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EDITORIAL
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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 7
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ITSC 2017 PROMISES THE STARS AND MORE
T
he International Thermal Spray
Conference and Exposition 2017
(ITSC) is taking place in Düssel-
dorf, Germany, during June 7-9—now
back in Europe after three years. This an-
nual event provides an excellent oppor-
tunity for the thermal spray community
tomeet, exchange information, and con-
duct business. The program committee
did a great job of ensuring that the latest research and devel-
opment is included to ensure a high level of technical content.
In addition, an industrial forumwill include presentations from
industry about newhardware andproduct applica-
tions. Along with a three-day exhibition and poster
session, a comprehensive overview of the field of
thermal spray will be presented. The conference
will take place at the CCD Congress Centre Düssel-
dorf, situated on the banks of the Rhine and linked
to the Messe Düsseldorf exhibition center. The
theme of ITSC 2017 is “Thermal Spray Paves the
Way to the Stars.”
Conferences such as ITSC are the best way to
get up to speed and ensure that our technology re-
mains state of the art and that we continue to work
on a competitive basis. This is not only important
for company owners, but for everyone develop-
ing a technology and looking for new application
possibilities. The fact that attendees, presenters,
and exhibitors from all over the world participate
makes it the best way to share information and en-
large the global market.
Thermal spray is still a growing technology
that is able to spur interest in new industrial areas.
Automation, productivity, and safety have been
key factors over thepast fewyears. Newequipment
needs to fulfill all of these requirements along with
online documentation and process monitoring.
Big steps have already been taken in this direction
on the equipment side, but now industry needs to
carefully plan its investments in order to integrate
these developments into production. These issues
are key to maintaining interest in our technology
and taking it to the next level. In this way, we can
create aworkplace inwhich highly trained andmo-
tivated employees want to participate.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at ITSC—and
meeting both well-known and new colleagues. As with all
ITSCs, 2017 promises to be an unforgettable event, especially
with GTS e.V., the Association of Thermal Sprayers, celebrating
its 25th anniversary.
Werner Kroemmer
Linde AG
Kroemmer