Metalcon 2023 Show Summary
Now that we are back from Las Vegas and the 2023 Metalcon
show, we are able to sit down and reflect on the week in ‘Sin City’ and gather our
overall impressions of the show. Van Mark has been attending the Metalcon show
for far longer than anyone could put a specific number to, so we aren’t newbies
to the show. Though this year the event was in Las Vegas which definitely seems
to have raised the bar. (Or maybe it just feels that way since there are so
many things to do in Vegas) Though, don’t get me wrong, the show was great too.
We had a great time at the show, no doubt. We saw plenty of
our current dealers, as well as loyal Van Mark contractors who wanted to stop
by to tell us how much they like our tools, or to just ‘talk shop’ and look at
some of our accessory offerings that can streamline their workflow. There was
plenty of skepticism about bending full length 24ga steel panels on a portable
brake (as there always is) but we were able to allow the nay-sayers to try for
themselves, and none left unimpressed.
The Trim-A-Slitter perf combo system (SCI24HD) attracted
plenty of attention as it typically does since it’s a unique product that makes
an unusual sound during operation, which always piques the interest of
passersby. But it attracted a lot of attention as well due to it being such an
unusual but massively customizable system that some people weren’t even aware
of. So, it was great to be able introduce its capabilities to a new audience.
Though the more we demonstrate it, the more interest there is, which has made
it difficult for us to keep up with demand. But we’re working on ways to remedy
that.
We are on the cusp of our 60th year in business,
and so being that we were on the road for this show, it seemed appropriate to
represent Detroit in 2023 the best way we could think of, by wearing the
historic Honolulu Blue and Silver of the Detroit Lions. We admit that if they
weren’t having quite the surge they are, we may not have gone this way, but
since they are having a great season we just assumed it was because they are
excited that we are turning 60. (ok not really)
