Additive Manufacturing Users Group Conference Opens Registration

Users group extends invitation to users of any technology.

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) today announced that online registration is now available for its 2012 conference, which will be held in Costa Mesa, California, from April 22 – 26, 2012. The users group conference, now in its 24th year, is open to owners and operators of all additive manufacturing technologies.

Gary Rabinovitz, AMUG president, stated, "This will be our first conference open to all users of any additive manufacturing system, so it will be the biggest we’ve ever held. With the phenomenal response to sponsorships, it will also be the best." Rabinovitz noted that 2012 sponsors currently include Objet Ltd., Stratasys Inc., Z Corporation, NCP Leasing Inc., SLM Solutions GmbH, Renishaw Plc., RPDG Inc., Evonik Industries, Laser Reproductions and Materialise.

The AMUG Conference 2012 will include technical sessions and hands-on workshops designed to help users get more from their systems. Through technical competitions and the annual Awards Banquet, excellence in applying additive manufacturing and contributions to the technology will be recognized. The five-day event also includes a two-night Exhibitor Expo, networking reception and catered meals.

According to Fred Hilbrandt, AMUG member and longtime AM user, "I can’t emphasize enough the value I and my organization have found from continued attendance of this conference. The networking opportunities alone provide enough justification for coming, not to mention the technical information available to attendees. But most importantly, I’ve been able to follow trends in the industry and, in some small way, influence what the various vendors make available to us, the users."

The advanced, all-inclusive conference registration fee is $495.00. For details and registration, visit www.am-ug.com/events.htm.

Rabinovitz stated that space is still available for the Exhibitor Expo. Vendors interested in participating can save $150.00 if space is reserved prior to April 1, 2012. He also noted that several sponsorship opportunities remain.

AMUG, formerly 3DS Users Group (3DSUG), is an organization that educates and advances the uses and applications of additive manufacturing technologies. The transition to AMUG supports the expansion of the user group to include all commercial additive manufacturing technologies for companies such as 3D Systems, EOS, Objet Geometries, Stratasys and Z Corporation. AMUG meets annually to provide a forum for technical presentation on processes and new technologies. This information addresses operation of additive manufacturing equipment and the applications that use the parts they make.