Company Contacts:
Peter DiLeo, Marketing Director
ATExpo/Reed Exhibitions
Tel: 203-840-5500
Email: pdileo@reedexpo.com

June 16, 2005, Norwalk, CT - Michael G. Lutomski, NASA’s Risk Manager for the International Space Station Program, will deliver the opening keynote at the Assembly Technology Expo (ATExpo) and the International Robots & Vision Show co-located manufacturing events. Mr. Lutomski’s presentation, “Robonaut and Future Assembly of the International Space Station,” will be of great interest to attendees of both shows.

In the near future when maintenance and assembly tasks on the International Space Station are needed, NASA mission managers will be able to deploy “Robonaut,” an automated dexterous manipulator designed to complete many of the routine tasks on the ISS. In this exciting multimedia presentation, Mr. Lutomski will describe what has driven the design of the Robonaut, its uses for assembling and maintaining the ISS, and its support of NASA’s exploration vision.

In 2004, ATExpo and the International Robots & Vision Show, two of the world’s leading manufacturing trade shows, announced the blockbuster co-location plan for 2005. The two shows will be held side-by-side September 27-29, 2005 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois.

Together, the shows will bring together some 800 suppliers of automation technology including robotics, machine vision, and assembly equipment designed to help manufacturing companies improve product quality, reduce costs, and become stronger global competitors. Crossover attendance between the exhibit halls will be free of charge and more than 15,000 manufacturing and engineering professionals are expected to attend. Each show offers a conference program with practical insights and techniques that are critical in gaining a competitive advantage.

“We can’t imagine a more fitting opening keynote for this exciting co-location of these two manufacturing shows," stated Kelvin Marsden-Kish, Vice President of the Assembly family of events, produced by Reed Exhibitions. “Space exploration has always been a big draw for our attendees and Mr. Lutomski’s topic will be relevant to most that attend his presentation.”

“As robotics technology advances beyond the factory floor into a wide range of service applications, there’s strong interest in NASA’s plans for robots in space that are capable of assembly and maintenance tasks,” said Donald A. Vincent, Executive Vice President, Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the trade group that together with the Automated Imaging Association (AIA) co-sponsors the International Robots & Vision Show. “Show exhibitors and attendees are already buzzing about this first-time co-location of these two trade shows, and this opening keynote will heighten the excitement.”

Assembly Technology Expo is held annually and features exhibits from some 600 suppliers of advanced assembly systems to simple hand tools, fasteners and adhesives. For more information or to register for free admission, visit www.atexpo.com.

The International Robots & Vision Show is held every two years and features exhibits from some 200 leading suppliers of robots, machine vision systems, and related technologies. For more information on the show as well as other robotics and machine vision activities, visit www.roboticsonline.com, or www.machinevisiononline.org.