2005 Winter Symposium
Theme: "Quality & Reliability"

Date: January 4 - 5, 2005 (prior to the start of CES)

Location: Tropicana Hotel & Resort, Las Vegas

Click here to download the Exhibitor Registation form.

Click here to download the Attendee Registration form.

Click here to download the Housing Reservation form.

Click here to view the current list of Exhibitors.

Click here to learn about Sponsorship Opportunities.

ALMA International will return to the Tropicana Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas for its annual winter symposium. The meeting is scheduled for January 4-5, 2005, immediately preceding the start of the Consumer Electronics Show.

January 4 (Day 1)

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Training Program (separate registration required, please use Attendee Registration form.)

Topic: Loudspeaker System Theory
Speaker: Dr. Earl Geddes

Click here to learn more about the Training Program.

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Product Tutorial Sessions

• 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Loudsoft
• 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM - Listen, Inc.
• 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM - Henkel-Loctite

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Manufacturer's Roundtable Discussion

A new forum will debut at this year's symposium. Moderated by Dan Digre of MISCO, and Dr. Michael Oslac, the manufacturer's roundtable will provide an opportunity for ALMA members to gather together and discuss the important topics of the day. With this year's focus on quality and reliability, the discussions will center on developing strategies on how to operate our businesses with key vendors, customers, and factories on the other side of the globe.

Topics for discussion will include:

• Which approach works best for our company:  traditional suppliers, joint venture, or establish own factory?
• How do we assure quality expectations are met?
• How do we assure confidentiality in the process while we provide specifics?
• How do we establish standards for testing and measurements?
• How do we assure our supply chain will not interrupted or delayed and that we have goods to sell and still maintain “lean”?

2:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Exhibits open

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Panel Discussion: “FEA vs. Lumped Parameter Modeling”

Panelists:

Wolfgang Klippel - Klippel GmbH (moderator)

Dr. Alfred J. Svobodnik - Numerical Analysis and Design GmbH & Co KG

John Stewart - Harman-Becker Automotive Systems

Alex Voishvillo - JBL Professional

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Welcome Reception

7:00 PM - Member's Only Dinner - Yolie's Brazilian Steak House

January 5 (Day 2)

8:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Committee Meetings

• 8:00-8:30 Patents and Prior Art
• 8:30-9:45 Component Sub-Committee
• 9:45 -11:00 Standards Committee, Chair
• 11:00 -11:30 Education Committee

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM - Exhibits open

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM - General Assembly Meeting

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Lunch

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Technical Papers Session

The symposium theme is "Quality and Reliability" and will feature a panel discussion on the topic (panelist's names not available at press time) as well as an ALMA first-ever "Manufacturer's Roundtable", an informal forum for those with an interest in manufacturing-related topics to gather and discuss the important issues facing the industry today.

The following papers have been accepted for presentation:

• "Actual Methods for Distortion Measurements: A Review"
  Pascal Brunet and Steve Temme - Listen, Inc.
• "Dynamical Measurement of Loudspeaker Suspension Parts"
  Wolfgang Klippel - Klippel GmbH
• "Computational Acoustics by Means of Finite and Boundry Elements for Woofers Tweeters and Horns"
  Dr. Alfred J. Svobodnik - Numerical Analysis and Design GmbH
• "Life After Kapton - A Review of Existing and Emerging Technologies for Voice Coil Bobbin Materials"
  Mike Klasco - Menlo Scientific, Ltd.
  

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM - Manufacturers' Roundtable Discussion Summary

Dan Digre, MISCO

3:15 PM - 4:00 PM - Exhibits

4:00 - 6:00 - Panel Discussion: “Quality and Reliability”

Panelists: TBA

6:00 - 7:00 - Networking Reception

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Current Exhibitors (as of December 3, 2004)

Advanced Elastomer Systems, L.P., www.santoprene.com

Santoprene TM TPEs, engineered thermoplastic elastomers from ExxonMobil Chemical.

EFD Inc., www.efd-inc.com

Precision Dispense Valve Systems for applying adhesives and activators.

Episode Audio
Non-Conventional Design Approach for Loudspeaker Manufacturing.

Ferrotec (USA) Corporation, www.ferrotec.com

G.R.A.S. Sound & Vibration, www.gras.us

A broad range of standard measurement microphones, preamplifiers, artificial ear / mouth simulators, & accessories.

Henkle Loctite, www.loctite.com

Loctite® products by Henkel Corporation offer adhesives for speaker assembly.

KLIPPEL GmbH, www.klippel.de

Loudspeaker Measurement System: Large Signal Identification; Linear Parameter; Transfer Function; Simulation; Suspension Part Measurement; and more...

Listen, Inc., www.listeninc.com

Audio and electroacoustic test systems for R&D, Quality Assurance, and Production.

LOUDSOFT, www.loudsoft.com

At the ALMA exhibition we will demonstrate the acoustic programs FINEMotor, FINECone and FINEBox-X.

Montgomery Wire Corporation – Global Wire Group of Companies, www.global-wire.com

NAD – Numerical Analysis and Design GmbH & Co KG, www.NADwork.at

Specializes in numerical analysis software based on finite and boundary elements for acoustic devices.

NuWay Speaker Products, www.nuway-speaker.com

NuWay is a premium supplier of Cones, Spiders, dust caps, gaskets and screens.

ISO 9001-2000/TS16949 Registered

NTI Americas Inc., www.nt-instruments.com

NTI will demonstrate its RT PureSound transducer test system with the newest 2.50 version RT-Speaker software.

Voice Coil / Audio Amateur Inc.

Space is still available so if you have not yet secured your exhibit space and would like to exhibit, please complete the Exhibitor Registration form and fax it to 1-609-799-7032.

ALMA Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorships are another great way to receive enhanced visibility to the speaker manufacturers at the Symposia. All sponsors will be recognized at the General Assembly meeting and in the on-site program book. ( Note that deadline to be listed in the on-site Program Book is December 10.) Contact ALMA Headquarters for a registration form.

__ Members Only Dinner - $500 (Can be shared with other companies.)

       We will place your literature at each place setting and you can say a few words at the dinner.

__ Conference Proceedings CD with your logo imprinted, provided to all registrants - $400
        (Can be shared with other companies.) Current sponsors are Listen, Inc. and Polk Audio.

__ On-site Program Book - $450 

        (black & white; distributed at the show to all attendees)

                     __Outside Back Cover Ad         __Inside Front Cover Ad