4th International Workshop on Microfactories

There is incredible potential in reducing the physical scale of numerous processes related to the manufacture of many forms of future dense "mechatronic" products and the manipulation of microscopic and nanoscopic objects and materials for the benefit of mankind. Small systems capable of these operations can be referred to as "microfactories." A worldwide effort is currently underway to bring such microfactories to fruition.

After the first three successful International Workshops on Microfactories, which took place in Tsukuba, Japan in 1998, in Fribourg, Switzerland in 2000 and in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2002, the 4th International Workshop on Microfactories (IWMF'04) will be held in Shanghai, China on October 15-17, 2004.

Topics to be covered at the workshop include but are not limited to the following:

System Aspects of Microfactories
Microassembly & Handling Technologies
Microsensors & Microactuators
Micromachining & 3D Microstructuring
Microfactories for Chemical, Medical, Pharmaceutical, & Biotechnological  Applications
Scaling of Manufacturing Systems
Link to Nanotechnologies, Innovations, Visions for the Future

Dates and Location:

October 15-17, 2004
Radission Lansheng Hotel, Shanghai, China

Important Deadlines:

Electronic abstract submissions due: June 15, 2004
Authors notified: June 30, 2004.
Full papers due: August 1, 2004.

Previous Workshops:

IWMF 2002, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
IWMF 2000, Fribourg, Switzerland
IWMF 1998, Tsukuba, Japan