MRO Americas Returns to Chicago: Big Crowds, Impressive Tech, and Familiar Faces

It had been many years since I was last at an MRO Americas show, and even after a long hiatus, this event did not disappoint. Big crowds and lots of familiar faces. Especially for some, like us, dipping their toes back into this show after a hiatus.

Of course, the big names take center stage, but I was impressed with the amount of exhibitors who are part of the intricate chain of suppliers who support maintenance and repair. Alabama Aerospace was one example. Their booth was a first timer and David Clark reported lots of solid conversations and new connections.

If you go, be sure to check out the maintenance competitions in the far corner of the exhibition hall. Here, the team completes tasks in a coordinated and timed effort led mostly by teams of students fresh out of training and eager to prove their skills and gain attention from the airline’s tech ops divisions looking to hire. Fun to see, and the level of skill on display is worth the price of admission.

Fastener Dimensions came out in full force with patriotic shirts celebrating 35 years in business and some very fresh Air Jordans to complete the outfit. Every time I went by the booth there were folks having conversations and enjoying espresso from Gaitano!

Lots of SmartCert faithful out on the show floor and many continuing conversations as we expand into the MRO market. Turns out, most of what we built for manufacturing and distribution brings just as much, if not more value to the birth-to-death traceability required in this highly segmented marketplace.

I’ll be spending the next few weeks following up on the many digital transformation conversations I had in Chicago, as well as making plans to return next year!