Surprise! Today your boss instructed you to attend Forge Fair 2019 this coming May in Cleveland, Ohio! Your supervisor’s expectations are clear: attend the event, collect information on the latest technology to enhance your company’s profitability and check out the competition. Also, have fun, but not too much! What to do? Simple: Plan, Do, Check, Act!
Keynote Addresses
Forge Fair 2019 will feature three keynote speakers: Jeremy Bout, Dr. Amy Elliott and Rocky Bleier.
On Tuesday morning, May 21, Forge Fair 2019 will open with keynoter Jeremy Bout of Edge Factor. Bout, a critically acclaimed storyteller, is the founder and host of Edge Factor and leads the team in creating cinematic media and turnkey resources. Providing regional solutions to national workforce development challenges, Edge Factor empowers community stakeholders with tools to inspire students to pursue career pathways, reach parents and build bridges between industry and education.
On Wednesday, May 22, Forge Fair attendees will be addressed by Dr. Amy Elliott, researcher, science TV personality and additive-manufacturing (AM) expert. Dr. Elliott received her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech’s DREAMS Lab. Her thesis focused on the effects of quantum dot nanoparticles on the deposition and solidification of inkjet-deposited photopolymers. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, Elliott participated in vehicle-building competitions such as Baja SAE and the NASA Moonbuggy Race. She also led the design and fabrication of DreamVendor, the world’s first 3D-printing vending machine.
On Thursday, May 23, Vietnam veteran and Super Bowl winner Rocky Bleier will speak with attendees. Bleier embodies heroism, determination, teamwork and leadership. After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968, Bleier was drafted by the U.S. Army to fight in Vietnam. Told he would never walk again after receiving severe wounds, he bravely rehabilitated himself to condition for re-entry into the NFL. Defeating all odds, Bleier regained his running back position on the Steelers’ squad. The winner of four Super Bowl championships, he continues to inspire audiences and peers alike. Bleier was the recipient of the 2015 Eagle Rare Life Heroism Award for his incredible drive and inspirational story.
Plan to Maximize Your Participation
Plan for a total, integrated approach to maximizing your participation at Forge Fair 2019.
First, establish your goals. Perhaps these goals are customer-driven. For example, identify potential modeling tools to improve forging design for affordability, or identify new die coatings to improve die wear for longer-life tools. Write down these goals to serve as a script when interacting with vendors exhibiting in Cleveland.
Second, identify targets of opportunity. Review the exhibitor list and speaker schedule. Prioritize which exhibitors you need to meet. Focus on those booths first instead of wandering aimlessly on the show floor. Review the technical presentation schedule and annotate your calendar to ensure you hear these presentations. Plan to collect business cards and literature while taking copious notes.
Third, make your travel plans. Book travel details early before flights and hotels fill up. If you are flying into Cleveland, consider taking the RTA from the airport to the city. This avoids the hassle of renting, driving, parking, refueling and returning a car. Within the city, ride sharing and cabs abound. You might even be able to fill your Fit Bit with steps depending on how far you lodge from the convention center. We like staying several blocks away from the venue to see the city and get some exercise despite the added minutes to my busy schedule. Book early!
Hotel Accommodations
The initial Forge Fair room blocks at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center and Drury Plaza have sold out.
However, a room block at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel has been reserved for Forge Fair 2019 at a rate of $169 per night. When you place your hotel reservations, mention Forging Industry Association Forge Fair to receive the special room rate. The deadline to reserve a room at the discounted rate is Thursday, April 25.
Fourth, company content to bring along should include up-to-date business cards and current business literature. Be prepared to discuss your role in the company and your company’s capabilities. No need to go too deep but just enough to engage in a cogent conversation with others along the way. Also, when attending social events and meals, do not hang out with your coworkers! Divide and conquer. You can always talk shop at home. At Forge Fair, meet someone new – someone who will appreciate you, your company and your potential business.
Fifth, be prepared for Cleveland weather. Dress properly, professionally and comfortably. Perhaps your company has a dress code to abide by. Wear the gear. One Forging Industry Association (FIA) company is noted for its requirement for associates to wear plaid. You can’t miss them. If anything, wear comfortable shoes!
For now, this plan ought to work. Go and Do.
Do Tackle Your Top Priorities First
This year exhibits will be open while the technical program is in progress. You might do a quick trek over to the registration desk to pick up your badge and expo program. Properly badged, head into the show using your established plan. You might do a quick walk through to survey the overall show and perhaps adjust your plan. Now the fun starts.
Yes, stop at your top-priority booths first. Yes, go right on up to the representatives and introduce yourself, your company and your role within company. Explain your needs in general terms, and then let them talk. Let them demonstrate their products, show you data, show you benefits for your company and your customers. Give them your card or let them scan your badge. Follow up later in the show or after the show. Be mindful, however, that your competitors might be listening. No need to be paranoid; just be careful.
