National Manufacturing Week combines multiple shows under one roof, Sept. 22-25, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.
This year, the event expands its field and corrals nine shows onto the floor. Design Engineering, Plant Engineering, Industrial Automation, Enterprise IT, Assembly Technology Expo, Electronics Assembly Show, PlasticsUSA/Plastec Midwest, Medical Design & Manufacturing Midwest and Green Manufacturing Expo all open on Sept. 23. The conference begins a day earlier, featuring topics that range from green to lean.
First-day topics include global manufacturing and establishing foreign enterprises in China.
A keynote panel discussion begins Day 2, with Philips Healthcare Greg Sebasky, Hewlett Packards Leslie Collins and Best Buys Rick Rommel discussing sustainability and profitability. The conference will include additional presentations from NEC Electronics America, The Chicago Manufacturing Center, IBM, American Society for Quality, Blue Coat Systems and others. In the afternoon keynote presentation, Reuben Jeffery III, U.S. State Department under secretary for economic, energy and agricultural affairs, will talk about free trade.
Conference hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 22-24 and from 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 25. The exposition will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 23-25.
Registration for the expo is free, as long as you pre-register or bring show materials with you. On-site registration is $55. Individuals can register for the expo or the paid conference at manufacturingweek.com.
Dont Forget IMTS
The International Manufacturing Technology Show 2008, Sept. 8-13 in Chicago, will combine an interactive Career Development Center (CDC) with a self-guided tour of the technology and manufacturing exhibition. Admission to IMTS 2008 for educators and their students is free and field trips are encouraged for students from middle school through high school and vocational college levels.
Sponsored by the Association for Manufacturing Technology and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), the events goal is to generate interest and enthusiasm in young people for precision manufacturing through industry professionals and technology.