This year’s FABTECH, the largest metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event in North America, was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 12–14, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. FABTECH is co-sponsored by five industryleading associations: the American Welding Society (AWS), the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), 
the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), and the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI).
Show organizers report a record high turnout with over 1,100 leading manufacturers and almost 26,000 attendees participating in the event. A packed house, special events, live equipment demonstrations, and a vast array of new products were the hallmarks of the three day show. Exhibitors were enthusiastic and reported that sales activity was brisk and leads plentiful.
FABTECH 2012 featured several special events including a State of the Industry roundtable with manufacturing CEOs. The CEOs concurred that growth in manufacturing should continue in the year ahead.
With the show occurring only five days after the presidential election, FABTECH also featured a Post-Election Analysis panel featuring Washington insiders with long track records in representing manufacturing interests. The panelists agreed that the manufacturing sector has gained influence in Washington over the past two years and encouraged manufacturers to get involved in advocacy efforts for the industry via their trade associations. A constant theme heard both on the show floor and at the seminars was that, while challenges and uncertainties remain, most manufacturers believe that their businesses are headed for continued growth in 2013.
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