Repeat the process until you cover your list of booths. Also, attend the technical sessions for more detail. Checking out the room, you can gauge interest levels, especially of your competitors.
Work the whole show floor.
Check on Your Progress
As the show progresses, check your progress. Are you making the contacts as planned? Which remain? Are there new additions to the list? Do you need to follow up now in person while the show progresses or can you wait until after the show? Have you seen anything new to your company? Something outside of the box?
How much will it cost?
Entry fees for Forge Fair 2019 will be the same as they were two years ago at Forge Fair 2017.
FIA member three-day registration (exhibitor or attendee): $199
FIA member single-day registration (exhibitor or attendee): $102
Non-member three-day registration (exhibitor or attendee): $259
Non-member single-day registration (exhibitor or attendee): $132
Act on What You Have Learned
Once the show is over, act on what you discovered. Rack and stack the business cards collected. Upload contact information into your contact list or customer/supplier management system. Follow up with high-priority contacts first and eventually work your way to the lower priorities.
In truth, some contacts are not relevant at all and are filed accordingly. Share ideas with others on your team. If you want to buy something, build the business case, invite the vendors in for demonstrations. Work with your boss that sent you to Cleveland. Work with your chief financial officer, and buy the technology, tools and equipment your company needs to be the best forger in North America.
Here are Some Additional Tips
Pack and pop breath mints; no need to explain why.
Be courteous of other participants and exhibitors. Don’t butt into conversations. If you really need to meet with an exhibitor, politely give a representative your card and indicate that you will return later.
Trade-show bling is meant to remind you of a product or service. Don’t be greedy. Perhaps pick up some trinkets for your administrative assistant and associates back home. Perhaps your spouse or kids would like some items. At the end of the show the vendors often unload their bling, so plan accordingly. Be careful of metal objects that might be seized at airport security.
If you want to take a picture of a piece of hardware or a booth, ask the exhibitor. Despite being a public event, they might object to pictures.
See you in Cleveland!
List of Exhibitors
The following is a list of Forge Fair 2019 exhibitors on record as of March 1, 2019. Advertisers in this issue are listed in bold.
2019 Forge Fair Exhibitors..... (booth)
A. M. L. Industries, Inc........................... 241
ABP Induction LLC................................ 119
Absolute Welding Inc............................ 431
Aceria De Alava Tubacex Group............ 912
Advanced Machine & Engineering......... 928
Advanced Machine Design Company, Inc. 302
Advanced Structural Technologies, Inc.. 703
Advanced Technology International.... 1012
AED Automation GmbH......................... 940
Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic Corp........ 418
Alliance for American Manufacturing...... 807
Allied Mineral Products Inc..................... 530
Allied Systems Company - Long Reach Division 938
Alpha 1................................................. 301
American GFM Corporation.................... 248
Angstrom Corporation............................ 942
ArcelorMittal........................................... 612
Asahi Forge Group................................ 408
Asil Celik Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S............. 504
ASO Siderurgica S.p.A. Unipersonale.... 434
Automated Cells & Equipment............... 929
Bahco................................................... 818
Barnhart Crane and Rigging.................. 547
Blast Cleaning Technologies,Inc......... 919
Bloom Engineering Co........................... 606
BOS Field Machine Inc.......................... 120
Bosch Rexroth Corporation.................... 437
Bulldog Tools, Inc................................ 1011
Campbell Press Repair........................ 701
Carlesa NDE Services - Presstest.com... 948
Charter Steel......................................... 332
Clinton Machine..................................... 301
CMI Industry Americas Inc. (EFCO)........ 346
CombusTech Ltd................................... 142
Condat Corporation............................... 509
Consolidated Industries, Inc.................. 449
Cor-Met, Inc.......................................... 817
Daiichi Jitsugyo (America), Inc.- Noritake 937
Dango & Dienenthal Incorporated........ 801
Danobat S Coop................................... 934
Direct Energy......................................... 646
DSS America Inc................................... 147
Dynamic Surface Technologies International 148
Eaton Steel Bar Company.................... 723
Edgerton Forge, Inc............................. 829
Electralloy.............................................. 835
Ellwood Quality Steels Co................... 429
Ellwood Specialty Steel Co.................... 124
Enomoto Machine Co., LTD................... 936
Enprotech Industrial Technologies, LLC 329
Erie Press Systems............................. 229
ERS Engineering Corp.......................... 201
Eureka Welding Alloys........................... 537
Fabreeka International Inc..................... 911
FAGOR ARRASATE S. Coop................ 908
Feedall Automation............................. 1029
FICEP S.P.A......................................... 739
Finkl Steel............................................ 901
Fives North American Combustion Inc.... 409
