It’s April, which means trade-show season – like the weather – is about to start heating up. There are several noteworthy industry events that are on the horizon. Whether or not you plan on attending these events, it’s important to know what the thermal-processing industry has to offer.
Rapid + TCT 2018
North America’s preeminent event for discovery, innovation and networking in 3D manufacturing, Rapid + TCT is held April 23-26 in Fort Worth, Texas. Industrial Heating was in attendance at last year’s show in Pittsburgh, and it was quite a spectacle. You can read our review of the show at www.industrialheating.com/rapid2017.
To give you an idea of how much this event has grown, it needed only 15,000 square feet of show floor at Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center in 2013. Just four years later at the same venue, Rapid spanned 70,000 square feet – a nearly fivefold increase in floor space. Last year’s show also welcomed 329 exhibiting companies – an event record – and 6,000 attendees, with 45 countries represented. Needless to say, the 3D-printing industry is bigger than ever. If you want to learn more about the industry and stay on top of the latest technological developments, Rapid + TCT is a good place to start.
AISTech 2018
The steel industry’s premier event will be held May 7-10 in Philadelphia, Pa. It will feature technologies from all over the world that help steel producers compete more effectively in today’s global market. Educational sessions will include topics covering electric steelmaking, refractory systems, metallurgy, specialty alloys and much more.
PowderMet 2018
Held June 17-20 in San Antonio, Texas, this annual event is the largest North American exhibit to showcase leading suppliers of powder metallurgy, particulate materials and metal additive-manufacturing process equipment.
International Thermprocess Summit (ITPS)
Hosted by IHEA, ITPS is a two-and-a-half day executive-level summit designed to bring upper management from manufacturing facilities and industry suppliers together for information exchange and networking. Held July 30-Aug. 1 in Atlanta, the event will feature sessions that address: strategies for the future of thermal processing, economic updates, technological advancements and trends, and globalization issues. ITPS will also include a tabletop exhibition that complements the sessions and offers networking activities. Learn more at www.ihea.org.
FNA 2018
Furnaces North America is the heat-treating industry’s marquee event every other year. Held Oct. 8-10 in Indianapolis, it will provide: a technical conference designed by heat treaters and suppliers; a trade show featuring suppliers from every facet of thermal processing; and a variety of social functions and networking opportunities that allow heat treaters to connect with each other.
FNA 2016 attracted over 1,600 attendees from 17 countries, as well as 160 exhibitors. Attendees represented just about every major industry, including automotive, aerospace, military, medical, heavy equipment, tooling and agriculture. Exhibitors, meanwhile, included suppliers of furnace equipment, furnace accessories, sensors, controls, combustion equipment, chemicals, cooling equipment and more.
If there’s one event you decide to travel to this year, FNA 2018 should be at the top of your list. Visit www.furnacesnorthamerica.com for more information.
