The manufacturing community will assemble October 22-24 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., for the seventh annual ASSEMBLY Show. Thousands of attendees will have the opportunity learn from industry experts, explore the latest products and technologies, and network throughout the three-day event. The exhibit hall is open from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wednesday; and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday.

Workshops, Learning Theaters, and Exhibit Hall Tours

Two workshop tracks will be offered from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday. In the Factory of the Future track, experts from companies such as Bosch Rexroth Corp., Falkonry Inc., and Upskill will share their expertise, while the Transitioning from Manual to Automated Assembly will include personnel from HAHN Automation, KUKA Robotics, Demco Automation, and more.

Wednesday morning will kick off with some brief opening remarks at 9 a.m., followed by the presentation of the ASSEMBLY Plant of the Year Award. At 9:10 a.m., Michael Mikula, chief engineer for Advanced Manufacturing at Ford Motor Co., will give the keynote address. During his presentation, Mikula will discuss how Ford is using state-of-the-art production tools and processes to make the vehicles of tomorrow.

Two tracks of Learning Theater Presentations will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning and run to 4 p.m., including two Guided Exhibit Hall Tours (one focused on robotics and the other on lean manufacturing). A sample of the many presentations scheduled for the day includes: “Traceability in Production and Assembly,” “Understanding Process Control Data,” “The Road to the Connected Factory,” and “Resolving the Labor Crisis in Manufacturing.”

Winners of the Product of the Year Award will be named at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Beginning at 10 a.m., Learning Theater Presentations are scheduled to 12:40 p.m. Thursday will also feature several Guided Exhibit Tours; these tours are going to be focused on fastening and joining, automated assembly, and the factory of the future.

Networking Opportunities

Attendees will have the chance to share their experiences and learn from peers—hopefully while having a little fun—at several optional networking opportunities. The Taste of Rosemont Welcome Reception will be held Tuesday evening, from
4-7 p.m., in the exhibit hall.

The ballroom located next to the exhibit hall will host the Pub Night Networking Reception from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, featuring beers, burgers, and pub-style games. The final morning of the ASSEMBLY Show will feature a Morning Mingle & Breakfast, complete with complimentary breakfast and coffee, on the show floor from 9-10 a.m.
 

Additional details, including registration, are available at www.assemblymag.com/the-assembly-show.