Wire-to-Wire Success Once Again at the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo
Nearly 2900 professionals gathered at the 18thAnnual Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo May 9 &10 in Milwaukee to exhibit, network, and learn during the Nation’s Largest Dedicated Wire Processing Event. Over 44,200 square feet of space was put to spectacular use by over 170 world-class suppliers and service companies showcasing the latest equipment, instruments, tools and supplies used in wire & cable harness assembly, inspection and repair.
Educational workshops and short courses were part of the Event Schedule in addition to Seminars. Here’s a look at the 2018 schedule:
➢IPC/WHMA A-620: Rev C & Beyond – Teresa Rowe of IPC spoke about the Rev C changes to the specification, the justification for those changes and the direction of A-620 in the future. She stressed the importance of industry involvement and why it’s important to join a committee.
➢Laser Wire Stripping Master Class– Dr. Paul Taylor of Laser Wire Solutions gave an exemplary presentation on the selection and use of lasers for the harness industry. After reviewing the history of lasers, Dr. Taylor discussed the types of lasers for wire stripping, and subsequent safety measures. All lasers for wire stripping are Class 4, and require a glass enclosure to filter errant rays that can cause blindness. In the very near future, he revealed, the industry will see laser stripping equipment as box add-ons for existing machine platforms.
➢Trends in the Interconnect Industry– Lyle Fanning, past chairman of WHMA, presented on the makeup of the harness industry in North America (see WHMA In Wired in this issue). He stressed the importance of differentiating between trends and fads, and admonished attendees not to merely follow the crowd, but to find a niche role within a trend.
➢Global Standards for Wire Management Products—62275 Harmonization Process– Robert Rensa discussed the rationale for the globalization of standards for these products (see a full article on the subject in the WHN May/June issue).
➢IPC A-630: Box Build Requirements– A very appropriate subject as many traditional harness manufacturers also do box builds, Teresa Rowe was back to outline the A-630 specification.
➢Workshop: Automated Processes from Manual to Bench-top to Semi-Automatic & Beyond– Schleuniger folks were on hand to discuss the migration of sophistication of processing equipment.
➢Portable Crimp Tool Selection—Balancing Ergonomics, Quality, Productivity & Costs – TE Connectivity personnel were present to address individual needs in the selection of tooling.
➢High Voltage Wire Harness Processing for Electric Vehicles– Patrick Moroney revealed that high voltage harnesses require a great deal of testing, and that the preparation of shielding is key in preventing leakage.
After the show, Jay Partington, President of Expo Productions, Inc., the producer of the Expo, said “We were encouraged by the reports of manufacturers that the industry is doing so well. Some exhibitors reported a 33% increase in sales.”
Hospitality
Whether you’re a long-time exhibitor, or a first-time visitor to the show, the crew at EPI Shows and the staff at The Wisconsin Center do their best to make you feel like family. Special thanks to the following hospitality sponsors:
Assembly Magazine– Exhibitor ‘Beer-N-Brats’ Party
Wisconsin Center– Wednesday Exhibitor Breakfast
WHMA– Wednesday and Thursday Lobby Coffee
Komax– Wednesday Morning Break and After Hours VIP Party
Schafer– Wednesday Afternoon Break
TE Connectivity– Thursday Bloody Mary Bar
Schleuniger– Wednesday Morning Mimosa Bar, Thursday Morning Break
OES Technologies – Thursday Afternoon Break
Wire & Cable Technology– Seminar Room.
As always, we at the Wiring Harness Newswere proud to present the After Hours VIP Party, Attendee Bags, Business Lounge, Directory, Lanyards, Wi-Fi, Massage Area,, Thursday Exhibitor Breakfast and Move-Out Refreshments. An added feature at this year’s show was the Craft Brew Sampling at the WHN booth. Visitors had the opportunity to sample several Wisconsin Craft Brews. We are hoping to make this a yearly tradition.
The Most Important Metric
It’s beer that made Milwaukee famous. What could be a more accurate metric to the shows continued success than the number of kegs poured? This year, visitors consumed 22 kegs of Milwaukee’s finest brew. EWPT is a fun atmosphere and a critical show to the industry. If you would like to exhibit next year, don’t hesitate. Space has sold out the past several years. Contact Cheryl Luck at [email protected].
