Rain Can't Dampen AISTech 2011 Opening Sessions

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Monday's rain and cool weather greeted attendees but didn't dampen enthusiasm at the first full day of the AISTech 2011 Conference, being held by the Association for Iron & Steel Technology in Indianapolis, Indiana. In its eighth year, AISTech features more than 400 technical presentations this year. The presentations are being coupled with a fully filled, 184,000-square-foot exhibition floor that promises something for everyone involved with the production, processing and manufacturing of steel.

The technical sessions, which began Monday, May 2, and run through May 4, are being offered to increase knowledge on the latest developments in the steel sector, and as a continuing education tool with an eye on both specific topics and advancements in the industry. The individuals that are chairing and presenting the breakout sessions are the people that know the industry best. Individuals from Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), SunCoke Energy, ArcelorMittal NYSE:MT), Vesuvius USA, Tenova Core, The Timken Company (NYSE:TKR), SeverStal (MCX:CHMF) and Danieli Corporation are just a few of the people chairing the sessions.

Monday's program opened with the Howe Memorial Lecture. The featured speaker, David Matlock, hails from the Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Matlock's lecture was titled "Dual-Phase Steels: A Look Back with an Eye to Advanced High-Strength Sheet Steel Innovations." High-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel is a type of alloy steel that provides better mechanical properties and greater resistance to corrosion than carbon steel. This steel is used in cars, trucks, cranes, bridges, roller coasters and other construction designed to handle large amounts of stress or that needs a better strength-to-weight ratio. HSLA steels are usually 20% to 30% lighter than carbon steels, while maintaining the same strength. HSLA steels are also more resistant to rust than most carbon steels.

Peter F. Marcus, a managing partner of World Steel Dynamics (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey) followed Dr. Matlock's lecture with the AIST International Alliance Lecture. The topic will be "Global Steel Demand - The Metallic Migration." Late last year, Marcus stated that he saw global steel prices making a sharp correction over the coming months, followed by a recovery in early 2011. In the case of steel, Marcus supports the theory that global demand will expand at an annual rate of 3% from 2012 onward. China's booming steel industry could cool, as the country gives greater attention to increasing domestic consumption at the cost of lower levels of investment in capital goods.

Other factors to consider in 2011 are the recently seen political turmoil and armed conflict in parts of North Africa, as well as the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. A possibility of further unrest exists because of the recent demise of Osama bin Laden.

Industrial Info Resources will continue to cover the conference through the remainder of the show.

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