BY EL MCKENZIE MANAGING EDITOR
Here are the top things not to
miss at this year's show.
5
Fabtech's FAB
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OCTOBER 2017 — PFonline.com
FABTECH 2017
It's the largest convention center in North America, located in
one of the largest cities in the United States, and it routinely
hosts global events, conventions and trade shows. Fitting
then, that November 6-9, Chicago's McCormick Place will
be the site of Fabtech 2017, the largest show that covers all
aspects of the finishing industry.
An expected 50,000 visitors will have access to more than
750,000 square feet of space filled with more than 1,700
exhibitors showcasing a range of technologies from metal-
forming, fabricating and welding to finishing. In fact, the
Finishing Pavilion will bring together about 200 of those
exhibitors, covering a large array of innovative products,
services and ideas related specifically to finishing.
The scene may be hectic, and it may be impossible to hit
every booth, event and attraction, so we at Products Finishing
offer our list of five "fabulous" must-see draws at the show:
1. The Paley-James Project
Jesse James, founder of the "West Coast Choppers" brand,
and modernist metal sculptor Albert Paley will offer a
unique take on collaboration, each starting a sculpture
that the other will finish. The completed sculptures will be
unveiled on Monday, November 6, the first day of Fabtech,
and then will be displayed throughout the rest of the show.
Afterwards, the
sculptures will be
auctioned off, and
the proceeds will
be used by the five
Fabtech co-spon-
sors to support
grants and educa-
tional opportuni-
ties for careers in the metalworking trades. The project will
be documented by WXXI, the Public Broadcasting Service
station in Rochester, New York, and the resulting 60-minute
documentary, planned for release in March 2018, will be
available to PBS stations nationwide. Learn more about the
organizations that benefit at short.PFonline.com/mentors.
2. "Fast N' Loud" TV Host
Richard Rawlings
The co-host of Discovery Channel's
popular "Fast N' Loud" television
series and founder of the Gas Monkey
Garage hot rod shop, Rawlings will
share his entrepreneurial spirit on
Tuesday, November 7, encouraging
Richard Rawlings
Albert Paley Jesse James