FABTECH excitement builds for blue-collar community, small fabricators

Josh Welton of Brown Dog Welding teamed up with Hexagon last year at FABTECH 2018 in Atlanta to use 3D scanning technology on a metal structure. Darla Welton

There's excitement surrounding the blue-collar community because it’s that time of year: FABTECH is next week.

Per usual, I'm a bit distracted. The week prior to FABTECH I’m displaying my sculpture work in the Art Walk at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. Behind the proverbial eight ball, I made a mad dash to create pieces to show.

With FABTECH going off in Chicago the week after SEMA, Darla and I will be trekking from Vegas to Chi-Town on our return trip. We’re still working out logistics, but we’ll be there.

The folks behind FABTECH and many of the attending vendors have done an excellent job of evolving along with the fabrication community they serve. It’s not all about large manufacturers wining and dining other large manufacturers in the hope that they’ll place a large order with them. That exists, but now it’s alongside vendors putting time and energy into engaging with the next generation of metal fabricators and small businesses. Individuals are treated with respect.

So many of us have gone from making a gadget here and there to turning it into a successful small business. Some have grown, hiring employees and moving into larger facilities filled with laser cutters, CNC machines, brake presses, and welding equipment. You never know who that next big client might be.

It’s also become a gathering point for the blue-collar Instagram community, with both big-name influencers and those just getting started hanging out together. We congregate at the show and the after-parties to swap stories and ideas. It’s always great to put a face to a name you’ve only ever seen in scrolling through your phone. I always get “Wow, you’re not an asshole” when I first meet someone who follows me. Apparently not everything translates through social media the way you want it to.

My friend Jimmy McKnight and I will also be hosting live sessions of the Arc Junkies podcast (@arcjunkiespodcast on Instagram). Look for a big announcement at the show; Jimmy may have found a permanent co-host!

I’ll also be doing some Instagram story takeovers and will go live on my own page to share some of the events with those who can’t make it this year.

Outside of that, if you see me around, just grab me and say hello. I’m not all that outgoing (that’s why I bring my social butterfly wife). Crowds get to me, so even if I look distraught, feel free to introduce yourself. That’s always my favorite part of the event.

See you in Chicago!

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