Robust 10th Edition of The ASSEMBLY Show Attracts Sizable Uptick In Attendees, Exhibitors
November 10, 2022
The latest edition of The ASSEMBLY Show celebrated its 10th anniversary by providing manufacturing professionals with everything they need to adapt to new challenges, expand into new markets and streamline their businesses for growth.
Held Oct. 25-27 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., and produced by BNP Media, the annual trade show and conference provided more than 5,000 manufacturing professionals with a robust expo, cutting-edge industry education, award programs and myriad networking opportunities.
“Assembly technology is changing at an incredible pace, and we are thrilled that for the last decade we have been able to create a vibrant event for our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and speakers to come together to provide valuable information on the latest industry trends and fresh insights on how to improve processes and the bottom line,” said Bill DeYoe, publisher of ASSEMBLY Magazine, which sponsors the event.
He added, “Our attendance was up 25% since our last event, and we heard positive feedback on the quality of the attendees who took advantage of our expanded show floor and education program.”
According to show officials, the event attracted 5,637 registered attendees and 233 exhibitors compared to 4,496 attendees and 211 exhibitors in 2021.
Kicking off with six workshops that attracted hundreds of attendees, the event featured industry experts leading panel discussions on topics including metal welding for battery packs, lean manufacturing, plastics welding fundamentals, electronic and autonomous vehicles and developing the next-generation manufacturing workforce.
On a boisterous showfloor, exhibitors showcased automation, robotics, software, vision and sensors, ergonomics and design spanning 67,300 net square feet of exhibit space. Numerous exhibitors renewed their booth spaces on-site for the 2023 show, which is now more than 71% sold, according to show officials.
In the exhibit hall’s Learning Theaters, more than a dozen exhibitors demonstrated their company’s expertise in the latest developments in assembly technological advances, covering topics including automation in today’s new normal, labor shortages and turnover, laser plastic welding, process control, torque verification process, leak testing, automaton and augmentation, AI in the automotive industry and robotic assembly.
Editors from ASSEMBLY Magazine led dozens of attendees on six guided exhibit hall tours, including Senior Editor Austin Weber, who led the Autonomous & Electric Mobility and Factory of the Future tours; Editor-in-Chief John Sprovieri, who led the Robotics and Automated Assembly Tours; and Multimedia Editor Jennifer Pierce, who led the Pressing & Riveting and Fastening Tools Tours.
The show also featured a comprehensive lineup of compelling thought leadership delivered by industry visionaries, including an engaging and thought-provoking keynote address by Charles Wetherington, president and COO of BTE Technologies, that focused on preparing for Manufacturing 4.0.
The ASSEMBLY Show’s array of awards ceremonies included the ASSEMBLY Magazine Plant of the Year Award and the New Products Awards, which featured 20 new products selected by ASSEMBLY Magazine editors in five categories, including Assembly Machines & System, Adhesives Dispensing & Curing, Fastening Tools, Robotics and Factory of the Future.
Attendees and exhibitors also had the chance to enjoy special events, including the Morning Mingle & Breakfast on the showfloor; the Opening Night Welcome Reception, featuring local restaurants providing food and drink for The Taste of Rosemont Event; and the Harvest Hoedown, offering BBQ, craft beer and a country music band.
Coming off of a successful expo, BNP is gearing up to offer even more content for the assembly community in 2023. According to DeYoe, the B2B media company will launch The ASSEMBLY Show South, set for April 4-6 in Nashville, Tenn., and is already looking forward to the 11th-anniversary edition of The ASSEMBLY Show, returning to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Oct. 24-26.
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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