Best Show this Century Describes the 2005 Fabtech International and Aws Welding Show
DEARBORN, Mich., November 21, 2005 © The 2005 FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show recently concluded at Chicago's McCormick Place with enthusiasm and applause from exhibitors and attendees alike. The show floor was crowded with more than 24,000 attendees who came to evaluate and buy new equipment. Sold signs began appearing on machinery as early as Sunday and continued to be posted throughout the week. The fact that attendance was up nearly 30% (when compared to the previous FABTECH Chicago show in 2003) was appreciated by the 800 exhibiting companies.
A welcoming ceremony Monday morning woke up the waiting crowd with a rousing performance by the Chicago Bucket Boys, a group of young talented musicians who produce amazing sound using plastic buckets and drumsticks that moved with blinding speed and coordination. A proclamation declaring the show week as "Manufacturing Week in Illinois" was presented by a representative of the Governor's office, and another welcoming proclamation was presented by the Chicago Mayor's office. The ceremony concluded with a stirring rendition of the national anthem sung by a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera.
Hundreds attended the free lunchtime business seminars held each day on such subjects as job shop marketing, shop floor motivation, and pricing strategies. New technology was definitely on the minds of attendees who actively sought the more than 500 new products on display across the show floor. A new show feature this year, the Innovation Theater attracted hundreds of attendees each day for a series of 25 different presentations on new technology. Monday was Laser Day in the Innovation Theater and all presentations that day were about laser technology. A standing room only crowd attended the two-hour Laser 101 program that started the day. The FABTECH and AWS technical conference seminars and professional programs were also very well attended.
In 2006, the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show will move to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia for the first time. The show is scheduled for October 31 - November 2. More than 85% of the available exhibit space for 2006 has already been sold. Additional information will be available in the coming months.
The FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show is cosponsored by the American Welding Society (AWS), the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). To obtain more information about either the 2005 or 2006 show, call 800-443- 9353 (AWS), 800-432-2832 (FMA) or 800-733-3976 (SME).
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. Visit the Society's Web site at www.aws.org.
About FMA:
The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International, headquartered in Rockford, Ill., USA, is the world's largest non-profit educational association dedicated exclusively to metal forming and fabricating professionals. Visit www.fmanet.org
About SME:
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers 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. Visit www.sme.org
Contact: Alex Yovanovich (SME)
(313) 425-3155
communications@sme.org
Patricia Lee (FMA)
(815) 227-8286
patl@fmafabtech.com
Ross Hancock
(305) 443-9353, Ext. 308
rhancock@aws.org
