New message from the Chapter Chairman

Due to the Covid-19 precautions that have gone into place at Iowa State University, we will no longer be able to tour the Center of Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) Digital Manufacturing Lab as planned on March 19^th.
 
We do have an alternative opportunity for you all to still learn about what CIRAS is doing to support Iowa industries as they start to incorporate Industry 4.0 into their business model. CIRAS will be hosting a Webinar from 4:00-5:00pm on Thursday March 19^th via WebEx. I will be updating the SME Connect Event to include the login information. I highly encourage you and your colleagues to join the webinar so you can bring some of these initiates back to your companies. Please register on the Event page in Connect to make sure that CIRAS is able to support the volume of participants.
 
Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions. Thank you,
-Joe Vanstrom


Chairman’s Message
SME had an exciting tour of the Vermeer’s Plant 4 and got to see how they fabricate and assemble their whole tree wood chippers, brush chippers, tub grinders, and mini-skid steers. I’d like to thank Scott Riddle and Kevin Englenhoven for setting up the tour and taking time out of their busy schedules to host our group.
March’s tour will be hosted by the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS). We will be touring their new Digital Manufacturing Lab located in the Research Park in Ames. We will have a great opportunity to learn more about how CIRAS is helping Iowa engineering and manufacturing companies take advantage of advances in Industry 4.0. They will also be demonstrating their scanning technologies advancements with the cobots (collaborative robots) that are designed to work alongside shop floor personnel.
CIRAS will also be providing a dinner during the presentation. Make sure to sign up and SME Connect to ensure that we have enough food. This meeting is open to all that wish to attend, so please invite interested peers! Please join us for a night of learning.
Don’t forget to like SME Chapter 80 on Facebook!

-Joe Vanstrom
Chair SME Des Moines Chapter 80
SME is dedicated to advancing and educating the manufacturing industry through a variety of tactics and outlets including events, media, membership, training and development, and an education foundation.
Newsletter Click here to view our March 2020 Newsletter