Marbles. Pistons and other engine parts.

Steel construction frames.

These are just some of the West Virginia-made products that will be on display when leaders of industry, academia and government assemble in the Capitol Tuesday, March 5, for Industries of the Future-West Virginia Day at the Legislature. The delegation will be in the buildings upper level rotunda area from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Representatives of the states aluminum, steel, glass, chemical, wood products and metal casting industries will be in attendance with samples of materials and products they have made using new technologies. Among them will be Marble Kings Beri Fox, who will pass out gift bags of marbles made at the companys Paden City plant. Representatives of West Virginia metal casting firms will showcase engine parts, while steelmakers will exhibit scale models of frames used in construction.

Government and academic partners, including WVU researchers, will also be present.

Industries of the Future-West Virginia is a state version of a national program developed through the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Industrial Technology. Its role is to promote projects, partnerships and programs that increase energy efficiency, reduce and use waste materials, and improve productivity in energy-intensive industries.

Founded in 1997, the state program is a partnership involving WVU , OIT, the West Virginia Development Office and state industry groups. Eight state industries participate in the program: aluminum, steel, metal casting, glass, forest/wood products, chemicals/polymers, mining and cross-cut industries.

Twenty-five other states have followed West Virginias lead and established IOF programs.