Stephen Midson

Dr. Steve Midson received both his bachelor of metallurgy (B.Met.) and PhD in metallurgy degrees from the University of Sheffield (in the UK). He moved to the USA in the 1980s, and initially worked at corporate R&D centers for two Fortune 500 companies, focusing on solidification, liquid metal processing and metal casting (specifically high pressure die casting type processes). During the late 1990s and 2000s, Steve ran two small-business casting companies in Colorado, performing research and producing components from aluminum and copper alloys by die casting and semi-solid casting. In 2004, Steve founded an engineering services company (The Midson Group). Steve joined the Colorado School of Mines in 2013 as a Research Professor, where his research focuses on metal casting processes, PVD coatings, CT scanning, and additive manufacturing (3D printing). Within Mines, Steve is Director of Industry Relations for an industry-university research center, the Alliance for the Development of Additive Processing Technologies (ADAPT).

Steve is very active with the North American Die Casting Association, where he chairs their Die Materials Committee, and is active on their R&D Committee. He is also a member of the International Scientific Committee for Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, an entity that organizes bi-annual international conferences on semi-solid casting. In addition, Steve is a member of the American Foundry Society, ASM International, and ASTM International.

Professional Preparation

Ph.D. (Metallurgy) – Sheffield University, UK, 1983

B.Met. (Metallurgy) – Sheffield University, UK, 1979

Appointments

2013 – present, Research Professor, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

2019 – present, Director of Industry Relations, The Alliance for the Development of Additive Processing Technologies (ADAPT), Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

2004 – present, President, The Midson Group, Inc., Denver, CO

2018 – 2019, Senior Technical Advisor, Shenzhen Silver Basis Die Casting, Shenzhen, China

2013 – 2018, Managing Director, Center for Advanced Non-Ferrous Structural Alloys, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

2012 – 2017, Senior Technical Advisor, General Research Institute for Non-Ferrous Metals, Beijing, China

2004 – 2009, Vice President, Aluminum Complex Components, Denver, CO

1996 – 2004, Various positions including VP & General Manager, Formcast, Denver, CO

1994 – 1996, Dir. of Research and Technology, North American Die Casting Assoc., Rosemont, IL

1988 – 1994, Group Leader, AMAX R&D Center, Golden, CO

1983 – 1988, Research Scientist, Olin Corporation Metals Research Laboratories, New Haven, CT

Honors and Achievements

• Co-authored more than 100 technical papers, numerous short books and several book chapters
• Chair of the Die Materials Committee and member of the R&D Committee, North American Die Casting Association
• Instructor of the Year award, North American Die Casting Association, 2014, 2019
• Member of Semi-Solid Processing International Scientific Committee, 2008 to present
• Committee Member of the Year award, North American Die Casting Association, 2011
• Excellence in Oral Presentation award, Soc. of Automotive Engineers World Congress, 2003
• Co-author, best paper (copper division), American Foundry Society National Congress, 2002
• Co-organizer of 15th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites – Shenzhen, China, October 22-24, 2018
• Co-organizer of 14th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites – Salt Lake City, UT, Oct. 23-27, 2016
• Co-organizer of 5th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites – Golden, CO, 1998, Co-editor of conference proceedings
• Sheffield University Brunton Medal for metallurgical research, 1983