Holland Sentinel Staff - Link to Story
GRAND RAPIDS — The latest manufacturing technology will be showcased next week at DeVos Place during the sixth annual Advanced Manufacturing Expo.
The event will bring live metal-cutting demonstrations, a packed agenda of informed speakers and a FIRST Robotics Invitational Competition to downtown Grand Rapids on Thursday-Friday, Aug. 26-27.
Visitors may even get a glimpse of a Gravity Industries pilot lifting off from DeVos Place and "whooshing" around the Grand River in an Iron Man reminiscent jet-suit, if air travel restrictions from the U.K. allow.
“There isn’t another high technology show in Michigan that is as convenient, fun and affordable as the AME – for attendees and vendors alike,” said AME Founder Mark Ermatinger.
The AME has taken steps to reduce the cost of parking downtown by offering free two-hour parking vouchers, valid at all city parking ramps, limited to the first 2,000 attendees. Admission to the expo, which runs 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, is free.
Visitors will find more than 200 vendors in three halls, emphasizing automation, metalworking and mechanical solutions for manufacturers. Many of the vendors have developed eye-catching and entertaining demonstrations.
“These vendors are making sizable investments to transport and set up equipment on this scale,” Ermatinger said. “Their investments are testimony to the size and quality of the attendees we draw from all around Michigan.”
The FIRST Robotics Invitational Competition for high school students will run 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday. Founded in 1989 by Dean Kaman, FIRST seeks to introduce young people to technology and teamwork through a competition that centers on building robots that perform certain tasks.
“The AME is built on the values of personal networking and the responsibility to mentor the next generation,” Ermatinger said. “We think it is critical to support a youth-oriented event that will expose teenagers to technology and give them the opportunity to walk the show floor to see how technology is used every day.”
For more information visit advancedmanufacturingexpo.com.
