related to business and the economy.
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has announced the speaker lineup for the RAPID 2012 Conference and Exposition —Atlanta, Georgia, May 22-25. Keynote speakers are Paul Doe, chief designer at Prodrive Rally Programs, and Terry Wohlers, president of Wohlers Associates.
Doe's presentation will provide an overview of Prodrive's development of the MINI John Cooper Works World Rally Car, and Wohlers will address additive manufacturing during his State of the Industry report.
Keynote presentations, conference sessions, tours, 3D printing art gallery and 3D printing fashion show are among the highlights of the additive manufacturing industry's premier event. The event also features additive manufacturing and 3D imaging technology briefings and workshops led by industry experts who will educate attendees on topics including: Fundamentals of Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing, Fundamentals of Reverse Engineering and 3D Data Capture and Metal Parts Using Additive Technologies.
"RAPID has become the most important meeting place in North America for those involved with additive manufacturing," said industry analyst Terry Wohlers. "SME has created another world-class program, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it."
Attendees are invited to tour an Atlanta-area foundry and manufacturing facility, as well as a technical college and product development firm. The 2012 "All-American" tour schedule includes visits to Newell/Rubbermaid, Slingshot Product Development Group, Georgia Institute of Technology and Inferno Art Foundry.
"RAPID has earned a reputation as the "go-to" event for manufacturing knowledge, education and business development opportunities," said Gary Mikola, SME business development manager. "The RAPID 2012 event schedule is designed to connect attendees and exhibitors with technologies and resources needed for businesses looking to remain competitive in a global marketplace and challenging economy."