Live events are back. Trade shows, conferences and symposia are reopening this fall, like the blooms in a hardy bed of New England asters or Japanese toad lilies. Autumn is a time of rebirth.
But, just when we thought it was safe to go back in the conference center, the more infectious but seemingly less deadly COVID-19 Delta variant has coronavirus cases spiking once again, with many states requiring individuals to put their masks back on, at least for now.
Time will tell how severe and how inconvenient this first COVID-19 echo will be. But many show organizers are optimistic. Two in particular are ready to revive.
Fabtech, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event, is set for September 13-16 in Chicago’s McCormick Place, and the conference lineup has been announced.
Fabtech is produced by five event partners, all from the manufacturing industry. They include the American Welding Society, the Chemical Coaters Association International, the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International, the Precision Metalforming Association and SME.
Eastec, the biennial manufacturing trade show held at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, also will include educational sessions when it takes place October 19-21, produced by SME and AMT. Eastec is one of four events in the Manufacturing Technology Series, which also includes Houstex in Houston (October 5-7), Southtec in Greenville, South Carolina (October 26-28) and Westec in Long Beach, California (November 16-18).
“By returning to in-person sessions after two years, we could not be more excited to offer Fabtech’s lowest conference rates ever,” says John Catalano, SME senior director, Fabtech. “FABTECH is thrilled to be providing companies of all sizes the opportunity to prioritize training. As the industry looks to address key issues like managing steel prices and advances in automation, we believe education is critical to finding solutions. Fabtech is dedicated to providing a platform for learning that aims to prepare attendees of all experience levels with the resources and support to accelerate their careers.”
Fabtech conference tracks will include 3D/additive manufacturing, automation, cutting, finishing, forming & fabricating, job shop, laser, lean, management, marketing & sales, smart manufacturing, stamping, welding and workforce development.
Eastec attendees from industries such as aircraft and aerospace, automotive, medical, defense and industrial and commercial machinery can expect keynote addresses discussing smart manufacturing and how to thrive in a post-recession/post-COVID economy, as well as a panel discussion about optimizing the plant floor with digital transformation.
