The Covid-19 pandemic has been postponing or canceling fastener events since March 2020, but multiple trade shows remain on the docket for late 2021.

 • Nancy Rich of the Mid-West Fastener Association said “so far, so good” for FSTNR Week in Chicago, which opens August 16 with conferences. MWFA’s 39th trade show and 75th anniversary banquet will follow on Tuesday.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has followed Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommendations that everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas with substantial and high Covid transmission.

  • The International Fastener Expo, scheduled September 21-23 in Las Vegas, states it will also follow CDC and World Health Organization guidelines.

“We will adapt and change our plans as recommendations become available, to limit potential spread most effectively,” IFE states on FastenerShows.com.

Currently the state of Nevada directs everyone, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, to wear face masks in all public indoor spaces throughout the state.

Public indoor spaces include exhibit halls, meeting rooms and lobbies.

IFE and host hotel Mandalay Bay plan daily heightened cleaning and sanitizing of all public spaces; hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout the trade show; and exhibit area aisle widths expanded.

IFE announced several conference sessions.

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 • The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association’s 45th convention is slated for October 24-26 in Orlando. 

About 50.8% of Floridians have been fully vaccinated, according to John Hopkins University.

“I’m in constant contact with Orlando Health,” CEO Georgia Foley told FIN. “No groups are canceling out of Florida. Everyone has learned to live with this and COVID will likely all be with us in one shape or form for years to come.”

 • The 2021 Fastener Fair Stuttgart has been cancelled and the next International Exhibition for the Fastener & Fixing Industry is now scheduled for March 21-23, 2023, in Stuttgart, Germany.

The 9th edition of the biennial trade show was originally scheduled for May 2021 then postponed until October.

Mack-Brooks Exhibitions said the 2021 cancellation is due to the ongoing pandemic and follows conversations with exhibitors and partners.

Portfolio director Liljana Goszdziewski said the “early announcement will allow planning security for all participants, and it will ensure that the event can continue its critical role in bringing the global fastener and fixing industry together again in 2023.”

 • Mack-Brooks will conduct its new digital event, Fastener Fair Connect, which provides online booths and product showcases, matchmaking, virtual meetings and webinars November 17-18. It includes Fastener Fair’s trade shows in Germany, Italy, Mexico, USA and India.

Fastener Fair in-person trade shows scheduled during 2021 are USA, November 9-10 in Cleveland; Mexico, October 13-14; and India, November 26-27. Web: FastenerFair.com

The Taiwan International Fastener Show has been cancelled for 2021 due to Covid-19. The next date is set for April 19-21, 2022, in Kaohsiung.  

The organizers are planning the 6th edition of the biennial trade show, which will feature a virtual and integrated digital version, including an online trade show and online sourcing meetings.