Welding Digest

FABTECH 2024, North America’s leading event for metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing, wrapped up its successful run at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from Oct. 15-17. The event attracted 30,000 industry professionals from all 50 states and 70 countries worldwide. With 1,500 exhibitors — including 279 first-time exhibitors — showcasing over 500 new product debuts, FABTECH 2024 delivered unparalleled opportunities for attendees to explore cutting-edge solutions, forge key partnerships and gain valuable insights into the latest trends shaping modern manufacturing.  

This year’s event marked FABTECH’s Orlando debut, strategically chosen due to Florida’s rapidly expanding position in the U.S. manufacturing landscape. As the 10th largest manufacturing state, Florida has seen a 67.8% increase in manufacturing output over the past decade and is home to more than 422,800 jobs, making it a key hub for innovation.

“FABTECH 2024 showcased the real momentum behind the industry’s evolution, with trends like automation, sustainable manufacturing and advanced materials taking center stage,” said Tracy Garcia, CEM, FABTECH group director at SME. “This year’s event was not only a hub of groundbreaking technologies on the show floor but also a platform for celebrating the vital role of women in manufacturing and empowering the next generation of leaders. The conversations, connections and breakthroughs that emerged at FABTECH 2024 will undoubtedly shape the future of manufacturing and inspire continued growth.”

Show Floor: Technology on Display

Spanning an impressive 750,000 square feet, the FABTECH 2024 show floor featured cutting-edge solutions across 39 technology areas, including forming and fabricating, tube and pipe, metal forming, welding, automation, finishing and 3D printing/additive manufacturing. This year’s event saw an unprecedented number of live demonstrations, offering attendees the chance to experience the latest technologies firsthand.

From advanced robotics and AI-driven manufacturing processes to next-generation welding techniques, the show floor showcased solutions aimed at streamlining production, enhancing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. A notable trend was the increased focus on digitalization and data-driven manufacturing. Exhibitors demonstrated innovative ways to integrate data analytics into production lines for greater precision and control. Smart manufacturing solutions were also on display, enabling real-time monitoring and optimization of equipment to boost both performance and sustainability.

Following the dynamic activity on the show floor, FABTECH 2024 facilitated valuable business connections and partnerships. Exhibitors and attendees alike shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting the event’s role as the perfect setting for discovering new solutions and forging lasting relationships.

• “FABTECH 2024 in Orlando was an incredible success for Bihler. Despite the challenges posed by the recent hurricanes, we were thrilled with the turnout and the valuable connections we made. The event provided an excellent platform to showcase our comprehensive solutions, from machines and tooling to consulting and digital services. We had a steady stream of visitors at our booth and left Orlando with a full pipeline of opportunities. We’re grateful to FABTECH for organizing such a fantastic event and look forward to participating again next year in Monterrey and Chicago.” – Andreas Strobl, director of operations and sales North America, Bihler of America
• “[FABTECH] is the core of where all fabricators come. This year the lead quality has been phenomenal. We’ve had a great number of people come through looking very specifically for solutions that we’re able to provide.” – Elizabeth Barry, senior marketing manager, Lincoln Electric.

Education: Empowering Growth Through Expertise

FABTECH 2024’s education program provided over 200 targeted, in-depth sessions across specialized areas of the manufacturing sector. Topics included the integration of AI and automation for increased efficiency, strategies for overcoming global supply chain disruptions and the growing demand for sustainable solutions to build long-term resilience. Workforce development remained a key focus, with sessions highlighting how to attract and retain skilled talent.

Special Events: Leading Voices in Manufacturing

FABTECH 2024 brought together influential voices in manufacturing, offering new perspectives on challenges and advancements.

• The FABx Tech Talks and keynote presentations from Peggy Whitson, NASA astronaut; Titan Gilroy, CEO, TITANS of CNC; and Angela Phillips, CEO of Phillips Tube Group Inc., captivated audiences with their insights on leadership and the importance of adaptability in the fast-evolving manufacturing sector.
• The Women of FABTECH breakfast celebrated the contributions of women in manufacturing, sparking meaningful discussions on leadership, diversity and the importance of empowering voices across the industry. Attendees explored how women can continue to break barriers and drive progress within the manufacturing sector, focusing on building strong leadership pipelines and fostering collaboration.
• The new Emerging Leaders Program spotlighted the rising stars in manufacturing, offering a platform for young professionals to build critical leadership skills and explore new ideas. Focused on fostering adaptability and forward-thinking solutions, the program encouraged its 65 participants to take on the challenges ahead with confidence and drive positive change within their organizations.
• Wrapping up day three of FABTECH, the State of the Industry panel provided an insightful look at where manufacturing stands today and the major forces shaping its trajectory. Key thought leaders discussed the effects of global economic pressures, advancements in processing technology and the increase of AI within the sector.

“FABTECH 2024 was a tremendous success, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us, especially knowing many in Florida and surrounding regions were facing challenges from the recent severe weather,” said Mark Hoper, senior vice president of expositions and media at FMA. “We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the attendees, exhibitors and speakers who made this event such an incredible experience. We’re already looking forward to next year in Chicago, where FABTECH will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and growth.”

Supporting Communities Affected by Hurricanes

Even as FABTECH celebrated advancements in the manufacturing industry, the event organizers remained mindful of the challenges faced by Florida communities in the wake of severe weather. While the show proceeded as planned, organizers acknowledged the devastation that Milton and other weather-related events leading up to the show opening caused across Florida and surrounding states. To support those affected communities, a hurricane relief fund was established, and all merchandising profits during the event were donated to the effort. The partners who host FABTECH have donated $25,000 across four organizations:

• East Tennessee Foundation: Neighbor-to-Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund
• Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Suncoast Disaster Recover Fund
• Community Foundation of Western North Carolina: Emergency and Disaster Response Fund
• Community Foundation of Northern Florida: Disaster Relief Fund

For more information about these efforts and to contribute, please visit givebutter.com/mHs2cY.

Looking Ahead to FABTECH 2025

With FABTECH 2024 concluded, attention now shifts to FABTECH 2025, which will return to Chicago’s McCormick Place from Sept. 8-11, 2025. Building on the success of this year’s event, FABTECH 2025 is expected to draw an even larger audience and will continue to serve as the leading event for the metalworking sector.

For more information, visit fabtechexpo.com or connect on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.