The number of visitors increased 4% at WQA Aquatech USA 2008, held in Las Vegas in late March, many attracted by an added emphasis on industrial treatment along with strong exhibits and educational programs for residential and commercial components, according to Peter Censky, Water Quality Association (WQA) executive director.
“We heard from many attendees who said our show was one of the most successful they’ve attended since the economy started becoming so uncertain,” Censky said. “I think we hit the ‘tipping point’ on industrial treatment, and that helped our success.”
The show this year offered a number of other new features, including daily keynote addresses focusing on business topics, the rollout of WQA’s commercial education program and more hands-on learning with added emphasis on business education.
The convention offered more interactive training on the conference’s expansive trade show floor than in the past. More than 350 companies presented new products and technologies, mingled with scores of sessions presented directly by WQA and exhibitors. A total of 46 companies attended the Industrial Speed Dating event, which targeted primarily manufacturers, consulting engineers and other treatment professionals.
Participants ranged from major corporations to smaller and newer companies. To expand on the success next year, a full-scale industrial pavilion will be available.
WQA began integrating industrial elements into the program as the association saw more companies growing into high-tech and high-purity industrial treatment.
In addition to exhibitors on the trade show floor, attendees took advantage of more than dozens of hours of educational training. For WQA-certified personnel, that meant up to 2.55 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, more than a full cycle-worth of credits for many of the certifications that are offered.
In launching its new commercial education water treatment program, WQA sold 70% of the first printing of its Commercial Sizing, Plumbing, Design and Applications book, exceeding expectations. The book is now available online at www.wqa.org.
Source: WQA
