The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has announced the speakers for the second annual OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit to be held Nov. 5th at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the 2015 SEMA Show.
SCRS is welcoming back Doug Richman, vice president of engineering and technology for Kaiser Aluminum and technical committee chairman of the Aluminum Association’s Transportation Group. Richman’s presentation, “The Future of Aluminum in the Automotive Industry,” will offer insight into the technological advancements being made in the aluminum industry relative to use in the automotive market. The program will touch on safety, repairability and integration with automakers to address the growing demand for lightweight materials.
Richman joined Kaiser in 1996 and was appointed to his current position in 2001. Before joining Kaiser, he was vice president of Automotive Castings for Alcan Aluminum, and his background also includes almost 20 years of experience in development and design management at General Motors.
SCRS will also be welcoming Dr. Blake Zuidema, director, Automotive Product Applications for ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel and mining company. In his role, Zuidema leads a team in identifying new automotive product needs, piloting their development in the mill, breaking down the barriers to their application, and promoting applications of new and existing automotive steel products to the OEM and supplier communities. He will discuss “The Continuing Evolution of Advanced Steels in Automotive Bodies,” presenting research surrounding the development and properties necessary to make parts that meet the expectations of safer, lighter and more advanced automobiles. The program will elaborate on technological advancements in steel manufacturing that has driven changes in automotive structural designs, material developments intended to address future fuel economy goals for the automotive market, and how cost and repairability plays a factor in their technological advancements.
Zuidema joined ArcelorMittal’s Automotive Product Applications division in 2003 as a staff consultant, was promoted to manager of the division in 2004 and then to director in 2005. After working six years in research and development in the aerospace investment castings industry, he joined the former National Steel Corporation in 1990 where he held management positions in primary steelmaking and steel finishing research. He received his Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1984.
Following each presentation, both Richman and Zuidema will invite a panel of automakers who extensively utilize their respective substrate in their vehicle construction to join them on stage in a panel discussion focused on real-world application from the automakers’ perspectives. The discussions will revolve around innovative vehicle construction and changes in engineering that drive advanced repair approaches.
The OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit is designed to put show attendees in a room with innovators in automotive structural design and technology to focus on emerging trends in vehicle construction and technology, examining how both of those aspects influence vehicle repairability and collision industry preparation. The program will explore how the intersection of automotive design and repairability impacts the collision repair process and the professional businesses planning for their future in the ever-changing landscape of the industry. It will feature a morning program on Advanced Automotive Technology featuring one panel discussion on advanced joining mechanisms such as riveting, welding and structural adhesives and another on the role of programming, diagnostics and calibrations in establishing post-repair roadworthiness. The afternoon will host presentations and panel discussions led by representatives of the aluminum and steel industries.
Registration for all SCRS education programs at the SEMA Show can be made at www.scrs.com/rde. To register for the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit, click here.
