Dave Garman, the U.S. Department of Energy's assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, has been invited to provide the lunchtime keynote address at the PAIOF Symposium that will be held at Lehigh University on February 19, 2003. Other invited speakers are; Dave Williams, Lehigh University's vice provost for Research; Jim Paynard, Pennsylvania Manufacturing Association president and DEP's yet to be named Secertary.

This event will include project meetings, a mini-trade show and a student poster award competition. The conference is expected to draw 200 people from the aluminum, metalcasting, mining, food processing and glass industries.

Representatives of the state and federal government are encouraged to attend along with representatives from Pennsylvania's university research community. The $50 registration fee includes lunch and a closing reception. The registration fee increases to $75 after Jan. 1, 2003.

Check out the PAIOF symposium web page for an agenda, a PDF of the registration materials, and links to the online registration page. Click here.

Exhibitors needed for the PAIOF Statewide Symposium

Do you have a trade display? Are you looking to promote your company to representatives of the aluminum, coal mining and metalcasting industries? Why not promote your Pennsylvania company or business at the IOF Symposium in February. Space is limited so reserve your spot now! Please contact William Jahn at viajahn@fast.net for details.

Dr. Robert Voigt, professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, and academic champion of the PAIOF metalcasting initiative, and several of his colleagues, were recently awarded an EPA grant to study air pollutants in foundries. The title of the project is 'Diminishing materials use and air pollutants in Foundries via an integrated advanced oxidation process; characterization of materials and pollutants at the nano-scale.' This project continues Dr. Voigt's work on the advanced oxidation process. An AO demonstration project under Dr. Voigt's direction is currently being funded by the USDOE at the Victaulic Plant in Alburtis PA.

Check out PSU's metalcasting website and online roadmapping Click here.

Dr. Frederick Pohland hosted the Nov. 25th PAIOF coal mining advisory board meeting at the University of Pittsburgh's Dominion Center for Energy and the Environment. George Ellis of the Pennsylvania Coal Association chaired the meeting of 15 representatives of various coal organizations. They discussed the implementation and dissemination of this program for the maximum benefit of the coal industry in Pennsylvania. To read more about the PAIOF Coal mining endeavor and to follow up on the progress of the Advisory Board click here.

Click here to view the advisory board
Click here to view the agenda
Click here to view the proposed vision plan

Contact Dr. Pohland if you are interested in participating. pohland@engr.pitt.edu

The second Pennsylvania Aluminum Industries of the Future conference was held at Lehigh University on November 6. Sixteen companies representing the aluminum wrought, cast and recycling industry met to create an "industry roadmap" for the Pennsylvania aluminum industry sector. For a summary of the meeting, click here.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) expects more than 120 technologies that are emerging from research and development to be ready for commercialization within the next two years. More than 50 of these are being featured in the current BestPractices technology deployment solicitation. This solicitation focuses on technologies that could reduce environmental impacts, specifically in chemicals and petroleum refining industries. OIT expects to award up to five cost-shared cooperative research and development agreements under this solicitation. Click OIT Summary of Program Results for full details on all of OIT’s commercialized and emerging technologies.

Recent Federal Funding Solicitations - Various new funding opportunities from the U.S. Government

DOE will be offering two new opportunities in February and March 2003 for mining-related R&D - Click here to read the details about the release.