Lord Corporation Leads World Conference on ER/MR Fluids
Scientists, Engineers Gather in Beijing to Discuss Expansion of Industrial Applications
CARY, N.C., July 26 -- The Ninth International Conference on Electrorheological (ER) Fluids and Magnetorheological (MR) Suspensions will gather scientists and engineers from around the world next month in Beijing, China.
Lord Corporation, the world's only commercial supplier of magnetorheological (MR) fluids, devices and systems, will head up the roster of conference sponsors and is one of the original founders of the biannual symposium, scheduled this year August 29 through September 3.
Dr. J. David Carlson, Engineering Fellow at Lord Corporation and a founding sponsor of the International conference, will lead talks aimed at sharing knowledge of MR technology. Lord also is sponsoring a $500 award for best student research paper.
Dr. Carlson has more than 25 years experience at Lord Corporation and has spent the past 18 years researching and developing controllable fluid technology. Highly sought after as a speaker with more than 110 invited lectures worldwide, Dr. Carlson is the author of 125 technical papers on the subject and the recipient of 57 U.S. patents relating to controllable fluids and devices.
For more than a decade Lord has focused intensive research and development on making its Rheonetic(TM) technology commercially practical and cost effective.
The company has developed fluids, devices and systems for real-time (millisecond) controllable shock absorbers currently offered on Cadillac and Corvette models and future car models. Secondary suspension systems have been developed for Class 8 truck seats and agricultural equipment. Steer-by-wire systems are in industrial vehicles, and Rheonetic systems have been used in factory machinery, household appliances, prosthetic devices, bridges and buildings, and for remote locking and positioning control.
In addition to commercial development partners, Lord works with university researchers to explore new applications.
MR technology is based on proprietary and patented formulations, damper, mount, brake and clutch designs and sophisticated computer control algorithms. When exposed to a magnetic field, MR materials change consistency from a fluid state to a near-solid state.
MR fluids provide infinitely variable control of energy dissipation for industrial and automotive devices and systems and eliminate the design compromises of conventional damping. MR Technology also offers the most cost, energy and space efficient method for haptic force-feedback "feel" for by-wire systems.
Lord Corporation, with headquarters in Cary, NC and sales in excess of $440-MM, is a privately held company that formulates, produces and sells general purpose and specialty adhesives and coatings; designs, manufactures and markets devices and systems to manage mechanical motion and control noise and vibration; and develops products and systems utilizing magnetically responsive technologies. With plants in nine states and facilities in 12 countries, Lord Corporation employs more than 2,200 worldwide.
For Additional Information: Lynn Yanyo Lord Corporation 919-469-2500 x 2129 Lynn_Yanyo@lord.com Dan Headrick Lord Corporation 919-469-2500 x 2138 Dan_Headrick@lord.com