I do not know the final attendance figures but I have to think Fastener Tech ’15 was a great success for the Mid-West Fastener Association and their show partner, Fastener Tech International. The aisles were filled and their were plenty of distributor attendees which is always important to the exhibitors at a fastener trade show. Large national distributors and smaller regional distributors were both represented there. If you sell or buy fasteners in the Midwest section of the country, you need to be at the Fastener Tech shows.
The show almost reminds me of Columbus shows of the past as there are not quite so many distractions to take you away from the show area at the end of the exhibit day. When the Fastener Bash is over, you run into lots of fastener people right around the Rosemont area. Like in the old days of Columbus, the show keeps going into the evening, just not in the trade show aisles. This is the second largest U.S based fastener show in the country and because it is held in an industrial town like Chicago, attendees can do some plant tours and supplier visits before and after the show. I’ll be curious to hear about the attendance at the various seminars and classes held during the show. I personally always have a time taking myself away from the hustle and bustle of the show to go to lunch let alone a fastener class or to hear a speaker. I have this same dilemma in Vegas. There might be a great meeting/class but I hate leaving the trade floor show.
Fastener Tech is held biennially so the next one will be in 2017. I always enjoy the MWFA Table Top show but Fastener Tech is growing into something bigger than a regional fastener association’s trade show. This is growing into a National Show and I hope 2017 is even bigger and better. The timing is good as it allows fastener people an opportunity to get a mid year reading on what is going on in the industry. It’s also far away enough time wise as to not interfere with Vegas. Kind of a mid year and a year-end check up time in the industry. Again, this is a great show especially for people in the Midwest states or anyone who does business there.