An enthusiastic crowd gathered in New Orleans November 1st through 3rd for the WJTA’s return to in-person events. The last WJTA Conference & Expo was held in 2019, with the 2020 and 2021 events cancelled due to COVID.
The event kicked off on November 1 with a new pre-conference Vacuum Technology Short Course. On November 2, the main event opened. Attendees had the opportunity to explore impressive displays of heavy equipment and hands-on tooling from manufacturers and service providers in the exhibit hall.
The technical program included general interest sessions, conference papers and a track geared towards asset owners. The sessions were thought provoking and sparked great interaction with the audience. Attendees were able to sharpen their expertise and learn about new developments.
Richard Bass (Kuraray), Fritz Kin (Marathon Petroleum), Jimmy Peck (MPW) and Bill Shaw (Evergreen North America) discussed a range of topics, from labor and training to safety and environmental impact during the panel discussion covering challenges to industrial cleaning contractors and asset owners. Moderated by Kerry Siggins, the panel discussion was a very well-received aspect of the technical program.
Outdoor live demonstrations followed the panel discussion and a large crowd experienced perfect weather for demonstrations of some of the newest waterjetting and high-pressure pump technology. The opportunity to see equipment run at pressure, along with safety devices and best practices, is a unique and popular aspect of the WJTA conference.
Following the demonstrations, WJTA President Jimmy Peck kicked off the 2021/2022 Awards Ceremony in the exhibit hall. Click here for a recap of 2021 and 2022 WJTA awards. Special thanks to A.M. Gatti and crew who designed and fabricated the WJTA awards.
The awards ceremony led into the Industry Appreciation Reception, featuring complimentary beverages in the exhibit hall sponsored by SPIR STAR. The reception was an ideal opportunity to reconnect with old friends and colleagues and continue to meet with vendors to discuss applications and equipment solutions.
The Conference & Expo continued Thursday, November 3, with exhibits and technical sessions. Overall, many participants commented favorably on the strong crowds and positive energy in the exhibit hall and live demos. The attendees and exhibitors were eager to reconnect and see some new faces.
With the success of the 2022 WJTA Conference & Expo, preparations are already underway for the 2023 WJTA Conference & Expo, October 30-November 1, in New Orleans. Exhibit space is available and technical abstract submissions will open soon. Learn more at www.WJTAExpo.com.