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Get live updates on future of auto body materials from Automotive MegaTrends USA

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Market Trends | Technology
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Repairer Driven News is in the Detroit area today for the Automotive MegaTrends 2015 conference with a focus on the future of automotive materials, and you can follow us for updates through social media.

The topic is of high importance to collision repairers, as automakers’ use of materials such as high-strength steel, aluminum and carbon fiber will determine the complexity of auto body work and the cost of the necessary training and equipment to do those repairs.

Below are presentations we’re planning on attending, excerpted directly from the Automotive MegaTrends USA website with minor edits. We’ll also be at the “Impending disruption in the automotive industry – lessons from industry outsiders” keynote speech by Infosys Vice President and Americas manufacturers leader Rohit Kedia at the 12:30 p.m. lunch.

9.05 – 9.25am: ‘Plastics in the auto industry: what’s next?’ by Frank Macher, Chairman & CEO, Continental Structural Plastics
9.25 – 9.45am: ‘Lightweighting: an “all of the above” strategy’ by Ramzi Hermiz, President & CEO, Shiloh Industries
9.45 – 10.05am: ‘Carbon Composites: competitive and cost effective’ by G.V.V. Ravikumar, Senior Principal and Head of Advanced Engineering Group, Infosys
10.05 – 10.25am: ‘Adhesive solutions for vehicle lightweighting’ by Ana Wagner, Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Dow Automotive
11.05 – 11.30am: ‘An in-depth look at Ford / Magna’s multi-material lightweight vehicle concept’ by Jeff Conklin Engineering Department Manager, Magna International’s Cosma Engineering
11.30 – 11.55am: ‘How plastics suppliers can do more to drive lightweighting’ by Jeffrey Sternberg, Global Automotive Technology Director, DuPont
11.55 – 12.20pm: ‘Innovation by design: simulation driven lightweighting’ by Tony Norton, Executive Vice President, Altair ProductDesign
1.35 – 1.55pm: ‘Joining as an enabling technology for mainstream vehicle structural lightweighting’ by Jerry Gould, Technology Leader, Resistance & Solid-State Welding, EWI
1.55 – 2.15pm: Nizar Trigui, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Dura Automotive
2.15 – 2.35pm: ‘The evolution of steel in automotive design and production’ by Blake Zuidema, Director Automotive Product Applications, ArcelorMittal
2.35 – 2.55pm: ‘Automotive aluminum – part of the solution’ by Doug Richman, VP Engineering, Kaiser Aluminum
3.35 – 4.00pm: ‘The role of adhesives in reducing vehicle mass and increasing sustainability’ by Dan Wohletz, Vice President, Automotive North America, Henkel
4.00 – 4.25pm: ‘Not all Lightweighting is Created Equal: Considerations that influence lightweighting as a viable option ‘ by Greg Kolwich, Production Development Manager, FEV
4.25 – 4.50pm: ‘Metallic material trends in the North American light vehicle’ by Abey Abraham, Project Director, Ducker Worldwide

Use this ticker to see what Repairer Driven News (@RepairerDriven) and others are reporting and tweeting from MegaTrends (works best on desktop computers):

Live Blog Repairer Driven News at 2015 Automotive Megatrends USA
 

Look for more detailed coverage today, Thursday, and throughout the week.

Featured image: Repairer Driven News will be attending presentations about the changing world of auto body materials at Automotive MegaTrends USA. (hxdyl/iStock/Thinkstock)

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