A Grand Event in Grand Rapids
The 2016 PMPA National Technical Conference provided three days of powerful sessions to hundreds of attendees eager to support their industry and improve their own business acumen.
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To view more photos of the event, click on this picture.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the site of the 2016 Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) National Technical Conference. Held April 9-12 at the beautiful downtown Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, with its extensive selection of halls and ballrooms, the conference was convenient, informative and well attended. The conference’s theme was “Rapid Response to Make the Cut.”
Three days of sessions provided a wealth of opportunities to learn about topics including Rotary Transfer (BTB, Buffoli, Giuliani, Gnutti, Hydromat), Speeds and Feeds (Horn USA), CNC Programming (CNC Concepts), Troubleshooting Machining Problems (PMPA, Concept Machine Tools), Additive Manufacturing (DMG MORI USA) and Exotic Materials, which was presented by Sandvik Coromant. Management and team-building concepts were also addressed, such as Extraordinary Team Skills, The Myth of Time Management, Train the Trainer, and Shop Ideas and Best Practices.
Honors were bestowed among PMPA members, such as the Technical Member Participation Award made to six companies, with an additional eight companies receiving an honorable mention. Micrometer Pin awards for meeting attendance were also made, split into categories including 10- and 20-year pin recipients. Jack Steuby of the John J. Steuby Co. was the 80-Meeting Pin recipient, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Further development of the new “Next Gen” cohort also took place, in which the upcoming generation of industry leaders are beginning to make significant contributions to the future health of the association as well as the precision manufacturing industry at large.
On a personal note, I found this to be one of the most well organized, informative and collegial technical sessions I have attended. Congratulations to PMPA leadership, staff, and conference supporters for creating such an excellent environment for learning and networking. Be sure to read Senior Editor Chris Felix’s column sharing his perspective on the event in the June issue of Production Machining magazine.
To see a photo slideshow of conference highlights, visit Slideshow: 2016 PMPA National Tech Conference.
