The 2023 Construction Rollforming Show closed with many happy attendees and exhibitors. It was held once again at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, which many attendees and exhibitors expressed was their favorite location. The September 27-28 event saw attending roll forming professionals keeping more than 60 industry suppliers extremely busy.
Shield Wall Media Show Director Missy Beyer explains, “The goal of the Construction Rollforming Show, much like all of our shows, is to put qualified buyers in the room with the industry professionals that are there to sell. The key is we’re bringing qualified buyers into the space so they can make connections and build their businesses. Attendees can see everyone they need to see in one room, and the exhibitors can expand their footprint by seeing buyers from all over the US.”
For the 2023 show, exhibitors and attendees came out in force. “It is great to see the Construction Rollforming Show mature,” said Gary Reichert, Publisher/CEO of Shield Wall Media. “This year, attendance and exhibitors increased by more than 20%. Multiple exhibitors stated they did not have a second on the first day when they were not engaged with a legitimate prospect. We are going to have to add hours to the first day of next year’s show to accommodate the growth.”
Attendee Benefits
Hundreds of roll-forming professionals who attended the Construction Rollforming Show recognize the benefits to be gained by attending. For the price of admission, attendees received personal, one-on-one connections with leading industry manufacturers and suppliers, relevant educational presentations, a five-star social event that included an authentic German food buffet and drinks galore. The event even included an “oompah” band, the Trans Am Euro Mutts, which performed while attendees and exhibitors enjoyed the catered dinner buffet.
They also had the opportunity to see first-hand new products and developments. New products unveiled included the Ridge RAT (Roof Access Tool) ladder tool that provides a new and unique way to work on a roof, which was introduced in the Formwright booth; the new Plyco window that has a scratch-free acrylic finish; and new Firm Grip gloves that are cut-free not only on the palm side but also on the back, which were at the ST Fastening Systems booth. Northern Building Components introduced a new door that has a fiberglass panel that doesn’t need to be painted, and a new door jamb that can be painted.
Educational presentations were given by industry insiders. Topics included, but were not limited to: roll former maintenance, presented by Frank Schiene of Metal Rollforming Systems, followed by Thomas Schwarzer, ASC Machine Tools, who spoke about considerations when choosing a panel roll former. Ryan King of CIDAN Machinery gave presentations on the benefits of professional associations and making the right buying decisions on trim bakes and folders. Additional sessions included Building Wins podcaster and Source One Marketing product rep Randy Chaffee, who spoke about working trade shows from both sides of the aisle and hybrid selling; Brad Shreve of AkzoNobel, who spoke about coatings and warranties; Royden Wagler and Keith Dietzen of SmartBuild, who lead a session about the pros and cons of automated versus manual material take-offs; and Adam Buck, 3GM, who educated the audience about coil basics.
A brand new and unique show feature this year was the Rest Stop Retreat, which was sponsored in part by Acu-Form. “The Rest Stop was a big hit,” Beyer recalls. This unique show feature included a dedicated rest area, complete with seating and activities for families. “Our show management recognizes that families attend this show together, and often families need a timeout from walking the show floor.
“Also new this year is the mother’s room,” she continues. “The mother’s room was a quiet, private place for mothers with infants. Although some industry shows make an effort to discourage family members under the age of 18, likely due to liability, Shield Wall Media shows strive to be family friendly and to occur in locales that are also conducive to wholesome family fun.”
The Measure of Success
When asked how she measures the success of a show, Beyer explains, “I measure the success of a show by the feedback from exhibitors and attendees. I want it to be a positive experience for all involved, whether that be from the standpoint of business done on the show floor or simply contacts made for future business. Feedback from the show was more positive than any previous Shield Wall Media shows, with increased attendance for exhibitors and more booths on the show floor for the attendees to do business with.”
