FABTECH 2023—Meet and Learn in Chicago

As reshoring and nearshoring activity continues at a breakneck pace, manufacturers must find ways to ramp up production even as skilled and unskilled labor pools remain shallow. Consider that reshoring and foreign direct investment have netted 101,500 U.S. manufacturing jobs in the first quarter of 2023, according to data from the Reshoring Initiative, with new-job announcements expected to surpass 400,000 by year’s end. This is on top of record jobs added in 2021 and 2022. 

What to do? In this environment, automation and advanced technologies enable manufacturers to take on more work and make scarce employees more productive, while positively impacting employee attraction and retention. FABTECH, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event, certainly fits the bill when manufacturers seek such technology advances.

FABTECH: The One-Stop Shop

At FABTECH 2023, September 11-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, you’ll find all manner of productivity-enhancing tools, from machine technology to Industry 4.0, along with the opportunity to connect with peers and experts to plot strategies for future success. Coming off a post-pandemic 2022 event in Atlanta, GA, which boasted nearly 30,000 attendees, optimism is high for FABTECH 2023. Expect about 45,000 attendees visiting 1800 exhibitors in roughly 800,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, according to event sponsors Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), American Welding Society, Chemical Coaters Association International, Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International, and SME.

Attendees will find a one-stop shop for meeting with worldclass suppliers; seeing the latest industry products and technology developments; and finding tools to improve productivity, increase profits and discover new solutions to metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing challenges. Pavilions span the range of sheet metal-processing technologies, including METALFORM, Forming & Fabricating, Tube & Pipe, Welding, Welding Automation, Finishing, 3D/Additive Manufacturing, and Robotics & Industrial Automation. Look for MetalForming magazine in PMA’s booth—D41560—at the rear of the METALFORM Pavilion in the scenic East (Lakeside) Building.