FABTECH 2024 Florida-Bound

For the first time, FABTECH travels to the Sunshine State, as the 2024 edition of North America’s largest sheet metal forming and fabricating event kicks off a three-day run at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, on October 15.

For the first time, FABTECH travels to the Sunshine State, as the 2024 edition of North America’s largest sheet metal forming and fabricating event kicks off a three-day run at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, on October 15.

Preregistration for FABTECH 2024, October 15-17, is running even with 2023 numbers, where more than 45,000 attendees walked the aisles in Chicago, IL. It’s not hard to figure out why, given the destination city of Orlando, and Florida’s position as one of America’s fastest growing manufacturing centers. In fact, Florida ranks as a top state for manufacturing, according to the Florida 2023 Manufacturing Report. 

Florida’s manufacturing output has grown at a 67.8% clip over 9 yr., from $43.5 billion in 2014 to $73 billion in 2022, significantly outpacing all other leading manufacturing states, offers the report. The state’s manufacturing employment reached 422,800 in September 2023, passing Georgia and New York to become the 10th largest state in the country for manufacturing employment. And, its manufacturing employment has grown by 23.3% since 2014, significantly higher than other leading manufacturing states.

Against this backdrop, an expected 1500+ exhibitors across close to 800,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space will promote their technology, products and services to attendees from every U.S. state and more than 80 countries. Make no mistake, FABTECH provides the platform where companies, institutions and professionals from every area of the metal-fabrication ecosystem—forming, fabricating, welding and finishing—come together to learn, network and become immersed in the latest technology offerings.  

FABTECH 2024 Buzz is Real

“We are excited to present FABTECH 2024 in Orlando, FL, and the preregistration numbers show that the sheet metal-manufacturing community is excited as well,” says David Klotz, president of the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), MetalForming magazine’s parent organization and FABTECH co-sponsor. “So many issues affect the forming and fabricating industries right now, including the upcoming presidential election as well as legislative and regulatory challenges, the economy, the automotive drive toward electrification, tariffs, and workforce attraction and retention. These issues make it even more important for industry professionals to network with colleagues, learn about strategies to achieve success, and take in all of the technology and expertise that FABTECH offers.”