AISTech (Music City Center, Nashville) is North America’s largest annual iron and steel technology conference and exposition. It provides a global perspective on today’s marketplace by featuring technologies from all over the world that help steelmakers to compete more effectively. AISTech welcomes 7,000+ industry professionals from more than 40 countries: an audience representative of steel producers, suppliers, academia and students. With 100+ technical sessions and more than 400+ individual presentations, attendees can plan their day around a robust conference schedule and learn about the latest products and processes happening in every aspect of the steelmaking process.
Understanding the overall economy as it relates to the global bearing market is critical because it will ultimately determine how companies spend their money. In a down economy, companies go into protective mode, reducing inventories, headcount, R&D expenses and less willing to spend money on products on projects that have not turned into real purchase contracts. In a healthy economy, we see more R&D in heat treatment, lubrication, steel quality, etc. with headcount and resources willing to support long-term (and unpaid) projects.