Amid the lights, slot machines and excitement of Las Vegas, attendees of the National Association of Demolition Contractors (NADC) Demolition 2000 annual convention may notice some slight changes from last year’s show to this year’s. The show has moved down the street from the Mirage Hotel and Casino to the Bellagio Hotel, and the opening date for the convention has shifted from its customary Sunday start.
The golf tournament that marks the opening of the show was shifted this year from the Sunday date it has traditionally had and has moved to Monday, says Michael Taylor, executive director of the NADC, Doylestown, Pa. But the change, he says, should not affect attendance. "I expect a record turnout," he says. "The Bellagio is a big draw, along with it being a millennium convention."
The show, scheduled March 27 to 31 at the Bellagio, attracts contractors, equipment makers and others in the construction and demolition field from around the world. This year in particular, international attendance should be strong, as along with NADC, the European Demolition Association, the National Federation of Demolition Contractors in the United Kingdom, the Australian Demolition Association and the New Zealand Demolition Association will all co-sponsor the event. The NADC represents about 450 demolition contractors in the United States and Canada.
In addition to exhibits, the show will also feature presentations by:
• Technology analyst Gina Smith, host of CNBC’s CNET News.com and an ABC News technology correspondent, will comment on the future of technology and e-commerce into the 21st century.
• Marvin J. Cetron, president of Forecasting International, will give a futurist’s view of what the world might be like if industrial engineering plans come to fruition.
• Delos R. Smith, a senior business analyst for The Conference Board, will offer yet another view on the future direction of the economy with his address, entitled, "A New Direction, Historical Change, and What is Coming in the Future."
• Jerry Milton, president of Insurance Risk Services, will give a presentation on insurance for the demolition industry, including what "actually is included in pollution/environmental coverage," and "how workers’ compensation really works."
More than 75 companies are scheduled to exhibit at the show, including ELG Metals Southern Inc., Houston. Michael Schwartzberg, senior metals trader at the Houston office of ELG Metals Southern Inc., says exhibiting at the NADC show has been a great benefit to the company. "Yes, it benefits our business," he says, "and the reason why we do it is for a more widespread exposure to the demolition business. We have found that by having them come through the exhibit we benefit from our biggest and widest exposure to the people there."
Schwartzberg says that the company has found that exhibiting at the show is a much more effective method of networking in the demolition industry as opposed to trying to set up individual meetings with company representatives. ELG Metals, based in McKeesport, Pa., has representatives from a variety of its locations attend the show, including representatives from offices in Pittsburgh, Louisville, Chicago and Houston. "We try to get as much exposure as possible," Schwartzberg says.
Walker Magnetics also finds that the NADC show is a way to gain more exposure for the company in the growing market of demolition contractors. "The demolition market is very definitely a recycling market that is a growth market for us," says Michael Kozminski, sales engineer at Walker Magnetics, Worcester, Mass. "It is a very good market and a very good selling show for us. We are able to expose our name and products to the industry."
Kozminski says that although the company has been in business for 102 years and its name is well known, exhibiting at NADC is still worthwhile. "More and more it is being realized that the material they tear down or gather from demolishing a building is worth something. You can not only get money for it, but you don’t have to pay to get rid of the material and someone will pay you to take it."
Eagle Crusher has exhibited at the show for the past 13 years, and now sponsors the NADC Annual Golf Tournament as well. Susanne Cobey, president of Eagle Crusher, Galion, Ohio, says the show is a very important event for the demolition industry and for her company. "It is a wonderful show and has wonderful people," she says. Eagle’s affiliation with NADC is important, she says, because the organization meets its members’ needs and is "energetic in working for its members." She also says the show is a good opportunity for networking and sales purposes.
The convention will open Monday with golf and tennis tournaments. The exhibit hall opens on Tuesday, and that evening will also feature an opening night cocktail reception.
The speaking schedule starts on Wednesday, and will begin with a breakfast featuring keynote speaker Gina Smith and an exhibitors’ raffle. Marvin Centron will speak Thursday at breakfast and Delos Smith will speak Thursday as well. A luncheon Thursday will lead into the NADC’s annual meeting as well as an exhibitors’ raffle and banquet. On the show’s closing day, Jerry Milton will speak.
Although there were still about 25 booths to be filled in mid-January, Taylor expects the exhibit floor show to be sold out. Exhibit hall hours are Tuesday, from noon until 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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