The fast-growing capitol of high tech manufacturing, Charlotte is a geographical heart for major OEMs, and their sprawling network of hundreds of Tier 1 and Tier 2 distributors and suppliers.
NORWALK, CT (December 2, 2019) – Boeing, Siemens, Carrier, BWM, Bosch Rexroth, Ashley Furniture, Honda…and hundreds of others form the long list of global businesses that have turned Charlotte from a textile and tobacco center into advanced technology Manufacturing Central. As such, it was a natural location for the 2020 Fastener Fair USA, running May 18-20 at the Charlotte Convention Center. A day-long, three-track conference May 18 will be followed by a productive two-day expo May 19-20.
The Charlotte area has countless firms specializing in advanced manufacturing with precision metrology, optoelectronic and biomedical technology developing alongside traditional manufacturing such as primary and fabricated metals, machinery, chemicals, plastics, electronics, and transportation equipment.
Manufacturing firms in the Charlotte region employ 143,798 people directly. All told, the manufacturing sector has an estimated $40.8 billion impact on the 16-county Charlotte region.
Just a few hours north of Boeing’s massive manufacturing campus, 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 grew 25 percent over the past five years.
The region surrounding Charlotte is also home to a thriving traditional industry: more than 300 furniture manufacturing firms. Ashley, at $4 billion the largest U.S. furniture maker, operates its newest, most advanced factories in nearby Statesville and Advance, NC.
Charlotte Plant Tour
Fastener Fair USA for 2020 will tap into Charlotte’s dominance in production with a plant tour taking place mid-afternoon as part of the day-long conference pre-expo on May 18. The tour is included as part of the conference registration, with shuttle service provided to and from the Convention Center.
“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,” says Henning. “Since Charlotte is the seat of so many dynamic, state-of-the-art manufacturing centers, when we announce the site in the coming weeks, it is sure to be exciting.”
Networking at NASCAR Hall of Fame
On May 19 - the opening day of the Exhibit Hall - Fastener Fair USA participants can also plan for a social evening, with a chance to network, entertain VIPs and look under-the-hood of some of stock racing’s greatest engineering achievements, drivers and crew teams during the Welcome Party at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Fastener Fair USA, North America’s fastest-growing exposition for the fastener industry, is designed to offer something for the entire fastener industry supply chain. This year’s show theme, “Holding Industry Together,” reflects Fastener Fair USA’s expanding mission to serve all industry segments that touch fastener and fixing, including:
· Fastener manufacturing
· Fastener processing
· Distribution
· OEM applications
· Fastening tools
· Measurement systems
· Integrative supply chain software
“Supply chain, assembly, measurement and other processes are becoming increasingly integrated, said Carroll Henning, Fastener Fair USA show manager, “And the fastener industry needs an event like Fastener Fair that brings all the sectors together.”
Three-track Conference
Highlighting facets of fastener engineering alongside distribution, Fastener Fair USA 2020 will introduce a 3-track pre-show conference program on May 18 as well as all-new technical sessions on the floor on products and processes impacting the field. Two of the May 18 Fastener Fair conference day tracks are being developed in partnership with the Fastener Training Institute. These tracks will emphasize applied technology and new developments in materials; the third, emphasizing sales and business development, will be conducted by Paul Reilly, the highly acclaimed sales training expert. All three tracks will open with a joint keynote before breaking into their respective subject matter.
Morning keynote speakers and tech talks on the show floor on May 19 & 20 are also in the works for the 2020 Fastener Fair USA educational program. “Suppliers and distributors are the eyes and ears of what’s happening in the industry for their customers” says Henning. “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 business.”
