What do Boeing planes, K2 skis and the Seattle Great Wheel all have in common? These well-known Seattle products all use standards from ASTM International to help ensure safety and performance.

Today, Jim Thomas, ASTM International president, announced that the organization’s board of directors will meet Oct. 18-21 in the United States in Seattle, Washington.

"Seattle is home to many industries that use high-quality technical standards to grow and thrive," he says. “Our board plans to highlight that in our meeting and when we visit 25 local businesses and other organizations involved in creating and using standards.” (See list below.)

ASTM’s voluntary standards are developed by 30,000 members worldwide through a consensus driven process. Notably, more than 500 ASTM members are based in Washington. 

ASTM standards span over 90 sectors and are used to help:

• Manufacture sports gear, such as ski bindings;
• Build planes that use lightweight materials and renewable jet fuel;
• Support safety of amusement rides, children’s toys and consumer products;
• Foster innovation in fast-changing fields like biotechnology, software development and 3D printing;
• Support sustainable construction and infrastructure growth;
• And much more.

“Like the rest of the world, Washington looks to ASTM’s 12,000-plus standards to improve quality of life while also supporting growth of its businesses on a global scale,” says Thomas.
 
ASTM’s board of directors includes leaders from an array of companies, associations and government bodies worldwide. This diverse group includes: Dow Corning Co., BP America, Johnson & Johnson, the Aircraft Electronics Association, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Standardization Organization of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and many others. Several members are based outside the United States. Last year, the Board met in Seoul, South Korea.

Oct. 20 Outreach Day Visits (as of Oct. 6)

• Axio Research
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Boeing Co.
• Bradken - Tacoma
• Bullitt Center
• Cascade Designs
• CH2M Hill
• Cutter & Buck
• Dynon Avionics
• Fluke Corp.
• Guidance Engineering
• Hot Cell Services
• K2 Sports
• Modumetal
• Mutual Materials
• PATH
• SNC-Lavalin
• Seattle Great Wheel
• Seattle Public Utility Materials Laboratory
• Swissport Fuelling
• University of Washington School of Law
• University of Washington Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Walters & Wolf Curtain Wall
• Washington State Department of Transportation
• Weyerhaeuser

Non-Media Inquiries: Kevin Shanahan, tel +1.610.832.9737; kshanaha@astm.org
Media Inquiries: Nathan Osburn, tel +1.610.832.9603; nosburn@astm.org

Release #9923