The International Deep Drawing Research Group ([http://www.iddrg.com IDDRG]) focuses on sheet metal research in industry and academia.  It was started 1957 as an organization of national groups. The original focus was on the fabrication of cups hence the name Deep Drawing Research Group.  At the initial meeting the purpose was enlarged to do cooperative research on tests, materials, and processes. Such work included for example, methods for determining the strain hardening exponent n, the anisotropy-values (lankford coefficient), as well as other tests for sheet metal formability and, later, forming limit diagrams.
Starting in 1960, a schedule was established for working group meetings every year with open Congresses in every second, even numbered years. The working group meetings were closed sessions made up of delegations from the National Groups that comprised the IDDRG. The reason for these closed sessions was to allow experts to informally review critical issues related to materials, tests, and processes.
As some of the initial technical issues were resolved, the working groups became progressively more informal, and over the years became mini conferences. By 1998, it had become obvious that the former format of the IDDRG has to be changed. This evolution took time, but starting in 2003, the meeting schedule shifted to yearly Conferences with both regular papers and poster presentations that are included in conference proceedings.