ASME Partners with Sustainable Manufacturing Expo

The inaugural Sustainable Manufacturing Expo will take place February 4-5, 2025, at the Anaheim Convention Center. ASME is proud to collaborate on this event, which marks a significant step in the Society’s commitment to advancing sustainable manufacturing practices and supporting the industry's transformation toward a more sustainable future. 

This expo comes at a crucial time, as manufacturers worldwide face increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency. With more than 150 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge solutions in digital twin technology, biomaterials, IoT sensors, and automation, the event represents a comprehensive platform for exploring the latest innovations in sustainable manufacturing. 

Central to ASME's participation is a featured fireside chat on Tuesday, February 4 titled, “Advancing Sustainable Manufacturing Through Digital Innovation and Standards.” The session brings together Chris Cantrell, ASME's senior managing director of standards and engineering services, and Pepi Maksimovic, distinguished engineer in sustainability at Ansys, to explore how the convergence of digital innovation and engineering standards can accelerate sustainable manufacturing adoption.  

An Episode of Agents of Change: Enabling Sustainable Manufacturing Through Engineering Workforce Development 

“Manufacturing faces unprecedented sustainability challenges and ASME's expertise in standards development and professional development continues to provide the foundation for advancing technical knowledge and creating a safer, more sustainable world,” Cantrell said. “This event offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate how rigorous engineering standards, combined with digital innovation, can help organizations validate and scale their sustainable manufacturing initiatives.” 

The discussion will highlight several critical areas where standards and digital tools intersect: 

• Accelerating the development of energy- and fuel-efficient manufacturing equipment; 
• Validating processes for converting recycled materials into high-quality components; 
• Advancing industrial applications of alternative energy; 
• Optimizing manufacturing workflows for sustainability; and 
• Building capacity through professional development and training. 

Recent studies indicate that the manufacturing sector wastes approximately 65 percent of energy as unused heat, with significant emissions concentrated in chemical manufacturing and refineries. Through this partnership and participation in the Sustainable Manufacturing Expo, ASME aims to address these challenges by fostering collaboration between industry leaders, standards developers, and technology innovators. 

An On-Demand Session: BURN’s Lessons Learned in Sustainable Local Manufacturing 

The upcoming fireside chat is previewed in depth in the January 2025 issue of Mechanical Engineering magazine, where Maksimovic discussed how simulation technology and digital twins can help factories reduce waste and improve energy efficiency. The article offers readers a glimpse into the transformative potential of combining rigorous standards with digital innovation, which will be explored further during the expo session. 

Iana Aranda is managing director of sustainability at ASME and president of Engineering for Change. For more information about ASME's commitment to building a sustainable future, please visit www.asme.org/about-asme/sustainability.