by Danelle Dodds
Sparks will fly when 35,000 manufacturing professionals move into Atlanta to attend North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event. In early November, three halls of the Georgia World Congress Center will be buzzing with more 1,500 exhibitors across more than 625,000 net square feet for what is known as the industry’s premiere one stop shop.
Attendees will have access to the full toolbox of offerings of the manufacturing world during this week. The newest in tools, products and technology will be on hand, along with a slew of speakers, myriad technology pavilions and roster of educational panels. Every solution you possibly could need in the manufacturing industry will be under one roof.
The strength of the show comes from the welding of some heavy event partners. Originally forged in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1981, it began simply as a metal forming and fabricating event. Because of demand, it fused with the American Welding Society (AWS) in 2005, followed by the METALFORM show in 2008, and then the Chemical Coaters Association, International in 2009. Today, the show is a superconductor that bounces between Las Vegas, Atlanta and Chicago. It is driven by the following manufacturing powerhouse event partners: American Welding Society (AWS), Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI), and SME.
Combining strength and a litany of event taglines, attendees of FABTECH 2022 will see where “innovation meets opportunities, transformation and solutions to all manufacturing challenges.”
The show is massive…shy of ¾ of a million square feet. It encompasses almost all of Halls A, B and C of the Georgia World Congress Center, as well as some of the connector halls and a food truck-filled backlot. Within the footprint, guests can traverse technology pavilions committed to Forming & Fabricating, Tube & Pipe, METALFORM, Welding, Finishing, 3D/Additive Manufacturing, and Robotics & Industrial Automation.
Equally as powerful as the show floor is the speaker line-up. “This year’s keynote speakers and panel discussions were handpicked to impart insights to transform businesses and address the challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing industry today,” says John Catalano, SME senior director, US events and strategic partnerships, FABTECH.
Some of the notable events on the speaker docket will be a fascinating dive into Winning the Manufacturing Race with Brad Keselowski. Brad will shine a light on how the intersection between being a champion NASCAR driver and a passion for technology innovations helped him build his company, Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing.
Deeper representation for the industry will come at the Women in FABTECH Breakfast series, where heavy-hitting women like Scarlet Hao of Accenture, Holly Gotfredson of American Metalcraft and Finishing Dynamics, Shelly Foland of Softies, and Lisa Winton of Winton Machine Company will spearhead networking and panel discussions on manufacturing trends and marketing.
These events will join FABx Tech Talks, Keynotes, and leadership panels that will make up approximately 150 deeply informative sessions.
John Catalano continues: “Over three days, attendees will not only hear from these thought leaders, but will also connect with world-class suppliers, see the latest industry products and developments, find the tools to improve productivity, and discover the newest manufacturing solutions.”
The alchemy of this show is obvious. This hyper-reactive fusion of heavy metals results in some very shiny impact numbers for exhibitors and attendees alike. According to one of the last temperature checks on the event, it was averaging over 100 leads per exhibitor. Eighty-two percent of the attendees had purchasing power or influence, with 44% of those having budgets exceeding $200,000. And 65 percent of the audience attended no other trade show, which gave exhibitors some incredible spotlighting
Many long-time industry veterans know the power of the show and will be returning for another successful year. Because of the magnetism of the event, it will also be a huge draw for newbies. Show organizers have some helpful tips for those who are attending for the first time.
- Register early and save! It pays to be the early bird. Registration is free if you sign up by November 4, 2022.
- Download the mobile app and make use of the Expo Planner. With a show as large as this, these tools are essential to effective maneuvering.
- Network, network, network! This event is viewed as one of the top in the industry so bring your business cards and gumption. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible to make the most of your time there.
- Attend as many of the sessions, events, presentations, or panels as you can. Not only are these wildly educational, but they also offer further peer-to-peer engagement opportunities.
- Follow updates on social media. Track the official show hashtag #FABTECH2022 and follow the @FABTECHexpo accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
No matter what process you may be on the manufacturing conveyor belt, this show is a must attend for those in the fabrication industry. FABTECH 2022 churns to life November 8 – 10.
