Hands-On Face-Time

Virtual reality just isn't as good as real reality. E-mail, Internet, Power Point presentations, Webcasts, and video clips are nifty, but they still can't replace talking face-to-face with other engineers; examining new devices hands-on; or getting some useful answers in-person from experts at a seminar.

By Jim Montague February 1, 2005
AT A GLANCE
For more information or to register, visit www.manufacturingweek.com or call (800) 840-0678 for assistance

To read an expanded version of this article click here.

Virtual reality just isn’t as good as real reality. E-mail, Internet, Power Point presentations, Webcasts, and video clips are nifty, but they still can’t replace talking face-to-face with other engineers; examining new devices hands-on; or getting some useful answers in-person from experts at a seminar.

Automation and control engineers in the trenches and on the plant floor know this only too well, which undoubtedly explains why more than 27,000 technical professionals and their colleagues are projected to attend the National Industrial Automation Show (NIAS) and seven other trade shows at National Manufacturing Week (NMW) 2005 during its four-day run, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 7-10, in the South Hall at Chicago’s McCormick Place. This year’s event will be highlighted by:

  • More than 1,000 exhibitors in eight trade shows.

  • 322 conference sessions in 10 tracks, including new legal and management tracks.

  • Seven keynote speakers in four daily sessions, free-of-charge to all attendees.

  • Several Reed Business Information (RBI) publications, including Design News , Control Engineering , and Product Design and Development , will jointly present ‘Ford Mustang—Step by Step from Concept to Delivery’ in Booth #2811.

Conference sessions

Besides increasing its sessions by 50% this year, NMW 2005’s conference also will allow attendees to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for the first time.

In addition, 35 of the sessions will focus on lean manufacturing topics, while others will concentrate on radio frequency identification (RFID), Six Sigma, and reliability. While eight of the 10 conference tracks will correspond with NMW’s eight trade shows, two new tracks have been added for this year:

  • ‘Managing Legal Issues that Can Affect Your Business’ track will include 11 sessions, such as designing around another company’s patent.

  • ‘Manufacturing and Management’ track will include 54 sessions, covering numerous topics, such as dealing with the challenge of China and successful customer relationship management (CRM) strategies.

All sessions can be easily searched with NMW 2005’s Conference Search Engine, located at www.reedshows.com/conference/nmw/program.asp#Search .

Innovative exhibits

NIAS and NMW 2005 will feature thousands of useful products, solutions, and services from more than 1,000 exhibitors in 20 industry sectors. Some notable offerings include:

  • Advantech Corp.’s Industrial Automation Group reports that its newly expanded Adam-5510 series of PC-based programmable controllers now includes Modbus, TCP server, client functions and KW SoftLogic.

  • www.advantech.com Booth #5244

  • AutomationDirect has added power and circuit protection product lines to its industrial automation solutions. These products include control power transformers, dc power supplies, ac power line filters, and convenience outlets.

  • www.automationdirect.com Booth #4411

  • Fluke Corp.’s line of intrinsically safe (IS) products for use in explosive environments includes, 725Ex multi-function calibrator, which meets all applicable international standards and regulations for IS.

  • www.fluke.com Booth #224

  • ipd, the intelligent products division of Coreco Imaging Inc., reports that ‘iNspect’ is the newest product in its line of easy-to-use, pre-packaged vision appliances for industrial end-users.

  • www.goipd.com Booth #5633