Conference focuses on rapid manufacturing

The TCT 2007 Conference on Rapid Manufacturing will demonstrate to delegates how the techniques can be and are being used as a production technique.

The TCT 2007 Conference on Rapid Manufacturing (RM) has now been finalised and boasts a range of presentations covering all aspects of rapid manufacturing across a broad spectrum of industry sectors.

Being held September 26th and 27th September at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, the TCT Conference will focus on specific applications of RM from the global marketplace in order to demonstrate to delegates how RM can and is being used as a production technique.

The conference programme will also address the real issues of implementation and provide attendees with an invaluable source of information when examining RM processes for their own applications.

Joe Ferry, Head of Design at Virgin Atlantic will deliver the keynote address on the opening day of the conference, which will focus on the importance of today's design engineers embracing new and forward-thinking technologies such as RM.

Responsible for the overall development and implementation of Virgin Atlantic's design strategy for products and services Ferry is renowned within the aviation industry as a leader in innovation.

His insight and experience will provide delegates to the conference with invaluable material on which they can later draw.

TCT 2007 will also play host to other leading names in the Aerospace Sector.

Dan Johns, Technology Business Manager from Airbus UK will present a paper entitled "The Airbus Additive Layer Manufacturing Vision", which will focus on how Airbus has built on the rapid, successful up-take of Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) technologies within the company.

The presentation will also aim to demonstrate how to resolve the challenges Airbus faces in its efforts to introduce step change technology to Aerospace.

Another paper from this sector is entitled Rapid Manufacturing for Premium Aircraft Seating.

Tim Steward from Contour Premium Aircraft Seating will elaborate on the complexities of bespoke aircraft seating designs and how RM technology is virtually an ideal solution for this low-volume, high-value product.

Heading up a paper from the medical device sector, Andy Christensen, CEO, Medical Modelling, will deliver a presentation called Rapid Manufacturing with Titanium for Medical Applications.

This paper will explore how the latest developments in direct metal rapid manufacturing methods are able to meet the needs of the dental and medical fields, areas that many believe will be the first to truly embrace RM for mass customisation purposes.

Another application of RM will be presented by Andrew Smith and Scott Garriott of Norsap (Norway).

With a paper entitled, The Impact of Rapid Manufacturing on Building for the Offshore Marine Environment; this pair will enlighten delegates as to how they purchased a high-end RP machine for functional prototyping purposes to aid the product development process, but within a year were producing feature-rich production parts to replace difficult to produce components or awkward sub-assemblies in production models.

Siavash Mahdavi of Complex Matters and Assa Ashuach will highlight the art of RM in their presentation; Digital Forming: Making of the Osteon Chair and AI Stool.

This paper will look at the significance of new software and a new design methodology specifically for RM technology.

A major highlight of the two-day conference will be the considerable input by industry expert Terry Wohlers.

As a renowned consultant, analyst, author and speaker within this industry, he is well placed to share his thoughts and opinions on "The Future of Rapid Manufacturing".

In addition to this extended final paper of the conference, Terry will also provide RM industry headlines to initiate the panel session, which will take place at the start of day two.

This session was particularly well received in 2006, with animated dialogue between the panel and the floor expected to resume in 2007.

In all the TCT Conference and Exhibition is the most important event on the 2007 calendar for design and manufacturing professionals in the UK and is the only UK event focused on providing solutions for accelerating products to market.

The quality of the papers being presented at this year's conference will afford attendees the opportunity to source all of the necessary information required by any company looking to benefit from the rewards that RM can offer.

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