Curtain falls on long-running manufacturing conference

NATIONAL MANUFACTURING WEEK'S ATTENDEES AND EXHIBITORS gave no evidence that they were part of the end of an era - this year's show, held Sept. 22-25 at the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont, 111., was its last. Beginning in 2009, producer Canon Communications will end the exhibition as we've known it, hoping to move its 1,100-plus exhibitors into larger regional events. A renamed Design & Manufacturing Midwest, planned for September 2009 in Rosemont, will be one of five manufacturing trade shows to be held throughout the U.S., each with expanded exhibits designed to feature increasing numbers of computer-aided design, automation, networking, medical manufacturing, and other 21st Century products.

With the exception of a Green Manufacturing Expo, section, in which qualified exhibitors displayed green signs and featured their renewable energy offerings, the 2008 NMW had a familiar feel - perhaps not surprising given that on the floor could be found more than a few products, persons, and companies that have been core to NMW since its origins as the Plant Engineering Show, back in the late 1960's.

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