Keynote speaker will be Robert Miller, vice president of engineering, ConAgra Foods. His talk will include a focus on the creation and growth of a centralized supply chain engineering organization that leverages best practices in project execution, capital planning, cost control, technology application, automation, and leadership development.

The event will include technical programs consisting of operations and maintenance workshops, panel discussions, formal technical papers, and technomercials (exhibitor sponsored training sessions). There will also be an update on code and government regulations covering the latest news regarding mechanical and fire codes, as well as regulatory issues affecting those in the ammonia refrigeration sector of HVACR.

Energy conservation will be covered with technical papers, workshops, and panels reporting on the latest operating procedures and design strategies to reduce operating costs and boost energy efficiencies. Another aspect of the event is an Ammonia Safety Training Day on March 18. The day-long event will cover issues related to accident prevention and emergency response.

The conference will also include an exhibit hall with more than 100 displays from manufacturers and service providers. Within that context will be the seven technomercials that combine product information with training.

Five Days

Committee meetings and early registration take place on March 17. The Ammonia Safety Training Day, opening reception and continuing registration take place March 18. The conference proper begins on March 19 with registration, a business meeting, and plenary session followed by the opening of the exhibit hall, which will have hours from 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday; 9 to noon and 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday; and 8 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

Concurrent workshops, technical papers, and panel sessions start Monday afternoon, March 19, and continue through the end of the conference at 12:30 p.m., March 21. A number of those will be conducted in Spanish.

Among the workshop topics will be:

• Screw compressors: essential knowledge;

• Development of inspection and test procedures;

• Case study on internal repair of an ammonia vessel;

• Defrosting issues;

• Canadian regulations;

• OSHA Cooperative and National Emphasis Program;

• Guidelines for eyewashes and safety showers;

• Tracking and implementing recommendations; and

• Ammonia in the brewing industry.

The site of the conference, the Frontier Airlines Center, is in downtown Milwaukee.

For more information, visit www.iiar.org.

Publication date: 03/05/2012