Following a series of discussions, presentations and agreements, the membership of the Institute of Vitreous Enamellers (IVE) formally voted to join IOM3 at a specially convened Extraordinary General Meeting on 4 November 2010.  The IOM3 Council also agreed this arrangement at its meeting on 9 November and the formal path is now cleared for a full integration of membership and activities.

Reporting on the two meetings, IOM3 President Barry Lye confirmed how successful the development of an agreement with IVE had been and welcomed both individual and company members to IOM3.  The visibility of Vitreous Enamelling is set to be developed by incorporating of this group of members within the Surface Engineering Division (SED) of the Institute, under the name IVE: The Vitreous Enamellers’ Society. Keith Harrison, Chairman of the SED, welcomed the opportunity to showcase this important surface engineering technique in the Institute’s activities.

The transfer of member details will commence immediately and contacts will be established with IVE members to quickly provide guidance to the new arrangements.  A new web microsite has been established and the governance of the new Society is under review. 

Speaking on behalf of the IVE, Saqlain Ali confirmed the significant opportunity that is now available to former IVE members. ‘With this link, we have achieved a significant advance for the membership of IVE that would otherwise have not been possible.  Not only will our members have more opportunity for professional development, networking and information access, but we will be in a position to see a step change in the visibility of vitreous enamelling to the product design community.’

This merging of Institute networks represents the fifth occasion in eight years when IOM3 has broadened or strengthened its community base. ‘As a professional science, engineering and design-based organisation we are becoming a unique global resource for materials professionals’ said Bernie Rickinson, IOM3 Chief Executive.  Furthermore, the incorporation of IVE, a very small membership organisation, into IOM3 is further evidence that merging of specialist interests into a large membership organisation can be accomplished with important gains for both parties.

Further information

IVE: The Vitreous Enamellers' Society microsite