Organizers are loudly calling Fabtech 2017 a success, as the Nov. 6-9 event at Chicago’s McCormick Place conference facility attracted almost 45,000.

Show officials peg total attendance at 44,935, representing 120 countries. The trade show floor, packed with running sheet metal forming machinery, covered 750,000 square feet of exhibit space and featured what organizers said was the show’s largest educational program ever. Popular sessions included “TED”-style “tech talks” and sessions on robotics and 3-D manufacturing. 

“We thank our exhibitors, attendees, presenters and the great city of Chicago for propelling Fabtech 2017 to be one of the most successful events in our history,” said Mark Hoper, show co-manager and the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association’s senior vice president of expositions and media.