SME's Finishing 2001 Event Kicks Off June 4, At the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.

    ROSEMONT, Ill., May 30 Manufacturers in search of the
latest advances in finishing technology, news and networking, will converge
June 4 through 7 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont for
the SME Finishing 2001 Conference and Exposition.  The biennial event, held by
the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and its Association for Finishing
Processes (AFP/SME), includes workshops, tutorials, technical sessions, and an
exposition.
    The event begins with two full-day workshops on Monday, June 4 -- "Liquid
Painting Processes Fundamentals" and "Powder Coating Fundamentals" -- and two
evening tutorials, "UV Coatings" and "Cost Analysis for Coating Systems
Fundamentals."  Technical sessions will be held as follows: Tuesday, "Liquid
Paint System Design & Applications I," "Powder System Design & Applications I"
and "Environmental Issues;" Wednesday, "Liquid Paint System Design &
Applications II," "Powder System Design & Applications II" and "Finishing of
Plastics;" and Thursday, "Coating & Appearance Testing" and "Curing
Technology."
    Dennis Hanlon, director, president, and CEO of manufinish.com will deliver
the keynote address, titled "e-wise: Is the Internet the Future of Finishing?"
during Tuesday's 8 to 10 a.m. keynote presentation and panel discussion.  The
program concludes with a state-of-the-industry panel, during which attendees
will hear about innovations, trends and drivers in the finishing industry.
    Exposition attendees will have the opportunity to compare the latest
product and service innovations from nearly 150 exhibiting companies.
Exhibitors' products and processes apply to a wide range of industries,
including appliance, furniture, lawn and garden, sporting goods, automotive,
and general industrial markets that use advanced finishing technologies for
all substrates (e.g., metal, wood and plastic).  Exposition hours are:
Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday,
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    AFP/SME will host the Finishing Technical Forum, titled "International
Finishing Operations: Lessons Learned" on Monday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Participants will hear case studies covering cultural, regulatory and standard
issues to help optimize the benefits of outsourcing finishing outside the
United States.  The program is free to AFP/SME and ETV members; $50 for SME
members; and $100 for non-members.
    Finishing 2001 is part of SME's Finishing Series of expositions.  For more
information, log onto http://www.sme.org/finishing or contact the SME Customer
Service Department at 800-733-4763.  Inquiries may be faxed to 313-271-2861.
    Finishing 2001 is supported by RadTech International, North America, a
non-profit association for the advancement of UV/EB technology.  The event is
held concurrently with the International Robots and Vision Show, sponsored by
the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) and the Automated Imaging
Association, and the Sensors and Motion Control Expos, sponsored by Advanstar
Communications Inc.

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