2006 North American Robot Safety

RIA Members Get Free or Discounted Tabletops; $50 Off Conference Registration

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, January 30, 2006 - Some 150 participants are expected at the 2006 North American Robot Safety Conference, March 22-24, 2006, in Toronto, cosponsored by the Robotic Industries Association and the Canadian Standards Association. Free (a $750 value) or discounted tabletops are offered to RIA members, and all RIA members are entitled to a $50 savings on registration.

This is the fourth year for what has become a major robot safety conference in Canada, according to RIA. It provides important training on topics that apply to robot safety in both the U.S. and Canada, and includes a tabletop trade fair and reception for viewing displays from leading suppliers of robots and safety equipment. The 2006 North American Robot Safety Conference has workshops of special interest in North America, with topics ranging from the new CSA Z460 standard on Control of Hazardous Energy, Z434 robot safety standard, to Z1000 - The Canadian Management System Standard for OH&S.

"Conference training at the North American Robot Safety Conference translates equally well for U.S. and Canadian attendees in terms of the closely linked safety standards," said Jeff Fryman, Director, Standards Development, RIA. "Attendees can select from several new workshops that have been added to address topics critical to the mutual interests of the North American market. These workshops are available as separate registrations, or as options with the three-day pass to the entire Conference."

The Conference helps engineers, technicians and managers learn how to improve efficiency while maintaining a safe environment. It also stresses what value safety standards have to a company, and helps in understanding them through the in-depth, topic-specific workshops.

This year's safety conference takes a comprehensive look at the CSA Z434 - Industrial Robots and Robot Systems, with a strong focus on user safety. Pre-conference workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, March 22 with the Conference sessions on Thursday and Friday, March 23 and 24. A tabletop exhibit will also take place on March 23 during the Conference lunch hour from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., followed by a second viewing and reception from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Post-conference workshops are scheduled for Friday, March 24.

For the latest information, including Conference program and registration, and tabletop exhibit reservations, visit www.roboticsonline.com or call (734) 994-6088.

Founded in 1974, RIA is the only trade group in North America organized specifically to serve the robotics industry. Member companies include leading robot manufacturers, users, system integrators, component suppliers, research groups, and consulting firms. RIA is renowned worldwide as the sponsor of the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards, co-produces the biennial International Robots & Vision Show and Conference plus many regional events, and is secretariat of the ANSI/RIA R15.06-1999 Robot Safety Standard. RIA is the sole source of North American robotics industry statistics which are included in the World Robot Statistics published by the International Federation of Robotics. RIA also is publisher of the industry's leading Web portal, Robotics Online (www.roboticsonline.com).

Contact: Jim Adams 734/994-6088