Keynote speakers announced for AMUG 2018
February 9, 2018
Dr Ing Dominik Rietzel (left) and Todd Grimm (right) have been announced as keynote speakers for AMUG 2018 (Courtesy AMUG)
The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) has announced Todd Grimm and Dr Ing Dominik Rietzel as keynote speakers for its 2018 AMUG Education & Training Conference (AMUG 2018), set to run from April 8-12, 2018, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The keynote speakers will inform, inspire and excite attendees with their discussions of additive manufacturing applications, trends and technologies, the organisers stated.
Grimm, President of T. A. Grimm & Associates and AMUG’s AM industry advisor, will open the conference with a keynote address on Monday, April 9. In a presentation titled ‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’, he is expected to blend industry updates with observations of a palpable shift in expectations and attitudes in the Additive Manufacturing industry. While he sees this shift as encouraging, he will reportedly also share his thoughts on what he perceives as a hidden obstacle which must be addressed for AM to succeed. This will be his eighth appearance as an AMUG keynote speaker.
“We invite Todd back year after year because his presentations have set the tone for the conference, engaged our members, provided a concise update on the industry and challenged all to think differently. The energy, passion and knowledge he displays are a perfect kickoff to AMUG’s week-long information transfer,” stated Paul Bates, AMUG’s President.
Rietzel, head of BMW Group’s Additive Manufacturing Centre (Non-Metal), will take the stage on Thursday, April 12, with his presentation titled Additive Manufacturing on the Road. A Journey from Prototyping to Production. The ‘journey’ is said to represent his own experiences as BMW Group transferred from using Additive Manufacturing solely for prototype applications to using it as an important technology for their digitalisation strategy.
“Our attendees have a huge appetite for information on applications and how, as well as why, to make the transition from conventional processes to additive manufacturing. Hearing a first-hand account from within a company like BMW will provide much-wanted insights that offer guidance for implementation, justification and adoption,” added Bates.
Featured presentations for Tuesday, April 10 and Wednesday, April 11 will be the Innovators Showcase and the Global AM Review. The Innovators Showcase is an on-stage, conversational interview that elicits valuable insights and personal stories from AM industry leaders. This year’s guest of honour will be Fried Vancraen, founder and CEO of Materialise. Stefan Ritt of SLM Solutions and Graham Tromans of G. P. Tromans Associates will offer attendees an insight into AM activities around the world in the Global AM Review. The conference will also include over 200 presentations, workshops and hands-on training sessions. A preliminary agenda is available via the conference website.
