At this year's show, nearly 1,000 suppliers highlighted hundreds of new products ranging from new software and systems to rugged personal computers, motors and components.
Keynote speakers and top global business leaders impressed and engaged attendee audiences with insight on all aspects of manufacturing, from process innovation and cost reduction to competing in a global market and doing business in China.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez spoke on the strength of U.S. economic leadership, innovation and the need to support students entering the fields of science, math and engineering to maintain U.S. leadership.
Colin Wu, president of China Business Sources, opened the keynotes with his perspective on Chinese competitiveness.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary, four term Governor of Wisconsin and chairman of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions Tommy Thompson, together with Doug Engel, vice chairman and U.S. manufacturing industry leader for Deloitte and Touche USA, spoke on structural costs and competitive edge.
Schneider Electric's Mary Frances Cox, senior vice president of operations, shared her insight on reductions in the manufacturing cost base.
Mike Santori, fellow at National Instruments, spoke on automation and competing in a global economy.
Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Jim Owens shared insight on manufacturing leadership in the global marketplace.
HP's Gilles Bouchard, executive vice president of global operations, spoke on managing multiple routes to market on a global scale.
Jack Perkowski, chairman and CEO of ASIMCO Technologies, and featured in The New York Times best-seller, "The World is Flat,"
