NEWS:
October 2007
42nd ICOSPA Presidents Council Meeting
Monterey, California, USA
October 7-9, 2007
Members from France, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, Netherlands and the United States gathered in Monterey, California for the 42nd ICOSPA Presidents Council meeting (Attendance List).
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The meeting was very productive and informative (Agenda), and had numerous group networking and social events (Schedule) (Spouse event) to relax with friends and share experiences with colleagues from around the world. Future activities of ICOSPA were discussed and great effort will be put forth to reinvigorate the group’s activities. Delegates will continue to share economic and materials information on a quarterly basis to help identify and analyze global manufacturing trends. Each country gave an update on economic conditions and a summary of its association’s activities over the last year. Details and plans for next year’s ICOSPA Congress were discussed and will prove to be a not-to-be-missed, worldclass event with an expected attendance of 400 people from around the world. Please click http://www.icospa.com/2008/ for more information on the Congress.
View Power Point 2008 ICOSPA Congress
October 2007
PMA’s Annual Meeting Provides Outstanding Forum for Educational Sessions and Networking Opportunities
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At the conclusion of the Presidents Council meeting, members from four ICOSPA-member countries travelled from California to beautiful Tucson, Arizona, USA, for PMA’s 2007 Annual Meeting, October 11-13, 2007 (http://www.pma.org/annual/), to continue sharing experiences and learning from fellow manufacturers
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from around the world. Attendees also heard from excellent speakers on topics that affect us all in the global metalforming industry, and had numerous opportunities to relax at group social events.
October 2006
41st ICOSPA Presidents Council Meeting
Kobe, Japan
October 16-18, 2006
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Delegates from the UK, Germany, France, Japan and the United States gathered in Kobe, Japan in October for the International Council of Sheet Metal Presswork Associations (ICOSPA) 41st Presidents Council meeting. This is the third year the Japanese Metal Stamping Association (JMSA) has hosted the ICOSPA event. Bruce Walker of Walker Corporation was elected the new ICOSPA president and will serve through 2009. Mandy Basel, PMA’s executive and international networking manager, was elected ICOSPA secretary general at last year’s meeting held in Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan. Bruce Walker thanked outgoing Immediate Past President, Kent Bank, Minneapolis Washer & Stamping, who has served as such since 1994.
During the meeting, each country gave a report of the current economic situation and primary association activities in the last year. The 25 attendees also discussed future ICOSPA activities, next year’s President Council meeting to be held in California and preliminary plans for the 2008 ICOSPA Congress to be held in Grand Rapids, MI, on September 14-17, 2008.
Kobe at night
Links to:
September 2006
Grand Rapids Selected as Site for ICOSPA 2008 Congress
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The PMA 2008 International Council of Sheet Metal Presswork Associations (ICOSPA) Congress Steering Committee is making plans for the 16th International Congress on Sheet Metal Work, to be held in Grand Rapids, MI, in the fall of 2008. The largest ICOSPA event is the International Congress, held every three years. It is hosted and organized on a rotating basis by one of the member associations. PMA is hosting it in 2008, and at the recent board meeting in Philadelphia, the board voted unanimously to hold the Congress in Grand Rapids, MI.
The primary focus of the ICOSPA International Congress is to establish a greater understanding of international business issues and practices, technology development, safety and management practices affecting the metalforming industry. Typical attendance includes some 200 to 400 delegates and spouces from more than 10 countries. Three subcommittees have been named to research and determine details for the Congress: a Venue/Program/Budget Committee, a Plant Tours Committee and a Marketing Committee.
The Steering Committee is chaired by Bruce Walker, Walker Corp., and consists of Kent Bank, Minneapolis Washer & Stamping, Inc.; Jeff Clark, Waukesha Tool & Stamping Inc.; Bob Clay, Pridgeon and Clay, Inc.; Fathi El-Farghali, Seyi Presses; Jody Fledderman, Batesville Tool & Die; Brian Gillespie, Plexus Systems, Inc.; Tim Gleason, Olson International Ltd.; Ralph Hardt, Feintool Cincinnati, Inc.; Cindy Keat, The Su-Dan Corporation; Dennis Keat, The Su-Dan Corporation; Nels Leutwiler, Parkview Metal Products; Leo Martin, Blow Press; Mike Mehwald, Atlantic Tool & Die Co.; Chip Michaelsen, ODM Tool & Manufacturing Co., Inc.; Bernie Rosselli, Stewart EFI, LLC; P.J. Thompson, Trans-Matic Manufacturing Co.; and Jim Zawacki, GR Spring & Stamping, Inc.
March 2006
Committee Working to Serve Members' International Business Interests
Chaired by Bruce Walker of Walker Corporation, PMA's International/ICOSPA Committee assesses the international interests of PMA members in order to determine trends and offer international business opportunities.
One of the committee's roles is to lead PMA's involvement in the International Council of Sheet Metal Presswork Associations (ICOSPA) Congress, which is held every three years to establish a greater understanding of business issues and practices, technology development, safety issues and management practices affecting the metalforming industry. Last fall more than 20 PMA members joined 300 delegates from nine countries in Japan for the 15th ICOSPA Congress. The event consisted of stimulating business sessions and plant tours as well as memorable social events. Plans are underway for PMA to host the 16th ICOSPA Congress in 2008.
November 2005
Summary of the 15th International Congress on Sheet Metal Work
Over 300 delegates from nine countries gathered in Japan October 30-November 2, 2005, for the 15th International Congress on Sheet Metal Work. Japan proved to be most excellent hosts by planning and executing rewarding and stimulating business sessions and plant tours as well as arranging wonderful social events and a memorable spouse program. More...