GPD set for launch in Brazil

Glass Performance Days will launch in South America, according to a Dec. 1 release. The first GPD South America will be held May 6-7, 2010. GPD has teamed up with the organizers of the Glass South America trade fair, the Nürnberg Messe, for this pilot conference.

The GPD organization also is gearing up for a continuation of its successful traditions in both China and Finland. GPD China is scheduled for June 2010 and the 12th GPD Finland Conference for June 2011. The call for papers for Brazil and China are now open.

"The way to recovery from the economic downturn on world markets largely goes through new initiatives and ideas that improve efficiency, economy and environmental care," said Jorma Vitkala, chairman, Glass Performance Days Organizing Committee, in the release. "The combined competencies of solar and glass technology are particularly promising in the support of sustainable development. We saw how this concept carried us at the 11th GPD in Tampere last summer and we believe firmly that the need for new innovative solutions has only grown since. We feel special excitement about our launch in Brazil, a huge and promising market. The international confidence in this leading South American country was recently displayed as Rio de Janeiro was chosen for the first Olympic Games ever to be held in South America."

The first GPD South America (GPD SAME) will focus on new glass technologies, solar and design. Special emphasis will be put on the issue of how to improve the profitability of a glass company supplying architectural, solar and automotive solutions. The Call for Papers brochure for GPD SAME can be downloaded here.Abstracts are due by Jan. 15, 2010.