Los Angeles Is Big Draw for Manufacturing Show Westec 2015
September 23, 2015
Westec 2015 proved to be the place to be for the manufacturing industry. More than 11,000 attendees (up nearly 5 percent from 2013) and 400-plus exhibitors from more than 500 manufacturing companies used the 103,600 square feet of show floor space to learn, connect and discover.
This year’s show was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the location was no accident.
“California is the nation’s largest manufacturing sector in the U.S., with over 39,000 businesses and 1.2 million workers in the manufacturing industry,” said Janine Saperson, event manager, SME. “We know this is the place for manufacturers, and attendees want to see what new products are coming into play.”
With the core of Westec being the education and introduction of new products and processes, over 100 new products were introduced at the show this year.
First-time exhibitor Total Grinding Solutions used the show to introduce their new centerless grinder, bringing standardization of the machine, thus reducing order lead times and maintenance costs.
Ellen Kominars, marketing director, invested in the event to highlight this new machine. “We wanted to find a good avenue to share our new product with the industry, and Westec was a logical choice,” she said.
While the rain on Tuesday reduced some attendee traffic, crowds were evident for the rest of the show. And seeing the increase in traffic was a welcome site.
“We were a little disappointed with the Tuesday traffic, but it seems people are making up for the rain delay,” said Ellen Heini, Inside Sales & Marketing of Ice Tech. “We expect to see better crowds for the rest of the show, and having the keynotes on the show floor should keep the attendees here as well.”
The keynotes were certainly a big highlight to the show, including talks on Hollywood 3D design and manufacturing and wearables on the shop floor.
Saperson shared, “There is a new focus on cross-pollination of ideas and technologies. We provided a designation for Medical Manufacturing Innovation Theories, for those exhibitors bringing over medical manufacturing best practices into other areas.”
Also introduced was the SME Technology Interchange, which featured five different NASA technologies that can be applied to the industry.
Interchanges like this brought new ideas to a wider audience, and sparked the conversation around what is possible and where the industry is headed.
Education outside the show also was being explored. Attendee Bellegran Gomez, director of Community Advancement of Cerritos College, brought a few colleagues to discuss state-sponsored onsite training for those businesses located in California.
“We come to the show each time it is here, and having all the manufacturing companies in one location lets us quickly share employee job training possibilities,” Gomez said. “This show is great in bringing so many companies together.”
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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