The ASSEMBLY show is scheduled to take place October 27-29 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. In addition to the exhibition hall, the show will host a keynote speaker on sustainable improvement and lean manufacturing, three afternoon workshops, and various lectures and presentations in the Showcase Theater. This year offers an additional workshop, almost double the amount of educational presentations, extended exposition hall hours, and a larger exposition space.

Workshops and Seminars

Three half-day workshops are scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27: Additive Manufacturing; Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA); and Methods for Mixed Material Assembly. Twenty seminars are scheduled in two Showcase Theaters on Wednesday October 28 and Thursday October 29, including:

•  Shari Loushin, lead tech service specialist at 3M’s Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Laboratory, will present “Adhesive and Tape Technologies to Replace Mechanical Fasteners.”

•  Rod Emery, vice president of operations for RedViking, will explore manufacturing technologies and architectures that improve assembly line flexibility, scalability, and sustainability in “Flexible, Scalable, Sustainable Assembly Line Design.”

•  Doug Sparks, president of Flex Craft LLC and an inventor, will discuss introducing lean thinking to your employees as common sense that they use in their everyday lives in “Common Sense Lean Thinking.”

•  Klaus Bott, managing director of Afag Global Feeding Technology, will highlight the latest advancements in vibrating feeding technology in “A Swift Kick in the Bowls—The Latest Advancements in Vibratory Feeding Technology.”

•  Martin Albert, central states regional sales manager of Stäubli Robotics, will talk about using robots to improve productivity and cut costs in “Increasing Profits by Utilizing Robots in Assembly Applications.”

•  Kevin Reiland, national training manager of Panasonic Assembly Tools, will present how error-proofing technology for cordless tools has improved to reduce downtime, virtually eliminate network interference and improve quality in “Cordless Technology Takes Error Proofing to New Levels.”

Networking Opportunities

The ASSEMBLY show offers two networking opportunities. A welcome reception will take place on the show floor from 4-7 p.m. on October 27; this “Taste of Rosemont” will feature cuisine from local area restaurants. From 5-7 p.m on October 28, the ASSEMBLY show will host a networking reception, giving exhibitors the chance to step away from their booths to network while enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Exhibit Hall

The ASSEMBLY Show exhibit hall offers attendees the opportunity to see new products, meet with vendors/suppliers, and get hands-on with large exhibits and working equipment. This year, the exhibit hall hours have been extended. The hall will be open 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27; 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, October 29.

Keynote on Leading Sustainable Improvement

A keynote address will be given at 9 a.m. on October 28 by Richard Morris, vice president of assembly and logistics for BMW Manufacturing Co. His presentation, “Leading Sustainable Improvement,” will effectively guide organizations through process change improvement. Morris will also discuss lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, sharing examples of how BMW’s plant in South Carolina has achieved remarkable success in the last 20 years. 

 For more information, visit www.theassemblyshow.com.