ITEC In Focus conference set for Sept. 16-17

AKRON—There is still time to register for the “ITEC In Focus: Testing Innovations” conference, organized by Rubber & Plastics News.

The 1½-day conference will be held Sept. 16-17 at the Sheraton Suites Hotel in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a suburb of Akron. It will feature nearly 20 papers, free lunch on Sept. 16 and a networking cocktail reception that evening.

ITEC In Focus is an offshoot of RPN's biennial International Tire Exhibition & Conference for Tire Manufacturing and is aimed at filling a void in the off-years to present technical information delving into a specific area of the tire industry.

Visit this website to register. Here is the agenda of technical papers planned for the meeting:

8:45 to 9:15 a.m.: Batch Mixer Inspection for Optimal Performance, Robert McNabb Jr., HF Mixing Group USA.

9:15 to 9:45 a.m.: Evaluation of the Viscoelastic Properties of Filled Compounds as Measured by the Capillary Rheometer and the RPA, Ed Norton, Alpha Technologies Inc.

9:45 10:15 a.m.: Techniques to Evaluate the Mechanism of Coupling Agents in Silica Treads, Ed Terrill, Akron Rubber Development Laboratory.

10:45 to 11:15 a.m.: Validate New Tire Reinforcement Materials Early in the Design, Close to Real Usage in the Tire, Philippe van Bogaert, Bogimac Engineering.

11:15 to 11:45 a.m.: Introducing Maxx Technology for Faster Tire Development Cycles, Theo Teunissen MSc, VMI Tire.

11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Reinforcing Filler for Truck Tires, Lin Bradley, Orion Engineered Carbons, L.L.C.

1:15 to 1:45 p.m.: Testing Innovations at Calspan's Tire Research Facility, Henning Olsson, Calspan Corp.

1:45 to 2:15 p.m.: Tire X-ray: Beyond the Image, Joscha Malin, Yxlon International GmbH.

2:15 to 2:45 p.m.: Exploring Green Tire Structures Using 3D Imaging, Dennis Reynolds, Starrett-Bytewise Measurement Systems.

3 to 3:30 p.m.: Benchmarking Tire Belt Overlays (“Cap Plies”): What Tests are Needed and What do they Reveal? Bruce D. Lambillotte, Smithers Rapra (North America).

3:30 to 4 p.m.: Winter Tire Traction Test Methods and Requirements, Dean Tener, Smithers Rapra.

4 to 4:30 p.m.: Wheel Test to Predict Giant Tire TMPH Road Performance, Leighton Spadone, DAAS Inc.

4:30 to 5 p.m.: Automation—The next level of Productivity and Consistency, Suzanne de Lemos-Williams, Instron.

8:30 to 9 a.m.: The John Luchini Memorial Lecture: Historical Perspectives on Tire Rolling Resistance, Marion Pottinger, M'gineering L.L.C.

9 to 9:30 a.m.: Your Smart Factory needs SmarTESTs, Gerald Potts, TMSI L.L.C., a Mesnac company.

9:30 to 10 a.m.: Measuring Inflation Pressure Retention of Tires, Larry Evans, Larry Evans Consulting. Co-speaker): Madhura Rajapakshe, Smithers Rapra.

10 to 10:30 a.m.: Rolling Resistance Open Topic Panel with Attendee Q&A. Panelists: Marion Pottinger, Gerald Potts and Larry Evans.

11 to 11:30 a.m.: Tire Test Data: Using MI for Product/Process Improvement, Christy Felix, CTI.

11:30 a.m. to noon: Transforming the Basic SAE J1981 Wheel Impact Equipment into a Versatile Tire Research Tool, Dave Caniglia, STL Labs.