Fontijne Grotnes, Inc........................... 1009
Ford Tool & Machining........................... 702
Forge magazine................................. 233
Forge Enterprises International.............. 738
Forge Systems Inc................................. 345
Forge Technology Inc............................ 118
Forging Equipment Solutions...... 519 & 529
Forging Industry Association (FIA)......... 645
Forging Industry Educational and Research
Foundation (FIERF)............................ 146
Forging/Informa..................................... 138
Friggi N. A. Inc..................................... 636
FRISA Steel.......................................... 438
Fuchs Lubricants Co. Lubrodal Division. 615
Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems 1007
Gemini Precision Machining Inc......... 640
Geo Corp, Inc........................................ 219
Georgsmarienhütte GmbH..................... 909
GERB Vibration Control Systems, Inc. 218
Gerdau (GSN)....................................... 123
GLAMA USA Inc................................... 714
Hastec Engineering Inc......................... 639
Hauhinco............................................. 1031
Heating Induction Services, Inc............. 843
Heiko Machine Tools, LLC..................... 839
Hilma Division Carr Lane Roemheld Mfg. Co. 349
Hitachi Metals America, LLC.................. 502
Houghton International.......................... 405
Inductoheat.......................................... 301
Inductotherm Group, Inductoheat Div.... 301
Induction Service Center....................... 301
InfoSight............................................... 122
Interpower Induction USA...................... 207
IQ Technologies Inc.............................. 915
Jackson Transformer Company........ 1015
Jade-Sterling Steel................................ 139
Jorgensen Conveyors Inc...................... 144
Kinkelder Saw, Inc................................. 710
Kreher Steel Company, LLC.................. 621
LASCO Engineering Services L.L.C.... 102
Latrobe Specialty Steel Distribution....... 132
Linsinger Maschinenbau GmbH............. 339
Macrodyne Technologies Inc................. 541
Mayfran International............................. 244
Meritor, Inc............................................ 335
MFRC (Metal Forming Research Corporation) 130
Midwest Brake..................................... 1013
Moffitt Corporation................................. 809
Molygraph Lubricants............................ 512
Moresco USA, Inc.................................. 141
Moseley’s Equipment Repair LLC.......... 838
National Machinery LLC......................... 328
NF&M Titanium (A Subsidiary of VSMPO) 134
Nikolic Industries Inc.............................. 913
Nord-Lock Inc./ Superbolt, Inc............... 140
Northern Innovations............................. 932
Nucor Steel Memphis, Inc...................... 711
Nutec Bickley S.A. de C.V..................... 513
Oelheld U.S., Inc.................................. 126
Onex, Inc.............................................. 802
Pangborn Group................................... 129
Pat Mooney, Inc.................................... 821
Penn Fan Company.............................. 637
PhotoGAUGE........................................ 749
Plant Engineering Services, Inc........... 1003
Powell Systems, Inc............................... 249
Premier Thermal.................................. 1005
Presstrade AG....................................... 737
Raffin Construction Co........................... 603
Rattunde Corporation............................ 719
Republic Steel Corporate Headquarters. 507
Rimrock Corporation.............................. 813
S & S Die Company............................... 500
Saarstahl.............................................. 700
Sander Automation............................. 1010
Schaefer Equipment A Wabtec Company 128
Schuler Group....................................... 413
Scientific Forming Technologies Corp. 212
Siempelkamp L.P................................. 501
Silini Press and Hammer Trade SRL...... 247
SMS Group........................................... 728
Somers Steel....................................... 1001
Spectrum, Inc........................................ 906
Steel Dynamics - Engineered Bar Products Div. 306
Superior Die Set Corp.......................... 213
Surface Combustion, Inc..................... 238
Sutherland Presses............................. 412
The Oilgear Company............................ 340
ThermTech............................................ 403
THORS eLearning Solutions.................. 448
TimkenSteel Corporation....................... 313
Titan Conveyors.................................... 931
Transcon Conveyor............................... 113
Transvalor Americas Corp...................... 309
Triangle Die & Tool................................ 136
Tsune America LLC............................... 605
Turret Steel (Divison of Ryerson Steel) 334/336
Uddeholm USA...................................... 845
Union Electric Steel Corporation............ 608
Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. 112
V. K. Engineering.................................. 548
VACCARI S.P.A.................................... 611
Valbruna Slater Stainless Inc................. 601
Verichek Technical Services.................. 145
Vibro/Dynamics LLC.............................. 401
Videx Machine Engineering Ltd............. 800
Weldaloy Products Company................. 837
Weld Mold Company............................ 704
Wepuko Pahnke Engineering, LP......... 707
Note: Exhibit Halls Will Remain Open During Exhibitor Presentations
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