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September 2005
REACH leads the interest group focus in Prague
As if there wasn't enough to do attending mainstream sessions
at a conference, EuroPM2005 in Prague also offers an interesting
programme of workshops. And one Europe's most attractive capitals
has much to offer in terms of sightseeing and relaxation...
The packed programme for EuroPM 2005 Conference and Exhibition
in Prague from Monday 3 October to lunchtime on Wednesday
5 October in fact kicks off the day before with an open meeting
on the Sunday afternoon dealing with the proposed European
chemicals law, REACH. This important piece of legislation
will have profound effects on the PM industry if it comes
into force in its current proposed form. The raft of complex
rules and the 1000 or so proposed amendments is currently
being considered by the European Parliament.
The European Powder Metallurgy Association has been very
active in constructive opposition to the proposals and this
session will be well worth while attending for all those arriving
in Prague by Sunday lunchtime.
The specialist workshops that run alongside the conference
provide real focuses of interest aside from the mainstream.
A two-part Titanium Workshop on Monday features George Chen,
one of the inventors of the Fray Farthing Chen (FFC) process
for extracting metals that is currently being closely looked
at by the powder metal industry to see if it lives up to its
promise of increased quality and reduced cost (See Metal Powder
Report, September 2002 and July/August 2005). He is followed
by Malcolm Ward-Close whose group at QinetiQ has been working
on the commercialisation of the process. There have been real
difficulties for industries such as aerospace in getting quality
and price in the same ballpark, but powder metallurgy has
the potential to cut out the vast waste involved in machining
components from titanium billets.
On Tuesday morning the nanotechnology Workshop organised
by Fraunhofer's Volkmar Richter offers presentations and discussion
centred around nano-aluminium and nano-hardmetals.
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Dusk falls on one of the most romatic scenes in Europe
- the bridges over the River Vltava in Prague.
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The EPMA Awards Lunch on Tuesday provides some relief from
sessions and workshops while highlighting the industry’s
very real technical skills. The prestigious EPMA Innovation
Awards are again this year sponsored by Metal Powder Report
and have attracted entries in categories for Components, Materials,
Production Equipment and International.
The Wednesday Modelling Workshop overshoots the end of the
conference and exhibition and gives participants the chance
to hear the results of the four-year Dienet Thematic Network
that finished in February and to look at its recommendations,
including priority areas for future research.
Out of hours, delegates have a wealth of entertainment choices
in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Prague was
largely undamaged by the Second World War, and the cityscape
is stunning. Its compact medieval centre remains an evocative
maze of cobbled lanes, ancient courtyards, dark passages and
churches beyond number, all watched over by the imposing bulk
of Hdracany Castle, traditionally home to the ruler.
Since the collapse of communism in 1989, Prague has become
one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. Its traditional
pubs and eateries have been augmented by a wave of gourmet
restaurants, cocktail bars and trendy cafes - though you can
still feast on pork and dumplings washed down with a beer.
The oldest evidence of human habitation in the Prague valley
dates from around 6000 BC. “Good King Wenceslas”
of Christmas-carol fame (he was actually a duke) made Christianity
the state religion of Bohemia in the 930s and he remains the
patron saint of the Czech Republic. It was under the rule
of Charles IV
( 1346-78) that Prague truly came into its own, becoming one
of the continent's largest and most prosperous cities, acquiring
its fine Gothic face and landmark buildings like Charles University,
Charles Bridge and St Vitus Cathedral.
• Two new EPMA Sectoral Groups will be launched at
Prague with open meetings. The European Structural Parts Group
(ESPG) will promote the interests of the structural parts
manufacturing sector, while the EuroPMRADNET supports PM interests
of PM research and development in the European academic sector.
The EuroPMRADNET meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of
Sunday, 2 October. There will also be an open meeting of the
already established EuroMIM Group, which covers the interests
of the metal injection moulding sector supply chain.
• A social programme taking in tours of Hdracany Castle,
"Old Town Treasures", the Nizbor glass factory and
the Pilsner Urquell Brewery can be arranged via the EPMA:
www.epma.com
Steel as a theme
Around 3000 people are expected to brave the chill winds
of a Northern European winter to visit Stahl 2005 in Dusseldorf
on November 10 and 11.
Visitors will have the opportunity to hear presentations on
environmental considerations for makers and users of steel,
the security of raw materials supply and the factors that
contribute to business success in an increasingly globalised
world. The event will be staged at the Congress Center Dusseldorf.
Details can be obtained at www.stahl-online.de
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