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Birmingham, AL, claims to be the only place in the world where the essential ingredients—coal, iron ore and limestone—for making steel are present, located naturally within a 10-mile radius. Come April, the city can claim to be the only place in the world to find all of the ingredients to become a successful metalformer: the latest products, technology and services, networking with peers, suppliers and your customer base, and opportunities to learn how technology and process improvements can boost your bottom line.

In a word, Birmingham has METALFORM.

From April 1 to 3, more than 300 companies will display their products and services in 94,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex during Regional METALFORM, produced by the Precision Metalforming Association. While stamping, fabricating, assembly and tool-and-die companies will be among those exhibiting, companies showcasing value-added technologies such as material handling and packaging also will display their products and services. To attend, complete the registration form on page 37.

Conference Features 15 Technology Tracks

Why Birmingham? METALFORM marks the first time a metal-stamping event has been held in Birmingham, AL. The venue reflects the Southeast region’s transformation into a hotbed of metalforming and fabricating. Manufacturers go where their customers are, and more than 95 million people live within 600 miles of the city. That statistic, and a number of other factors, point to Birmingham as an ideal location for Regional METALFORM. The city resides in the Southern Automotive Corridor, which has seen an influx of transplant automotive OEMs, top-tier suppliers and hundreds of companies all through the automotive supply chain. Alabama alone is home to a number of automotive OEM plants, including Toyota, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai. And Isuzu recently bought land in Birmingham, reportedly for assembly of pickup trucks. The South is expected to account for 26 percent of U.S. auto production by 2012, with a quarter of that provided by Alabama and its projected 50,000-plus auto-industry workers. The region also boasts a host of appliance, aerospace and furniture producers utilizing metalforming and fabricating technologies, as well as material suppliers to feed these hungry operations.

Complementing the exposition is the METALFORM Conference. This convenient, cost-effective educational opportunity allows metalforming-company employees to expand their industry knowledge and skills while seeing and learning about the latest technology at the trade show. Well-respected industry speakers will be featured in 15 technical tracks comprising more than 40 separate presentations. Tracks include Transfer Stamping, Working with High-Strength Steel/Tool Steel, Automation/Assembly, Value Added for Stamping, Press Technologies and more.

In addition to the exhibits and educational presentations, several other events will take place during METALFORM:

• Women in Metalforming Coffee—New at this year’s show, PMA presents Women in Metalforming Coffee on Wednesday, April 2, 8-9 a.m. Open to METALFORM female attendees and exhibitors, the get-together allows participants to share perspectives, learn and network, and establish new business relationships that will have long-lasting mutual benefits. Join Gretchen Zierick, president of Zierick Manufacturing and PMA second vice chair, in a candid discussion about overcoming obstacles in the metalforming industry.

To attend this event, RSVP to PMA’s Amy Primiano at 216/901-8800 or http://www.metalformingmagazine.com/aprimiano@pma.org.

• Next Generation Leaders Day—The second-annual Next Generation Leaders Day will be held on Tuesday, April 1, allowing new and emerging industry leaders to network at the show and take part in judging exhibitors introducing new and innovative products.

The day’s schedule includes communications coach Deborah Pearce, Pearce Communications Group, LLC, on the topic, One Size Doesn’t Fit All—Navigating our Generational Differences. The presentation includes a speech and roundtable discussion, where solutions and strategies will be unveiled for effectively communicating in the workplace with differing personalities across generational lines.

Also, Next Generation Leaders will visit exhibitors launching new products at METALFORM, evaluate them on several categories relating to innovation, and vote for the best new products. Those evaluating new products will be entered to win one of several prizes.

For more information or to RSVP for Next Generation Leaders Day, contact PMA’s Mandy Basel at 216/901-8800 or http://www.metalformingmagazine.com/mbasel@pma.org.

• 2008 Awards of Excellence in Metalforming—PMA will present its annual Awards of Excellence in Metalforming on April 1, honoring innovators in the areas of design, training and education, productivity, product development, safety, quality and process control. The prestigious awards distinguish winners from the competition and recognize employees for a job well done. This event is open to Next Generation Leaders as well.

METALFORM 2008 Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, AL Exhibit Hours Tuesday, April 1    9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 2    9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, April 3    9 a.m.-2 p.m. Conference Hours Tuesday, April 1    9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 2    9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, April 3    9 a.m.-1 p.m. Online Registration For show and conference registration, visit www.metalform.com/2008 and click on REGISTER NOW. The site provides exhibitor and product listings, a floorplan, and conference details as well as hotel and travel information.

• PMA Educational Foundation Student Day—PMAEF Student Day, scheduled for April 3, invites students and teachers to learn more about the wide array of career opportunities available in the metalforming industry.

• PMA Educational Foundation Fundraising Bingo—At METALFORM, everyone on the floor has an opportunity to go home a winner in the PMA Educational Foundation’s fundraising bingo game. Attendees will receive a bingo game card upon registration, with the squares sponsored by participating METALFORM exhibitors. To win, attendees must visit enough squares (exhibitor booths) to complete “BINGO” two times with two complete vertical or horizontal rows. Winning cards will be entered into prize drawings.

PMAEF thanks the following companies for sponsoring its fundraising bingo game (as of February 11):

Accurate Die Design, Inc.
A-G Tool & Die Co.
Balluff, Inc.
Banner Engineering Corp.
Dallas Industries, Inc.
Dayton Precision Punch
Federated Insurance
Feintool Cincinnati
KMT Waterjet Systems Inc
Littell International
MetoKote Corp.
Modern Chemical Inc.
Penn United Technologies, Inc.
Plexus Systems, Inc.
Precision Steel Warehouse, Inc.
Skyline Manufacturing
Stamco Industries
Superior Die Set Corp.
William Sopko & Sons
D.A. Stuart
Waukesha Tool & Stamping, LLC   MF