Dedication Ceremony to Formally Launch the Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institute Will Take Place Tuesday, March 20, Starting at 10:30 a.m.

Philadelphia University's new B.S. in Engineering with a concentration in composites was initiated in the 2011-12 academic year

PHILADELPHIA, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A dedication ceremony to formally launch the Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institute, including the exhibit of a composites-based airplane fuselage, will take place Tuesday, March 20, at 12:45 p.m. in The Gallagher Athletic, Recreation and Convocation Center on the Philadelphia University campus. The exhibit opens at 10:30 a.m.

At the event, industry, government and academic experts will talk about the role of composites in key industries; they include Alan Ladwig, senior advisor, Office of the Administrator, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration; J. Alex Freeman, senior engineer, Bell Helicopter/Textron Inc.; Bhavesh Shah, materials and processes laboratory, General Motors R&D Center; and David Brookstein, executive dean for university research at Philadelphia University.

"We are pleased to formally introduce the Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institute to our colleagues in research, industry and academia," said Philadelphia University President Stephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D.  "Composite materials are critical to the development of new technologies that will make our lives better and more sustainable, and Philadelphia University is playing an important role in helping to fulfill that promise."

The Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institute was established last year to support research and development of new fiber-based composites that could have broad applications in industry, including the aerospace, automotive and energy sectors.  

As part of this initiative, Philadelphia University is offering a new B.S. in engineering program with a concentration in composites, one of the few such programs in the country.  The first courses in composites are being offered this semester.

The Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institute is funded in part with $1.1 million from MAG, whose chairman and chief executive officer is Dr. Eng. Mo I. Meidar, a Philadelphia University alumnus and member of the University's Board of Trustees.  MAG is the world's leading developer of automation technologies for producing composite structures, as well as one of the largest global suppliers of machine tools and manufacturing automation systems for the durable goods industry.

"An educated workforce in advanced composites technology will see increasing opportunities for generations to come. The Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institute represents MAG's commitment to expand the level of research and education in this field," said Mo Meidar, chairman and CEO of MAG. "As the global leader in automated composites processing solutions, MAG is driven to support new business opportunities serving a multitude of industries and we believe this partnership will be a key factor in achieving the full potential for new applications of composite materials."

Composites play an increasingly important role in industrial applications across a wide range of fields.  For instance, about 50 percent of Boeing's lauded new Dreamliner 787 airplane is constructed from a variety of composites, which reduce weight and drag and will significantly reduce the amount of maintenance required, according to Boeing.  And, because they are lighter than steel or aluminum, composites-based structures, such as airplanes and automobiles, tend to use less fuel than their heavier counterparts.

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah said the work of the Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institutes will complement research being done through the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  "We as a nation need the work that's going to be done at Philadelphia University," he said in videotaped remarks. "I know you're going to help us build better industries and allow manufacturing using material that is lighter than aluminum and lighter than steel, using textiles in a way that long ago when this university was founded could not have been imagined."

The Institute builds on Philadelphia University's legacy as the nation's first textile school and its considerable expertise in advanced textile-related research.  In fall 2009, Philadelphia University established the Biomedical Textile Structures Laboratory to develop textile-based products for medical use and in 2004 established the Laboratory for Engineering Human Protection to assist the military in designing and developing new protection systems for military personnel.

Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a private university with 3,600 students enrolled in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs.  As the model for professional university education, the University prepares students to be leaders in their professions in an active, collaborative and real-world learning environment infused with the liberal arts.  Philadelphia University includes the innovative College of Design, Engineering and Commerce; the College of Architecture and the Built Environment; and the College of Science, Health and the Liberal Arts.  For more information, go to www.PhilaU.edu.

MAG is a leading machine tool and systems company serving the durable goods industry worldwide with complete manufacturing solutions for metal cutting and composites applications.  MAG is recognized as the preeminent provider of tailored production solutions based on state-of-the-art technology.

Key industrial markets served include aerospace, automotive and truck, heavy equipment, oil and gas, rail, solar energy, wind turbine production and general machining.

With manufacturing and support operations strategically located worldwide, MAG offers comprehensive lines of equipment and technologies including turning, milling, hobbing, grinding, honing, systems integration, composites processing, maintenance, automation and software, tooling and fluids, and core components.  For more information about MAG, please visit: www.mag-ias.com.

SOURCE Philadelphia University