New Alternative Energy Symposium To Be Held at SMTAI 2008

Minneapolis, MN�The Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) announced a new event to be held at SMTAI 2008. The Alternative Energy Symposium will be held Monday, August 18 from 8:00am � 11:30am at Disney�s Coronado Springs Resort and Conference Center. The symposium focus will be �Alternative Energy: Fuel Cells and Solar Cells Enter High Volume Manufacturing� and is being chaired by Irene Sterian, Celestica Inc.

This SMTAI special event will focus on two sources that are gaining popularity: fuel cells and solar cells. The papers will explain the technologies, the manufacturing process, as well as put these assembly methods in the context of more traditional high volume electronic assembly methods.

The current world demand for electrical power is in excess of 4 Terrawatts per year. Existing sources, such as oil, are rising in price due to scarcity, and other sources, such as coal and nuclear, are not as environmentally acceptable. This current energy shortage has forced the world to look at alternate energy sources such as wind, wave, fuel cells, and solar cells. It is possible to go from the lab to automated production given today's technology and equipment.

Full details on the Symposium will be available on the SMTAI web site at the end of April. For more information contact JoAnn Stromberg at 952-920-7682, joann@smta.org.

The SMTA is an international network of professionals who build skills, share practical experience and develop solutions in electronic assembly technologies, including microsystems, emerging technologies, and related business operations.