SAE Launches First Annual Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress and Exhibition

WARRENDALE, PA, Sept. 29, 2004 - The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is launching its first annual SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress and Exhibition, an event specially designed to bring together engineering professionals, suppliers and manufacturers in the truck and bus industry and those in off-highway and agricultural machinery manufacturing. The event will be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL, Oct. 26 through 28.

"The commercial vehicle industry needed a dedicated event to allow us to bring critical issues to the forefront and work toward solutions for both the on- and off-highway industries," says Dee Kapur, the event's executive chair and President of the the Truck Group at International Truck and Engine Corp. "In three short days we will discuss the critical issues, learn about the hot technologies, and have the opportunity to network — a critical and cost-effective combination."

The comprehensive three-day event will include seminars, technical sessions, a major exhibition of new technologies and products, and many special events. It will cover the design and engineering of all types of heavy-duty commercial vehicles, including, busses and trucks, agricultural, mining, construction, recreational, utility and emergency vehicles.

"The dynamics of this new SAE Congress and Exhibition offer the perfect opportunity for engineering professionals to focus their energy in addressing common industry topics, ranging from electronics, emissions and reliability to hydraulics, powertrain and engines," said Herb Kaufman, director, commercial vehicle business for SAE.

A major highlight of the SAE event is the DANA Technology Theater which will feature a series of high level executive panels focused on providing cross-industry learning and discussion on issues critical to both on- and off-road industries. The DANA technology presentations will cover:

• The benefits and risks of using resources from around the world for engineering design
• Design and safety standards that commercial vehicles must satisfy in order to operate globally
• Technology plans which take heavy-duty "on-highway" diesels from research projects to product implementation programs to achieve the near-zero particulate emissions for 2007, while simultaneously conducting research to achieve near-zero NOx emissions for 2010
• The rationale behind emissions regulations and engine technologies to meet the regulations and the resulting impact on equipment design and end users

"These are high-level issues that demand immediate and thoughtful consideration by industry leaders," Kaufman says. "SAE is pleased to be able to provide a forum to generate discussion and ultimately help the industry in reaching the most viable solution."

Technical sessions will focus on specific heavy-duty vehicle technologies, including body, chassis, driveline, electrical/electronics, engine emissions, maintenance and hydraulics. They will run concurrently throughout the three-day event.

Other scheduled activities include the L. Ray Buckendale Lecture, which will offer procedures and data useful in formulating solutions in commercial vehicle design, manufacture, operation and maintenance. Presented by William J. Charmley of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this lecture will focus on heavy-duty engine and emission standards: evolution process and future.

Also on the agenda are many networking opportunities and a series of special events, including:

• Emissions Day - highlighting the day's events will be a luncheon featuring guest speaker Jeffrey R. Holmstead, assistant administrator for Air & Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Holmstead will provide insights on 2007 and 2010 emissions regulations.
• Technology Transfer - a special panel discussion on the merits of technology licensing as a timely and cost-effective approach to acquiring and using new technology in one's own products. This panel is organized by Ronald Scott of Caterpillar's Corporate Technology Licensing Business Unit.

For more information on SAE's Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress and Exhibition, please call SAE World headquarters at (724) 776-4841 or visit the SAE Web site at www.sae.org/comvec.

SAE is a non-profit engineering and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of mobility technology to better serve humanity. Nearly 85,000 engineers and scientists who are SAE members develop technical information on all forms of self-propelled vehicles, including automobiles, aircraft, aerospace craft, trucks, buses, marine, rail and transit machinery. This information is disseminated through SAE meetings, books, electronic products and databases, technical papers, standards, reports, and professional development programs.