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President’s Message 

Technologies underpinning the global drive for a sustainable world through a reduction in carbon dioxide production, renewable energy, clean plentiful water, a reduction in waste - a more efficient use of all our resources, all fall into the category now known as “Cleantech”. The Cleantech sector is experiencing a large push from the investment community.

Whilst initially the market push was into all kinds of new technologies to solve these challenges, there has followed a dawning realisation that we already have at hand solutions to many of the challenges in the short term through making the existing system more efficient, more efficient lighting, motors, heating and cooling, grid load management, etc. McKinseys and other large business advisory firms have identified that business can make an enormous contribution and add to their bottom line profit through many low cost efficiency improvements.

Governments are spending money on improving insulation and sealing of building including domestic homes with a view to improved cooling and heat retension. Old buildings are being upgraded and triple glazed windows installed. The Empire State Building in New York is just one example.

In the UK and Europe there appears to be a more rational view, to the point where even the investment community are stating that we already have the technology to address lowering the carbon footprint and the reduction of waste. We just need to be more innovative in its deployment.

My recent journeys took me not only to the US and Europe but also Malaysia and Singapore where I continue to be surprised with the rate of progress.

Large scale community/housing developments are driving the green, low energy, eco friendly theme offering enhanced lifestyles for not only there own, but for global citizens who are looking to live in environmentally sustainable and harmonious environments.

Masdar City, the world’s first environmentally sustainable city is now under construction near Abu Dhabi in the UAE. This is an undertaking on an unprecedented scale and will surely represent opportunities for our emerging technology sectors in particular micro and nanotechnology. It is only the beginning in sustainable living.

Rare elements used in consumer electronics such as Indium and Hafnium are projected to run out in a few short years. The challenge is to find replacement technologies that fulfil the performance criterion but are engineered from abundant materials, for example are carbon nanotubes the answer for the replacement of In Tin Oxide as the transparent conducting film in so many applications such as LCD screens and organic solar cells.

I have been invited to the 2020 Global Climate Leadership Forum in Salvador Brazil in May. The Forum leaders have proposed that “The most dynamic climate leadership appears to be coming from Brazil and China -- Brazil because it has made the boldest commitments by far to reduce CO2, and China because it is taking the lead in developing green/clean technology. Brazil’s President Lula has recently signed into law a bill passed by a strong majority of the Brazilian Congress to reduce CO2 emissions by just under 40% by 2020, which includes a commitment to reduce deforestation by 80% by 2020. China is treating the energy technology competition if it were an arms race. China is spending as much or more on “greentech” as it does on its military and hundreds of billions of dollars annually on renewable energy and grid infrastructure improvements. By 2013, greentech will account for 15 percent of the Chinese GDP. By 2020, China will increase its wind generating capacity twelvefold and its solar generation is projected to increase 20,000%. There are also significant developments at the sub national level in numerous countries and in a spectrum of disciplines.”

Such massive investments create huge opportunities for MANCEF’s micro and nanotechnologies community together with new emerging technologies previously not envisaged.

It is a brave new world.

This year’s MANCEF COMS 2010 being held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, addresses many of these areas:

• Small Tech and Energy - Established Fuels

• Small Tech and Energy Production – Biofuels

• Small Tech and Energy Production – Solar

• Clean Tech

• Transportation

• Printable Nano Electronics

• Sensors and Sensor Systems

• MNT & Green Cities & Tech Parks...and much, much more.

It is an amazing program of talks from global technology leaders, networking opportunities, and social and cultural activities.

I suggest you register early and secure your venue hotel accommodation.

I look forward to welcoming you to COMS2010 Albuquerque in August.

Clive Davenport

President

COMS 2010

The COMS 2010 program is shaping up very nicely! We have over 100 confirmed speakers, all leaders in their fields from around the globe. 

It's not to late to submit your abstract, the deadline has been extended to May 30, 2010. Visit the COMS Speakers & Abstract pages. 

Some important deadlines are approaching:

Early Bird Registration Deadline: June 1st Save $255.00

Abstract Submission Deadline: May 30th

Special Incentives: Deadline June 1st - Get free Players Club Cards and other discounts on Hot Air Balloon rides, Entertainment & Dining.

Event Summary:

MANCEF’s first European COMET,  MAM2010 was held on 20-22 January 2010 at Hotel Eurotel Victoria in Villars-sur-Ollon,  a charming village and ski resort located at 1250 meters of altitude in Switzerland

The conference on ‘Equipment for Microproducts’ was jointly organised by MANCEF, MICRONARC and FSRM.  It attracted 70 delegates, of which 29 were speakers and small number of table-top exhibitors. The organisers chose a conference theme that would attract key European equipment providers and manufacturers of high volume microproducts. The topic was timely because microsystems have now entered the age of high volume production for consumer applications, especially mobile phones, ICT and medical disposable devices.

The conference was opened by Edward Byrne of Micronarc, Raphaël Conz, Deputy Director, Office for Economic Affairs, Canton of Vaud, Vincent Rivier, President of Micronarc Committee of Experts and David Tolfree, Vice President MANCEF

The lead invited speakers for each of the six sessions are listed below:

Manufacturing of Si MEMS, Georg Bischopink  Director R&D Si MEMS, Robert Bosch (D) Title: High Volume Manufacturing and Foundry Service of Si-MEMS

Manufacturing of Metal Precision Parts,  Dr. Grégoire Genolet, Mimotec (CH)  Title: UV-LiGA manufacturing of microparts on an industrial scale.

Plastic and Ceramic Replication, Prof. Dr. Juergen Haußelt, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and IMTEK, University of Freiburg, (DE)
Title: Micro Injection Moulding of Ceramics.

Automatic Assembly,  Dr. Alain Codourey, CEO, Asyril (CH)
Title: Feeding and conditioning of miniature parts.

Test Equipment and Quality Control Systems,  Prof. Richard Leach, National Physical Laboratory (UK), Title: Advances in 3D microscale metrology.

Future of Micromanufacturing,  Prof. Yves Bellouard, Eindhoven University of Technology (NL) Title: Femtosecond laser processing of glass: a micro-manufacturing platform for single-material systems that combine optical, mechanical and fluid-handling functions.

In a summing up talk, Professor Volker Saile sought delegates opinion of the conference. It was encapsulated in one word - Excellent.

The  two day conference fulfilled it objectives of providing a stimulating environment for networking and discussions on key issues for companies wanting to advance the commercialisation of their products.

The organisers had set a registration target of about 100 delegates for the conference but the economic recession made it difficult for many small companies to attend. The 70% registration and enthusiastic response from those that did attend encouraged the organisers to book the same venue at Villars for a conference in January 2011.

David Tolfree

European Vice President 

MANCEF Europe Activities:

Sikha Ray,  Director of MANCEF's European office has been working hard contacting members & promoting COMS 2010. The General Advisory Board, Associate VPs, and MANCEF VP Europe, David Tolfree held a meeting at KIT in March to strategize & develop a plan to best assist our European membership.

Watch for some exciting new initiatives coming in the next few months.