Exhibition News

The International Fastener Expo (IFE), North America’s largest B2B expo focused on the fastener industry, hosted its annual event in October at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas and it proved a resounding success. 

As if to prove events are making a strong rebound, IFE 2022, with a number of new features, attracted over 3,500 attendees, representing 36 countries from around the world, for the three-day event. Show Director Morgan Wilson said the event had reached “pretty close to pre-Covid numbers”. The expo floor itself featured 450 exhibitors, including 30 making their debut.

This year’s show provided attendees with even more opportunities than previous iterations to network and learn, including an inaugural keynote speech from Dirk Beveridge, founder of UnleashWD and executive producer of We Supply America, who presented: ‘INNOVATE! How to create relevancy in the age of disruption’. Additional educational sessions were presented on the session stage throughout the show, offering attendees strategic, forward-thinking solutions and insightful knowledge on topics that included e-commerce, inflation, 3D printing, productivity and the next-gen workforce.

IFE’s annual golf tournament kicked off the event with record breaking attendance of more than 145 players across 36 teams, who took to the beautiful Bali Hai Golf Club for some friendly competition and excellent networking opportunities. The show’s special events continued with a Welcome Reception at Mandalay Bay’s Daylight Pool, sponsored by Parker Fasteners and B&D Cold Headed Products, at which 1,000 attendees came together for an evening of conversation, open bar, IFE’s ‘signature
cigar-rolling cabana’, accompanied by lively music and dancing.

Another new feature of IFE 2022 was the event App, IFE Match, which helped to bring attendees and exhibitors together in a new, smart way. Participants connected with their peers, discovered business opportunities, explored educational sessions, and built their itinerary, all from their mobile devices, both pre-event and during the entire show – with over 350 meetings arranged using the App.

The Hall of Fame and Young Fastener Professional of the Year awards were also a feature that rounded off the show, with a packed audience celebrating this year’s award inductees, who were: Andy Cohn of Duncan Bolt; Tim Malone of Spring Bolt and Nut Manufacturing; Rick Rudolph of Rick Rudolph Associates LLC; and Joseph Voltrauer of Volt Industrial Plastics Inc. As for Young Fastener Professional of the Year, this accolade went to Bryan Wheeler of Star Stainless.