TCT 2001 Conference and Exhibition: the details

The TCT 2001 Conference and Exhibition, to be held at the Manchester International Convention Centre on 26-27 September 2001 will include live demonstrations and new product launches

The TCT 2001 Conference and Exhibition, to be held at the Manchester International Convention Centre (MICC), Manchester and taking place 26th-27th September 2001, is the premier European forum for all aspects of rapid product development (RPD), from initial concept and design engineering issues, through to production of the final product.

With RPD widely recognised as the single most important factor affecting the long-term prospects of companies operating in the manufacturing sector, implementing coherent RPD practices has never been more important.

The focus of TCT 2001 is on providing conference delegates and visitors to the exhibition with a two day event that offers a comprehensive source for all of their rapid product development needs.

The exhibition forum will include live demonstrations and new product launches, and visitors will be able to discover the latest advances in 3D CAD and simulation software and the most up-to-date rapid tooling methodologies, as well as meet the RPD industry's major suppliers - all under one roof.

Delegates at the TCT Conference will hear some of the world's leading manufacturers talk about how they have successfully applied time-compression technologies to achieve manufacturing excellence and significantly reduce their lead times and costs.

Overall, the event is designed to ensure that time away from the office is kept to a minimum while maximising that time to its full potential in terms of information gained and contacts made.

With no promotional papers presented at TCT, the focus of the conference is heavily placed on the applications of time-compression technologies for everyone, from the largest multi-national to the increasing number of successful SMEs.

The programme is all-inclusive, regardless of industry background.

Presentations have been evaluated based not only on content, but also on the knowledge and experience of the presenter.

Presentations will be given by individuals with a solid background in Rapid Product Development, who will talk openly and frankly about their experiences.

They will also be able to offer guidance and advice to delegates where appropriate.

The organisers of TCT 2001 are also proud to announce that the Guest Keynote Speaker at the conference will be Terry Wohlers.

Terry is a renowned RPD industry expert and is president of Wohlers Associates, an independent consulting firm he founded in 1986.

For the past 24 years, he has focused his education, research, and practice on design and manufacturing.

Terry's views and opinions come from years of collecting and analysing market data, coupled with work as a consultant and advisor to major organisations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

The Keynote Speech, entitled "A Winning Formula for Product Development Evolution" will detail how companies will have little choice but to make sweeping changes, both cultural and technical, to their product development practices to offer winning products in the future.

Excuses such as "We've never done it that way before" will be fatal to some organisations.

Engineering groups, for example, will begin to accept some of the responsibilities that have been with the model shop and prototyping labs in the past.

Tooling engineers also face an interesting and challenging time.

Never before have they been met with such a confusing list of options for tooling.

Manufacturing engineers will encounter difficult choices too, some involving radical methods of manufacturing parts.

Ignoring these innovative methods could mean that some companies will pay the ultimate price.

This is an exciting time to be a part of the product development process, but only the bold, proactive, and progressive-thinking companies will evolve in the direction needed to develop a winning formula for success.

The exhibition that runs alongside the conference offers all attendees the opportunity to network with like-minded people, without being put under the pressure of "a hard sell".

Approximately 100 exhibitors will be at TCT 2001.

Exhibits on show will include a full suite of all the RP machines available on the market and feature vehicles and static displays of innovative products.

The exhibition will also offer interested parties a comprehensive range of solutions for: 3D CAD/CAM/CAE; reverse engineering; desktop verification/analysis; rapid prototyping/casting; rapid tooling; and materials.

TCT is a critical event for any company that is looking to reduce its costs or lead times at any stage of the design and manufacturing process.

The event - which is supported by the DTI, GTMA, and other leading trade bodies - will enable delegates and visitors to learn about the latest developments in time-compression technologies and products AND find the necessary suppliers and primary service providers quickly and easily.

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