SAMPE Tech Continues to Grow
October 21, 2011 – (Covina, CA) – SAMPE Tech, the premier fall event for advanced materials and processes (M&P) professionals, drew 999 attendees. Complimenting this respected conference was the SAMPE Exhibit Hall, which sold out and required the addition of exhibit space. Co-located with SME’s Manufacturing with Composites Conference and the ASTM D30 Meeting, this event drew material and processing engineers, manufacturing engineers, scientists, technologists and educators for four days of unparalleled educational programming.
SAMPE’s conference program was well attended by M&P engineers, manufacturing engineers, scientists, technologists and educators from nearly two dozen countries. The sold-out exhibit hall featured companies representing all facets of the industry.
“This year’s success demonstrates not only the strength of the industry, but of SAMPE’s value to the M&P community,” said Anthony J. Vizzini, PhD, SAMPE President and Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Michigan University. "Nowhere else will you find such a diverse and influential group of professionals whose primary focus is on advanced M&P development and applications."
The conference began with a keynote presentation by Phil Condit titled “Leading in Innovation and Business”. Mr. Condit, former CEO of the Boeing Company, oversaw the integration of Rockwell Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas into Boeing to form the world’s largest aerospace company.
Wednesday’s keynote presentation on “External Surface Changes Observed on the International Space Station (ISS) through 2010” was given by Dr. Johnny Golden, Boeing Technical Fellow. His talk highlighted the wide variety of environmental effects on external surfaces of the ISS and the challenges they presented.
On Thursday, SAMPE honored conference and committee volunteers and award winners during the Awards Luncheon. The event featured a presentation by Mike Harmon, Director of Dell Services Engineering Solutions, on “The Engineering Community in Society.”
“This conference featured topics and information that is of significant value to M&P professionals.” Todd Hammer, South Central Regional Manager at Stiles Machinery said. “The committee and volunteers worked very hard to develop this program and we’re pleased by the positive feedback we have received this week.”
The next SAMPE Tech will take place October 22-25, 2012, at the Charleston Convention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina.