John Wolz

The Industrial Fasteners Institute and the International Fastener Machinery Association announced a new trade show for the fastener and precision formed parts industries.
The yet-to-be formally named show is scheduled June 4-7, 2001, at the Cleveland Convention Center in Cleveland.
The new show is a split from the International Fastener & Precision Formed Parts Manufacturing Exposition (IFE) held every other year in the spring.
Both shows are designed primarily for fastener machinery producers as exhibitors and fastener manufacturers as attendees.
Harris said IFI became interested in operating its own show as a revenue source for industry programs.
�People in the industry wanted a show by the industry and for the industry so the money stayed in the industry for industry training and other activities that support the industry,� Harris explained.
The IFI membership is comprised primarily of fastener manufacturers. The IFI also has a Supplier Advisory Council, including major suppliers of ferrous and nonferrous wire and rod.
IFMA represents international producers of machinery, equipment, material and services for the fastener and formed parts manufacturing industries.
IFE Going Ahead
IFE is produced and managed by one of the largest trade show producers worldwide, Reed Exhibition Companies.
The Reed vice president in charge of IFE said the show will go on.
�We�re doing business as usual,� Kelvin Marsden-Kish responded. �We expect to have a good show.�
The next IFE is scheduled for April 24-26, 2001, at the Rosemont Convention Center near Chicago�s O�Hare International Airport.
Marsden-Kish said IFE�s strength is �Reed�s ability to deliver attendees to the exhibitors. Reed has always done a good job bringing in attendees.�
Just days before the IFI/IFMA announcement IFE sales director Joe McGeachy had sent promotional information to potential exhibitors.
IFI�s Clout
In the announcement of the new show the IFI said its members have about 85% of North American fastener manufacturing capacity. The IFI also works with the 19-nation European Industrial Fasteners Institute, the Fastener Institute of Japan and the Far Eastern & South American manufacturer�s associations.
IFMA represents international producers of machinery, equipment, material and services for fastener and formed parts manufacturers.
�With the involvement of these organizations, this event is expected to be the largest trade show for the producers of fasteners and precision formed parts in the world,� the announcement declared.
The IFI will coordinate the conference program with support from IFMA and Fastener Technology International magazine, which had sponsored conferences at IFE.
IFMA executive director Ray Zirkle, who has been involved in the machinery show since 1983, said IFMA developed a close relationship with Reed, but �IFI members are our customers.� Zirkle and IFMA chose to work with the new show.
The IFI/IFMA partnership does provide �better control,� he explained.
Zirkle said the IFI and IFMA offered to buy the show from Reed, but �they turned it down, so we are forging ahead with a new name. Major players are signing up. It is exciting starting up a new show.�
The IFI has assured the IFMA �they will have their top people there,� Zirkle said.
For years the IFI has contemplated involvement in the IFE show. The IFI rejected proposals to be a sponsor of the 1995 IFE. Then-managing director Dick Scofield said at the time that the IFI was offered only $5,000. The IFI did not want to lend its name to the promoters when it had no control over the quality of the show or how its name would be used in promotions.
The IFI also thought an industry organization should receive at least $50,000 when a promoter for a highly profitable show was going to use the organization�s name, Scofield said.
International Emphasis
Both Harris and Zirkle emphasized their goal is for the new show to be international.
Harris is working closely with fastener manufacturers organizations from other continents. Both Zirkle and Harris will be staffing a booth at the International Fastener Machinery Association/Wire 2000 show in April in D�sseldorf, Germany.
Harris also said he intends to have the new show audited by a third-party trade show quality assurance program. Reed has a corporate policy of having all of its 300+ shows audited.

For information on the new show contact Rob Harris, IFI. Tel: 216 241-1482. Fax 216 241-5901. E-mail: indfast@aol.com Web: www.industrial- fasteners.org or Ray Zirkle, IFMA. Tel: 203 794-0444. Fax 203 743-4810.
For information on IFE contact Joe McGeachy, IFE/Reed. Tel: 203 840-5689. E-mail: jmcgeachy@reedexpo.com