Highlights From ITSC 2007 in Beijing
BaoSteel Visit
The visit to Baosteel in Shanghai was a high point for many ITSC participants. Seated, starting fifth from left, are TSS Executive Director, Thom Passek, Mr. Hao (Shanghai Baosteel Equipment Maintenance Co., Ltd.), Prof. Huang (TSCC- Thermal Spray Committee of China Surface Engineering Association) and Prof. Kirsten Bobzin (Aachen University).
Opening of the Institute of Surface Technology
Thom Passek, TSS Executive Director, presenting plaque to Mr. Hao Rongliang, Vice General Manager, Shanghai Baosteel Equipment Maintenance Co., Ltd (ITSC Plenary Speaker) at Bao Steel's opening of the Institute of Surface Technology.
ITSC Awards Ceremony and Award Recipients
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Peter Hanneforth opens the
ITSC Awards Ceremony where nearly 300 attendees enjoyed a traditional Chinese meal. |
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ITSC 2007 Awards Banquet |
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ITSC Exposition
ITSC 2007 in Beijing has been highly successful, with more than 400 conference attendees and more than 300 “expo only” attendees. A total of 45 exhibiting companies and organizations brought the best of thermal spray technology to the exhibit floor.
An integral part of ITSC, the Exposition brings delegates and exhibitors together to discuss new ideas. This year’s exhibiting companies and organization offer a wealth of problem-solving information and cost-saving opportunities. The first photo features the exhibit for Baosteel in Shanghai, host of the 2007 Industry Tour that follows ITSC on Thursday and Friday. Baosteel Vice President Hao was a featured Plenary Speaker for ITSC 2007.
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TSS Global Community Website
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The TSS Global Community Website was launched to the world with a champagne Thermal Spray Hall of Fame inductee Prof. Christopher |
ITSC Plenary Session
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On behalf of our partnering organizations – TSS, the DVS, and the IIW – it is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to the International Thermal Spray Conference and Exposition,” said Technical Chairman Mitch Dorfman. “Last year, we celebrated the achievements that have advanced thermal spray through the first 100 years of this exciting technology. Today, we are proud to bring ITSC for the first time to the People’s Republic of China, capital of one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures, and home to one of the most exciting and dynamic global marketplaces.” |
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“We are excited to bring the world’s leading thermal spray event, for the first time, to Beijing,” said TSS President Peter Hanneforth. “China represents one of the greatest opportunities for our industry in terms of potential markets for products and services, sourcing initiatives, joint venture projects in manufacturing, and research and development. We look forward to a beneficial and memorable ITSC event that brings representatives from industry and academia – both Chinese and international – together for valuable networking and cooperation opportunities.” |
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Prof. Christopher C. Berndt, Professor of Surface and Interface Engineering at James Cook University, School of Engineering, Townsville QLD, Australia, has been inducted into the Thermal Spray Hall of Fame. He was cited for outstanding contributions to the science and technology of thermal spray, and for leadership in promoting thermal spray technology. Prof. Berndt’s many innovations have led to facilitating the bridge between academia and industry affecting numerous collaborations. Also, he was among the first to use solution plasma spraying, an area which is emerging as a very promising technology. The Thermal Spray Hall of Fame was established by the ASM Thermal Spray Society in 1993 to recognize significant contributions to the science, technology, practice, education, management and advancement of Thermal Spray. |
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ITSC is organized by the ASM Thermal Spray Society, the German Welding Society (DVS) and the International Institute of Welding (IIW). During the Plenary Session, DVS Managing Director Klaus Middeldorf made welcoming remarks. |
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Our first distinguished Plenary Speaker was Mr. Rongliang Hao, Vice President of Shanghai Baosteel Equipment Maintenance Company, Limited. Mr. Hao is Executive Director of the Thermal Spraying Committee of China Surface Engineering Association. As a director of the two largest (according to income per year) enterprises of thermal spray technology in China, Mr. Hao is very involved with propelling the progress of thermal spray technology within China. Mr. Hao leads a team at Shanghai Baosteel that specializes in supplying solutions for those problems on thermal spray technology. He presented on “Thermal Spraying Technology and Its Applications in the Iron and Steel Industry in China. |
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The final distinguished Plenary Speaker was Mr. Henri Steinmetz, President, Sulzer Metco, Winterthur, Switzerland. Mr. Steinmetz has been President of Sulzer Metco since 2004. He has profound knowledge and skill in leading complex, global businesses. He joined Sulzer Metco from Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, where he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Polymer Stabilizers. Prior to that, Mr. Steinmetz was the European Director of Business Development and Strategy for M. A. Hanna Company, and had also held several line and staff management positions with General Electric. The title of his Plenary presentation was “Challenges of Thermal Spray.” |
TSS Advisory Council Meets
The ASM Thermal Spray Society Board met on Sunday, May 13, with its Industry Advisory Council (IAC) in Beijing during the International Thermal Spray Conference.
This was the first meeting of this leadership group, whose objective is to:
- Advise the Thermal Spray Board about market and industry needs and trends
- Provide strategic direction for TSS policies, products and services
- Represent a ‘sounding board’ for important TSS decisions
- Support TSS in the identification and development of new leadership
- Promote cooperation between TSS and their respective organizations
From left: TSS Board Members - Charlie Kay, Chris Berndt, Vice President Mitch Dorfman, President Peter Hanneforth, Peter Heinrich; IAC Members – Dr. Aloys Eiling- H. C. Stark GmbH & Co. KG, Mr. Markus Heusser - Sulzer Metco (Representing Dr. Friedrich Herold), Mr. Joerg-Mihael Willke - Linde AG; Board Members - Christian Moreau, Basil Marple, Immediate Past President Rick Knight and Executive Director Thom Passek.
Not shown in the picture but in attendance at the meeting - IAC Member Dr. Kazumi Tani - Tocalo Company Limited and Guest Prof. Ohmori. IAC
Member not able to attend - Al Kay, ASB Industries.
TSS Course a Success!
Education remains an important part of the TSS mission and a core purpose of ITSC. Eighteen participants attended the three-day Thermal Spray Technology course sponsored by TSS in Beijing.
Chris Berndt Inducted to Thermal Spray Hall of Fame
The 2007 inductee to the Thermal Spray Hall of Fame is Prof. Christopher C. Berndt, FASM, Professor of Surface and Interface Engineering at James Cook University, School of Engineering, Townsville QLD, Australia. His involvement in many of the research areas precede the time when these research areas became "fashionable," showing him as a genuine pioneer. This is due for his mechanical property measurements, his involvement in biocompatible coatings, and his microstructure analysis.
Colleagues have noted that his innovations in mechanical property measurements remain the standard for assessing the mechanical properties of spray coatings. Additionally, his R&D on dental materials and hydroxyapatite coatings on orthopedic implants led to an appointment as Adjunct Professor in Orthopedics at Stony Brook. His many innovations have led to facilitating the bridge between academia and industry affecting numerous collaborations. Also, he was among the first to use solution plasma spraying, an area which is emerging as a very promising technology. Congratulations to Prof. Berndt!
ITSC Poster Session
“Another highlight of the first day of the event was the ITSC poster session,” reports ASM’s Valerie Waite. “ITSC hosted a lunch in the area where the posters were taking place, resulting in an excellent turnout. More than 40 poster authors were present and they enjoyed a spirited Q&A session.” After the session, Valerie talked with Peter Chandler of CA Technology, Ltd., West Wellow, UK, (pictured in the first photo), who said that he enjoyed the poster session because they differ from the oral presentations -- an author can really interact with other attendees to present their work. Peter said that he was able to share his ideas as well as get immediate feedback from others.
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