SHOW NEWS: NIFS Marking 25th Anniversary

John Wolz

Show management reported 162 exhibitors have reserved 173 booths for the 25th annual National Industrial Fastener Show / East.\
The first NIFS was held in June 1981 in Columbus, OH, with 90 exhibitors. “Here we are 25 years later and still going strong!” show management declared.
The trade show will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2005, at the Baltimore Convention Center. Conferences will be on Wednesday.
There were 209 booths in 2004 and 260 in 2003. The record NIFS show had 653 booths in 1996 in Columbus, OH. Show management reported 501 exhibitors with 578 booths at the 2004 NIFS/West in Las Vegas.
The Los Angeles Fastener Association is slated to present its fastener specifications & terminology class on Wednesday, May 4. The class will be taught by Bengt Blendulf and Carmen Vertullo and is part of LAFA”s Certified Fastener Specialist program. For CFS information contact Vickie Lester at LAFA. Tel: 562 425-1721 Fax 562 425-0199 E-mail: lafahq@aol.com Web: lafa.net
The fastener subcommittee of the SAE Ship Systems technical committee will meet on Wednesday. NIFS will have an opening reception Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Baltimore Discount Ends March 18
Distributors can attend the May 5 NIFS / East exhibits free with a pass from any exhibitor. Attendees also can register online at fastenershows.com for $25 until March 18.
Beginning March 19 the fee is $35, and onsite registration is $45.
The free passes are for the exhibit hall only. Only paid registrants may attend the opening reception.
The show headquarters hotel is the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at $165 per night. Hotels.com lists nine other hotels under a half mile from the convention center. Prices range from $132 at the all-suites Tremont Plaza to $288 at the Hyatt. Less expensive but just over a mile is the Inn at the Stadiums at $105.
For information contact show general manager Gloria Crase. Tel: 614 895-1279 Fax 614 895-3466 E-mail: nifsco@fastenershows.com Web: fastenershows.com �2005 FastenerNews.com