NASF Report March 2016: Bright Design Challenge Kicks Off with Mobility Focus

Bright Design Challenge Kicks Off with Mobility Focus

This year’s NASF Detroit Bright Design Challenge promises to be one of the most ambitious in the history of the event. As the traditional automotive model is being challenged, this is being extended to student participants in the 2016 event.

This year’s program will be sponsored by Lacks Enterprises, a new NASF corporate member. Lacks manufactures and finishes interior and exterior components and is looking to inspire the next generation of designers to continue the use of surface finishing as mobility choices continue to change.

Students will work with the NASF, Lacks representatives and instructors from Detroit’s College for Creative Studies to create futuristic exterior brand and design options that meet emerging mobility opportunities.

This 15-week program requires students to emphasize surface finishing processes that will remain relevant in a connected and electric mobility future. They will build clay models incorporating surface finishing and include supporting package description, concept documents and renderings. Judging will be April 28, by representatives of NASF, Lacks and the college faculty, based on:

Overall ability to capture essence of the key design influences as outlined in the project brief.
Creative use of surface finishing and a demonstrated knowledge of these finishes.
Overall appeal and creativity of the concept.

Award recipients will receive scholarships, which will be applied directly the students’ tuition.

The convergence of the automotive and technology industries is beginning to increase. Today, the automotive industry is evaluating how it will navigate the realities of transportation and potential pathways to future designs. The NASF is proud to being taking part in this process, and to help to inspire and engage young people in the field of surface technology.

NASF Board Elects Officers for 2016

The NASF Board of Directors elected the following officers for 2016: Erik Weyls, Coventya, president; Paul Brancato, Epner Technology, vice president; Brian Harrick, KC Jones, secretary/treasurer; Bernie Haviland, Haviland, Executive Committee member at large; and Rick Delawder, SWD, immediate past president

Top row, from left to right: James Sullivan and Steve Kocka;
Bottom row, left to right: Chris Capalbo, and Rebecca Bennett.

In addition, the association is pleased to welcome the following new directors to the board: Rebecca Bennett, Precision Plating; Chris Capalbo, New Method Plating; Steve Kocka, Atotech USA; and James Sullivan, Schumacher Co.

Congratulations to all of our newly elected officers, welcome to our four new directors, and thanks to existing board members for their continued commitment and leadership.

California Congressman Adam Schiff to Speak at Washington Forum

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who serves as ranking member on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, will be featured at the NASF Capitol Hill Reception at the Washington Forum, April 19–21, an annual event to discuss industry issues and to communicate to Congress the value of the surface finishing industry in U.S. and global manufacturing.

In addition to receiving in-depth updates on pending regulation, legislation and litigation, participants will hear insightful commentary on issues facing decision makers on Capitol Hill from lunch keynote speaker Stuart Rothenberg, founding editor and publisher of the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, and one of the nation’s most popular political analysts. Visit nasfwashingtonforum.com for registration information.

Feds Increase Criminal Enforcement of OSHA Act

The U.S. departments of Justice and of Labor joined for an initiative to increase the number of criminal prosecutions for worker endangerment and worker safety cases. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) provides for criminal sanctions for three types of conduct impacting worker safety:

Willfully violating a specific standard, and thus causing the death of an employee;
Giving advance notice of an OSHA inspection activity; and
Falsification of documents filed or required to be maintained under the OSH Act.

The violations are misdemeanors punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months, but there are very few prosecutions. The DOJ issued a memorandum to 93 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. DOL urging them to charge companies with other crimes with felony provisions that frequently occur with OSH Act violations, such as false statements, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and conspiracy. The initiative follows provisions Congress passed in last year’s spending bill which increased civil penalties in OSHA citations to a maximum of 82 percent. As a result, employers will need to focus on its environmental, health and safety compliance programs to avoid more stringent penalties for any potential violations. If you have any questions, contact Christian Richter at crichter@thepolicygroup.com or Jeff Hannapel at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com.

Sally Gestautas to be Keynote Speaker at Sur/Fin

Sally Gestautas, global substances program manager for Raytheon, will be one of the keynote speakers of the NASF Sur/Fin Manufacturing and Technology Trade Show and Conference, June 6–8, in Las Vegas. She plays a leading role at Raytheon in emerging global regulations aimed at reducing the use of hazardous materials in products and processes in the aerospace supply chain, including finishing. She chairs the International Aerospace Environmental Group and led the Aerospace Industries Association’s REACH Working Group and Chemicals Subcommittee.

This year’s Sur/Fin will include 230 booths featuring an expanded selection of technologies and services offered by more than 160 suppliers. Sur/Fin will again be the largest trade show in North America exclusively dedicated to the surface treatment industry and the only industry specific tradeshow sponsored by the industry’s leading association, the NASF.