FABTECH(R) International 2004 Showcases Emerging Technologies to Help the Forming and Fabricating Industry Maintain Global Competitiveness

DEARBORN, Mich., July 29 -- Emerging technologies, accelerated product development, and methods for implementing these new technologies on the shop floor are on the impressive agenda for suppliers in the metal forming and fabricating industry at North America's largest annual metal forming and fabricating event, being held on October 26-28 at the I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio. The event is co-sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Int'l (FMA).

FABTECH International 2004 will attract an estimated 13,000 qualified buyers, representing companies ranging from small job shops to the largest OEMs. Buyers will visit the more than 450 companies displaying equipment including automation/robotics, bending/folding, coil processing, contract manufacturing, controls, cutting (waterjet/plasma), finishing, hydroforming, lasers, material handling, plate & structural fabricating, punching, roll forming, safety equipment, saws, software, stamping, tooling, tube & pipe technology, and welding. More than 50 countries will send representatives to see the latest metal forming and fabricating equipment and services.

CONFERENCE:

Keynote: "Keeping American Manufacturing Competitive in a Global Economy," Wednesday, October 27, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m., presented by Grant Aldonas, Under Secretary for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce. Aldonas' remarks will include a progress report on the status of a variety of initiatives undertaken by the U.S. government in the past two years to re- energize the manufacturing segment of the U.S. economy.

Conference Sessions:

This year's event will offer more than 30 sessions including seven new sessions. New conference sessions include: Profit Growth Management, Understanding Lubricants, Creating Integrated Roll Forming Systems, Improving Roll Forming Quality & Productivity, Hot Metal Gas Forming: Tooling Materials & Capabilities, Creating a Press Room Preventive Maintenance Program, and Safety Issues for Better Employee Performance.

Free Business Seminars:

Industry experts will lead free, hour-long sessions from Noon to 1 p.m., on all three days of the event and provide information on how to expand a business, compete successfully for government contracts and develop innovative new products. Scheduled sessions are: Tuesday, October 26 - "From Your Shop Floor to the Playing Field: Growing Your Business Systematically," presented by Andrew Birol, president, Birol Growth Consulting; Wednesday, October 27 - "Ten Simple Steps to Winning Government Contracts," presented by John DiGiacomo, director, Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Rockford, Ill., and on Thursday, October 28 - "The Key to Product Success is in the Front End," presented by Jim Cermak, product development marketing manager, CAMP, Cleveland, Ohio.

Manufacturers who are considering financing a new machine or facility upgrade will be able to investigate their options at the Small Business Lending Center located on the show floor. Local business lenders, with programs designed for small to mid-size companies will be available for consultations on a walk-in basis to answer questions.

  Exposition Hours:                         Conference Hours:
  Tuesday, October 26 - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.     9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
  Wednesday, October 27 - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.   8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
  Thursday, October 28 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.    9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

For more information on all FABTECH International events, contact the SME Resource Center at +1 (800) 733-4763; or log onto http://www.sme.org/fabtech , or contact FMA at +1 (800)432-2832, or at http://www.fmafabtech.com/ . The FABTECH International event is co-sponsored by industry-leading associations -- SME and FMA.