METALAST, the leading innovator in technology, research, and process support to the aluminum anodizing industry, announces the inception of its METALForum Program. METALAST’s national METALForum campaign plans to attract executives and engineering groups of major aluminum product manufacturers located in key cities throughout the country. The next METALForum will be held this June in the U.S. automotive capital of Detroit, MI.

METALAST International, Inc. conducts METALForum seminars for manufacturers that use anodizing for surface finishing of their parts or products. The program includes discussion of: aluminum, anodizing process and history, anodizing industry, process capabilities and limitations, and the METALAST technology.

METALAST’s METALForum is an evaluation and response seminar to acquaint targeted industry groups with the METALAST anodizing technology, and to familiarize with their needs and concerns for response. The purpose of the program is to:

• Provide an overview of anodizing generally.
  
• Explore needs, issues, and problems in anodizing with respect to the target group.
  
• Discuss the METALAST technology generally and in response to the focus problems.
  
• Provide a feedback forum from participants to discuss their research needs and invitation for specific sample and research and development support, joint development, and program participation.

Program Objectives

• Develop working relationship with key industry leaders
  
• Develop awareness of METALAST and anodizing among key industry leaders
  
• Develop understanding of issues affecting key industries
  
• Encourage participation of key industry leaders in METALAST programs
  
• Move toward specific goals of METALAST approval and specification

The presentations allow both manufacturers and anodizers to sit in the same room and discuss problems, concerns, and potential solutions, with METALAST leading the discussion. The inaugural off site METALForum was held in November 1999 in Minneapolis, MN. Since then, METALAST has put on its METALForum seminar in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Canada, the Silicon Valley, and Denver.

METALAST plans to continue this program across the country as a means to educate manufacturers and anodizers about anodizing and the METALAST Technology to and induce them to submit samples for processing, visit the Tech Center, and/or approve and specify the METALAST process.

The new METALAST Manufacturer Consulting Agreement, which was initiated recently in response to industry requests, allows the manufacturer to engage METALAST as an outside, one-stop center of competence for metal finishing matters.

For information on METALForums, or general information, contact Dana Foster (DFoster@metalast.com)

METALAST International, Inc. offers a complete technology for use in the anodizing of aluminum products. Anodizing services are available through the growing national network of METALAST licensed job shops and to captive manufacturing facilities. Consulting services are available to manufacturers on either a contract or fee basis. The technology includes advanced chemistry, computer process control, professional research, education, training and technical support services. The METALAST Tech Center is the world’s only facility dedicated to aluminum anodizing research and development and is located in Minden, Nevada near Reno/Lake Tahoe. The company is privately held, and employs 30 people. For more information on METALAST, access http://www.metalast.com on the internet, or contact us directly at 888/METALAST.

Press Contacts:
Todd Landaburu
Manager of Communications
METALAST International, Inc.
(775) 782-8324
tlandaburu@metalast.com

Dana Foster
Marketing Administrator
METALAST International, Inc.
(775) 782-8324
dfoster@metalast.com

For all of METALAST's Press Resources on the internet visit:
http://www.metalast.com/pr/