SME changes WESTEC expo into biennial event

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) announced March 24 that its WESTEC Advanced Productivity Exposition will become a biennial event, effective immediately. The long-time exposition, which has served as the definitive event for West Coast manufacturers, will alternate years with SME’s new AeroDef Manufacturing event. WESTEC 2012 is scheduled for March 27-29, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“SME has been doing extensive research and has had many discussions with our long-time exhibitors and key OEMs,” said Mark Tomlinson, SME executive director and general manager. “WESTEC exhibitors told us the event would better serve their needs if it were biennial. The decision to alternate WESTEC with our new AeroDef Manufacturing event is part of SME’s West Coast strategy to focus more effectively on both the immediate and future needs of our customers.”

WESTEC has been instrumental in showing how technologies originally created for aerospace and defense have application in industries as diverse as medical, energy, electronics, consumer goods, aircraft, general manufacturing and the automotive aftermarket. The event will continue to be the foremost technology showcase for a wide cross-section of industries. A redesigned, content-rich WESTEC 2012 will have an emphasis on best business practices, adopting the latest technologies for emerging industries.

For more information about SME’s West Coast Manufacturing Strategy, visit http://aerodef.sme.org, www.westeconline.comor call SME Events Department at 800-733-3976.