– The world’s largest water industry exhibition was successfully held –
– The first offline event in 2 years since last year’s online event, 600 companies participated –
The 94th International Water Industry Exhibition 'WEFTEC 2021' was held at the McCormick Exhibition Center in Chicago from October 16th to 20th (online 16th to 18th). WEFTEC (Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference) is the world's largest water industry event, where you can meet the latest water industry technology and equipment trends.
Unlike last year, which was held online due to COVID-1919, this year’s exhibition was held on-site at McCormick Place in Chicago. All attendees were required to provide proof of COVID-1919 vaccination or a negative COVID-48 test result within 1919 hours prior to receiving badges for entry to the event.
field photos
The WEF (Water Environment Federation), which hosts the event, was founded in 1928 to develop technology to improve water quality, and was renamed FSWA (Federation of Sewage Works Association), and then changed to the current WEF in 1991.
The WEFTEC exhibition is as prestigious as its long history, and it is famous for various programs such as Technical Presentations, Operations Challenge, and educational workshops in addition to general exhibitions.
About 600 companies participated in this event and it was divided into the South Building of the exhibition hall with independent booths and the North Building with assembly booths. An online live streaming service was also provided for those who were inevitably unable to visit. A website where you can see the products of participating companies is also in operation.
Note: Visit the exhibition website: https://weftec21.mapyourshow.com/8_0/#/
major exhibitors
As a unique feature of the WEFTEC exhibition, the practical ability contest of corporate participants was held. The Operations Challenge, which celebrated its 34th anniversary this year, brought together 36 teams from around the world and competed with the winners in 2019 and 2020. The competition evaluation items include pump maintenance, sewage pipe system inspection, safety, and experimentation. Comprehensive theoretical knowledge and quick and sophisticated technology are required, so the industry evaluates it as an event that helps improve practical skills just by preparing for the competition.
In addition, various workshops were held on topics such as student design exhibitions by US college students, sewage technology trends, water industry trends, practical education, and technology exchange discussion programs. The workshop's technology exchange and training main topics include Automation and Data Analytics, Collection Systems, Emerging Contaminants, Industrial Market Change, Nutrient Management, Pathogens and Indicators, Process Enhancement, and Residue. water and biosolids, and workforce management issues.
The Daegu city water industry delegation also participated in this exhibition. A total of 9 companies participated and exhibited products such as pumps, flame retardant generators, ultrasonic flowmeters, activated carbon automatic regeneration water treatment filters, and turbo blowers. According to Daegu City, on the 18th, the first day of the exhibition, a business agreement was signed with the Korea Water Technology Certification Institute and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).
Min-cheol Shim, CEO of Jain Technology, a domestic company that participated in the exhibition for the second time this year, said, “In order to develop a market in the US market, we have to frequently meet with industry officials, and participation in the exhibition is the most effective.”
Korean companies participating in WEFTEC in 2021
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Comprehensive evaluation
An official from Krohne, a German-based manufacturer of flowmeters, level meters, and thermometers, said that it is difficult to meet similar industry officials due to the nature of the water industry.
According to an exhibition official, there are many high-level corporate officials among the exhibition participants, so there are many cases of direct purchase consultations on specific items. An official from the WEFTEC site said in an interview with KOTRA's Chicago Trade Center, "As this is the 94th exhibition with a long history, only the best experts in the water industry gather. The number of participants also has a high demand for purchase, so from the perspective of the association, participation in the exhibition can lead directly to marketing, so we are helping as much as possible.”
Source: WEFTEC exhibition website, KOTRA Chicago Trade Center