A short history of SAMPE

SAMPE is the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering. The society, formed originally in the US, is now globally recognised as the leading professional body for engineers and technologists associated with advanced materials and processes. SAMPE is active in Europe through SAMPE Europe, and in the UK and Ireland via the SAMPE UK & Ireland Chapter.

World-wide
SAMPE Global is a worldwide organisation devoted to the promotion of technical excellence in materials and process engineering. It has global membership strength of more than 6000 professional engineers, scientists and technologists.

The origins of SAMPE date back to 1940s in Southern California, USA. During the 1950s the organisation spread nationally throughout the US as the Society for Aerospace Material and Process Engineering. In the 1960s Chapters were set up in Europe and Japan

In 1973 the Society was renamed to reflect the broader membership beyond the aerospace industry. SAMPE has grown to become the leading professional body worldwide concerned with materials and process engineering. Since 2014 SAMPE Global comprises three “Regions”:

  • SAMPE Europe
  • SAMPE Japan
  • SAMPE North America

as well as 8 International Chapters located elsewhere.

Conferences, seminars and local chapter meetings are now held in North America, South America, Japan, Korea, China and Europe, including the UK and Ireland.

Europe region
SAMPE Europe started in the 1980s as the SAMPE Europe Chapter and now has over 1000 individual members from more than 25 countries across the continent. Today SAMPE Europe comprises a number of chapters and clubs and is managed by the SAMPE Europe Board, headed by the European President – who is elected for a period of two years. The SAMPE Chapters in Europe are: Benelux , Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and UK/Ireland plus a SAMPE club in Russia.

The SAMPE Europe Board of Directors is headed by the SAMPE Europe President and includes officers plus national representatives – all unpaid volunteers elected by the membership of the respective Chapters and club. SAMPE Europe co-ordinates membership administration throughout Europe and organises a major International Conference annually. The SAMPE Europe President is a member of SAMPE Global Board of Directors.

UK & Ireland chapter
SAMPE activities in the United Kingdom and Ireland date back to the early 1970s via international membership and subsequently the UK Club was created as part of the original European chapter formation. The UK & Ireland Club became a full chapter in 2001; the first European club to do so.

Currently there are around 125 members, which makes it one of the larger Chapters in Europe. The UK have made a significant contribution to SAMPE over many years supplying 3 of the 15 or so European presidents (Geoff Meades, Trevor Cook and Bob Griffiths) as well as the first SAMPE International President from outside the USA (Bob Griffiths). It has also provided a consistently strong technical input to the preparation and organisation of the European Conferences.