Are you ready for some FABTECH?

A week from today, Nov. 6, FABTECH opens at Chicago’s McCormick Place. If you’ve ever been to the show, you know how big it is and how much there is to see. This will be my 18th visit, and throughout this time I’ve watched it grow in scope and attendance.

According to the show’s official website, FABTECH 2017 will offer the expected 50,000 attendees more than 1,700 exhibits spread over 750,000 net sq. ft. of floor space. That’s a lot of ground to cover and a lot to see. Factor in keynote addresses, roundtables, educational sessions, and other special events, and it becomes very important to plan your visit carefully.

Rather than launch into a rundown of the many offerings, I’d like to give you some insight from an editor’s perspective. My fellow editors and I are interested in all facets of the show—new technology and product enhancements; attendee needs and reactions to the new technology; and the state of the industry and its concerns.

The way I see it, the No. 1 purpose of the show is for fabricators and equipment providers to come together and talk about ways technology can solve problems, improve quality, and help businesses grow. Perhaps a fabricator is thinking of adding new processes. What better way is there to decide if doing so is a viable option than seeing all of the applicable providers under the same roof, comparing what they have to offer, and benefiting from their technical expertise?

Keeping this purpose in mind, if I stop by an exhibit to meet a company representative for a scheduled booth tour, and that individual is having an intense conversation with a fabricator, I walk on by and return later. Or, I may discreetly eavesdrop for a few minutes. My tour takes a backseat to this important interaction.

From my perspective, the No. 2 and No. 3 priorities are networking and educational sessions. Their order is relative. In fact, I consider both educational, as talking to a fellow fabricator just might lead to a constructive ah-ha! moment. Perhaps Joe has encountered the same problem as Sue, and what she did to resolve it might be the solution he needs. Or Joe and Sue might be able to collaborate on certain projects that benefit both companies.

Some of the most interesting, insightful moments for me are on the shuttle buses that run back and forth between the hotels and FABTECH. On occasion, I have found myself seated next to someone who is at the show for the first time. It’s always interesting to learn what they do, why they are at the show, and what has captured their attention.

I also listen to the conversations going on around me. There’s a lot of “did you see this machine or that machine?” The question typically is asked with much enthusiasm and followed up with a discussion of how beneficial it could be. And I also hear the “buts.” Different shops have different requirements and financial resources. FABTECH is a good place for seeing all the options and deciding which is the best fit.

I also have heard attendees talk about changes they would make to the equipment to make it better suit their needs. I trust they are sharing these ideas with the providers.

Speaking of the shuttle buses, as you board, it’s quite likely that you will be handed a “show publication.” Just so you know, this is not the official show daily, even though it’s presented as such. They actually are being produced and distributed illegally, much like the slew of counterfeit products coming into the U.S. The official publications are handed out at the show, typically at entry locations, such as the base of the escalators. There you also will find show directories, which help you locate the companies on your must-see list. If you’re not into searching through a printed directory, there’s an app for that.

Keeping it real, before I began working for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, I gave little thought to what went in to producing the things I used daily—cars, appliances, our infrastructure. Had I given it much thought, there’s no way I could have conceived of all the processes and different types of equipment used to make them. FABTECH was a real eye-opener to me.

The industry continues to evolve. This year I’ll be paying close attention to the 3-D Additive Manufacturing Pavilion and Industry 4.0, which has been featured in more and more booths the past couple of years.

Also on my list of must-sees is the Paley-James Project, which will be unveiled Nov. 6 and auctioned on Nov. 17 to support grants and educational opportunities for careers in the metalworking trades.

Reading back over this, I think I may have erred in specifying priority No. 1. My personal No. 1 is making sure I wear comfortable shoes. Make sure you do the same. It’s difficult to enjoy an event like this if your feet are killing you.

Watch for show updates on The FABRICATOR blog. I’ll be sharing daily observations with you as I rest my feet.