A “save the date” post card announcing the 2003 PAIOF Progress Symposium will be mailed to you soon. Until then, don’t forget to check out the new Symposium web page Click here for all the details.

Best Practices

Compressed Air Guidelines:
The Compressed Air Challenge offers guidelines to help manufacturers select compressed air system service providers. Read the CAC's new fact sheet for specifics on choosing a firm that offers integrated services. Find out more by clicking here.

Did you know?
You can contact real person who is equipped with the knowledge to help you find information about the Department of Energy's Best Practices or any other areas within the Office of information and Technology by contacting The Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse can answer specific inquiries about optimizing the energy efficiency of industrial systems, help you order software not available on the Web site, supply publications, and provide contacts for further information. E-mail the Clearinghouse or call - 800-862-2086.

Metalcasting meeting:
The agenda has been set and posted on the PAIOF website for the biannual Penn State metalcasting (IOF) meeting and job fair. The meeting, to be held on October 10th and 11th, will include a Penn State metalcasting program update and an update on the progress of the Pa. metalcasting IOF development. Joe Vehec, Director of theTechnology Roadmap Program from American Iron and Steel Institute, will present a collaborative technology roadmap program and lend his expertise to our effort. It is expected that the IOF portion of the meeting will focus on the ongoing roadmapping effort of the metalcasting industry sector along with a hands-on demonstration of the online roadmapping capabilities Penn State is developing. Check back next month for results from the meeting.

September 18th Pa. Aluminum Steering Committee Meeting:
The Industries of the Future Aluminum initiative in Pennsylvania gained considerable momentum after holding a one day roadmapping meeting at the Institute of Metal Forming at Lehigh University on September 18th. Eighteen companies along with Lehigh researchers, DOE and DEP discussed a plan to increase competitiveness of the Pennsylvania aluminum industry. The goal of the day was to get to the heart of the issues posed by Dr. Wojtek Misiolek; "where are we in the industry today", "where would we like to be", "how do we get there and what barriers must be surmounted?"

The short term goal of the group is to prepared a document in the form of a roadmap modeled after the national roadmap document. This roadmap will enable Pa. aluminum companies to form alliances and prepare proposals to state and federal agencies for research funding focused on needs of the Pa. aluminum industry.

A summary of the September 18th workshop has been compiled and can be viewed HERE. Dr. Misliolek has asked interested parties read through the outlines an provide comments. You may respond with your comments to Olga Ramos at Lehigh University, Institute for Metal Forming, 5 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18015-3195.Phone: 710-758-4218, FAX: 610-758-4244, or via E-Mail – olr2@lehigh.edu