Standardization News

Brazilian National Standards Body Signs MoU with ASTM International

The Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas or ABNT) and ASTM International signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 24. 

The MoU will allow direct adoption of ASTM International standards in Brazil to enhance ABNT’s support for public and private sector stakeholders in Brazil and aid in the development of Brazilian national standards. 

In addition to the MoU, a commercial agreement was signed between the two organizations. Ricardo Fragoso, director general, and Nelson Al Assal Filho, director of standardization, signed both agreements on behalf of ABNT. Katharine Morgan, president, ASTM International, and Teresa Cendrowska, vice president, global cooperation, ASTM, signed the MoU. Morgan and James Thomas, vice president, sales and marketing, signed the commercial agreement. 

“We at ASTM International recognize the importance of ABNT’s work with the Brazilian and global standards communities,” said Morgan. “We look forward to continuing a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship with ABNT as enabled by these agreements.”

“ABNT is very pleased and gratified — and I am personally as well — to enter into this MoU and updated commercial agreement with ASTM International, since both agreements are fully aligned with and will help advance ABNT’s organizational mission, vision, and values,” Fragoso said. “Cooperation with ASTM International under the terms of these agreements will support ABNT in responding efficiently to market and societal needs, providing Brazilian society with knowledge that enables competitive and sustainable production, delivery, and use of goods in services in the domestic and foreign markets, and contributing to scientific and technological development, environmental protection, consumer protection, health, and innovation.”   

While ASTM and ABNT have a long-standing commercial agreement, the new agreement will enhance this collaboration. The new agreement allows ASTM to expand the accessibility of its standards and services to all Brazilian companies, organizations, and universities.

ABNT was founded in 1940 and was officially adopted by the Brazilian government in 1962.

EUROCAE and ASTM International Sign Memorandum of Understanding 

The European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) and ASTM International have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The agreement will foster information exchange and cooperation in the aviation and aerospace sectors, aiming to reduce duplication of efforts and to promote harmonization, interoperability, and compatibility of technical solutions in global aviation. 

The MoU was signed by Christian Schleifer, EUROCAE director general, and Jeff Grove, ASTM International vice president of global policy, cooperation, and communications. 

“ASTM International is very pleased to establish this cooperation agreement with EUROCAE as it builds on our existing relationship and positions us to work more collaboratively and efficiently in the future,” notes Grove.

Schleifer expressed his appreciation for the collaboration and added: “Consensus standards play an extremely important role in aviation. We are excited to expand on our partnership with ASTM International and look forward to the work we will do together or doing complementary in support of the global aviation community.”

Specifically, ASTM and EUROCAE will work together toward the advancement of the following objectives:

• Explore opportunities for EUROCAE and ASTM to collaborate within their respective standards development processes;
• Facilitate technical standardization dialogue between EUROCAE and ASTM in the identified areas of interest;
• Share information on ASTM and EUROCAE standards development activities and emerging technologies, trends, or regulatory drivers of mutual interest for the benefit of the organizations’ stakeholders; and
• Avoid duplication in coordinating our work program, complementing our activities while further fostering global harmonization and worldwide interoperability.

ASTM International and EUROCAE have had a successful and constructive relationship for several years, including ASTM participating in European standards coordination efforts led by EUROCAE. 

This MoU will empower experts and committees from both ASTM and EUROCAE to learn from each other and promote alignment in areas of common interest, including UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) traffic management (UTM), runway friction, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), and more.

ASTM International and International Electrotechnical Commission Expand Cooperation Agreement 

Representatives from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and ASTM International met recently and agreed to expand the scope of a cooperation agreement signed in 2017 that fosters streamlined standards development and reduces duplication of efforts in the global marketplace. 

The expanded cooperation agreement was signed by IEC General Secretary and CEO Philippe Metzger and ASTM International Vice President of Technical Committee Operations Daniel Smith. 

“ASTM International is excited to further collaborate with IEC in an effort to continue our commitment to global collaboration and alignment towards standards development,” said Smith. “We believe this expanded agreement will improve efficiency, promote technical convergence, and benefit our members and stakeholders.”

ASTM and IEC established the initial cooperation agreement to work on the adoption, revision, and joint development of market-relevant standards related to surface-cleaning appliances and vacuum cleaners. The new agreement also expands the scope to include:

• Performance of household and similar electrical cooking appliances, and
• Air leakage and ventilation performances.

Founded in 1906, IEC prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies. These are known collectively as “electrotechnology.”

