Charlotte has turned from a textile and tobacco centre into an advanced manufacturing central with the likes of Boeing, Siemens, BMW, Bosch Rexworth, Honda and other global businesses opening up shop there.
Fittingly, then, it seems a natural location choice for Fastener Fair USA 2020 which will run 18-20 May at the Charlotte Convention Centre. A day-long, three-track conference on the first day will be followed by a two-day expo.
Manufacturing firms in the Charlotte area employ 143,798 people directly, with the manufacturing sector having an estimated $40.8 billion impact on the region. Charlotte is also ground zero for North Carolina's thriving automotive industry; 33 of the top 100 global OEM auto part suppliers, and more than 290 automotive manufacturing establishments, employ 464,000 in an industry that has grown by 25% over the past five years.
Fastener Fair USA 2020 will tap into this through a plant tour as part of the day-long conference pre-expo on 18th May. The tour is included as part of the conference registration, with shuttle service provided to and from the Convention Centre.
Exhibition Manager Carroll Henning said: "By including a plant tour in the 2020 Fastener Fair USA, participants will experience real-world impact of the fasteners they produce, add value to, and distribute. Since Charlotte is the seat of so many dynamic, state-of-the-art manufacturing centres, when we announce the site in the coming weeks, it is sure to be exciting."
Show participants will also have the chance to network and socialise during the welcome party at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Fastener Fair USA's show theme for this year is 'Holding Industry Together', reflecting the mission to serve all industry segments that touch fasteners and fixings, including: fastener manufacturing, processing, distribution, OEM applications, fastening tools, measurement systems and integrative supply chain software.
"Supply chain, assembly, measurement and other processes are becoming increasingly integrated," Henning continued. "And the fastener industry needs an event like Fastener Fair that brings all the sectors together."
This year, the show will introduce a three-track conference programme, as well as all-new technical sessions on the floor on products and processes impacting the field. Two of the conference tracks are being developed in partnership with the Fastener Training Institute, emphasising applied technology and new developments in materials. The third track will be conducted by sales training expert Paul Reilly and focus on sales and business development.
Meanwhile, morning keynote speakers and tech talks on the show floor are also in the works for the show's educational programme.
Henning added: "Suppliers and distributors are the eyes and ears of what's happening in the industry for their customers. By adding more industry content into the Fastener Fair mix of outstanding networking and business development, Charlotte will offer everything fastener professionals need to build businesses."
Fastener Fair USA 2020 takes place 18-20 May in the Charlotte Convention Centre, Charlotte, North Carolina.
