The long-standing co-operation between AIM - Associazione Italiana di Metallurgia - and the IFHTSE - International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering - has already led to the joint organisation of significant events, such as the Congresses held in Florence in 1982 and in 1998.

Now, the joint resources of AIM and IFHTSE with the collaboration of the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA), will be focused on the organisation of a conference that will deal with innovation in heat treatment, with special reference to automotive applications.

In 2003, IFHTSE, in collaboration with MTEC (National Metal and Materials technology Center in Bangkok - Thailand) held a very successful conference on this topic, addressed primarily to Asia-Pacific interests. Against the background of an intensely competitive and continuously evolving market, it is now opportune to organise an event in more specifically addressed to the European scene.

Therefore, in June 2005, in Riva del Garda (Italy), we will gather together contract heat treaters (not only of components but also of metal and plastic dies, punches, tools and auxiliary materials), engineering component manufacturers, producers of components with captive heat treatment facilities and Tier 1 and 2 suppliers along with production and design staff from the automotive world (passenger cars, trucks and buses, motorcycle, off-road vehicles, construction machines and earthmovers) for an information exchange and update on innovations, trends and developments in the field