2017 International Fastener Expo Wrap Up

Nov
10

A Message From International Fastener Expo

From October 17 through 19, North America’s largest and most well-known gathering of fastener industry professionals returned to Las Vegas for the 37th consecutive International Fastener Expo. We want to thank all of our amazing media partners, corporate sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for making 2017 the expo’s greatest year yet.

Record-breaking Attendance and Increase in Executive Presence

It was a packed floor with a record-breaking 5,000+ in attendance, 2,500+ qualified decsion makers and over 750 exhibitors. A 26% increase in attendance over the past two years. Since 53% of attendees were executive management, it made for invaluable introductions and more commerce than ever done directly on the show floor. Exhibitors and attendees gathered in the expo hall for the Demonstration Zone, sales conversations, Young Professional and Hall of Fame award ceremonies, welcome events, happy hours, and cutting edge education sessions. Over a 1,000 people attended our opening night industry party with an open bar, whiskey tasting and cigar rolling. Emerald Exposition’s strategy to co-locate with MetalCon proved highly successful, producing the busiest show floor IFE has ever seen.

Under the Emerald Expo’s new VIP strategy, IFE attracted dozens of C-Level teams from massive distributors like Optimas Oe Solutions and Wurth Industry North America, including their CEO’s, who walked the show floor this year for the first time. In fact, 55% of the largest 50 distributors in the world attended IFE 2017.

What our Attendees Had to Say

The #1 reason people return to The International Fastener Expo year after year is the unmatched opportunity for relationship-building that happens when thousands of exhibitors and attendees from up and down the entire supply chain gather. In 2017 we put a priority on the kind of face time that gets real results, with a “personal reach” format. Attendees told us it worked:

“This expo provides so many opportunities to network and meet with new suppliers that I don’t get to see. I was able to find a new supplier for custom parts and place the order before I left,” said Craig Christensen, President of Trinity Fastener.

Likewise, Bob Valentine, President of MC2 reported, “It’s my first time visiting the expo and I found three new machinery resources. I’m looking forward to next year – I’ll be there!”

Announcing IFE 2018!

Planning for next year’s expo is already underway. From October 30 – November 1, IFE 2018 will be held at Mandalay Bay Resort. In anticipation of high crowds around one of Vegas’ most colorful holidays, Emerald Exposition has already secured a discounted room rate just for IFE attendees in 2018. Visit fastenershows.com to reserve your room for 2018.

Following the 2017 strategy that increased foot traffic to record numbers, the 2018 expo will be held in conjunction with another event: the 70,000 vendors and buyers who gather for the SEMA Show. We will also be expanding the Global Source area, making IFE a global presentation and marketplace, right here in the U.S.A., saving you valuable travel time and expense.

IFE’s two and a half days will build on personal connections to go from innovation to supply chain globalization. On the first day, exhibitors will have a chance to set up their own booths as always, but will also have the chance to attend an expo “Preview Day” that will give them private access to Source Global s well as machinery vendors they don’t usually have time to see during the busy expo hours. We will also have the traditional welcome reception for all IFE particpants. The second day will open the entire show floor and include the traditional award presentations. Day three will include another day of busy floor activity on the entire show floor. Throughout the expo we will have an enhanced education track that will focus on skill gap challenges, overcoming manufacturing technology, and tackling e-commerce.

Bottom line, IFE 2017 was a huge success because of our amazing industry community, and IFE 2018 is repeating those strategies to remain the largest expo in North American ever to connect the entire supply chain. So if you’re a fastener industry professional of any kind, along any link in the supply chain, IFE 2018 is the one big event of the year that you can’t afford to miss in 2018. With 65% of last year’s exhibitors already contracted to have booths in 2018, we don’t want you to miss out!

ABOUT IFE

The International Fastener Expo (IFE) is the largest and most diverse gathering of fastener professionals in North America. Founded in 1981 it serves all reaches of the supply chain, from manufacturer to distributor to end user, and features nearly 70 product categories. With over 750 suppliers and more than 5,000 attendees from 30+ nations, The International Fastener Expo delivers industry-­leading content and facilitates vital industry connections at their annual three-day expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2018 Expo will be held October 30 – November 1 at Mandalay Bay Resort.

ABOUT EMERALD EXPOSITIONS

IFE is owned by Emerald Expositions, the largest operator of business-­to-­business trade shows in the United States, with its oldest trade shows dating back over 110 years. The company operates more than 50 trade shows, including 31 of the top 250 trade shows in the country, as well as numerous other events. Emerald Expositions’ events connect over 500,000 global attendees and exhibitors and occupy over 6.7 million NSF of exhibition space. The company has been recognized with many awards and accolades that reflect industry leadership as well as the importance of its shows to the exhibitors and attendees they serve.

For more information or to book a booth at IFE 2018 visit www.fastenershows.com

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