Spraytime

The International Thermal Spray Association (ITSA) welcomed attendees of the 2024 ITSA Annual Meeting to AWS World Headquarters in Miami, Fla., on November 6 and 7.

The annual event featured a series of impactful discussions, forward-thinking presentations, networking opportunities, and a visit to Florida International University’s (FIU’s) Cold Spray and Rapid Deposition (ColRAD) laboratory. 

Day one, planned in coordination with AMPP, featured a series of presentations from diverse thermal spray sectors. Topics included robotic automation, thermal spray challenges, performance, certification, field applications, and quality control — Fig. 1. The day concluded with a cocktail reception and dinner for all presenters and attendees. 

On the second day, Daniel Hayden, chair of the AWS C2 Committee on Thermal Spray, kicked off the session with an update on recent committee activity, including the release of AWS C2.26/C2.26M:2025, Specification for Thermal Spray Powder, and C2.27/C2.27M-2025, Guide to Thermal Spray Masking, which are both now available at the AWS Bookstore (pubs.aws.org). Hayden encouraged ITSA members to get involved and have an active hand in writing the standards that affect their work. He also thanked AWS Program Manager Jennifer Rosario for her work with the AWS C2 committee for the past 11 years and welcomed the committee’s new program manager, Ady Celaya.

Following Hayden’s presentation, two member companies — Imperial Systems, Mercer, Pa., and Cincinnati Thermal Spray Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio — gave updates on recent projects and capabilities.

ITSA Chair Kirk Fick called the 2024 ITSA Annual Business Meeting to order following the member update and a brief break. Fick then led meeting attendees into discussions on ITSA’s membership, new subcommittees, scholarships, and future meetings. Ashley Hunsaker was also named as ITSA’s new vice chair.

At the conclusion of the business meeting, attendees were transported to the FIU College of Engineering, where they had the opportunity to tour the ColRAD lab and learn about the program’s capabilities and the research being conducted in cold spray and additive manufacturing — Fig. 2.

ITSA’s planning committee is now working on the 2025 Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for November. Details will be announced in the Q2 issue of SPRAYTIME.