WHAT: FABTECH International 2001 Conference

WHERE: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA

WHEN: November 11-14, 2001

SESSIONS: The FABTECH Conference features 46 sessions exploring the latest production processes and business improvement strategies. In addition, FREE Product Technology Forums comprised of panels of leading equipment manufacturers will highlight industry innovations and trends in press brakes, stamping, tube bending and welding automation. Sessions are broken out as follows:

Sunday Sessions
International Forum on Lasers in Manufacturing. (all day) Integrated Tube Processing (11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) Implementing Lean Manufacturing (11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) Roll Forming Fundamentals (2:30 - 5 p.m.) Hydraulic Presses (2:30 - 5 p.m.) Production Principles for the Tool and Die Industry (2:30 - 5 p.m.)
Monday Sessions
Planning Manufacturing Cells (all day) Future Trends in Tube & Pipe Applications (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Brazing & Soldering (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Practical Solutions for Stamping Die Problems (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Precision Blanking (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Forming & Fabricating of Stainless Steel (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Speed to Market for Job Shops (9 a.m. - noon) Press Brakes Forum - FREE (11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.) Tube Bending Forum - FREE (11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.) Laser Welding Technology (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Sheet Metal Punching (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Working with Pre-Coated Materials (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Leading Productive Kaizen Events (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Methods to Increase Mill Speed & Efficiency (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Rips, Tears, & Wrinkles: Understanding Draw Dies (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Coil Slitting (3:30 - 6 p.m.) Automated Robotic Welding Technology (3:30 - 6 p.m.) Gas Delivery and Storage Systems for Industrial CO2 Lasers (3:30 - 6 p.m.)
Tuesday Sessions
Rapid and Accurate Cost Estimating (all day) Introduction to Tube Hydroforming (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Advanced Roll Forming (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Welding of Dissimilar Materials (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Material Handling (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Today's Waterjet Technology (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Critical Factors in Developing a Press Maintenance Program (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Welding Automation Forum - FREE (11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.) Stamping Technology Forum - FREE (11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.) Tube & Pipe Welding Applications for Fabricators (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Coil Cut-to-Length (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Press Brake Fundamentals (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Plasma Cutting (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Implementing Six Sigma in Your Organization (1 - 3:30 p.m.) Robotic Welding Applications (3:30 - 6 p.m.) Single-Piece Work Flow for Increased Profitability (3:30 - 6 p.m.) Technical Aspects of Steel Sheet Specification and Material Selection for Purchasing (3:30 - 6 p.m.) Improving Air Quality in Your Facility (3:30 - 6 p.m.)
Wednesday Sessions
Advanced Press Brake Forming (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Heat Treating and Surface Coatings for Improved Tool Life (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Laser Cutting (9 - 11:30 a.m.) Sheet Hydroforming (9 - 11:30 a.m.)

CO-SPONSORS: Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact SME at 1-800-733-4763 or FMA at 1-800-432-2832. Editors' Contact: Dave Lipnik of SME Public Relations, +1-313-271-1500, ext. 1856; or Pat Lee of FMA Public Relations, +1-815-399-8700

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers background information, press registration forms and news releases can be accessed on the SME Home Page at www.sme.org . Information is archived from April 1996 to present. Additional information about FMA's membership, services, activities, and affiliate association, Tube and Pipe Association, International, is available online at www.fmametalfab.org . Press registration forms and news releases can be accessed on the FMA FABTECH Home Page at www.fmafabtech.com . Contact: Dave Lipnik of SME Public Relations, +1-313-271-1500, ext. 1856, lipndav@sme.org ; or Pat Lee of FMA Public Relations, +1-815-399-8700, patl@fmametalfab.org .

For further information please contact:

FMA FABTECH
General Email.
Contact: Pat Lee
Phone: +1-815-399-8700
Email.
WWW: www.fmafabtech.com

SME Public Relations
Contact: Dave Lipnik
Phone: +1-313-271-1500, ext. 1856
Email.
WWW: www.sme.org