By Karen Knapstein
On September 18-19, the fifth installment of the Construction Rollforming Show will take place at the DeVos Place convention center in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. This show is an event that is developed and produced specifically for metal component manufacturers for the construction industry. The location was strategically selected by Shield Wall Media CEO Gary Reichert. He explains, “Michigan, Wisconsin, and the northern Midwest and Great Lakes states are a hotbed of metal forming and roll forming for the construction industry. Typically, shows are farther south. We thought a great show for roll formers should be a little closer to home.”
While the location is new, what remains the same is the tried-and-true, high-quality, manufacturer-focused show that people in the construction metal-forming industry have come to expect. The Construction Rollforming Show was created for rollformers, not contractors. This show is for anyone who needs to learn about construction metal forming or needs to speak directly with manufacturers and suppliers who sell in pallet, container, or truck-load lots. It is also the perfect opportunity for anyone who is considering making the transition to manufacturing their own metal trims, metal panels, gutters, or perhaps even to make their own post-frame building kits. Attendees can learn what it takes to get started in manufacturing metal components and how to be competitive and successful in this essential industry.
Some of the main reasons people attend trade shows are to learn about what’s going on in the industry, to find suppliers, and to learn about new products. The expo floor will be filled with exhibitors that are relevant to the construction roll forming industry; there are no exhibitors who are not relevant to this specific industry.
Attendees can learn directly from subject matter experts who have spent years gaining knowledge. The educational schedule is set so attendees and exhibitors can maximize their opportunities to make connections on the expo floor.
The 2024 Construction Rollforming Show will take place at the DeVos Place convention center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Planned topics (subject to change due to speaker availability) include, but are not limited to:
• Machine Maintenance
• Condensation Control
• Automation & Production
• Coil Quality & Variation
• Selecting Equipment That Meets Your Needs
• Working With Aluminum
The schedule allows question and answer sessions after each presentation.
As of this early writing, more than 60 suppliers and manufacturers are confirmed to exhibit; in fact, exhibit space is nearly sold out. Attendees can speak one-on-one with coil and fastener suppliers, equipment manufacturers, software developers, equipment control specialists, coating specialists, and more. There will be exhibitors to provide attendees with all the necessary information needed to set up or grow a construction metal-forming business.
There will be on-site demonstrations of tools, equipment, software, machines, and more. Among the exhibitors are Hershey’s Metal Meister, SWI Machinery, and Formwright (New Tech Machinery), which will all have equipment on display for up-close inspection. Hershey’s will be demonstrating the Variobend trim folder in Booth 401, while Formwright will bring fully-equipped trailers with portable New Tech roll formers in Booth 309. Star 1 Products will once again demonstrate how The Star 1 Felt Applicator works in Booth 100. This simple and effective piece of equipment came on-scene a few years ago and has been popular with the roll forming community.
New to the industry is the Board & Batten Shear from Integrity Sales & Service, which manufactures the Dyna-Cut. Integrity will be demonstrating the new power shear in Booth 519.
Show Details
Shield Wall Media recognizes that family-operated, regional metal shops comprise a significant portion of the construction roll forming industry. “We are a family focused company and as such our shows are family friendly,” says Shield Wall Media Director of Shows Missy Beyer. “We learned early on that our attendees bring their families with small children and with the last Construction Rollforming Show we introduced our Rest Stop area for families. Rather than families being shuffled off to another area to wait, we include our Retreat right on the show floor so they can relax but still have easy access to all the action on the show floor.”
Due to increasing interest and participation, Shield Wall Media has extended the Construction Rollforming Show hours. This year, the expo floor will be open from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18 and from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 19. To allow attendees and exhibitors to maximize their time on the expo floor, the educational session start times are limited to 8-11 a.m. Wednesday and 8-10 a.m. Thursday.
Attendee pre-registration costs just $50 and covers every benefit the show has to offer, including access to the expo floor, entry to all educational sessions, a continental breakfast each day, and a social hour with complimentary food, beverages, and entertainment on Wednesday afternoon from 4:30-6 p.m. If you have relationships with any of the exhibitors, contact them; each exhibitor is allowed an unlimited number of free passes to share with clients.
The Show has partnered with two exceptional hotels so attendees can choose their lodgings based on their individual needs. The Courtyard Grand Rapids Downtown is connected to the venue via a sky bridge and is a short walk to the show floor. Reserve a room online at https://book.passkey.com/e/50857071 or call for reservations using the dedicated Group Reservations toll-free phone number to get the show rate: 1-888-236-2427.
The second official show hotel is Canopy By Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown, which is a newly built hotel in the heart of Grand Rapids. The Canopy is located just under a mile from the convention center and is located on the free Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) line, which has a drop-off spot in front of DeVos Place. Book a room at the Canopy online at https://bit.ly/CRFG2024 using the code CRFG to get the special group rate. Or you can call Canopy Reservations toll-free at 1-844-692-2667. To get the special group rate, you must tell the booking agent you are booking inside a block rate and use Code CRFG.
The street address of the DeVos Place convention center is 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Those traveling to the show should be aware there is construction in the area resulting in street closures. Until the end of September, Lyon Street will be closed, including the entrance to the DeVos Place parking garage. As a result, the parking garage should be accessed from Michigan Street.
Conclusion
If you form light gauge metal used in post-frame construction, metal buildings, carports, metal roofs or gutters — or you are looking to get into metal forming — you can’t afford to miss the 2024 Construction Rollforming Show in Grand Rapids September 18-19.
Questions about the Construction Rollforming Show and all Shield Wall Media events can be directed to Missy Beyer, Shield Wall Media Director of Shows, at [email protected] or 920-216-3007. Learn more and watch for updates at constructionrollformingshow.com. RF
