Chairman of The Organizing Committee, Tadashi Maki Recently, world demand for iron based materials is increasing tremendously, and the issues on global environment and natural resources are becoming more conscious and important. Under the circumstance, high quality, reliability and safety are certainly required for all metallic parts and products. Needless to say, properties of metallic materials depend strongly on microstructure, and the microstructure is controlled by heat treatment technologies including phase transformations, thermo-mechanical processes and surface engineering technologies. The 17th International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering (IFHTSE) Congress welcomes all of you who had been engaging in R&D of heat treatment technology of materials. Especially young engineers and scientists are quite welcome, since education and encouragement is another important mission of this congress. This is the first IFHTSE congress to be held in Japan since the one held in Kyoto in 1992. The congress is in particular meaningful because it is held in commemoration of 50th anniversary of foundation of the Japan Society for Heat Treatment (JSHT). Scope Following a long tradition of IFHTSE events, the 17th congress will be held in Kobe, Japan, the beautiful city recovered from large earthquake damage 12 years ago. The congress aims to bring together delegates from industry and academic work to discuss and exchange views the latest development in heat treatment technologies. Topics cover bulk heat treatment, surface engineering technology, modeling and simulation of metallic materials. The congress will also aim to bring along youngsters including students who will become pillars of this field in the future. Important Date Deadline for Submission of Abstract April 25, 2008 Deadline for Early Bird Registration May 31, 2008 Deadline for Pre-registration October 13, 2008