Maximize Your ET Experience

Enhance your educational experience at ET ’24 by adding a workshop or class during ET Week! Classes are offered before and after ET ’24. Gain a well-rounded education and advance your career by attending one or more of these essentials educational events during ET Week!

You may attend just the workshops. Simply register using the ET ’24 online registration form and choose “In-conjunction Workshops Only” option when registering.

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[Monday] Extrusion Excellence Course

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $495 AEC members / $895 nonmembers

Gain a well-rounded education on the fundamentals of the aluminum extrusion process. The Extrusion Excellence short course is an intensive one-day educational seminar that brings together aluminum extrusion theory and practice and provides a fundamental engineering approach to the aluminum extrusion process.

This course includes the basics of the extrusion process from a fundamental engineering approach, covering the manufacturing process from billet production through the press to the runout table. The Extrusion Excellence short course is intended for those involved in the production of aluminum profiles who may not have had any formal training in the engineering and metallurgical aspects of the extrusion process. The curriculum taught is appropriate for those new to the industry, as well as experienced production personnel.

Download Brochure

[Monday] Finishing Workshop

8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $495 AEC members / $895 nonmembers
Instructors: Members of AEC's Finishing Team

The AEC is conducting the popular Finishing Workshop during ET Week! This must-attend event will provide the latest information about pretreatment, equipment, coating and finishing processes for the aluminum extrusion industry. The condensed one-day workshop includes a full day of general sessions offering ideas and problem-solving techniques, roundtable discussions, and a series of interactive Field Testing Stations. Take home solutions, ideas and suggestions to make an immediate impact on your own finishing department operations.

The program will deliver a wealth of information specific to aluminum finishing, including anodizing and painting. Speakers have been specially selected for their knowledge and expertise on operational issues concerning aluminum extruders. Topics will include:

  • 2024 Architectural Finishing Standards Update
  • Paint Application Process
  • Extrusion Defects: Fundamentals and Solutions for an Optimum Finish
  • Finishing Line Safety
  • Pretreatment, Substrate and Troubleshooting
  • Field Repair Methods, Cleaning and Maintenance of Aluminum Finishes
  • Paint Equipment Review and Discussion
  • Corrosion Specifics
  • Automation & Equipment, and much more.

Interactive Field Testing Stations
Students will rotate through a series of interactive field testing stations to learn how each type of aluminum finish reacts to various tests. Each station will provide test results on thickness, rub, alcohol, milling test, and more for various painted and anodized aluminum finishes.  In addition, FGIA standards will be discussed for paint and anodize finishes.

If you are involved in finishing operations, this workshop is a valuable educational event.

[Monday] Process Analysis+Optimization

8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $595
Instructors: Professors from the Manufacturing Technologies Group at the University of Bologna, Italy

Learn how to optimize and analyze the aluminum extrusion process in this one-day intensive course from the experts at the Manufacturing Technologies Group at the University of Bologna in Italy. They have worked extensively with European extruders and die makers to optimize die design, improve welding phenomena in extrusion dies, increase die life, and analyze final microstructure of extruded profiles.

This course covers the following topics:

  • Introduction to practical and analytical extrusion concepts
  • Material flow and Friction in direct extrusion
  • Die failure modes and die life prediction
  • Seam welds, welding criteria and profile strength
  • Charge welds and process performance
  • Microstructure evolution and Streaks formation mechanisms.

Download the full course outline here.

[Monday] AAC Anodizing Essentials Class

8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $495 AAC members / $895 nonmembers
Instructors: AAC member anodizing experts

Anodizing Essentials is part of the Aluminum Anodizers Council's (AAC) "School for Anodizers" that teaches more than the fundamentals of anodizing. This one-day class is designed to increase the knowledge and ability of anyone involved in operating an anodizing line. Anodizing Essentials Class details the foundation of quality anodizing, taking the learner through the entire process - beginning with the metallurgical properties of aluminum alloys commonly anodized through to the final rinse and sealing processes.

The program is designed to benefit anodizing production personnel at every level-from the line operator to the production manager, particularly if they are new to the business.
Workshop topics include:

  • Anodizing Overview and Anodizing Video
  • Metallurgy Basics for Aluminum Surfaces
  • Racking
  • Cleaning & Rinsing
  • Etch, Desmut & Bright Dipping
  • Anodizing Basics for Aluminum Surfaces
  • Power - Rectifiers & Transformers for the Aluminum Surface Treatment Industry
  • Dyeing & Electrolytic Coloring
  • Sealing the Anodic Oxide

[Friday] Extrusion Excellence Course

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $495 AEC members / $895 nonmembers

Gain a well-rounded education on the fundamentals of the aluminum extrusion process. The Extrusion Excellence short course is an intensive one-day educational seminar that brings together aluminum extrusion theory and practice and provides a fundamental engineering approach to the aluminum extrusion process.

This course includes the basics of the extrusion process from a fundamental engineering approach, covering the manufacturing process from billet production through the press to the runout table. The Extrusion Excellence short course is intended for those involved in the production of aluminum profiles who may not have had any formal training in the engineering and metallurgical aspects of the extrusion process. The curriculum taught is appropriate for those new to the industry, as well as experienced production personnel.

Download Brochure

[Friday] Die Clinic

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $495 AEC members / $895 nonmembers
Instructors: Members of AEC's Die & Tooling Team

An abbreviated version of one of AEC’s most valuable training events returns to ET Week! This one-day practical course provides highlights of previous Die Clinics taught by members of AEC’s Die & Tooling Team-experts in die correction, die manufacture, extrusion operation, and related skills.

They readily share key insights and their most valuable experiences focusing on issues related to die tooling in this condensed course. Learn what Die Clinics are all about and how you can benefit from future clinics.

Pick up valuable tips and techniques from the very best source: your peers. At the AEC Die Clinic you'll get:

  •  Presenter Expertise
  •  Hands-on Workshops
  •  Participant Knowledge-Sharing and Interaction

Some of the topics covered in this Die Clinic include:

  • Die Safety
  • Metal Flow and the Impact it has on Extrusion Dies
  • Evolution of Die Making
  • Die Shop Technology
  • Die Use
  • Die Manufacturing
  • The Importance of Temperature & Pressure, and more!

If you are involved in extrusion die and related operations, you will want to attend this essential Die Clinic.  Brush up on your skills, learn new techniques, and connect with fellow die personnel to “talk shop”.  This abbreviated Die Clinic is particularly appropriate for:

  •    Die Makers
  •    Die Shop Supervisors
  •    Die Correctors
  •    Managers
  •    Press Operators
  •    Engineers
  •    Process Engineers
  •    Extrusion Supervisors
  •    Die Designers
  •    Sales Personnel
     

If you are involved in extrusion die and related operations, this is a must-attend event!

DOWNLOAD THE SCHEDULE