Westec is coming up soon and the machine tool builders are sending out their press releases like people really care. Is anybody really going to show up this year besides the exhibitors, the trade press, and a smattering of students? The SME should make up a virtual video tour and put it on the Web. It would definitely save on parking.
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Westec, Eastec, South,central Gulftec. Does anybody still care?
(33 posts) (6 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Lloyd, this is a great question as we also have a big Machine Tool Show in October in Wisconsin that we are asking the same questions. I know this is a smaller region show but we still get over 5,000 potential customers to attend in the past, and we do get machine orders from this show.
But how much longer do we work this hard to try and keep a regional show going or for that matter the larger shows too? We spend a lot of time and effort along with many resources to display at these shows only to have attendance drop each year or peak up one year only to give us false hope.
I guess the real questions I have is "What do the customers want"? How do they want the distributors to show them the great new products and solutions we have to help them become more competitive in today’s market?
IRFPosted 1 year ago # -
I've actually been to that show; it looked strong in 2006. Am interested to hear what shape it's in this year.
Anyone else local have a take on what you'd like to see from this show?
Posted 1 year ago # -
We're going to exhibit our Slater broaching tools, and use the time to engage new customers and try to educate them on our product. We're not looking for the immediate sale, but we need the time to educate new clients about a mildly complex tool. Most of them are afraid to buy it until they understand how it works, and we're going to use our time in the booth to do just that. I hope I can back off from any temptation to make a hard sell, and just be available for questions and helpful conversation.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Smart move broad well. This is a rebuilding year and that sounds like a good strategy toward that end. And customer education is a key best practice that many neglect at their peril.
Posted 1 year ago # -
We had a fair amount of traffic today (the first day of WESTEC 2009), and many were impressed with the CNC-broach tooling concept we offered. From a business standpoint, I was excited about the geographic variety of attendees, from South Korea and Columbia, Indiana and Utah. I hope this represents a healthy geographic diversity of future new customers. Personally, I was impressed with the number of exhibitors at the show who have traveled from the midwest (like I did from Michigan). Somehow that is a very reassuring feeling for me as an employee of a midwest company. Many of the locals were also interested in talking to us about our viewpoints regarding the economy, and the state of the automobile industry. Few had heard about the Rick Wagoner news.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Just as I finished typing the last post here in my hotel in Los Angeles, I had to laugh that a travel/tourism commercial for Michigan started playing on TV. Between Michigan State surviving to the Final Four in Detroit, my colleagues here at the WESTEC show, and now the news AND commercials touting Michigan issues, somehow I'm feeling right at home.
Posted 1 year ago # -
This is a 1.5 min. video of a Haas machine which features our broach tool at the show. Star CNC is also using one of our tools. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRKfKrTcAmM
Posted 1 year ago # -
Broach Well, thanks for this report. Good to hear about the geographic variety of attendees; this points to a global picture of machining still interested in product originating from the U.S. market, which is crucial. Also good to hear the midwest was represented and networking at the show. That's funny about the Michigan ad; remember when Michigan's tourism ad campaign was "Yes! Michigan"?
Wish I was in L.A.; it's cold and rainy here in Chicago today.
Posted 1 year ago # -
What a difference a day makes. We seemed to have more traffic today, less students, less exhibitors selling stuff to us, and more experienced machinists and more engineer types. Here's a fun part about being an exhibitor with a unique tool: it doesn't matter if it's someone who has never heard of the tool before, or if its a long time machinist who THOUGHT he knew how the tool worked, you can definately tell if you've properly communicated the product by the degree of AHHHHH! in their voice (or COOOL! if its a younger prospect).
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've been thinking alot about Llyod's initial comment today, and it has reinforced the idea in my head that alot of what goes on around you has to do with perspective. Although everyone here that I've talked to has a hightened awareness that many of the big machine players are missing, this is a great time for anyone with innovation to keep on selling it. I'm selling a product that eliminates secondary operations, i.e. it eliminates the need to buy another machine. The cat is away and the mice are playing. I'm huge fan of the virtual show concept, but in the mean time, this seems to be the perfect time to sell a tool that eliminates the need to buy another machine. I have a feeling that our little tool has a lot in common with the new pair of hubcaps and extra turtle wax some folks are buying, instead of rushing into their next car purchase.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm not sure what happened to 'Medical' day, but nearly everyone passing by our booth today seemed to be an aerospace engineer or a local machinist. We had a steady flow of traffic, comparable to yesterday. The furthest travelers today were from Arizona and Idaho. I talked to a few guys from Tijuana. The one thing I did accurately predict about the show was that we would spend the majority of our time educating customers and future customers. We spent less time making actual sales. I got a kick out Starbuck's coffee when I realized their booth near the cafeteria was packed all day. No one talked about the L.A. County California sales tax increasing from 8.25 to 9.25% today, nor any other economic news. Strictly business. This has led me to wonder if I've become a minor league news junkie while on on the road, or if part of the reason we're attending the show is to avoid the news, and try to get back to work.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I talked to a vendor this morning who had 70 scanned leads last year, and has 75 so far this year. We still have a partial last day today. He is not a machine vendor, but a tool vendor. He was pleased, but at the same time disappointed at the smaller turnout.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Broachwell thanks again for this on-the-scene report from WESTEC; very valuable! I like your idea of "the cats away, the mice will play" -- it seems likely that the vacuum being felt in manufacturing will clear the boards a bit for a wave of innovation driven by smaller players.
