FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show packs in crowds and posts record numbers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DEARBORN, Mich., November 27, 2007 -- Hailed by exhibitors as "the best show in years", the 2007 FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show surpassed attendance expectations and set new highs for number of exhibiting companies and net square footage of exhibit space. The four-day showcase of metal forming, fabricating, stamping, tube & pipe, and welding equipment attracted nearly 31,000 visitors from more than 75 countries worldwide, which is a 27 percent increase compared to the last time the show was in Chicago in 2005. Attendees visited exhibits filling 461,627 square feet of booth space in the North and South Halls of McCormick Place to evaluate, purchase and explore innovative technologies and solutions. This annual event is cosponsored by the American Welding Society (AWS), Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International (FMA) and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and supported by industry partner the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).
Every aspect of the show was a bustle of activity, learning and peer-to-peer networking from the minute the doors opened on Sunday. "We have already received so much positive feedback about this year 's show from both exhibitors and attendees," said Jerry Shankel, president and CEO, Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International. "There were more than a thousand exhibitors, a 27 percent increase over 2005, and they have been telling us how pleased they are with the quantity and quality of attendees who visited their booth."
AWS Executive Director Ray Shook agrees. "We are extremely proud of the continued growth of the combined FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show. Welding plays a critical role in the manufacturing sector and this show continues to be an important part of the welding industry."
Thousands of qualified buyers, from CEOs and job shop owners to manufacturing engineers and welders, shopped the show floor and witnessed live equipment demonstrations. "This was our first time exhibiting and it was definitely worth the investment," reported Yanik Van Coppenolle, VP of Operations, SmartTCP Inc. "We got the exposure we were looking for and were able to capture 300 plus leads from which we already generated two systems sales." Echoing the positive sentiments, Bev Zierhut, Communications Specialist, SICK, Inc. said "SICK received an impressive number of quality leads from potential new customers. The FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show is a cost-effective way for us to reach leading companies in the industry."
The event keeps growing to address the needs of all types of contract manufacturers and OEMs, including the addition of 27 companies exhibiting in the Thermal Spray Pavilion. "The Thermal Spray Pavilion at the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show was a tremendous success," said Marc Froning, chairman, International Thermal Spray Association (ITSA) and manager of Engineering & Development for BASF Surface Technologies. "The Pavilion area was highlighted very well and the traffic was continuous. It was the perfect opportunity to illustrate the benefits of coatings."
Attendees actively sought the more than 500 new products on display at the show. The Innovation Theater attracted hundreds of attendees for a series of 28 different free presentations on new technology. Other show highlights included the new Thermal Spray Pavilion, Job Fair/Workforce Development Pavilion, Laser Cutting Certificate Program, Business Improvement Seminars, Executive Forum, and the 2007 Professional Welders Competition with a record number of contestants. The highlight of the special event offerings saw more than 300 people attended the Leadership Summit, which addressedthe shortage of skilled workers in U.S. manufacturing.
For professionals seeking education and other training opportunities, the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show offered a comprehensive line-up of more than 100 conferences, seminars, professional programs, and other technical sessions. Topics covered the best practices, latest trends and new commercial developments in forming, fabricating, welding, and related technologies. "The education programs drew a record number of participants, with more than a thousand professionals choosing to attend more sessions than in the past," said Mark C. Tomlinson, executive director, Society of Manufacturing Engineers. "This clearly shows that the workforce is clamoring for information that will advance personal careers, increase profits for companies and improve productivity of the manufacturing industry."
Plans Underway for 2008
Next year 's FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show will take place October 6-8, 2008 in Las Vegas for the first time. This new location was selected after exhibitors expressed an interest in reaching the large number of metal fabricating technology users located in the Western region of the U.S. Based on the overwhelming success of this year's show, more than 700 exhibitors have already reserved close to 90% of the available space for the 2008 event.
About the show:
The FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show is the largest event in North America dedicated to showcasing a full spectrum of metal forming, fabricating, stamping, tube & pipe, and welding equipment and technology. Cosponsored by the American Welding Society (AWS), Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Int 'l (FMA) and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and supported by industry partner the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the 2008 event will be held Monday, October 6 – Wednesday, October 8, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It is expected to draw 20,000 attendees and 750 exhibitors covering 325,000 square feet of exhibit space.
About AWS
The American Welding Society is the largest organization in the world dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied processes including joining, brazing, soldering, cutting, and thermal spray. AWS provides a variety of industry services, including welding certifications, educational programs, scholarships and workforce development through our Foundation and publications. Visit the Society 's Web site at www.aws.org.
About FMA
The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Int'l is a non-profit educational association dedicated exclusively to metal forming and fabricating professionals. FMA brings the metal forming and fabricating community together through networking sessions, educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and award programs and provides the tools and resources needed by companies to improve operations. Visit www.fmanet.org for more information.
About SME
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (www.sme.org) is the world's leading professional society supporting manufacturing education. Through its member programs, publications, expositions and professional development resources, SME promotes an increased awareness of manufacturing engineering and helps keep manufacturing professionals up to date on leading trends and technologies. Headquartered in Michigan, SME influences more than half a million manufacturing practitioners and executives annually. The Society, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2007, has members in more than 70 countries and is supported by a network of hundreds of technical communities and chapters worldwide.
Editor Contacts
AWS: Adrienne Zalkind, (800) 443-9353, Ext. 416, azalkind@aws.org
FMA: Jackie McBain, (815) 227-8270, jackiem@fmafabtech.com
SME: Lori Ann Dick, APR, (313) 425-3187, communications@sme.org
