American Society of Mechanical Engineers And Unicomm Expand Research & Development Expo; Launch Colocated Defense Research Engineering Expo.

Business Editors

MILFORD, Conn. & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2003

ASME & Unicomm

Highly Successful R&D Expo Re-Branded as RD&D Expo to

Incorporate Added Product Design Focus

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the world's leading mechanical engineering organization and Unicomm, LLC, a world-class trade show and conference organizer, today announced the expansion of the highly successful R&D Expo.

Now in its second year, the event will be re-branded as RD&D Expo - Research Development & Design, and will focus on the entire product lifecycle including research, development and product design. The Expo will take place November 17-20, 2003 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington DC. As with last year's R&D Expo, the event will be held concurrently with ASME's International Mechanical Engineering Congress.

The inaugural R&D Expo took place in November 2002 in New Orleans and brought together 4,500+ of the nation's leading mechanical engineers as well as more than 1,100 international professionals. "The R&D Expo launch was met with great accolades from both exhibitors and attendees," explained John Golicz, CEO of Unicomm. "However, our participant research clearly showed a great desire for more product design and development content, and interaction with vendors providing the necessary tools and components for successful product design."

The new RD&D Conference & Expo will provide a forum for research and development, OEM Product Design and System Design professionals, including ASME's 125,000 members, to collaborate and analyze the relationship between discovery and enterprise. From concept to commercialization, RD&D provides businesses with the tools to efficiently and cost-effectively accelerate product development within budgetary realities to harvest increased return on investment (ROI).

The new RD&D event will feature pavilions on the exhibit floor focused on clusters of content that ASME has deemed critical for the next century of product advancement, including: MEMS and NANO, Engineered Materials, OEM Design Components, Engineering & Design Tools, Industrial & Ergonomic Design, Sensors - Motion & Control, Technology Transfer, Information Products and General Research and Lab Design products.

In addition to the RD&D Conference and Expo, ASME and Unicomm will launch the collocated Defense Research & Engineering Conference and Exposition (DREX). DREX is the first event to deliver actionable technology development content, products and design tools for the thousands of engineers working specifically on defense and military innovation.

"Tens of thousands of engineers work tirelessly developing the next generation of defense technology in the U.S., and yet there has never been a forum for them to learn of the latest tools, technologies, products, components and suppliers, that will help ensure their continued success," stated Golicz. "We are pleased to be able to team with ASME to provide the backbone of the defense industry a marketplace where they can benchmark processes, learn of new innovation and find new components and suppliers."

Attendees to RD&D and DREX will come from the engineering, manufacturing and technology industries including Department of Defense, government and academia. This multi-discipline attendee base will hold decision-making roles with titles including: senior scientists, research managers, project managers, design engineers, senior technical professionals, university faculty, technology officers, intellectual property managers, corporate management, supply chain managers, CFO's and many others.

Additionally, ASME will organize two dedicated multi-track conferences running concurrently. The first dedicated to commercial Research Development and Design and the other on Defense Research and Design. Common general sessions and keynote speakers will facilitate technology transfer between the industrial and defense industries.

For more information on attending, exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please contact [e-mail], go online at http://www.rdexpo.com, or call Jill Birkett, vice president, Unicomm at 203/878.2577 (email: [e-mail]).

About ASME

Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, today ASME International is a nonprofit educational and technical organization serving a worldwide membership of 125,000. ASME is premier organization for promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical engineering throughout the world. ASME conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing operations, holds some 30 technical conferences and 200 professional development courses each year, and sets many industrial and manufacturing standards. The work of the Society is performed by its member-elected Board of Governors and through its five Councils, 44 Boards and hundreds of Committees in 13 regions throughout the world. There are a combined 400 sections and student sections serving ASME's worldwide membership.

About Unicomm, LLC

Unicomm, LLC is a boutique, independent business-to-business Communications Company specializing in originating and managing world-class trade shows and conferences in underserved and nascent markets. Located in Milford, Connecticut, Unicomm is led by a seasoned management team possessing more than 40 years of events industry experience and an impressive track record of dozens of successful show launches and hundreds of event productions.