Global Manufacturing Leaders Gather in Michigan to Discuss Industry Challenges

Leading metalforming manufacturers from the United States, Asia, Latin America and Europe will hear from industry giants and discuss the top challenges facing the industry worldwide at the 16th International Congress of Sheet Metal Presswork Associations (ICOSPA) September 14-17 in Grand Rapids, MI.

The focus of the program is taken from today’s manufacturing headlines: the rising costs of raw materials, including the global spike in demand for steel, spiraling transportation costs, and the impact of these factors on global supply networks.

“Remaining competitive in today’s metals-consuming industries requires increased technological, product and market sophistication,” said William E. Gaskin, President of PMA. “The ICOSPA Congress will bring together industry executives from the U.S., Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Argentina, and other countries to discuss the opportunities and challenges we collectively face as an industry today.”

Scheduled speakers at next week’s conference include John Snow, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and chairman of Cerberus Capital Management, Jack Perkowski, Chairman of ASIMCO, the largest privately held automotive-parts supplier in China, Brian Krinock, Vice President, Production Engineering for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc., and James Hackett, chairman/CEO of Steelcase Corp.

Hosted by the Precision Metalforming Association, this is the first time since 1993 that the ICOSPA Congress is being held in the United States. The Congress is marking nearly 50 years of regular international exchange of industry best practices, innovation and networking among leading executives of international metalforming manufacturers.

The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) is the full-service trade association representing the $91-billion metalforming industry of North America. Its nearly 1,200 member companies include metal stampers, hot-rolled fabricators, spinners, slide formers and roll formers as well as suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry.

Media wishing to register or learn more about this unique opportunity to meet worldclass Metalforming Manufacturers should contact Amanda Lahan (Amanda.Lahan@pbnco.com), visit www.icospa.com/2008 or contact PMA at 216-901-8800.