Student Entries Sought for 2013 Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition

$8,500 to be awarded in scholarships

(Wauconda, Illinois; January 21, 2013) -- Students studying architecture, design, engineering or a related field have the opportunity to submit their designs for a chance to win a scholarship through the 2013 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition.

Hosted by the ET Foundation, the educational and scientific organization devoted to promoting and advancing aluminum extrusion processes and technologies, and the Aluminum Extruders Council, the international trade association dedicated to advancing the effective use of aluminum extrusion in North America, the aim of the competition is to promote the understanding and use of extruded aluminum profiles, or parts, as well as to highlight innovations and recognize excellence in aluminum extrusion design.

The competition is free to enter and is open to graduate, undergraduate and high school students at universities, colleges, technical and trade schools around the world.

Submissions will be accepted through April 12, 2013. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.ETFdesign.org. Winning entries will be determined by those designs that best demonstrate the benefits of aluminum extrusions and meet the four basic criteria of creativity, practicality, product/process advantage and market/impact potential. Winners of the 2013 Design Competition will be announced following the judging in April and the winning designs will be posted on the ET Foundation website.

Scholarships totaling $8,500 will be presented as cash awards to the top designs, including $3,000 for First Place, $2,000 for Second Place, $1,000 for Third Place and $2,500 for the Sapa Sustainable Design Scholarship Award—marking the first year the competition is sponsored by Sapa Extrusions North America.

Sapa Sustainable Design Scholarship Award
The Sapa Sustainable Design Scholarship Award will be presented to the student whose design best addresses societal and/or environmental concerns, in addition to meeting the basic criteria. Examples would be a device that helps improve conditions for refugees or an item that facilitates daily living for the handicapped or elderly.

Beyond the Competition, Into the Classroom
Innovation is a key objective of the competition, which encourages students to develop new and expanded uses for extruded aluminum. Instructors at universities, colleges, technical and trade schools are also encouraged to incorporate the competition into their curriculum as a way to foster further adoption of aluminum extrusions. In addition to serving as a sponsor, Sapa is supplying the ET Foundation with sample shapes of aluminum extrusions, which instructors may request for educational purposes.

Aluminum Extrusion Production Process
Aluminum extrusion is an incredibly versatile metal-forming process that engineers and designers employ to create a wide variety of products and components ranging from architecture and aerospace to solar power and medical equipment. Because it is highly recyclable, aluminum also offers many sustainable advantages. Its low weight-to-strength ratio and corrosion-resistant characteristics further enhance its appeal as a design material.

The aluminum extrusion production process can accommodate a broad range of profile designs, allowing for the creation of diverse or unique parts. In addition, aluminum profiles can be formed to facilitate manufacturing and assembly, increase product reliability and durability, simplify maintenance and repairs for the product's final use and build in an attractive appearance that can make the final product more appealing to the customer.

Helpful Resources Available on ET Foundation Website
A variety of tools and resources are available on the ET Foundation website, including an educational presentation, "Designing to the Limits of Your Imagination" and the Designing for Aluminum webpage that features a Press Availability Matrix illustrating the relationship between profile design size, as well as the availability of extrusion presses to produce the profile. This page also includes a number of links to valuable information and resources available on the Aluminum Extruders Council website.

To date, more than $90,000 has been awarded to students through the competition. Scholarships are provided through the generosity of sponsors, including this year's exclusive Platinum Sponsor Sapa Extrusions North America and Silver Sponsor Almag Aluminum, Inc.

Contact:
Nancy Molenda, Aluminum Extruders Council
(847) 526-2010
mail@aec.org

About the ET Foundation
The Extrusion Technology for Aluminum Profiles Foundation (ET Foundation) has been established for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes to develop, promote, provide, and fund education and research related to aluminum extrusion processes and technologies. For more information, contact the ET Foundation at mail@etfoundation.org or visit www.etfoundation.org.

About the Aluminum Extruders Council
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) is the international trade association dedicated to advancing the effective use of aluminum extrusion in North America. AEC is committed to bringing comprehensive information about extrusion's characteristics, applications, environmental benefits, design and technology to users, product designers, engineers and the academic community. Further, AEC is focused on enhancing the ability of its members to meet the emerging demands of the market through sharing knowledge and best practices. For more information, visit www.aec.org.

###