The worst part of the SPS/IPC/Drives show is getting there. I was delayed for 4 hours on the way over since we had to land in Halifax, NS, Canada for a medical emergency on board. On the way back I was happy to be delayed only an hour since I still made my connecting flight to Phoenix. The fact that the show obliterates the Thanksgiving holiday is not a treat either, of course.
The best part of the SPS/IPC/Drives show is connecting with people: people from the PI Support Center, members of the Working Groups, PROFINET experts, journalists, and PI North America members.
Although I talk to and email my colleagues at the PI Support Center throughout the year, it’s good to catch up with them in person. These are the folks that help our members with product certification, create the documentation, distribute the specs, maintain the online product guide, and much more.
Talking to the PROFINET experts and Working Group members is a treat. I always learn something new about the technology and what’s new in the technology.
I saw just two American journalists who came by the booth (and stayed at the same hotel we PI North America folks stayed at): Gary Mintchell and Walt Boyes.
There were not a lot of folks there from the US, but there were a few. Innovasic and Freescale were in our booth so we could wish them a “Happy Thanksgiving” in person. Comtrol was in the booth as well. I also had a chance to chat with Mike Rothwell in the Phoenix Contact booth. And our friends from PCC were wandering the show’s many halls.
Of course when you’ve been around automation as long as I have (don’t ask) you run into people from your past lives. I had a chance to catch up with current activities of some friends from my Wonder years like John Bailey and Thomas Gillblad.
SPS/IPC/Drives is definitely the show to attend for automation… AND next year it is the week AFTER Thanksgiving! I’ll post some travel tips next so you can plan to attend.
–Carl Henning