Robust 10th Edition of The ASSEMBLY Show Attracts Sizable Uptick In Attendees, Exhibitors

November 10, 2022

The latest edition of The ASSEMBLY Show celebrated its 10th anniversary by providing manufacturing professionals with everything they need to adapt to new challenges, expand into new markets and streamline their businesses for growth. 

Held Oct. 25-27 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., and produced by BNP Media, the annual trade show and conference provided more than 5,000 manufacturing professionals with a robust expo, cutting-edge industry education, award programs and myriad networking opportunities.

“Assembly technology is changing at an incredible pace, and we are thrilled that for the last decade we have been able to create a vibrant event for our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and speakers to come together to provide valuable information on the latest industry trends and fresh insights on how to improve processes and the bottom line,” said Bill DeYoe, publisher of ASSEMBLY Magazine, which sponsors the event.

He added, “Our attendance was up 25% since our last event, and we heard positive feedback on the quality of the attendees who took advantage of our expanded show floor and education program.”

According to show officials, the event attracted 5,637 registered attendees and 233 exhibitors compared to 4,496 attendees and 211 exhibitors in 2021.

Kicking off with six workshops that attracted hundreds of attendees, the event featured industry experts leading panel discussions on topics including metal welding for battery packs, lean manufacturing, plastics welding fundamentals, electronic and autonomous vehicles and developing the next-generation manufacturing workforce.

On a boisterous showfloor, exhibitors showcased automation, robotics, software, vision and sensors, ergonomics and design spanning 67,300 net square feet of exhibit space. Numerous exhibitors renewed their booth spaces on-site for the 2023 show, which is now more than 71% sold, according to show officials.

The ASSEMBLY Show 2022

In the exhibit hall’s Learning Theaters, more than a dozen exhibitors demonstrated their company’s expertise in the latest developments in assembly technological advances, covering topics including automation in today’s new normal, labor shortages and turnover, laser plastic welding, process control, torque verification process, leak testing, automaton and augmentation, AI in the automotive industry and robotic assembly.

Editors from ASSEMBLY Magazine led dozens of attendees on six guided exhibit hall tours, including Senior Editor Austin Weber, who led the Autonomous & Electric Mobility and Factory of the Future tours; Editor-in-Chief John Sprovieri, who led the Robotics and Automated Assembly Tours; and Multimedia Editor Jennifer Pierce, who led the Pressing & Riveting and Fastening Tools Tours.

The show also featured a comprehensive lineup of compelling thought leadership delivered by industry visionaries, including an engaging and thought-provoking keynote address by Charles Wetherington, president and COO of BTE Technologies, that focused on preparing for Manufacturing 4.0.

The ASSEMBLY Show’s array of awards ceremonies included the ASSEMBLY Magazine Plant of the Year Award and the New Products Awards, which featured 20 new products selected by ASSEMBLY Magazine editors in five categories, including Assembly Machines & System, Adhesives Dispensing & Curing, Fastening Tools, Robotics and Factory of the Future.

Attendees and exhibitors also had the chance to enjoy special events, including the Morning Mingle & Breakfast on the showfloor; the Opening Night Welcome Reception, featuring local restaurants providing food and drink for The Taste of Rosemont Event; and the Harvest Hoedown, offering BBQ, craft beer and a country music band.

Coming off of a successful expo, BNP is gearing up to offer even more content for the assembly community in 2023. According to DeYoe, the B2B media company will launch The ASSEMBLY Show South, set for April 4-6 in Nashville, Tenn., and is already looking forward to the 11th-anniversary edition of The ASSEMBLY Show, returning to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Oct. 24-26.

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.