- 08 June 2007 -
EASTEC ’07: Big Toys for the Big Boys

The allure of some pretty sophisticated, heavy-duty industrial manufacturing technology and equipment was more than enough to draw roughly 14,000 buyers from nine states to EASTEC 2007, held May 22–24 in West Springfield, Mass. The exposition and conference, now in its 28th year, lived up to its billing as the “premier manufacturing event in the Northeast,” according to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), which organizes the show.

SME’s assessment isn’t a far stretch given the wide scope of products, automated processes and related services showcased at the convention. If it grinds, hones, cuts, shapes, forms, bores holes, or otherwise mechanically manipulates, then you’ll probably find it at EASTEC. And that’s not including the latest innovations in ultrasonic cleaning, blast finishing and industrial parts washing systems, etc., on hand. We’re talking literally thousands of pieces of equipment, machinery, and innovation all under one roof—well, five roofs, technically, when you take into account the number of interconnected halls on the sprawling exposition site.

Exhibitors attested to the action. Vendors like Jeffery Brouchoud (Alliance Manufacturing); Jim Beimer (Rosler); and Daniel Dopp (Guyson Corp.) all reported not only brisk booth traffic—particularly on day two—but they also cited the genuine level of interest among attendees. This should come as no surprise given the makeup of buyers at EASTEC: management and purchasing personnel (33%); manufacturing production folk (40%); and product and process design/management representatives (27%). So, we’re not talking window shoppers here! More importantly, SME estimates indicate the bulk of attendees serve the following key market sectors: aircraft/aerospace; general industrial and commercial; and fabricated metal/stampings.

In truth, EASTEC owes its volume to much more than high-tech gadgets and wizardry. The healthy turnout also reflects the strong pulse of the northeastern manufacturing community. The ardent participation not only supports the notion that many of these industrial companies are still profitable in today’s fiercely intense global environment, but that they are looking to invest in their business and operations.

Some facts worth noting: According to a special report authored by Matt Kane and Olwen Huxley, manufacturing in the Northeast grew roughly 35% from 1986–2000. Furthermore, the report showed, manufacturing continues to account for a “disproportionate share of the region’s output and employment” even in the face of falling aggregate manufacturing employment numbers. Researchers partly attribute that disparity to “productivity gains and cost reductions” in the face of competitive pressures.

With all the challenges facing the domestic industrial community these days—and they are well documented—it’s encouraging to see so much support for homegrown industry. Let’s hope the trend continues.