"We're concentrating our attention on emerging technologies demanded by manufacturers who want to remain globally competitive," says John Catalano, show manager for SME. "All three technology areas of this event-forming and fabricating, tube and pipe, and welding-offer opportunities and solutions to attending companies."

The show will feature more than 30 conference sessions, free business seminars and a keynote speech by Grant Aldonas, the undersecretary for international trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, who will speak on "Keeping American Manufacturing Competitive in a Global Economy." The event is expected to attract more than 13,000 attendees and 450 companies displaying a wide variety of equipment, including automation/robotics, bending/folding, coil processing, contract manufacturing, controls, cutting, finishing, hydroforming, lasers, material handling, punching, roll forming, safety equipment, software, stamping, tooling and welding.

For more information, contact SME at 800-733-4763 or www. sme.org/fabtech, or contact FMA at 800-432-2832 or www.fmafab tech.com.