Sights from the 2021 Advanced Manufacturing Expo
August 26th-27th marked the date for the sixth annual Advanced Manufacturing Expo took place in our very own Grand Rapids, Michigan, bringing together a cross-section of innovators and experts in manufacturing from the Midwest.
The Tuff Automation team posted up at booth #513 in the Automation Hall of DeVos Place for the two-day event, joined by over 200 fellow exhibitors and 2,500 attendees. While this regional expo may be smaller than other industry events, it always prioritizes quality over quantity and this year packed a punch. Read on for our top highlights from the show.
Michigan manufacturing
The expo draws the majority of attendees – including schools, manufacturers, machine builders, integrators, and state programs - from Michigan and nearby states, bringing together an important segment of the local economy to network, educate and discover new solutions. An estimated 570,000 Michiganders – about 13% of the state’s workforce – work in the manufacturing sector. Auto manufacturing is a big part of that picture, as Michigan is the top state for American light vehicle production, accounting for 18.5% of all U.S. vehicle production.
On the show floor, the Tuff team talked about our role in the automotive industry and challenges we can help solve through precisely designed, custom material handling automation solutions. We connected with local manufacturers like American Seating, automotive industry leaders like Lear Corporation, and integrators like Smart Manufacturing Solutions who are interested in the custom fabrication of material handling equipment. At the booth, our team shared insight into some of Tuff Automation’s most extensive projects, and how we’ve provided custom equipment to a vast amount of industries.
Technology takes center stage
When we weren’t busy discussing controls engineering, conveyor and other automation solutions, we stopped by the FIRST Robotics Invitational to cheer on some up-and-coming engineering prospects. This year’s expo hosted students from 24 western Michigan teams that competed in a full field right at the show.
Some of the innovations couldn’t even be contained to the convention center. The UK-based company GRAVITY provided a live, free public demonstration of their jet suit, flying over the Grand River through the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. If you didn’t have a chance to see that demonstration for yourself, you can get a glimpse of what it is like with this short video.
Until next time
Have any questions about something you saw at our booth? Didn’t get a chance to chat with us at the show? You can always reach a member of our team for more information by filling out this short form or using the chat function at the bottom corner of this screen.