Thousands of manufacturers looking for new ideas attended WESTEC 2019 on Sept. 24-26 in its new location at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif. Boasting large exhibit halls, waterfront views, networking enclaves, and a variety of nearby restaurants, the new venue naturally created an atmosphere for people to connect, be inspired, and take away practical advice for their manufacturing businesses.
Produced by SME and AMT, WESTEC is one of the regional events in the Manufacturing Technology Series that is tailored to each area’s specific needs. WESTEC focuses on the area’s vibrant aerospace, medical, automotive, and oil industries.
For more than 40 years, downtown Los Angeles had been home to WESTEC. The decision to move WESTEC to Long Beach was the result of research by AMT that found that the geographic center of manufacturing is shifting and encompassing more counties. The four counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Riverside account for 49 percent of all the advanced manufacturing establishments in California, Arizona, and Nevada. In addition to the research, the location of Long Beach offers attendees lower expenses (hotel, parking, dining) and easier access for both attendees and exhibitors.
During the opening at WESTEC, Peter Eelman, AMT vice president and CXO, stated: “AMT has a long history of partnering with SME. With emerging technologies being adopted at an ever-increasing rate, it’s more important than ever to connect manufacturers to the most advanced technology, especially in high-growth manufacturing areas like Southern California.” Eelman also remarked, “WESTEC 2019 attracted a number of former exhibitors and inspired quite a few new companies to exhibit. Attendees and exhibitors were energized about interacting with the new technology on display at WESTEC 2019.”
GREAT ATTENDEE RESPONSE
Longtime WESTEC attendee James Kruger, general manager of Gorlitz Sewer & Drain Inc. in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., said, “I’m really glad WESTEC moved to Long Beach. Not only is there great technology on display, but Long Beach is much easier to navigate than downtown Los Angeles. There is a great selection of restaurants within walking distance to the venue as well as evening entertainment.”
Another attendee, Terry Rogers, vice president of operations at DASCO Engineering Corporation of Torrance, Calif., was thrilled to see larger machines on display than in the past. “As a supplier of machined titanium components for the aerospace industry, it’s crucial we get hands-on experience and have the chance to compare products.”
PRESENTATIONS OFFER PRACTICAL ADVICE AND INSPIRATION
In addition to demonstrations of advanced technology in the exhibit hall, WESTEC featured dozens of complimentary educational presentations including keynote addresses, technology workshops, and interactive knowledge bars. Highlights from WESTEC’s keynote presentations included:
Brian Beaulieu, CEO of ITR Economics, presented “Economic Outlook for Manufacturing through 2023.” He looked at leading economic indicators, consumer and business trends, and the disruption of normal trade flows, but not politics. He noted U.S. manufacturing is in a shallow slump, which ITR predicted two years ago. He anticipates this retraction will last through the first quarter of 2020, perhaps into the second quarter. He recommends that manufacturers invest in capital purchases beginning mid-2020 to take advantage of the next expansion period, which he anticipates will be mid-2020 through 2021.
Fredi Lajvardi presented “Embracing New Technology, Empowering Teams: How Creativity and Teamwork Can Inspire Your Manufacturing Process.” He described how he led an unlikely group of Latino students from an inner city Title 1 Phoenix high schoolto win first prize at a collegiate-level, underwater robotics competition—beating teams from schools like MIT and Virginia Tech. For teams to be successful, he encourages team members to focus on shared goals rather than shortcomings and circumstances. The major motion picture “Spare Parts,” by Lions Gate Entertainment, documents Lajvardi’s journey and stars George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Marisa Tomei.
IMPRESSIONS FROM EXHIBITORS
WESTEC exhibitor Paul Van Metre, president of ProShop in Bellingham, Wash., said his team appreciated the event’s proximity to reasonable hotels, a variety of restaurants, and the shoreline. But, most importantly: “We connected with quite a number of show visitors and will follow up with many of them.” ProShop is an ERP system for CNC shops that Van Metre and his colleagues developed to help them improve operations and efficiencies in their own CNC company. The software became so popular that they sold their CNC shop and now focus exclusively on the ERP system.
Ed Kays, president of Kays Engineering, Inc. in Marshall, Mo., which displays at both WESTEC and SOUTHTEC, said, “We absolutely love the Long Beach location for its reach among manufacturers in the western United States focused on the defense industry.”
STUDENT CHALLENGE
More than 250 local students attended WESTEC 2019 by way of the Student Summit Event Series, an industry-led initiative with a mission to inspire high school students to pursue manufacturing careers. Before exploring the show floor, students participated in a hands-on racing challenge provided by Ten80 Education, a national developer of STEM competitions and curriculum. The challenge presented students with modular, data-driven tasks that included 3D CAD design and product testing with an emphasis on aerodynamics and consumption of energy and materials.
“The students’ enthusiasm during the challenge was contagious. They saw the technologies on display at WESTEC, conducted electromechanical experiments, learned about the manufacturing R&D process, and they had a blast doing it,” said AMT Director of Education Catherine Ross, who supported the challenge. Ross also spoke on the WESTEC panel “How Manufacturers Can Tackle the Skills Gap” and encouraged employers to create talent ecosystems through structured, on-the-job training and private-public partnerships with local educational institutions.
MAKING CONNECTIONS IN LONG BEACH
“From the buzz on the show floor and the inspiring talks in the SME Zone to the exhibitors presenting their latest technology, attendees and suppliers connected and talked face-to-face throughout all three days of the show,” says Bonnie Gurney, AMT director of industry partnerships. “WESTEC is evolving along with the industry continues to support the region’s manufacturers with solutions and knowledge to be competitive.”
