Wauconda, IL - The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary at the 2010 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference scheduled for Thursday, March 11 through Saturday, March 13 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. The program provides timely industry information that prepares participants to capitalize on emerging opportunities, as well as networking events to facilitate information sharing, The Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference program provides new insights from a variety of perspectives—including business management, economic outlook, and analysis of the global aluminum market—to help extruders understand today’s competitive landscapes. Featured speakers include Gordon Hamilton of Rio Tinto Alcan Jorge Vazquez of HARBOR Intelligence, Jeff Thredgold of Thredgold Economic Associates, and Crystal Allen of Hydro Aluminum.

“This may be the most important AEC meeting to attend in the Council’s history,” said AEC Chairman Thomas Schabel, CEO of Alexandria Extrusion Company in Alexandria, Minnesota. “We will be engaging in work and discussions that determine the future of the aluminum extrusion industry and of the Council.” A town-hall format “Industry Forum” on Saturday will be facilitated by Crystal Allen, Sector Human Resources Manager with Hydro Aluminum North America, Inc. Ms. Allen has more than 10 years of experience in the consulting/organizational improvement area, providing organizational development, facilitation, and coaching skills to enable groups to focus on strategic improvement projects. The Forum will provide a unique opportunity for AEC members to share their thoughts, ideas, and suggestions with Council leaders on developing aluminum extrusion markets and expanding the industry.

The Keynote address will be delivered on Friday, March 12 by Gordon Hamilton, Vice President of Global Metal Management, Sales & Marketing for Rio Tinto Alcan. As part of this leadership role, Mr. Hamilton and his team recently completed a global five-year strategic plan for Value Added Products, including extrusion billet. He will offer a high-level insider’s view of the aluminum industry and the marketplace with his address “Global Trends in Metal Management.” Also on Friday, the Industry Outlook will be delivered by Jorge Vazquez Founder and Vice President of the Aluminum Unit at HARBOR Intelligence. He is Senior Aluminum Analyst and chief editor of HARBOR’S aluminum market and price outlook publications; Vazquez is ranked as one of the most accurate aluminum price forecasters in the world. Mr. Vazquez will share his insights on aluminum supply and demand, price forecasts, aluminum extrusion markets, and more during his presentation.

On Saturday, “economic futurist” Jeff Thredgold, author of the book econAmerica, will provide a slightly irreverent, up-to-the-minute review of the economy, financial markets, education, and government, as well as supply his own sneak preview of the future. Drawing on his book, Thredgold will detail the four key factors—what he calls “silver bullets”—that will drive the American economy for years to come.

As an added benefit, two optional tours have been included in this year’s program. On Saturday, an optional tour to the Tucson Electric Power (TEP) Solar Test Yard will be offered. The yard, which is roughly the size of a used-car lot, studies the performance of several different photovoltaic (PV) systems. More than 600 photovoltaic modules and 23 inverters from 20 different manufacturers are operating at the TEP Solar Test Yard. Additionally, an optional tour will be offered on Friday with a tram tour of nearby Sabino Canyon, which will afford spectacular views of the desert and mountain scenery.

A number of networking opportunities throughout the event provide an ideal atmosphere in which aluminum extrusion industry executives can discuss common challenges, mutual goals, and industry issues with colleagues and peers. The 60th Anniversary Celebration culminates with the Chairman’s Reception and Anniversary Banquet on Saturday night. The evening includes the annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony honoring dedicated individuals who have contributed to the Council’s achievements.

The 2010 Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference is open to representatives of AEC member companies. For more information visit www.AECmeets.org or contact the Council at mail@aec.org.

The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), established in 1950, is an international association dedicated to helping manufacturers, engineers, architects, and others to discover why aluminum extrusion is the better material process for better products. Specialized conferences, seminars, workshops, and meetings throughout the year provide an outlet where AEC members can confront and solve today’s challenges. More than 150 member companies represent primary aluminum producers and other industry suppliers in addition to aluminum extruders operating hundreds of extrusion presses in hundreds of plants worldwide; these are the world’s leading manufacturers of extruded aluminum profiles—The Shapemakers.

For more information, contact AEC at 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214, Wauconda, IL 60084. Telephone: 847/526-2010; fax: 847/526-3993; e-mail: mail@aec.org. Visit the Council’s website at www.aec.org.

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