and present an overview of the global steel industry by Peter Marcus, managing partner and CEO of World Steel Dynamics.
A schedule of plant tours across the U.S. are open to congress delegates and their cohorts (from outside North America only), from September 11-12. Sites for the tours include: Chicago (including Southern and Central Wisconsin and Western Illinois); Detroit (including Lansing and other areas of south central Michigan); Cleveland, (including Canton, OH and areas of western Pennsylvania); Cincinnati, (including Columbus, OH, and Lexington, KY); and Los Angeles, (including Torrance, Santa Ana, and Oxnard, CA.)
| Schedule of Events Sunday, September 7, 2008 Monday, September 8, 2008 9:15 – 9:40 am Forging Trends - The Americas, Rick Creed,, Weber Metals Inc., 2:00 -2:45 pm Forging Trends – China, Zhang Jin, Confederation of Chinese Metalforming Industry (CCMI) 2:50 – 3:15 pm Simulation-Based Process Design for Improvement of Profitability in the Hot Forging Industry, Professor Taylan Altan, Ohio State University 3:15 – 3:45 pm Coffee Break/Exhibit Open 4:35 – 5:00 pm New Developments of Machines for Progressive Forming, Dieter Blom, SMS Meer GmbH, Germany Tuesday, September 9, 2008 8:30 – 8:55 am Forging Trends – Europe, EUROFORGE’s Erwin Peddinghaus, Germany, and Jose Yudego, Spain 9:20 – 9:45 am New Machine Concept for Preforming by Rolls, Michael Gill, LASCO Engineering Services, Germany |