The Society of Automotive Engineers will be meeting in Detroit this week and I won’t be there, so perhaps I shouldn’t be too quick to make the following criticism. But here goes:

I got an announcement from Intermet Corp., detailing the products they’ll be exhibiting at the SAE World Congress OEM/Supplier Park, the title SAE is using for the trade show that parallels the technology programs at the Congress.

I’ve been following the various reorganization steps that have played out at Intermet over the past few years, from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004 through reorganization over the following year, then various restructurings and executive turnovers. At first I was puzzled by so many frequent announcements from the company – wondering why they didn’t wait to let the last round of changes take hold before tinkering some more.

But, I was intrigued when Intermet formed a board of experts last year, and explained how it intended to use these outsiders for insights and constructive criticism about its organization and strategies.

And, I am impressed by the customer focus indicated by Intermet’s plans to exhibit at SAE. They indicate they’ll be showing off specific automotive component designs from their three operating divisions: aluminum, magnesium, and zinc diecastings; ductile iron castings; and pressure-counter pressure cast steering knuckles. The company also plans to reveal two new production technologies and unveil a new manufacturing cell it has installed at its Columbus, GA, and Radford, VA, foundries.

“These capital investments reflect our continuing effort to improve operations, efficiency and service to our customers,” says Intermet president and CEO Jeffrey Mihalic.  “They make us a better, more capable, competitive supplier and are part of our strategy to provide a strong, U.S.-based casting source to manufacturers.”

That should be interesting news, and you’ll read about it here once more details are available.

That may be the best way to find out, because as near as I can determine only two other metalcasters in Detroit next week — both of them diecasters that also will be exhibiting at the SAE’s OEM/Supplier Park. This detail is  impressive to me, too, but not in a good way. It may, or may not, be true that trade shows aren’t the place where business gets done — but they are places where strong impressions are made, and introductions, and lasting contacts. With all that’s at stake in their own industry, and the auto industry, it seems there ought to be a lot more foundries and diecasters showing off in Detroit.