Medical Design & Manufacturing West (MD&M West) Celebrates 30 Years

February 23, 2015

It is hard to imagine that the Medical Design & Manufacturing West (MD&M West) show hit its 30th year, but with seeing the numbers across the entire UBM Canon event (35,000 attendees, 2,100-plus exhibits and 365,000 square feet of show floor space), it is clear just how far the show has come. 

Stephen Corrick, executive vice president and managing director at UBM Canon, which runs the show, said, “There is such an investment by all on a great show, including seeing such highly qualified audience members engage with the educational programs at the show.”

Roger Burg, vice president/Design & Manufacturing portfolio director at UBM Canon, added, “It is great to see attendees being so engaged. You can see how the audience is taking everything in, and the exhibitors bought their knowledge to the show floor.”

This year’s show, held Feb. 10-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center, focused on the convergence of technology to enable the user, as well as intelligent automation, and these areas were seen in the exhibits and the educational sessions.

“Last year’s education platform worked very well,” Corrick said.  “So this year, we kept the platforms intact, including the innovative tours, which are a huge hit.”

Exhibitor Cathy Powell, industry marketing manager – Robotics at FANUC America Corporation, said, “We have noticed a better educated attendee on the showfloor and more executive titles. Robotics is a hot topic in the industry, and we have had great interest by attendees in understanding this technology and how it can help the manufacturing process.”

Attendee Cheryl Hanslip, sales executive from Doc Johnson, said, “For us, it is about relationship building and engaging with other attendees and companies. I just arrived, but I have noticed the great engagement and always enjoy coming to this show.”

The speed networking sessions, for example, were quite popular at the show, with attendees taking advantage of the high-intensity event.

With the great weather in Southern California, many attendees were jumping outside to take in the sun. “We are competing against the weather here, but we are still seeing very qualified leads,” said exhibitor Dan Caballero, sales engineer from Videojet.

“The attendees have been interested in current industry trends, such as customization and automation of their product lines,” he added.

Attendee Rene Romandia, general director for Motocar Parts de Mexico in Tijuana, was very impressed with the exhibitor booths and information being provided. “I have been attending this show for a while, and coming up from Tijuana is well worth the drive. I am always impressed at the level of expertise and contacts we can make in this industry because of this show.”

MD&M West 2016 will be held Feb. 9-11 at the Anaheim Convention Center. 

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact