OAK BROOK, IL–(Marketwired – May 04, 2016) – The Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) will hold its second SMI Metal Engineering eXpo™ at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut from Oct. 3-5, 2017. The premier event for the North American engineered spring and precision metal components industries is being produced with the cooperation and support of the New England Spring and Metalstamping Association (NESMA).

According to SMI president Mike Betts, the Hartford show comes on the heels of the success of the inaugural eXpo held in October 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“With the momentum from our Charlotte event, we are excited to partner with NESMA, one of our regional spring associations, to bring the eXpo to the Northeastern part of the country,” said Betts. “The success of our first show demonstrated the need for an event with a forum where technical information could be disseminated, and a place for exhibitors to reach the key decision makers in the spring and metal forming industry.”

The Hartford show will be co-chaired by Bill Lathrop, president of Colonial Spring in Bristol, Connecticut, and Daniel Pierre III, president of JN Machinery in East Dundee, Illinois. Lathrop is a former board member and president of NESMA. SMI’s trade show committee consists of SMI member springmakers, associate member suppliers and SMI staff.

NESMA president Michael Brault said the association is excited about its partnership with SMI to bring a full-scale trade show to Hartford.

“SMI and NESMA have long embraced a very friendly and supportive relationship where we have shared information, technology, industry news and even board members,” explained Brault. “Long recognized as the ‘Spring Capital of the World,’ bringing the SMI Metal Engineering eXpo to the central valley of Connecticut is a source of pride for NESMA and a win-win situation for our members.”

Brault added that NESMA will promote the spring and metal stamping industry’s importance as a high-tech manufacturing base that provides excellent career and educational opportunities for young adults.

The Connecticut Convention Center is an award-winning venue owned by the State of Connecticut. Overlooking the Connecticut River, the facility opened in 2005 and is situated in the heart of downtown Hartford’s Front Street District — a rapidly expanding entertainment hub teeming with new restaurants, bistros and entertainment venues. The 540,000 square foot Connecticut Convention Center is the largest convention facility between New York and Boston.

The SMI Metal Engineering eXpo is a three-day event that features a technical symposium for individuals and companies to share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics surrounding the design, engineering and production of springs, wire forms and stampings. The trade show portion of the event includes vendors displaying a vast array of machinery to produce these items, along with wire suppliers and exhibitors representing all facets of manufacturing, from insurance to machinery to ERP systems and more.

Located in the Front Street District of Hartford, the Marriott Hartford Downtown will serve as the headquarters for the SMI Metal Engineering eXpo. The hotel overlooks the Connecticut River and is interconnected with the Connecticut Convention Center.

Based in the Chicago area, the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) started in 1933 and embraces its mission statement of “serving, supporting and educating North American precision spring manufacturers in their pursuit of competitiveness in world markets.”

The mission of the New England Spring and Metalstamping Association (NESMA) is to identify and promote the common interests of spring and metal stamping manufacturers through communication and coordination with NESMA members, internal committees and external organizations. The association provides current information in the areas of industry news, legislation and workforce training; and organizes educational, networking and marketing opportunities for all NESMA members.

For more information about the SMI Metal Engineering eXpo, visit the website for the show at www.metalengineeringexpo.org or contact SMI at 630-495-8588, email: lynne@smihq.org, or visit www.smihq.org.

About Spring Manufacturers Institute

Founded in 1933, the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) is an association of companies that manufacture springs, and their associate suppliers. The members of SMI work together to meet the key issues of the industry worldwide: quality, materials, technology, government regulations. SMI provides many services, including a quarterly magazine, Springs, a variety of technical publications, spring design software, industry data, seminars, meetings, safety and regulatory compliance, and technical assistance. For more information on SMI, visit: www.smihq.org.

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