Interesting that you're mainly seeing local people. What was the story on the guys from Tijuana?Posted 1 year ago # -
We had many visitors from Tijuana. I had no idea that there were so many machine shops there. I was even more surprised that they spoke pretty good english, and if they didn't, they were usually able to track down their translator in the group and he would translate for us. The few I specifically remember had a well rounded knowledge of machinery, and had no problem understanding my pitch.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I was in Tijuana a couple of years ago visiting a client. There is a fairly large machining community there and a lot of sister plants with Southern California shops. Whever I send a service man to Tijuana I recommend that they stay on the San Diego side. With the drug chaos in Mexico today that is even more true. The metalworking industry is heavy into automotive so they are hurting along with so many of us.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The drug violence was on my mind too, even though I was much more north of the border in downtown L.A. So, to finish the 'report', we had a flood of students Thursday AM, but got back to a steady flow throughout the afternoon. All in all, I think it was a very successful show for us. I know all you seasoned trade show veterans are already aware of this, but it's my second day back to work and I can finally say my feet don't hurt anymore. I was thoroughly mentally and physically exhausted from the show, and was amazed that it took me a few days to recover from the trip. I'm expecting my booth materials to be delivered here tomorrow and I'll have to relive the moment one more day. That said, I'm kinda glad it's over.
Posted 1 year ago # -
WESTEC is always exhausting.
The CW on the flood of students always seems to be that you should avoid talking to them but honestly, isn't that where our next crop of machinists is going to come from?
I mean obviously they're not going to buy a chuck or anything but teaching them about the trade is good, within reason (meaning it shouldn't distract from real sales).Posted 1 year ago # -
Your comment about spending time with the students sounds noble until you have spent time on the floor and endured the bored tattooed yahoos who come into the booth looking for Hershey kisses. Hooray for the future of American manufacturing.
Posted 1 year ago # -
PMTS is coming up at the end of Columbus in Columbus. Are any of you dudes attending? I understand Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus may make personal appearances.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Lloyd, that is funny. Yeah the free candy is part of the trade show experience for sure.
PMTS is at the end of April by the way.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The 3 best shows are IMTS, Eastec & Westec in that order.
You can also check out: http://www.onlinetoolshow.com/index.htmlYou're gonna see dealers going back to their own regional open house events if attendance keeps shrinking.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Regional open houses are OK -- I went to a couple Makino ones back in the day -- but you get an understandably limited perspective on the market from attending them.
Drew Roy, what makes you rank Eastec over Westec?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Do the benefits of exhibiting at Trade Shows outweigh the huge expense of doing them? Many big name companies are noticably absent from major shows. Can show attendees afford the time away from the shop to go anymore? Some say yes its worth it while others say no, not anymore. Face to face selling, exhibiting, is best but the pros & cons show scale remains fairly balanced, for now. When its out of balance, then I think an on-line vitual booth tour of products and/or services is just a matter of time to appear on our PC's.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I mean clearly that is the question - is the time away from the shop worth it?
It's funny, when the economy is down, events people will tell you "This is when you should be coming to trade shows! Because now is when you need to rebuild, innovate and stay on the cutting edge to stay on top." When the economy is strong, events people will tell you "You have to be here now because your competition is here."
I somewhat doubt trade shows will ever become completely outmoded but the current climate is certainly forcing people to rethink their value and how they function, what they achieve and how else you can achieve the same thing remotedly, etc.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I agree that machine tool trade shows will not become passe, not in my lifetime anyway. However you can see less and less enthusiasm placed on exhibiting and attending them. It seems more companies are willing to skip a show and not worry about negative perception. Years ago the only places to see a machine under power was either on a builders showroom floor or at a show. Both places had benefits and drawbacks. Today's machine tool needs are more immediate and this is a relatively small community. Buyers can call, e-mail, and visit a builders web-site for information. I remember when Westec drew 80,000 attendees in 4 days and IMTS 150,000. Ahh, the good old days.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Isn't most of the internet already an online show of products and services?
Posted 1 year ago # -
4aces, what would you say the drawbacks are of seeing a machine tool under power on a builder's showroom floor, as opposed to at a trade show? Which is better or worse and why?
Posted 1 year ago # -
broach well: photographs yes but many builders don't have naration videos to showcase their machine's speed and part process capabilities but I see that's changing.
Posted 1 year ago # -
dhmargol: When visiting a builders showroom you get personalized attention, see your part run, immediate part quality check, questions answered quickly, visit around your schedule, and face-to-face negotiations. Drawback is the expense of going there and time away from your shop. However, depending on what company you represent and your budget some builders will pay those expenses. At a trade show you can easily compare like machines, less expense, less pressure to commit, and spot competitors. Drawback is time and frustration. Depending on your delivery needs, shows are on a set calendar and at different locations. A crowded booth means you can be waiting to see something or talk to someone. May need to return again later, if you remember. As you can see it really is a personal preference, neither is better or worse.
Posted 1 year ago #
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