2023 inaugural SmartMTX recap from Red Deer, Alta.
by CM Staff
Some 500 plus participants descended on Westerner Park in Red Deer April 4 and 5 to connect over Smart Manufacturing, to network, and to learn about Industry 4.0 applications in manufacturing.
Some 500 plus participants descended on Westerner Park in Red Deer April 4 and 5 to connect over Smart Manufacturing, to network, and to learn about Industry 4.0 applications in manufacturing.
The Manufacturing & Export Enhancement Cluster (MEEC) reports that the SmartMTX show was a reported success. Some 500 plus participants descended on Westerner Park in Red Deer April 4 and 5 to connect over Smart Manufacturing, to network, and to learn about Industry 4.0 applications in manufacturing. The 500 participants represented 150 plus organizations including 54 exhibitors.
Over the course of the two days, 30 presentations and 8 discussion panels addressed diverse manufacturing topics such as additive manufacturing, concrete 3D printing, creating opportunities for women in STEM careers, automation, impact of AI, cybersecurity, enhancing productivity through digitization. Several presentations focused on providing information on supports and grants available to businesses in Western Canada to expand and advance their operations.
The expo also hosted a number of keynote speakers such as Pierre Cleroux, VP and Chief Economist at BDC, Jayson Myers, CEO of NGEN – Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Global Innovation Cluster, as well as opening remarks delivered by Brian Jean, Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Northern Development, and Ken Johnston, Mayor of the City of Red Deer.
MEEC says that technologies demonstrations presented by two Alberta companies were well received. Aro Robotic Systems Inc. demonstrated their AI driven autonomous multi-tasking robot and 3D Space Terraform demonstrated their expertise in 3D printing with earthen materials and the 3D Potter Scara 3D printing system.
Some participants couldn’t wait until after the show to collaborate. Aro Robotics and Elementiam Materials and Manufacturing collaborated right on the trade show floor with Elementiam mounting a 3D scanning system on one of Aro’s AI driven robots. Bow River Solutions and Visual Knowledge Share announced they were looking forward to building a strong relationship after connecting at the event.
Industry was repotedly well represented with approximately 70% of participants from industry with the remainder split roughly equally between post-secondaries, government, and associations/not-for-profits. The show also hit its targets for helping industry learn about Smart Manufacturing technologies and network with other like-minded manufacturers. Close to 90% of attendees indicated they intended to follow up with an exhibitor or connection they made at the event, just over 80% indicated the event helped them better understand advanced manufacturing technologies and processes, and about 90% indicated they identified a possible new technology or service provider.
