Admittedly this is unusual, since Ceramitec happens once only three years. However, it's a big show, with some 600+ exhibitors, some of them familiar names for a PM audience. That would be no surprise, given the interest that the Fachverband Pulvermetallurgie has displayed in the event. In fact there is an extensive supporting programme, parts of which could well interest those in the PM community. The event is certainly of interest to us, given that the overlap of powder technologies is becoming difficult to ignore. So we will be there.
The support programme features lectures on specialist themes and panel discussions. Participation is free. In a wide range of segments within the ceramics industry, efficient use of energy plays a significant role in upstream and high-temperature processes. Ceramitec takes diverse perspectives – preparation technology, shaping, drying technology and sintering technology – so as to better cater for the different specialist disciplines. The partner for the “Energy and Cost-Efficiency” event is the German Ceramics Society (Deutsche Keramische Gesellschaft – DKG), which will be drawing on its broad-based network of leading experts and speakers.
The innovative capability of technical ceramics and powder metallurgy and the potential of modern processing techniques for establishing new products will be showcased in the “Technical Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy Day” on Wednesday, 21 October. Among the themes highlighted at this event will be new and established technologies for manufacturing powder metallurgy components and innovations and technologies for production in the ceramics industry and other fields of application.
Different manufacturing processes, innovative techniques and newly developed systems from both areas will be presented. The technical organisation of this event is in the hands of the Fraunhofer IKTS (Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems) and TASK/Meeting Point Ceramics in co-operation with Germanýs powder metallurgy trade association – Fachverband Pulvermetallurgie.
Running down the line of “a theme a day”, a trade journal Zi (Ziegelindustrie International, bauverlag) is organising a “Heavy Clay Day” on Thursday, 22 October. The themes covered by the lectures at this event include energy efficiency from product manufacturing to energy optimisation throughout the entire production process, energy-efficient buildings and the future potential open to the sector.
And finally, the programme boasts another premiere: On Friday, 23 October, an “India Day” will be staged as a follow-up to the 5th Ceramitec Round Table which took place in November 2008 in Mumbai. This event is designed as an Indian-European partnership meeting, and an opportunity to highlight the situation in the Indian market against the background of economic crisis.