Standards Forum to Be Held at FORMNEXT 2021

ASTM International has announced the Standards Forum taking place in conjunction with Formnext 2021 at Messe Frankfurt in Germany on November 15. The forum, “Industrialization of AM through Standardization — How to take AM to the next level,” is jointly organized by the U.S. Commercial Service, ASTM, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is supported by Mesago Formnext. The event seeks to build on the success of two previous forums focused on increasing awareness of standardization and fostering transatlantic collaboration in the field.

The one-day event will allow attendees to understand how standards impact the industrialization of AM and how to leverage standards for various AM applications across a variety of industry sectors. The forum will include two keynote sessions, six presentations, two panel discussions, and two break-out sessions.  

Keynote sessions will address the status of AM standards development and the general industry perspective on the use of AM standards. Panel discussions will cover AM industrialization and standards challenges, while the breakout sessions will allow participants to share perspectives and focus on industry-specific needs for AM standards with a particular emphasis on aerospace, medical, automotive, construction, energy, and many others.  

The presentations will cover:

• Digitalization;
• Big data;
• AM automation;
• Rapid qualification and certification;
• How standards drive the adoption of AM in different industry sectors.

The forum is open to all engaged in AM activities. Formnext serves as an international meeting point for the next generation of intelligent industrial production. 

READ MORE about the work of the AM CoE.

AM CoE Issues Annual Report and Significant Research to Standards Developments

ASTM International’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) has issued its third annual report, which highlights the organization’s ever-expanding research to standards portfolio, continued industry partnerships, growing list of workforce development resources, and more.

The AM CoE annual report features a summary of organizational accomplishments from the past year. Most notably from 2020 to 2021, the AM CoE built a portfolio of 12 new AM research to standards projects, including several in progress that will address more than 17 standards gaps and impact 14 new and existing standards. The report also outlines the organization’s other major endeavors, including new industry collaborations, a pilot quality certification program, and a successful annual conference, its largest event to date.

“Last year, we continued to advance our partnerships, building new programs by growing our infrastructure and expertise, strengthening our global collaboration, and expanding our activities,” said Mohsen Seifi, Ph.D., ASTM’s director of global additive manufacturing programs. “This report captures the many accomplishments of the AM CoE and will continue to serve as a guide to feature our progress.” 

According to Seifi, as the AM CoE moves into its fourth year, it will continue to set ambitious goals for continued expansion of its research and development portfolio, further involvement in government-funded activities, development of new trainings, qualification, and certification programs, and improved and increased communication strategies to further its mission of AM industrialization and to increase engagement globally.

READ MORE about the work of the AM CoE.

ASTM International Donates to Afghan Refugee and Haiti Earthquake Relief

Afghan Refugee Relief

ASTM International recently contributed to humanitarian organizations providing relief for Afghan refugees. The donations directly support emergency response efforts.

ASTM donated $4,500 to World Central Kitchen (WCK), which provides meals to families as they arrive in the United States from Afghanistan, many of whom have gone days without a proper meal. Founded in 2010, WCK provides meals to survivors in the wake of worldwide disasters and crises.

“As a partner in global standards development, ASTM International is proud to support relief efforts that directly impact citizens in our worldwide community,” said Katharine Morgan, ASTM International president. 

ASTM also provided $500 to the U.S.-based Society for Afghan Engineers, an organization with close industry ties to ASTM and its members. The organization seeks to provide connections among Afghan professionals throughout the world and assist as technical consultants to both governmental agencies and private sectors of Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan National Standardization Authority has been a memorandum of understanding partner with ASTM International since 2005. 

Haiti Earthquake Relief

ASTM International contributed to relief efforts for survivors of the earthquake that struck Haiti in August to assist in emergency response work and rebuilding efforts.

A donation in the amount of $25,000 was made by ASTM to a Haiti relief fund in support of the local community in L’Asile, Haiti. The donation will support the community’s immediate need for food, water, and safe shelter for those impacted by the earthquake.

The financial contribution was supporting efforts to rebuild eight classrooms before the start of the school year in October. ASTM’s donation also supports a food relief program and medical care for local residents.

“ASTM International is pleased to support the relief efforts of the people of L’Asile and the redevelopment and rebuilding of their community,” said Katharine Morgan, ASTM International president. “Our standards are developed with the goal of making our world function safer, and we hope our donations to these relief efforts will help support ASTM’s continual mission of helping our world work better.”

Haiti has been a partner of ASTM International since 2013 when the organization signed a memorandum of understanding with the Haitian standards development body, Bureau Haïtien de Normalisation.