Standardization News

Additive Manufacturing Conference Program Announced

The preliminary program for the 2021 ASTM International Conference on Additive Manufacturing (ICAM 2021)
is now available. Sponsored by the ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, ICAM 2021 will be held November 1-5 in Anaheim, California.

The five-day conference will include nearly 600 presentations, including more than 240 invited and 120 student presentations. It will also feature 10 panel sessions and several keynote addresses. Before the conference, four in-person certificate short courses will be held Oct. 31 covering an array of AM topics.

This is ASTM’s sixth annual flagship event related to standardization, qualification, and certification with an emphasis on industry-specific requirements, addressing the entire AM process chain. 

ICAM 2021 will also include presentations of the ASTM International Young Professional in Additive Manufacturing Awards and the Awards of Excellence. Award nominations from the public are welcome.  

Over the years, ICAM has grown to be the largest ASTM International scientific conference. The event involves numerous ASTM technical committees and external stakeholders, bringing experts from around the world to exchange the latest developments in the field of AM with an emphasis on research to applications through standardization.

ICAM 2021 will be an in-person conference with the option to attend virtually. Virtual conference attendance will include prerecorded presentations and live-streamed keynote speeches and panel sessions.

Registration for ICAM 2021 is now open. REGISTER TODAY.

ASTM and HFES  To Cooperate on Exoskeleton Standards

Representatives of ASTM International and The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) recently signed a letter of cooperation supporting exoskeleton standards development. 

The letter of cooperation is intended to encourage technical excellence in exoskeletons and their enabling technologies through the application of standards. Additional goals include efforts to enhance technical knowledge and facilitate HFES’ input in the development of standards to reflect human-centric solutions.

The letter was signed by Steven Kemp, executive director of HFES, and Brian Meincke, vice president, global business development and innovation strategy, with ASTM International.

ASTM and HFES have established the letter of cooperation to achieve the following goals:

• Promote communication between the two organizations.
• Promote knowledge of ASTM standards and the benefits of ASTM membership to HFES members.
• Promote knowledge of HFES and the benefits of HFES membership to ASTM members.
• Increase expert input into the development of ASTM exo technology standards and other areas of common interest from HFES.
• Pursue safe and reliable exo technologies through awareness and education activities such as workshops, symposia, training events, and conferences.

HFES, founded in 1957, is the world’s largest scientific association for human factors/ergonomics professionals. HFES serves the needs of members and the public by promoting and advancing the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems, products, tools, and environments of all kinds.

ASTM International’s committee on exoskeletons and exosuits (F48) was formed in 2017 to develop standards that address safety, quality, performance, ergonomics, and terminology for exo systems and components during their full life cycle. ASTM International’s Exo Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE) focuses on accelerating exo standards through research, education, workforce development, training certifications, and connecting global exo communities. Visit the ET CoE.

NSERC HI-AM Network Signs MoU with ASTM International

Representatives from ASTM International and the Canada-based NSERC Network for Holistic Innovation in Additive Manufacturing (HI-AM Network) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The agreement aims to bring closer cooperation between the HI-AM Network and ASTM to support the development of additive manufacturing (AM) standards.

The agreement was announced at the fourth annual HI-AM Conference in June by Ralph Resnick, HI-AM chair of the board and former America Makes president and CEO, and Brian Meincke, vice president of global business development and innovation strategy, ASTM International. 

“One of our core values has been identifying partnerships with organizations that can support acceleration of standards development,” said Meincke. “We are excited to work closely with HI-AM Network and hope this partnership will advance and facilitate innovative global additive manufacturing standardizations.”

The MoU will allow for greater collaboration on activities, promote information exchange on topics of interest, and encourage greater industry participation from Canada in the standards development process, impacting the global industrialization of AM technologies.

“Many members of HI-AM Network’s academic team are already members of ASTM International and at the forefront of the international effort to develop standards for additive manufacturing,” said Resnick. “I am delighted that we are strengthening this already robust relationship through the signing of a memorandum of understanding.” 

ASTM contributes to the development of AM standards through the work of the additive manufacturing technologies committee (F42) with the support of the ASTM Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE). 

“Advancement of AM technologies requires robust research and development programs, and HI-AM Network has demonstrated invaluable contributions to support filling standards development gaps in this field,” said Mohsen Seifi, Ph.D., director of global additive manufacturing programs for ASTM International. “We are thrilled to partner with world-class universities in the HI-AM Network to focus on key industry challenges and have already registered two standard work items as a result of this collaboration.” 

One work item (WK76983) focuses on best practices for in-situ defect detection, while the other (WK77008) addresses benchmarking of powder bed density measurement.

NSERC HI-AM Network works to address the challenges that prevent the industrial adoption of metal AM and to equip Canada for the era of Industry 4.0. The HI-AM Network brings together 19 leading AM experts from seven Canadian universities and is hosted by the University of Waterloo.

API and ASTM International Partner to Harmonize Petroleum Standards in West Africa

The American Petroleum Institute (API) and ASTM International are partnering on a project aimed at harmonizing petroleum standards in the West African region, with impact in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. The three-year project is supported by the USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) Standards Alliance and managed by the American National Standards Institute.

“We are pleased to work with API and African stakeholders to support streamlined petroleum standards,” said Teresa Cendrowska, vice president of global cooperation at ASTM International. “These harmonization efforts will promote consistency and facilitate compliance in the West African region.”

Funded by USAID, the Standards Alliance program supports the capacity of developing countries in the areas of legal and regulatory frameworks, standards development, conformity assessment procedures, and private sector engagement. Standards compliance becomes complex when companies must comply with a patchwork of international or local standards. Harmonizing regional standards will allow manufacturers, suppliers, and conformity assessment bodies to demonstrate that products, services, or processes comply with relevant legislation, while facilitating the delivery of safe, high-quality products to consumers. 

“The steps we are taking today with ASTM International will assist our ongoing efforts to promote industry safety and sustainability standards around the world, while supporting the Standards Alliance’s important work on harmonization,” said Alexa Burr, API vice president for segment standards and services. “We are thankful for ASTM’s work in helping to establish this partnership and look forward to working together on streamlining petroleum standards in West Africa.”

The standards harmonization project follows a 2019 Standards Alliance training on international petroleum standards and management systems. The training allowed participants to discuss international best practices for petroleum, as well as environmental and economic challenges of the West African region.

Burkina Faso National Standards Body Signs MoU with ASTM International

Agence Burkinabé de Normalisation, de la Métrologie et de la Qualité (ABNORM) in Burkina Faso and ASTM International have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The agreement will foster a closer working relationship between the two standards organizations.

The MoU seeks to strengthen the relationship and enhance support for the needs of the people of Burkina Faso; continue growth of the economy of Burkina Faso; and aid in the development of Burkinabe national standards for health, safety, and the environment.

The MoU was signed by Issaka Zoungrana, ABNORM director general, and Katharine E. Morgan, ASTM International president. 

ASTM and ABNORM established the MoU to pursue the following goals:

• Promote communication between the two organizations;
• Avoid duplication of work efforts where possible;
• Promote knowledge of the standards-development activities of each organization;
• Use the resources of ASTM International to strengthen the ABNORM standards system;
• Promote greater ABNORM input and content into ASTM International standards through greater ABNORM participation in the ASTM standards-development process; and
• Promote the ABNORM acceptance and use of ASTM International standards.

Initiated in 2001, ASTM’s MoU program promotes communication and awareness among standards bodies. With this agreement, the total number of ASTM International MoUs is 118. ■