DEARBORN, MI-The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) today announced the speaker line-up for the RAPID 2012 Conference and Exposition to be held in Atlanta, May 22-25. Keynote presentations, conference sessions, technical briefings, workshops, tours, 3-D printing art gallery and 3-D printing fashion show are among the highlights of the additive manufacturing industry's premier event.

Keynote speakers for the event include Paul Doe, chief designer at Prodrive Rally Programs and Terry Wohlers, president of Wohlers Associates. Doe's presentation will provide an overview of Prodrive's development of the Mini John Cooper Works World Rally Car and Wohlers will address additive manufacturing during his State of the Industry report.

"RAPID has become the most important meeting place in North America for those involved with additive manufacturing," said industry analyst Terry Wohlers. "SME has created another world-class program, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. Having it in Atlanta for the first time will attract new customer prospects from this region of the U.S. and this is important to the growth of the industry."

RAPID is regarded as North America's most comprehensive display of rapid manufacturing equipment, software and service providers. The conference and event provides numerous opportunities to network with members of the SME Rapid Technologies & Additive Manufacturing (RTAM) community and study advanced uses of emerging technologies. This year marks the inaugural 3-D Print Fashion Show and the third annual Contemporary Art Gallery and will present new and innovative uses of additive manufacturing.

The event also features additive manufacturing and 3-D imaging technology briefings, and workshops led by industry experts who will educate and inform attendees on advanced manufacturing topics, including:

  • Fundamentals of Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing
  • Fundamentals of Reverse Engineering and 3-D Data Capture Quick Links:

  • Register: http://bit.ly/xfVota
  • Exhibit: http://bit.ly/yFtraG
  • 2012 Speaker Lineup: http://bit.ly/zszbx1

    Important Deadlines

  • Feb. 28, 2011: Deadline to submit entries for the 3D Print Fashion Show
  • Feb. 28, 2011: Deadline to submit art renderings for the Contemporary Art Gallery

    For more information, please visit: sme.org/rapid .