As SUR/FIN 2005 approaches, it might be tempting for some to dismiss the event as “just another” industry trade show. But according to the show’s organizers, that would be a mistake.

“The format and promotion of this year’s SUR/FIN has undergone some radical changes,” says Blair Vandivier, President of Benchmark Products, Inc., and a member of the SUR/FIN steering committee. “We think its going to bring new attendees and a level of excitement which has been missing for a long time.”

Indeed, the format of this year’s show – set for June 13-16 in St. Louis, Missouri – suggests that under it has undergone an “extreme makeover” of sorts.

This year, SUR/FIN® will play host the annual AESF Airline/Aerospace Plating and Metal Finishing Forum, the annual AESF/US EPA Conference on Environmental and Process Excellence and a new Nano Plating Colloquium.

Conference sessions have been broadened to include both technical and business sessions. SUR/FIN features four conference tracks --- Emerging Technologies, Global Economy and Management Challenges, Global Environmental Issues and Decorative and Functional Plating.

Leading off the event will be a keynote speech by Joseph DeFeo, President and Chief Executive Office of the Juran Institute, an organization that assists companies with meeting their quality improvement and waste reduction goals. His speech will address the implementation of Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles within the surface finishing industry. (An interview with Mr. DeFeo will be featured in the June issue of PRODUCTS FINISHING, as part of our extended SUR/FIN coverage.)

A Postnote address will be given by astronaut, Colonel Rick Searfoss. A former Space Shuttle mission commander, Searfoss recently served as the Chief Judge for the highly successful and innovative Ansari X Prize competition which awarded a $10 million prize to the first private team to develop and fly a reusable human-carrying spacecraft.

Other scheduled events included:

• Golf Outing and Dinner (Monday, June 13 – 1PM)
  Sponsored by the St. Louis Branch of AESF, this four-person scramble will take place at the Golf Club at Pevely Farms. Entry fee includes golf, box lunch and banquet dinner. Visit www.sur-fin.net for prices and registration form.
  
  
• CEF Recognition Breakfast (Tuesday, June 14 – 8AM)
  AESF will be honoring all surface finishing professionals who have achieved the AESF’s Certified Electroplater-Finisher (CEF) designation with a special CEF Recognition Breakfast. CEFs will receive an invitation to attend without charge, but a confirmation number will be required to attend. Others wishing to attend may purchase tickets in advance for $37.50 per person.
  
  
• Surface Finishing Industry Council Party (Wednesday, June 15 – 7PM)
  AESF, MFSA and NAMF are joining together to host one industry-inclusive SFIC party. The party – which will take place at the Living World Exhibit at Forest Park – affords attendees the opportunity to meet with clients, old friends and industry peers. Transportation to and from the event will be provided, and tickets are available for advance purchase for $65 apiece.
  
  
• Plant Tour at St. Louis Metallizing (Thursday, June 16 – 1:30PM)
  The tour will consist of a walk through of St. Louis Metallizing’s machine shop for commercial work and a shop devoted to printing cylinder repair work. Participants will also be able to view St. Louis Metallizing’s two shop areas for thermal spray. These shops have robotic cells for thermal spraying. The tour will cover roughly 40,000 sq ft of the facility’s 65,000 sq ft.