Westec

What Westec does

Westec is the entity behind the Manufacturing Technology Series WEST, a regional B2B trade show held annually at the Long Beach Convention Center in California that connects manufacturing decision-makers with suppliers of advanced manufacturing technology, equipment, and tooling. The 2025 edition drew 7,000 industry professionals, 330 exhibiting companies, 214 new products, and occupied 203,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing solutions spanning automation, robotics, smart manufacturing, precision machining, software solutions, and industrial IoT. The event is one of four regional shows (EAST, WEST, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST) now unified under the Manufacturing Technology Series umbrella, and is operated as part of SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers), a nonprofit professional organization that serves as the parent entity.

The core product is the three-day in-person exhibition, augmented by three branded content features: the Executive Perspectives Keynote Series (a thought-leadership panel), Knowledge Bars (expert-led discussions including AI adoption for small and medium manufacturers), and the SME+ Mobile App (event information, scheduling, and networking). The technology stack is conventional event-management infrastructure rather than a proprietary platform, and the firm has no disclosed AI, data, or software products. Westec traces its lineage to 1969 and reports 51-100 employees based in Southfield, United States.

Revenue is generated from two streams: exhibitor fees paid by manufacturing technology suppliers to showcase products on the show floor, and sponsorships that provide branding and visibility among attending decision-makers. The go-to-market is event-driven, anchored on an annual in-person gathering and supported by the mtseries.com website, email communications, news content, and post-show audience reports. Customer segments split between manufacturing decision-makers (primary, demand side) and manufacturing technology suppliers (exhibitor/sponsor side), with small to medium-sized manufacturers highlighted as a focus vertical for AI and technology-adoption content.

Name

Westec

Legal name

Manufacturing Technology Series WEST

Website

https://westeconline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Westec operates the Manufacturing Technology Series WEST, an annual B2B trade show in Long Beach, CA that connects manufacturing decision-makers with 330+ suppliers of advanced manufacturing technology, equipment, and tooling, under the SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Trade Show and Exhibition Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHABAF

Manufacturing, Industrial Equipment & Automation Shows Organizers

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Exhibition & Trade Show Organizers

Keywords

• Manufacturing trade show
• Industrial exhibition events
• Manufacturing technology conference
• Advanced manufacturing solutions
• B2B trade events

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Fees: Companies pay to exhibit at the event, showcasing their manufacturing technology, equipment, and tooling to attending industry professionals.
2. Sponsorship: Companies sponsor the event to gain visibility and branding opportunities among manufacturing decision-makers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Westec operates the Manufacturing Technology Series WEST, a regional manufacturing trade show held annually in Long Beach, CA. The event brings together 7,000+ industry professionals and 330+ exhibiting companies under one roof, showcasing advanced manufacturing technology, equipment, and tooling across automation, robotics, smart manufacturing, precision machining, software solutions, and industrial IoT. It is part of a four-event series (EAST, WEST, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST) organized under the SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) umbrella.

Product overview

The Manufacturing Technology Series WEST is a regional manufacturing technology event that is part of a unified series combining four long-standing regional events (EAST, WEST, SOUTHEAST, and SOUTHWEST). The event features exhibits showcasing advanced manufacturing solutions including automation, robotics, smart manufacturing, precision machining, software solutions, and industrial IoT. Supporting features include the Executive Perspectives Keynote Series for thought leadership, Knowledge Bars for expert-led technology discussions, and the SME+ Mobile App for attendee engagement. The event connects decision-makers from diverse industries with leading suppliers of advanced manufacturing technology, equipment, and tooling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manufacturing Technology Series: Umbrella brand uniting four regional manufacturing events: EAST, WEST, SOUTHEAST, and SOUTHWEST
• MT Series WEST
• Executive Perspectives Keynote Series
• Knowledge Bars

Products and services

• Manufacturing Technology Series WEST A regional manufacturing technology conference held annually that connects industry professionals with suppliers of advanced manufacturing equipment, tooling, automation, robotics, smart manufacturing, precision machining, software solutions, and industrial IoT. Part of a four-event series (EAST, WEST, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST).
• Exhibitor Booths and Exhibits Paid exhibit space at the event where manufacturing technology suppliers showcase products across automation, robotics, smart manufacturing, precision machining, software solutions, and industrial IoT. Over 350 exhibits are featured.
• Event Sponsorship Packages Sponsorship opportunities providing companies visibility and branding among manufacturing decision-makers at the Manufacturing Technology Series events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 350 exhibits featuring advanced manufacturing technology areas including automation, robotics, smart manufacturing, precision machining, software solutions, and industrial IoT
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EMO Hannover: World trade fair for metalworking, held in Europe, covering machine tools, precision machining, and manufacturing technology — directly comparable to MT Series WEST's machining and tooling category coverage.
• FABTECH: North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, and welding event, attracting overlapping exhibitor and attendee segments as MT Series WEST in forming, automation, and finishing technology categories.
• Automate Show: North American trade show focused specifically on automation, robotics, vision, and motion control — a category-overlapping peer that competes for automation and robotics exhibitors featured at MT Series WEST.
• IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show): The flagship U.S. manufacturing technology trade show (held biennially in Chicago) covering automation, machining, and digital manufacturing — the most direct large-scale competitor to MT Series WEST for the same exhibitor and attendee base.

Broad incumbents

• Hannover Messe: The world's leading industrial trade fair held annually in Germany, covering the full industrial value chain — directly comparable in scope and exhibitor categories to MT Series WEST but at a far larger global scale.
• PACK EXPO (PMMI): Major packaging and processing trade show organizer with a portfolio of regional and international events — comparable as a B2B industrial trade show franchise with multi-event umbrella structure and membership-driven audience.
• SPS (Smart Production Solutions): European trade show series for smart and digital automation — competes globally for the same industrial automation exhibitor base that MT Series WEST serves across its automation and IIoT exhibit floor.

Regional players

• Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP): Asia-Pacific focused event on Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing, and digital factory solutions — a regional peer relevant to MT Series WEST's positioning in advanced manufacturing and IIoT categories.
• ATX West (Automation Technology Expo West): A West Coast automation-focused B2B event held in Anaheim, CA — a regional peer that overlaps MT Series WEST in exhibitor and attendee base on the U.S. West Coast and competes for automation supplier marketing dollars.

Emerging players

• IMEC (Integrated Manufacturing & Engineering Conference): Manufacturing and engineering focused industry event with overlap to MT Series WEST's target audience of manufacturing decision-makers and suppliers of advanced technology solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WESTEConline
• Facebookfacebook.com/WESTECEvent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Westec