Dynamic speakers to headline FABTECH Intl. & AWS Welding Show

Two dynamic keynote speakers— an American inventor, entrepreneur, and tireless advocate for science and technology, and a global expert from Caterpillar— highlight the FABTECH® International & AWS Welding Show, taking place Oct. 6-8 in Las Vegas.

Jim Waters, vice president of the Caterpillar Production System at Caterpillar, will discuss Embracing the Challenges of Manufacturing in a Global Economy on Oct. 6. Waters' presentation will focus on how the world is getting smaller and how companies can embrace the international economy to become stronger and more successful.

On Oct. 7, inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST and president of DEKA Research & Development Corporation, will deliver a high-impact presentation on Inspiring Future Generations to Lead the World in Innovation. Kamen will discuss the importance of getting America's youth excited about careers in science, technology, and engineering and cultivating an environment that encourages creativity and risk-taking. Kamen also will assert his belief that innovation is the key to keeping U.S. manufacturing competitive in a global economy.

Waters is leading an enterprise transformation of manufacturing systems at Caterpillar to help set a "gold standard" for quality, safety and speed in industry. He provides leadership to this enterprise effort by drawing on his strong systems and process skills, as well as his product and manufacturing management experience gained in Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Waters joined Caterpillar in 1978 and holds a patent, which he received in 1985, for algorithms related to adaptive welding.

Kamen holds more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents for innovative devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide. Notable inventions include the first wearable insulin pump for diabetics, the HomeChoiceT portable peritoneal dialysis machine, the INDEPENDENCE® IBOT® Mobility System and the Segway® Human Transporter. Kamen also founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use and enjoy science and technology.

Cosponsored by the American Welding Society (AWS), Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Int'l (FMA) and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and supported by industry partner the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the show is the largest event in North America dedicated to showcasing a full spectrum of metal forming, fabricating, stamping, tube and pipe, and welding equipment and technology. The event is expected to bring in an estimated 20,000 attendees and more than 800 exhibitors. Thousands of buyers and sellers from across the globe will gather at the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show in Las Vegas to exchange products and services, network with peers, preview new products, problem-solve, and educate the industry on the latest technologies.