Exhibitor Feedback
There were more than 60 exhibitors from whom attendees could get the information they needed to make educated buying decisions. Meaningful connections were made throughout the duration of the show. “I cannot speak highly enough about this year’s Construction Rollforming Show,” enthuses Randy Chaffee, Source One Marketing, who sells components throughout the construction industry and did live webcasts over the course of the event. “First class all the way! Great attendance with outstanding networking opportunities. The Shield Wall Media folks were spot on in every aspect. This show is a real winner and one that I will be thrilled to attend every year.”
ASC Machine Tools’ Thomas Schwarzer was equally pleased. “The attendance of the show on Day 1 was really great,” he says. “At times we hardly had enough time to talk to every customer that stopped by our booth.”
Hershey’s Metal Meister, which offers metal-shop machines, has exhibited at all four Construction Rollforming Shows. Spokesman Zach Harvey was also enthusiastic about the most recent show in Cincinnati: “We really enjoy the way we are treated at [Shield Wall Media] shows; the hospitality is unmatched compared to other expos we attend, as well as not being nickel-and-dimed for every service you offer with your event … We’re looking forward to next year!”
Building material supplier Graber Post Buildings, too, has exhibited at every Construction Rollforming Show. “The 2023 CRS show in Cincinnati was a well attended event for the metal roll-forming industry,” GPB’s Trent Wagler recalls. “It’s always great putting faces to names and making connections. The floor traffic was great both days and the exhibitors displayed a wide range of machines, products, and services that added a nice variety. We look forward to the show next year in Grand Rapids and highly recommend that each of you put this one on your radar.”
Attendee Feedback
Attendees appreciated the ability to speak directly with vendors, get the information they needed, and not be rushed through the process. Albert Schrock, owner of Cherry Fork Metals, said he’s been to all three of the Construction Rollforming Shows that were held in Cincinnati. Schrock said the shows were all wonderful, but he really enjoyed this one. “It’s close to home and it’s a nice central location; it’s a good location for a lot of people.”
Anthony Heggie, Customer Service Representative for coil distributor Mid-South Aluminum, states: “This was my first industry trade show, and I was impressed with the number of attendees and exhibitors for such a focused show. I also really enjoyed getting to meet all of the various Shield Wall Media members that I have previously only had email interaction with. It was easy to see how the entire team was dedicated to this show being a success. Wednesday was the day that I got to walk the floor the most, and I was also impressed with the rollforming machines that were on display. Thursday was when I got to attend a few of the sessions, and I brought that information back and shared it with members of our upper management. The session on the importance of associations was eye opening as far as just how important various trade associations are for the industry. The session on how to get free media coverage was also an avenue that I had not previously thought of, but I am very glad that I attended that session as well and was able to get very valuable information. ”
Giving Back
Wildfires ravaged portions of Maui and Hawaii from August 8-11. Moved by the devastation, Reichert made the decision to donate all admission fees received from Sept. 1-28 to help those in need. That record-setting, increased attendance meant putting a record number of buyers in front of sellers … It also made it possible for Shield Wall Media to donate $11,000 for Hawaiian wildfire relief.
Future Shows
Shield Wall Media events are produced like none other; they are about connecting buyers with the supplies and services they need to operate successful businesses. If a company is not relevant to the industry that the show serves, it is not allowed to exhibit. (You won’t find a consumer knife company exhibiting at a Shield Wall Media show.)
“What makes our shows unique is the specific focus on a qualified audience,” emphasizes Reichert. “We are growing our shows but we will never have a show with 400 exhibitors and 10,000 attendees. We will maintain the focus and quality of the audience over sheer numbers. Shows are not about the number of exhibitors or attendees – they are about the number of people there you actually want to talk to.”
Next year’s Construction Rollforming Show will take place September 18-19, 2024, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids Michigan.
Visit www.constructionrollformingshow.com to stay up to date on event updates. Contact Missy Beyer at missy@shieldwallmedia.com if you are interested in exhibiting.
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