Why You Should Attend FABTECH 2024

Whether you are in welding management, sales, engineering, or production, you should schedule time to attend FABTECH 2024 from October 15 to 17 in Orlando, Fla. Orlando is a new city for FABTECH. The city and convention bureau have been welcoming and working hard to accommodate our needs. Everyone wants FABTECH 2024 to be the best ever. The FABTECH team has sold out the show, the exhibitors are bringing their latest technology, and the experts can help you determine the best products for your application. All that’s left to make the show a success is your attendance. AWS has partnered with the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA), SME, the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), and the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI) to create the largest metal fabricating show in North America. It brings together in one place the latest technology in welding, metal fabricating, metal forming, and finishing equipment. Additionally, there will be conferences, keynotes, and panel discussions where ideas and insights to improve your business’s competitiveness and quality are shared.  

The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando provides over 700,000 sq ft of exhibit space with welding equipment and products spanning 172,000 sq ft, of which 52,000 sq ft will specifically spotlight automation. As a testament to its power in driving manufacturing forward, the show is expected to attract about 35,000 visitors. 

North American manufacturers, constructors, and fabricators are poised to benefit from a surge in North American production. During the pandemic, we discovered how fragile our globalized supply chains had become. The true cost of cheap products sourced half a world away was revealed. There is a fair amount of evidence that we are transitioning from a global economy to a regional economy. North America is poised to be a significant beneficiary of this transition, and the continent’s high-quality products, speed to market, skilled talent, flexibility, and minimized transportation risk will position your company for success. We want to be a partner in your success, and the FABTECH show will bring together the technology and knowledge you can apply to your business.

"The FABTECH team has sold out the show, the exhibitors are bringing their latest technology, and the experts can help you determine the best products for your application. All that’s left to make the show a success is your attendance."

FABTECH 2024 will offer up-front, hands-on demonstrations of new and innovative equipment. There will be many opportunities for networking, learning from industry experts, and gaining valuable know-how. The show’s targeted technical, operational, economic, and management sessions will give you the necessary answers to increase both productivity and profits. Additionally, FABTECH will offer more than 225 education sessions. For example, AWS will present a comprehensive lineup of welding education sessions led by industry professionals, with programs focusing on best practices and new commercial developments in welding. With more than 100 years of experience serving the welding community, AWS is a reliable source for a wide range of educational tools. There are online learning products, the fundamentals of welding curriculum, and customizable in-person or virtual training solutions for corporate and academic markets. You can also purchase AWS codes and standards, reference books, and other publications. Visit a sales associate to explore the answer to your company’s needs at AWS booth numbers W4481, W4685, and W4689.

The FABx Tech Talks will feature a powerful lineup of visionary leaders driving manufacturing forward. These presentations are organized as keynotes and panel discussions. The topics include the state of the industry, attraction and retention of next-generation talent, women leaders in fabrication, and advanced manufacturing. On Wednesday, October 16, in the FABTECH Theater, NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Steve Young will give a presentation on performance under pressure that is sure to inspire.

I am honored to lead AWS as its interim executive director. I am proud to serve with the talented team that makes FABTECH happen, and I look forward to greeting you in Orlando at the show this year.