Page 22 - MetalForming October 2009

Welcome Back to the Windy City
Tens of thousands of metalforming, fabricating and welding professionals will meet at Chicago’s McCormick Place to take in the first ever FABTECH International and AWS Welding Show, including METALFORM.
Show Dates and Hours
Sunday, November 15, 11 a.m.-4 pm. Monday, November 16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, November 17, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, November 18, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
McCormick Place, which opened in 1960 with 320,000 sq. ft. of exhib- it space, 23 meeting rooms and a 5000-seat theater, gets its name from Colonel Robert R. McCormick, former editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. While Colonel McCormick led the charge for its construction, it opened five years after his passing, and surely he would be amazed at how his baby has grown. Now, its four buildings com- bined offer a total of 2.6 million sq. ft. of exhibit space, making it the largest con- vention center in the United States. The facility plays host to dozens of events each year, attracting more than 3 million visitors and making an economic impact measured in the billions of dollars. This November 15 to 19, McCormick Place
will host our industry’s largest-ever trade show, FABTECH International and AWS Welding Show, including METALFORM.
The combined tradeshows create a mega-event dubbed the largest of its kind in North America dedicated to show- casing metalforming, fabricating, stamp- ing, welding and tube and pipe tech- nology. More than 1000 exhibitors and 35,000 attendees are expected to have the McCormick Place’s North and South Halls buzzing with live demonstrations and product displays. Welding technology occupies most of the North Hall, while the South Hall plays host to stamping, fabricating and tube and pipe technology.
Also in the South Hall is the Solu- tions Showcase Theater, which will stage free expert-led presentations on a series of plant-management topics including these and other topics:
• Maintaining sales focus in a down economy;
• Smart strategies for preserving stakeholder relationships;
• Protecting a company from bankruptcy;
• What the wind energy market means for metal manufacturing;
• The growth of solar energy;
• The essentials of job-shop market- ing; and
• Social media 101.
Kick-Off the Day with Killer Keynotes
Monday and Tuesday mornings at the mega-show kick off with keynote presentations, also free for all attendees. On Monday, November 16, from 8 to 9 a.m., listen in on a panel discussion on Best Practices for Thriving in Tough Times.
A diverse panel from the metal- forming, fabricating and welding indus- try will discuss workforce development, diversifying product lines and opera- tions, obtaining financing/credit, and tax incentives. Moderator Jeff Knauf, president of Medalist Laserfab, Inc., will trigger the discussion amongst pan- elists Steve Hasty, president of A & E Custom Manufacturing; Chris Kuehl, founder of Armada Corporate Intelli- gence; William Citron, president of Mazak Optonics; Dick Kallage, presi- dent of KDC Associates; and Douglas K.
20 METALFORMING / OCTOBER 2009
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