Selected 2006 Annual Report Summaries: Aluminum

JOM, Nov 2007

For more information, visit the web site at www.alcoa.com/innovation.

National Nanomanufacturing Network Links Communities

A new on-line community known as the National Nanomanufacturing Network (NNN) has been developed to facilitate collaboration and disseminate information among research, education, and development communities. The community-driven, open-access network was created by the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing, its partner centers, and the U.S. National Science Foundation, which provided funding for the project.

"The innovative developments emerging from U.S. nanotechnology research centers represent an immensely valuable national resource," said Mark Tuominen, director of the network. "The NNN will provide the necessary catalyst by assisting nanomanufacturing stakeholders through networking, collaborations, education, and information exchange."

Because nanomanufacturing research and development requires the collaboration of interdisciplinary partners, information exchange, and the integration of diverse manufacturing techniques, the NNN aims to provide connections to nanomanufacturing centers, projects, and experts from academic, industrial, and government institutions.

The network plans to bring together diverse expertise and technologies, convene workshops on emerging nanomanufacturing issues, offer educational opportunities in nanomanufacturing, and host an on-line information clearinghouse. The clearinghouse, which is scheduled to launch this month, will provide information on nanomanufacturing centers, experts and resources, nanomanufacturing processes, nanostructured materials, best practices, events, and a database of nanomanufacturing research information.

For more information, visit www. nanomanufacturing.org.

Australia's CSIRO Adds Materials Science and Engineering Division

Australia's national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has announced a new division that will support the country's manufacturing industry. The goal of the new CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE) Division is to transform segments of the Australian manufacturing sector into sustainable and globally competitive industries. The new division was formed as the result of the amalgamation of Melbourne-based Manufacturing and Materials Technology and Sydney-based Industrial Physics.

"CMSE provides a coordinated approach to materials design, creation, characterization, and application, particularly for the manufacturing industry," said Calum Drummond, chief of the new division.

This new division is CSIRO's fourth largest with 310 research staff members. Its staff and activities are spread across six sites in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory.

"Our goal is to be the provider of choice for innovative research and development in materials science and engineering to Australia's manufacturing industry," said Drummond.

Stainless Steel Production Up for First Half of 2007