2011 IEOC Illustrated Importance of Economics, Market Forecasts, Workforce Development, Networking

Aug. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- A RECORD-BREAKING attendance of 304 individuals attended the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) 2011 Industry & Economic Outlook Conference (IEOC).  Feedback from attendees has identified the diverse speaker and topic content, exposure to the future workforce and multiple networking opportunities as the highlights of this year’s IEOC.

Student Poster Presentations gave attendees an opportunity to interact with engineering students.  The IEOC hosted 31 students and 13 educators from 12 NFPA member schools. Together with NFPA and the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power, the students exhibited 32 posters, highlighting their work in fluid power education and research.

The event, held August 15 – 17, offered attendees presentations on micro and macroeconomic topics, fluid power market forecasts, and featured a Macro-Economic Speaker Forum – giving members a chance to ask the “experts” their most burning questions during this interactive session.  This year’s conference was filled with presentations from guest speakers including:

•  Economics
Global Economic-An American Perspective, Alan Beaulieu, Institute for Trend Research (ITR)
Global Economics-A European Perspective, John Walker, Oxford Economics

•  Market Forecasts
Steel and Metals Industry Outlook, Robert DiCianni, ArcelorMittal USA
Heavy Truck Market Forecast, Eric Starks, FTR Associates
Construction Machinery Forecast, David Phillips, Off-Highway Research
Agriculture Machinery Forecast, Vincent Malanga, LaSalle Economics
Industrial Markets Overview, Cliff Waldman, MAPI, Inc.
Material Handling & Metalworking Machinery Forecast, Ken Kramer, Global Insight
Oil & Gas Industry Outlook, Ruchir Kadakia, CERA
Fluid Power Customer Markets Overview, Eli Lustgarten, ESL Consultants, Inc.
Fluid Power Industry Forecast, Jim Meil, Eaton Corporation

Special breakouts included:
•  Macro-Economic Speaker Forum – Members were able to ask the “experts” their most burning questions during this interactive session closing out the first day’s program.
•  Supply Chain Strategies Networking Breakfast – gave members the chance to talk openly at table discussions on issues related to supply chain strategies.
•  Wednesday Lunch Presentation – Future Customer Needs & Technology Trends in the Construction Industry, Brian Rauch, John Deere.

Planning for NFPA’s 2012 Industry and Economic Outlook Conference is well underway.  Details will be made available online at www.nfpa.com.

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NFPA provides a forum for the fluid power industry’s channel partners—manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, customers and educators.