AEC organized Extrusion Design University or EDU ’18 on May 14-16, 2018 in Chicago

More than 135 design, engineering and extrusion professionals attended Extrusion Design University, or EDU ’18, the new event produced by the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), held May 14-16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.  EDU ’18 included more than 25 hours of educational sessions, a general session, the EDU Expo, networking opportunities and co-located workshops covering various aspects of the extrusion process.  Members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) were able to choose from 12 hours of AIA registered classes over the course of the event, potentially earning them a significant portion of their required continuing education learning units. In addition, educational sessions were potentially eligible for engineering professional development hours.  Early feedback has been positive with extrusion customers and industry professionals alike praising the event.

The winners of the ET Foundation’s 2018 Aluminium Extrusion Design Competition were announced during the General Session on Tuesday, May 15.  

The Grand Prize winner, Micaela Morris, Director of Operations at Roll-a-Cover International in Bethany, CT, found EDU ’18 to be very beneficial. “It was a pleasure attending the Aluminium Extruders Council’s 'Extrusion Design University' event. The staff was welcoming and the event was organized and well thought out. The presenters were extremely knowledgeable about aluminium extrusions and the vast design [possibilities for] aluminium shapes that can be used in so many different industries and product designs. The educational seminars were insightful and made us think deeper about our use of aluminium extrusions in our business.”

EDU ’18 connected aluminium extrusion industry experts who understand extrusion design and production processes with design and engineering professionals who were interested in enhancing their understanding and knowledge of aluminium extrusion design, applications and technology. Topics at EDU ’18 covered a range of issues, including aluminium extrusion alloy selection and research, aluminium standards, architectural applications, energy/green building codes for aluminium extrusions, design optimization and aluminium sustainability. 

In addition, the new event provided a learning opportunity for extrusion industry personnel. Many AEC member companies sent their teams to EDU ’18 to stay on top of new developments or gain new information to take back to their plants.

Add-on Workshops during the week included the Aluminum Anodizers Council’s Anodizing Essentials – Level 1 Workshop, Determining the Strength of Aluminium Extruded Members seminar taught by aluminium structural engineer Randy Kissell, and the AEC’s popular Extrusion Excellence: Applied Fundamentals for Aluminium Extruders, taught by Professor Wojtek Misiolek of the Institute of Metal Forming at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.

At the end of the conference an optional tour, sponsored by Custom Aluminium Products, was offered to provide extrusion customers an opportunity to see the many facets of an aluminium extrusion production plant. Participants were able to tour the Custom Aluminium Products Genoa, IL facility and view their extrusion, paint and fabrication operations.