An impressive attendance of 302 individuals received an expanded return on their investment at the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) 2009 Industry & Economic Outlook Conference (IEOC). Attendee evaluations illustrated the importance of economics, market forecasts, research, education, and networking as being instrumental to their success. Feedback identified the diverse speaker and topic content, enticing research displays and multiple networking opportunities as the highlights of this year’s IEOC.
The day-and-a-half event, held on August 17 – 19, offered attendees presentations on micro and macroeconomic topics, fluid power market forecasts, and showcased the student research that is driving today’s and tomorrow’s technology innovation. This year’s conference was filled with presentations from guest speakers including:
• U.S. and Global Economic Forecast and Forecasting 101 - Alan Beaulieu, Institute for Trend Research (ITR)
• Recovering from the Down Economy - Dr. Bill Conerly, Conerly Consulting, LLC
• Fluid Power Customer Markets Overview - Eli Lustgarten, ESL Consultants, Inc.
• Fluid Power Market Forecast - Jim Meil, Eaton Corporation
• Increasing the amount of fluid power taught in bachelor-level mechanical engineering (ME) programs - William Durfee, CCEFP
• Advances in Fluid Power for the Industrial Channel - Mike Gust, CCEFP
Mobile and Industrial Outlook breakouts featured:
• Heavy Trucks - Eric Starks, FTR Associates
• Agriculture Machinery - Stewart Ramsey, Global Insight
• Construction Machinery - Frank Manfredi, Manfredi & Associates, Inc.
• Industrial Markets - Dan Meckstroth, MAPI, Inc.
• Material Handling and Metalworking Machinery - Ken Kramer, Global Insight
• Automation - Michael Rasche, Frost & Sullivan
This year’s conference also offered industry the unique opportunity to connect with educators and students from NFPA’s university and technical school members. During a special networking lunch, engineering professors, instructors and students met with industry to showcase the research that is driving technology innovation forward and to build critical workforce development connections. The poster session abstracts that were displayed during the conference can be found at: http://www.nfpa.com/
NFPA’s 2010 Industry and Economic Outlook Conference is right around the corner! Be sure to plan now to attend next year’s conference being held August 17-18, 2010 at the Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, Illinois. See you there!
