---

Rapid Prototyping for the Automotive Industry Event Opens Tomorrow First-time Event Sponsored by RPA/SME and SAE

3 September 1997

Rapid Prototyping for the Automotive Industry Event Opens Tomorrow First-time Event Sponsored by RPA/SME and SAE

    DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 3 -- Rapid Prototyping and Tooling for
the Automotive Industry opens tomorrow and runs September 4-5 at the Hyatt
Regency, Dearborn, Mich.  This first-time event focuses on rapid prototyping
as it relates to the automotive supplier.
    "Suppliers must embrace rapid prototyping and tooling technology.  The
quicker suppliers 'get on-line' with rapid prototyping and tooling, the closer
they and the OEMs get toward the goal of continually reducing costs and
product time-to-market," says conference chairman Vern Schmidt, resident
engineering manager, Chrysler Corporation, Toledo, Ohio.
    This event is sponsored by the Rapid Prototyping Association of the
Society of Manufacturing Engineers (RPA/SME) and the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE).
    A Parts Fair and a Networking Reception on Sept. 4 features users of RP
and tooling who will display patterns and parts developed specifically for the
automotive industry.  Parts Fair companies include:  3D Systems, Valencia,
Calif.; Accelerated Technologies, Hebron, Ky.; Cubital America, Inc., Troy,
Mich.; DTM Corporation, Austin, Texas; Helisys, Inc., Torrance, Calif.;
Prototech Engineering, Willowbrook, Ill.; and Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie,
Minn.  The fair runs from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, September 4.
    RPA/SME, founded in 1993, is dedicated to the advancement of rapid
prototyping technologies in manufacturing.
    SME, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., U.S.A., is an international
professional society dedicated to serving its members and the manufacturing
community through the advancement of professionalism, knowledge and learning.
Founded in 1932, SME has nearly 70,000 members in 70 countries.  The Society
also sponsors some 275 chapters, districts and regions, as well as 240 student
chapters worldwide.
    SAE is a national and international, non-profit professional society
dedicated to advancing the technical and managerial excellence of the mobility
engineers and related professions.  SAE meets the challenge by conducting
seminars, workshops, symposia and conferences and by publishing monthly
magazines, technical books, papers and standards.  SAE's 71,000 members from
92 countries are involved in all aspects of the design and manufacture of
self-propelled vehicles and their components.

SOURCE  Society of Manufacturing Engineers