SME's Advanced Energy & Fuel Cell Technologies Conference Bridges the Gap Between Energy Leaders and Skilled Manufacturers

DEARBORN, Mich., July 21 -- Advanced energy and fuel cell experts will help manufacturers learn how they can play a role as a future supplier in the growing alternative & fuel cell technologies (AET) industry at the Society of Manufacturing Engineers' (SME) "Advanced Energy & Fuel Cell Technologies: Manufacturing Opportunities & Challenges Conference & Exposition," scheduled for October 11-13, 2004 at Laurel Manor, 30900 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, Mich.

The groundbreaking event includes an international forum, student program, and more than 50 presentations including five keynotes. The conference is designed to bridge the gap between two different audiences -- "Manufacturers," and "Researchers & Developers of Advanced Energy Technologies."

The "Manufacturers" track will provide ideas to OEMs who are considering advanced energy systems as a new power source in their future power designs, valuable insight to manufacturers on how to support the product development of advanced energy systems, and guidance to small to mid-size contract manufacturers on how to position themselves as a supplier to this emerging technology sector. The conference will also educate manufacturers on the advanced energy systems they can use today to save on energy. Post-event, one-on-one energy management consultations will be available to paid conference attendees who are members of SME (courtesy of DTE Energy Technologies).

The AET event offers a physical world connection to classroom learning that demystifies the technology -- giving manufacturers the opportunity to visually understand the components that make up advanced energy systems -- like fuel cells, to effectively assist future product development. Many alternative energy technologies will be on display including DTE/Plug Power Stationary Fuel Cell (FC), GM AUTOnomy FC vehicle, Medis Technologies Power Pack DMFC, Umicore PEM membrane display, Delphi Solid Oxide FC, National Automotive Center Enabling Technologies, UTC Fuel Cells, STM Power Stirling Engine, Encel Advanced Battery, Adaptive Materials Portable FC, T/J Technologies Advanced Materials.

The Research & Developers track will provide direction for developers and researchers by helping AET companies design their products for manufacturability and allowing for opportunities to interface and connect with OEMs in several different industry markets where advanced energy systems have both short and long-term applications. These sessions will also help manufacturers learn how to reduce the costs and scalability of components and reliability of AET systems so they are more commercially available.

A free energy analysis conducted by DTE Energy Technologies is included for SME members who are paid conference attendees. The offer is good for SME members only and expires October 2005.

Student Program: "Energy, Sustainability and Fuel Cell Technologies - Career Opportunities"

Monday, October 11, 8 a. m. - 2:30 p.m.

This special program provides educational opportunities for students to view portable, stationary, and transportation fuel cells and other advanced energy systems and technologies. The program will also present sessions on opportunities for jobs in advanced energy and on universities offering AET education and disciplines.

Sponsors of the conference include the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (http://www.sme.org/ ), NextEnergy (http://www.nextenergy.org/ ) and DTE Energy Technologies (http://www.dtetech.com/ ).

To register for the "Advanced Energy & Fuel Cells Technologies: Manufacturing Opportunities & Challenges Conference & Exposition," call the SME Resource Center at (800) 733-4763, or visit SME's Advanced Energy & Fuel Cell Technologies Web site at http://www.sme.org/aet . To join SME, call the SME Resource Center or visit http://www.sme.org/join . For exhibit and sponsorship information for this conference, call Dan Radomski at (313) 425-3147, or at dradomski@sme.org .