The long-standing co-operation between AIM - Associazione Italiana di Metallurgia - and the IFHTSE - International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering - has already led to the joint organisation of significant events, such as the Congresses held in Florence in 1982 and in 1998 and the Congress on automotive applications organized in Riva del Garda in 2005.

Now, our combined efforts will be focused on the organisation of a Conference that will deal with tradition and innovation in heat treatment and surface engineering. The Conference will join the European Conference on Heat Treatment 2015 and the 22nd IFHTSE Congress.

The Conference will bring together managers, engineers and researchers from heat treatment shops, tool makers and users, suppliers of heat treatment and surface engineering plant and equipment, as well as material scientists.

This meeting is aimed at creating an opportunity for a technical exchange at an international level among the numerous experts involved in the heat treatment and surface engineering route.

The Conference will cover the overall development of technologies in heat treatment and surface engineering, with particular focus on the following topics:

•   Thermo-chemical treatment (carburizing, nitriding, nitrocarburising,…)

•   Surface hardening (induction, laser,…)

•   Coating technology and coatings (PVD, CVD, plasma, thermal spray,…)

•   Design and construction of industrial heat treatment equipment

•   Equipment for measurement and process control

•   Quenching technology, equipment and quenchants

•   Residual stress and distortion

•   Environmental impact of heat treatment

•   Environmental aspects of surface engineering

•   Tribology and tribological testing methods

•   Wear and wear protection

•   Modeling and simulation of heat treatment and surface engineering related aspects

•   Reliability and  process control

•   Cost analysis and reduction in manufacturing

•   Energy saving

•   Bulk heat treatment

•   Mechanical properties

An International Steering Committee and an International Programme Committee of distinguished international professionals and researchers have been appointed, so as to guarantee the high quality of the event and a systematic and correct selection of the papers.

Prospective authors wishing to present papers are invited to submit a tentative title and an abstract of about 300 words  (in  English)  to  the  Organising  Secretariat  (aim@aimnet.it), by 14 November 2014. The  abstract  should  provide  sufficient  information for a fair assessment and include the title of the paper, the author’s names and contact details (address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address). Submission of abstracts:        

A poster session will be included if the number of accepted paper exceeds the space available for oral sessions. Awards, each of EUR 500, will be made for the three best posters, as judged by an independent panel of experts.

IFHTSE’s Tom Bell Young Author Award, sponsored by the Linde Group and which has a cash value of the order of EUR 1,500, will also be assigned.

The Conference will feature a technical exhibition that will represent many areas of industry with latest equipment, facilities and instruments, products and services in the ?eld of heat treatment and surface engineering. With an expected attendance of more than 300 experts in the heat treatment industry from all over the world, the exhibition will offer a unique opportunity to promote new products, outline services and highlight key achievements to a highly targeted audience. The exhibition area will be a focal point of the Conference, so that enough time will be available to guarantee a perfectly targeted potential customer’s environment. 

Companies will also be able to reinforce their participation and enhance their corporate identification by taking advantage of benefits offered to them as Contributing Sponsors of the Conference.

The Conference will be held in Venice mainland, at NH Laguna Palace (Viale Ancona 2, Venezia Mestre, Venice - Italy). Mestre is one of the the six boroughs of the city of Venice and it is the mainland gateway to Venice Island.

For further information, you may visit the conference website www.aimnet.it/ht2015.htm or you may contact the Organising Secretariat: ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA DI METALLURGIA - Piazzale Rodolfo Morandi 2, I - 20121 Milano, Italy.  Tel. +3902-7602.1132 - Fax. +3902-7602.0551, e-mail: aim@aimnet.it