TPT November 2007

Fabtech 2007: the Exhibition of ‘the Big Shoulders’

T he word most readily conjured up by the mention of Fabtech is big. It is big in scope, encompassing metal forming and fabricating, tube and pipe, welding, lasers, stamping, thermal spray; and also in numbers of exhibitors (over a thousand) and attendees (over 25,000). It is also big in ambition: to mount, every time, the most comprehensive trade show anywhere for a global constituency of industry professionals who have come to expect no less. If asked to go on free-associating, a return visitor to Fabtech might produce the word Chicago. Poet Carl Sandburg’s ‘city of the big

shoulders’ has provided a cheering section for Fabtech from the beginning, and has helped burnish its reputation, at intervals, ever since. This time Fabtech, as every time, will deliver the results of a solid year of the most painstaking preparation.

This year also sees the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) teaming up as industry partners to Fabtech/AWS Welding. Those heading to McCormick Place in November will find a huge exhibition of the very best in machinery, equipment, products, and services. The miles of exhibit space, the lectures, the venues for interactive dialogue have been designed for fullest accessibility, with the overarching purpose that the visitor shall receive top value for time expended. Everything useful to see – and nothing that isn’t – will be there.

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This year also sees the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) teaming up as industry partners to Fabtech

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Event Highlights

visit www.fmafabtech.com & www.aws.org for more information

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Leadership summit: 12 November – ‘Addressing the shortage of skilled workers in US manufacturing’

Executive forum breakfast: 13 November – ‘How manufacturers can find growth opportunities in the new economy’, presented by Michael P Collins, author and consultant, MPC Management

Free business improvement seminars: 12-14 November. Sessions include: ‘Selecting lean building blocks’ (12 November); ‘Job shop marketing’ (13 November); and ‘Workforce Performance Improvement’ (14 November)

Laser cutting certificate program: 12-14 November (in the North Hall of McCormick Place). This certificate program will build on fundamental knowledge of CNC operations and part design for CO2 laser cutting End user forum: November 13 – This free forum brings together the end-user welding community for a one-of-a-kind, content-rich productivity learning experience Innovation theater: November 11-14 (North Hall show floor). The Innovation theatre will showcase free, 30-minute, exhibitor-led product and technology demonstrations throughout each day of the show. A full schedule of presentations can be found online at www.fmafabtech.com or www.sme.org/fabtech

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Job fair: 12-13 November. This will take place at the Job Fair/Workforce Development Pavilion

Professional welders competition: November 12-14 – professional welders will compete on the show floor (prize $2,500)

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N ovember /D ecember 2007