The Institute for Briquetting and Agglomeration (IBA) announces it's 31st Biennial Technical Conference in San Antonio, Texas. For over 50 years, IBA has sponsored this premier conference on state-of-the-art agglomeration technology. The Papers presented will include details of actual operations, as well as theoretical approaches to agglomeration. This years confercnce will be preceded by a half-day hands-on workshop, "Introduction to Briquetting and Other Agglomeration Processes". This is an excellent opportunity for newcomers, as well as a refresher course for those pursuing knowledge on the current methods of agglomeration. This is the conference that will enable you to interact with the delagates and to discuss specific issues with the industry experts on a one-to-one basis.

The Conference will be held at the Hotel Contessa on the River Walk in San Antonio. Additional informtion regarding the venue will be forthcoming.

See below for printable registration forms, announcements, and additional information.

Below is a list of papers and presenters who have submitted topics or abstracts so far:

·       “Digital Prototyping as a Modern Way to Design and Test Agglomeration Equipment and Systems"

Dr. Roman Dec – K.R. Komarek, Inc.

·       “Briquetting Technology Methodology for Biomass and Coal”

Enhancing the Decision-making Process for Equipment, Parameters and Commercial Operation”

Geoff Whitfield Du Pont Canada Inc. (retired) & Brian C. Young Envirosafe International Pty Ltd.

·       "Refining the Art of Low Rank Coal Utilization".

Jeff Ling - K.R. Komarek Inc.

·       "Salt: An Approach of Agglomeration Conditions and Processes".

Pascal Hervieu – Euragglo

·       “Toll manufacturing /Granulation by Roll Compaction”

Kevin McHugh- Stellar Manufacturing Company

·       “Demonstration Burn on Waste Coal/Biomass Briquettes and Fuel Pellets”

Darrell Taulbee – University of KentuckyCenter for Applied Energy Research

·       “From Detergent Tablet to Coffee Bean : A Great Leap in Agglomeration Technology”

Jacques Tomasi Eurotab

·       “Problems Associated with Lab-Scale Briquette Testing” 

Eric Huhn and Lidia Yaroshevska - Midrex

·       “Auditing Your Screen Circuit”

Richard Paulsen - Rotex  

·       “Choices - Criteria for the Selection of Equipment and Process Design for the Production of Granular Muriate of Potash by Compaction"

Stuart Middleton – AMEC   

·       “The Role of Charcoal in Carbon Seqestration and Greenhouse Gas Management” 

Dr. Caroline Masiello - Rice University

·       Agglomeration Round Table Discussion

A panel of experts in the various fields of Agglomeration will take questions from the audience. 

·       "Development of High Surface Area Calcium Sorbent Manufacturing Method".

Prof. Marek Hryniewicz, Dr. Pawel Gara, Mgr. Michal Bembenek - Stanislaw Staszic University of Science and Technology - Poland.

·       “Agglomeration Technologies in Slovakian Industry”

Marian PECIAR, Roman FEKETE, Stefan GUZELA, Martin JURIGA - Instute of Process and Fluid Engineering - Bratislava, Slovakia.

The forthcoming 2009 IBA conference seeks presentations on the subject of size enlargement, such as pelletizing, granulation, briquetting, compacting, tableting and extrusion, which describe significant aspects of:

• Research Fundamentals
• Binders and Coatings
• Equipment and Processes
• Practical Applications
• Environmental Benefits

Research fundamentals include powder characterization, models for agglomeration mechanisms, analytical process control, and new agglomeration methods. Binders include new or natural synthetic binders, binder performance tests, as well as binders for specific products, such as fertilizers. Attracting significant interest in equipment design enhancements and process control, including monitoring methods and innovative agglomeration techniques. The conference is planning to include sessions focused on specific commercial and industrial applications. The industries are, but not limited to, chemical, food, minerals, pharmaceutical and new or novel activities that have become part of this wide world of size enlargement. Environmental issues cross all industries and they are of extreme interest to the membership. Please consider presenting a paper at the 31st biennial technical conference of the IBA.

The 2009 Conference will be held September 27th through the 30th at the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas. See below for a printable "Call for Papers".