About FABTECH

Based in Elgin, Ill., the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association is a professional organization reaching more than 135,000 industry professionals world-wide focused on improving the metal forming and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, award-winning magazines and co-sponsorship of FABTECH. FMA has a technology affiliate, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating. SparkForce is the charitable foundation of FMA. Visit www.fmamfg.org for more information.

SME connects manufacturing professionals, academia and communities, sharing knowledge and resources to build inspired, educated and prosperous manufacturers and enterprises. With more than 85 years of experience and expertise in events, media, membership, training and development, and also through an education foundation, SME is committed to promoting manufacturing technology, developing a skilled workforce and attracting future generations to advance manufacturing. Learn more at sme.org, follow @SME_MFG on Twitter or facebook.com/SMEmfg.

The Precision Metalforming Association is the full-service trade association representing the $137-billion metalforming industry of North America — the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming technologies, and other value-added processes. Its nearly 800 member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry. PMA leads innovative member companies toward superior competitiveness and profitability through advocacy, networking, statistics, the PMA Educational Foundation, FABTECH and METALFORM tradeshows, and MetalForming magazine. Visit www.pma.org.

The American Welding Society (AWS) was founded in 1919 as a multifaceted, nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the science, technology and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying. Headquartered in Doral, Florida and led by a volunteer organization of officers and directors, AWS serves more than about 70,000 members worldwide and is composed of 22 Districts with 250 sections and student chapters. For more information, visit www.aws.org.

The Industrial Finishing & Coating Association (formerly the Chemical Coaters Association International) is a technical and professional organization that provides information and training on surface coating technologies. IFCA’s foundation is its series of active local chapters across the U.S. and Mexico that conduct technical meetings on all aspects of industrial finishing. Chapters serve as an excellent forum to discuss regional concerns while offering outstanding networking opportunities for finishers and suppliers. IFCA works to raise the standards of finishing operations through educational seminars, training manuals, online courses, and programs to introduce industrial finishing to the next generation. The IFCA Education Foundation enhances the efforts of the Association with scholarship programs, finishing focused manufacturing summer camps, and other workforce development projects. Visit IFCA at www.industrialfinishing.org.