When the Tire Society opens its annual two-day conference Tuesday at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, the rising cost of fuel will be on the minds of many of the participants from all over the world gathering here.
This will be the Akron-based group’s 30th Conference on Tire Science and Technology — no surprise that the highly technical, specialized annual gatherings are held in or near Akron, with the area’s strong ties to the tire, rubber and polymer industries.
“There is a greater focus this year on tire rolling resistance, which of course affects fuel economy and energy consumption around the world,” said Dale Moseley, the 2011-12 Tire Society president and global project manager in simulation technology at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
About 150 people are expected, with nearly a quarter of the presenters from Europe and 20 percent from Asia. Attendees come to learn about the latest advances in tire science and technology and to network with peers.
The program also allows university students working on tire science projects to get a broad audience for their work and the opportunity to meet tire industry professionals.
The organization also will, for only the second time in its history, give the Tire Society Distinguished Achievement Award to an individual who has made significant lifetime contributions to tire technology, Moseley said.
Fuel-saving related presentations include How Low Can We Go — A Study On Minimum Rolling Resistance, and Tire Fuel Efficiency — Rolling Resistance, Traction, Tread Wear — the Optimum Oil to Get You There.
“The high cost of fuel and the recent government regulations requiring tire labels for rolling resistance make this a very significant topic,” Moseley said.
“This year’s conference includes a session devoted solely to rolling resistance with speakers addressing it from various perspectives: Testing, theory and materials.”
Tuesday morning’s keynote address will be given by Terrence Connolly, director of General Motors Tire/Wheel Systems.
His talk is Does Re-Inventing the Automobile Include Re-Inventing the Tire?
The programs on Tuesday and Wednesday include other lectures, talks and presentations.
Moseley will give a State of The Society talk Wednesday morning and include such things as how the organization is run by its volunteers and its “in the black” financial condition.
He also will formally announce that next year’s conference will, for the first time, not be held in the Akron area.
Instead, The Tire Society 2012 conference will take place at the I-X Center next to Cleveland Hopkins Airport alongside the bi-annual International Tire Exhibition and Conference.
“The things that the Tire Society offer are complementary to ITEC,” Moseley said. “ITEC covers a lot of the tire industry while the Tire Society covers tire mechanics, tire science. It’s a chance for synergy for the two organizations.”
The two organizations are not merging, Moseley said. The two conferences will basically be sharing the same venue, he said.
“We consider this [2012 program] a test case or experiment to see how it goes,” Moseley said.
The Tire Society will return to the Akron area for its annual conference in 2013, he said.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.
