The beginning

In 2019, Professor Kuniaki Dohda first proposed establishing a key research and cooperation group for advanced materials to researchers in Japan. This group was focused on the light metal forming processes specifically the extrusion and forging of aluminum, titanium, and magnesium and included other light materials such as composites and polymers. Professor Dohda currently guides the mission as a Governor. He and dedicated experts quickly established international cooperation, fostering a global community within the complex field of materials forming. While the group aimed to host its inaugural global academic conference on materials forming in 2019, the event was postponed due to the global spread of COVID-19. Diligent efforts led to its successful launch in 2022, and the conference has been proudly held annually ever since.

Vision

The Global Research Group on Light Materials Manufacturing (GRGLMM) aims to foster active dialogue among universities, industries, and government communities globally. Our core purpose is to advance the field of light materials manufacturing, which encompasses aluminum, magnesium, titanium, composites, and polymers. This essential cross-sector engagement is crucial for bridging the gap between theoretical breakthroughs and practical industrial application, ensuring research directly addresses pressing global challenges in sustainability and energy efficiency.

Objectives

●       Accelerate fundamental scientific research by coordinating cutting-edge studies on the complex properties and processing of these materials, leading to the development of novel techniques and superior material performance.

●       Support the industrial adoption of new manufacturing technologies by facilitating rapid knowledge transfer, which helps de-risk integration and enhances global industrial competitiveness.

●       Establish global best practices by defining high standards for quality control, worker safety, and environmental stewardship across the entire light materials lifecycle.

GRGLMM provides this vital international platform for research, collaborations, and knowledge dissemination through its conferences, reports, and publications.

GRGLMM Organizing Committee and Research Groups

Governor (Organizing Committee)

Professor Kuniaki Dohda (Northwestern University, USA)

Research Groups and Co-Chairs

1. Extrusion and Forging Research Group

Co-Chairs:     Prof. Tatsuya Funazuka (University of Toyama, Japan)

Asst. Prof. Sukunthakan Ngernbamrung (University of Toyama, Japan)

2. Micro / Meso Metal Forming Research Group

Co-Chairs:    Prof. Tomomi Shiratori (University of Toyama, Japan)

Dr. Fu-Chuan Hsu (Metal Industries Research and Development Center, Taiwan)

3. Tribology in Manufacturing Research Group

Co-Chairs:     Prof. Tatsuhiko Aizawa (Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan)

Assoc. Prof. Peerawat Nunthawarawong

                 (King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand)

4. Material Mechanics Research Group

Co-Chairs:     Prof. Noriyasu Oguma (University of Toyama, Japan)

Asst. Prof. Chaiyasit Banjongprasert (Chiang Mai University, Thaialnd)

5. Digital Manufacturing Research Group

Co-Chairs:     Prof. Tohru Sasaki (University of Toyama, Japan)

                      Prof. Sathyan Subbiah (Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India) 

International Collaboration

Executive Members

Kuniaki Dohda (Northwestern University, USA) - Govenor

Kornel Ehmann (Northwestern University, USA)

Jian Cao (Northwestern University, USA)

Saha Pradip (Boeing Co., Ltd., USA)

Gracious Ngaile (North Carolina State University, USA)

Steven Schmid (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA)

Jyhwen Wang (Texas A&M University, USA)

Peter Groche (Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany)

Laurent Dubar (Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France, France)

Mitjian Kalin (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Ramesh Kumar Singh (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India)

Sathyan Subbiah (Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India)

Sushanta Kumar Panigrahi (Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India)

Numpon Mahayotsanun (King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand)

Peerawat Nunthawarawong (King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand)

Chaiyasit Banjongprasert (Chiang Mai University, Thaialnd)

Pongsak Tuengsook (King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand)

Pavaret Preedawiphat (LPN Plate Mill Public Company Limited, Thailand)

Sasawat Mahabunphachai (National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand)

Sukunthakan Ngernbamrung (University of Toyama, Japan)

Tatsuya Funazuka (University of Toyama, Japan)

Tatsuhiko Aizawa (Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan)

Noriyasu Oguma (University of Toyama, Japan)

Tohru Sasaki (University of Toyama, Japan)

Tomomi Shiratori (University of Toyama, Japan)

Takashi Matsumura (Tokyo Denki University, Japan)

Ikumu Watanabe (National Institute for Materials Science, Japan)

Hoichi Kitano (National Institute for Materials Science, Japan)

Fu-Chuan Hsu (Metal Industries Research and Development Center, Taiwan)

Meng Yonggang (Tsinghua University, China)

Chengliang Hu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China)