SHOW NEWS

John Wolz

Spouses Boost Las Vegas Attendance; Distributor Numbers Nearly the Same
The 4th annual National Industrial Fastener Show/West reported registration for the November 2000 event in Las Vegas rose 19%. Most of the increase came from a new spouse/guest pass and by an increase in manufacturers registered to attend the distribution-oriented show.
Show management reported distributor advance and on-site registration totaled 1,386, just 42 over the 1999 total of 1,344. \
Nearly 10% of the 4,525 total show registration was for spouses and guests.
Many of the 432 spouses and guests may have been attracted by the superbadge for the National Fastener Distributor Association�s fall city meeting and keynote speaker General Colin Powell. The NFDA opened its sessions to nonmembers.
The number of registered manufacturers rose from 296 to 375.
Show management�s numbers include advance and on-site registrations. Trade show experts find that a majority of those registering in advance may not actually attend. The show reported 84% registered in advance.
The show management does not use a verified system to determine actual attendance figures. The show is not audited by an independent trade show quality assurance program. The show does provide a registration list to exhibitors.
Show management also reported 160 manufacturer reps, 86 importers, 9 media and 181 �other� registrations at Las Vegas IV.
Total registration was 4,525, up from 3,800 in 1999.
People from 30 countries registered.
As with many fastener shows, exhibitor registration exceeded the number of distributors. The show reported 1,764 exhibit staff, or 36% higher than the number of distributors.
This year all 550 booths were sold, compared with the 435 available and sold in 1999.
�We feel that this nearly 20% gain is indicative of the industry�s growing interest in the West show, and we anticipate even further growth in 2001,� show partner Jim Bannister said.
The fifth annual show is scheduled for two hours on Thursday, November 15, 2001, and a full day on Friday at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. For information contact general manager Gloria Crase. Tel: 614 895-8348. Fax 614 895-3466. E-mail: nifsco@bannister.com Web: fastenershows.com

Columbus Offers New Spouse Program
The 21st annual National Industrial Fastener Show & Conference will offer a day trip for spouses and guests to basket maker Longaberger Company in Dresden, OH.
�We are hopeful that this new show feature will encourage more exhibitors and attendees to bring their spouse or guest to Columbus,� show general manager Gloria Crase said.
The show will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2001, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH. The Hall of Fame banquet and conferences are on Monday.
A spouse/guest trip to Greystone winery and Easton Town Center also are being considered, Crase added.
The show also is offering a limited amount of free meeting room space to exhibitors for sales meetings or customer hospitality. For information contact Crase. Tel: 614 895-8348. Fax 614 895-3466. E-mail: nifsco@bannister.com Web: fastenershows.com

IFFI Booths 85% Sold
Booth space at the Industrial Fastener & Forming International Exhibition & Conference is 85% sold out, Ray Zirkle announced.
The new show for the production of fasteners and precision formed parts will be June 4-7, 2001, in Cleveland, OH.
IFFI has been developed by the Industrial Fasteners Institute, which represents primarily fastener manufacturers, and the International Fastener Machinery Association, which represents machinery producers and other suppliers.
For exhibitor information contact Zirkle. Tel: 203 794-0444 or 800 688-1698. Fax 203 743-4810. E-mail: Bzdigital@aol.com.

Manufacturing Week Announces Topics
National Manufacturing Week conference topics include e-commerce, cost cutting, productivity and supply chain innovations.
The March 5-8, 2001, event is at Chicago�s McCormick Place. The National Association of Manufacturers and 10 additional industry associations sponsor Manufacturing Week. The exposition includes 20 pavilions.
The Industrial Fasteners Institute is a member of the manufacturing association.
Separate conference tracks are scheduled for design engineering, design for manufacturing, automation & control, e-tooling for manufacturing, plant engineering, and e-business.
Microsoft will present sessions on an Internet-based operating system for plant operations, automation & control, e-business supply chain, and design and engineering.
For information: ManufacturingWeek.com

PMA Metalforming Show Adds Welding
The American Welding Society will co-locate its trade show with the Precision Metalforming Association in 2001, and the combined convention will be called MAX International.
The first Manufacturing Applications Exposition International � combining Metalform ExpoSium and the International Welding & Fabricating Exposition � will be held May 6-10, 2001, in Cleveland.
The 800,000 sq ft trade show is expected to draw 40,000 people.
Metalform was first held in 1981, and the show includes stamping, precision metal fabricating, forming, spinning and roll forming exhibitors. There is a growing emphasis on automation and sensor technology to improve productivity.
The welding show was started in 1953 and attracts an estimated 25,000 people from 20 countries.
The symposium includes such technical issues as operation and maintenance of presses, precision sheet metal fabrication, tool & die, safety, material handling, quality and management issues.
For information contact PMA. Tel: 216 901-8800. Fax 216 901-9190. Web: metalforming.com

Interwire May 13-18 in Atlanta
Interwire: Wire & Cable Manufacturing Week will be held May 13-18, 2001, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
Interwire incorporates Interwire Trade Exposition, Wire & Cable Technical Symposium, Wire & Cable College and WAI�s 71st annual convention.
The exposition, occupying over 11 football fields of space with an estimated 800 exhibiting companies, runs May 14-17.
For information contact Wire Association International. Tel: 203 453-2777. Fax 203 453-8384. Web: wirenet.org

For a complete listing of fastener trade shows worldwide click on �Trade Shows.