What I Learned at my First Trade Show
I did not know what to expect walking into Metalcasting Congress 2026 at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids. I figured it would be a large room filled with booths, and I was right about that part. What I did not expect was the sheer variety of businesses and people packed into that space. Foundries, suppliers, engineers, equipment manufacturers, software companies, educational institutions, and that was just a walk down one aisle. The displays ranged from full working machines humming on the show floor to intricately 3D-printed designs to tables stacked with brightly colored giveaways. Every booth told a different story, and there were a lot of stories to take in.
That is actually what made standing at the NFFS booth so valuable. Rather than trying to absorb everything all at once, I got to slow down and make individual connections. Over the course of the show, the NFFS team spoke with business owners, floor workers, salespeople, engineers, and students. Members and non-members alike stopped by. Some I recognized by name or by the company they represented, and it was rewarding to finally put a face to both. Others I had never encountered before. Every conversation was different, and every one of them taught me something.
Once we explained who NFFS is and what we offer, the NFFS team would always ask a simple question: "How can we help you?" No matter who I spoke to, the answer was almost always some version of the same idea: "I want to be a better business." The words changed, but the sentiment did not. And it reminded me of something that sits at the core of what NFFS is here for: running a foundry is hard. Doing it alone is even harder.
A lot of people had a general sense of what NFFS is, but were genuinely surprised by the breadth of resources we actually offer. What became clear over those three days is that most people are navigating real challenges without realizing that support is available to them. Time and again, a conversation that started with a basic introduction turned into something much more specific and useful. Someone would mention a challenge they were dealing with, and we could point them to something concrete. Workforce struggles, supply chain gaps, business growth questions, there was rarely a problem that NFFS did not have some avenue to help with. The booth became a place where those challenges could be named out loud, and where we could show people they did not have to figure it out on their own. Here are three examples that stuck with me.
Finding the right connection when you don't know where to turn
Several people mentioned that they needed to connect with someone who works with or supplies a specific material, aluminum came up more than once. They knew roughly what they were looking for, but the resources near them were not quite the right fit. Nobody in their immediate network was the right person. What I heard over and over is that this is exactly the kind of problem NFFS can help solve. We can make personal introductions and help facilitate the kind of networking that is hard to do on your own. You do not have to keep searching in circles. Reach out, tell us what you need, and we will help you find the right person.
Recruiting help that goes beyond just finding candidates
Workforce concerns came up constantly on the show floor. People are worried about recruiting, finding qualified candidates, competing for talent, keeping people once they have them. When those conversations came up, we got to talk about the U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Program and how NFFS has Network Coaches to serve our members. As a Network Coach myself, I have seen firsthand how this program works. What surprised a lot of people is that it is not just a recruiting tool. We also help companies look at their onboarding and retention practices, so you are not just bringing people in the door, you are building the kind of environment that keeps them there. And this is not a consult and leave situation. As part of TPP, we are there for you at your pace, helping shape changes in your business over time and sticking around as those changes take hold. We become partners in your success, not just a resource you called once.
Expanding into government contracts
A handful of people mentioned they were interested in growing their business through government contracting but were not sure where to start. It can feel like a complicated space to break into. NFFS was able to point them toward ICON, a resource specifically designed to help manufacturers connect with and fulfill government contracts. For companies that want to expand in that direction, it is worth knowing that we can point you toward that support.
Every conversation at the booth reinforced the same thing for me. The industry is full of capable people running serious operations, and most of them are carrying more than they need to carry on their own. NFFS exists to lighten that load, whether it is making a connection, building a talent pipeline, or pointing you toward a resource you did not know was available. If you stopped by our booth in Grand Rapids, it was great to meet you. And if you have a question you never got to ask, you know where to find us.