More than 200 members, their spouses and guests trekked to the Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, AZ, to attend the 2007 fall technical conference of the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators and the 21st Intl. Vacuum Web Coating conference, held Oct. 7-10. Along with the information-packed conference sessions, attendees also had a chance to mingle with colleagues and friends during the two-day tabletop reception and various optional activities.

For those who couldn't wait to get started or those who were only able attend for a day, AIMCAL offered three concurrent short courses on Day One. Dr. Charles Bishop of C.A. Bishop Consulting presented a course on Vacuum Coating for High Barrier Performance, Dr. Ed Cohen of Edward D. Cohen Consulting gave a talk on Web Coating Characterization and Measurement Technology, and Dr. David R. Roisum of Finishing Technologies (Web Works columnist) rounded-out the short course offerings with a session on Wrinkling and Winding Defect Troubleshooting.

The technical conference officially opened with a keynote address by Mark Fihn, publisher and editor-in-chief of Veritas et Visus (www.veritasetvisus.com). Fihn gave an overview titled, “Shape of Things to Come,” saying that the shape could be anything from the familiar rectangular label to irregularly-shaped items when it comes to flat-panel displays. But how does that fit in with coating and laminating?

Fihn addressed this and other related questions by revealing a new market possibility. “The flexible-displays industry has problems with layering,” he explained. “They're trying to find new materials, adhesives and ways to cure; many of which already have been addressed (by the coating and laminating industry). Coaters and laminators can offer their experience to the display industry.”

Fihn also added that the market drivers are not yet apparent, and many questions are still unanswered on whether or not the displays industry can be a profitable future endeavor. “We still don't quite understand the possibilities because there are so many different applications,” he said.

For help in addressing the present market were the Web Coating and Vacuum Web Coating tracks. To get the most out of their visit, attendees were able to bounce between tracks, depending on their tech-info needs. Additionally, there were joint sessions which touched on topics of interests in both tracks.

In a more casual setting, attendees were able to meet and talk with conference speakers by joining lunch discussion groups. These included talks with Dr. Eldrige Mount on Metal Adhesion and Laminations and with Richard Swisher on Surface Resistivity.

The conference closed with a networking session, allowing attendees to wind down and congratulate the winners of the 2007 John Matteucci Awards. In the Vacuum Web category, Jay Tannan from PRUFTECHNIK Service, Inc., won for his paper on “Measuring Roll Parallelism in a Vacuum Metallizing Chamber Using Inertial Alignment Equipment.” A demonstration of the PARALIGN™ roller alignment system was part of his conference presentation earlier in the week. This system uses three gyroscopes and lasers to determine a roll's position in space. By using inertial technology, the system is not restricted by optical limitations.

In the Web Coating category, Ed Culbertson from Mitsubishi Polyester Film, Inc., received a unanimous vote for his paper on “AFM Studies of Corona-Treated, Biaxially Oriented PET Film.” Cody Morelock, Yamin Htet and Laura Wright from Furman University also contributed to the paper, which follows a 16-run designed experiment on BOPET film with line speed and corona-treater power setting as variables. Look for Culbertson's paper in Converting's December 2007 issue.

Members of AIMCAL who were unable to attend the Fall Technical Conference: Fret not about missing out. All conference presentations can be viewed at AIMCAL's Website: www.aimcal.org