A Sense of FenceTech '04
A Parallel Universe for Door & Access Systems

The 42nd Annual American Fence Association (AFA) Convention
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Fla.
Feb. 25-27, 2004

Attendees: 4,000 – 4,500 (Garage Door Expo 2002 = 3,337)
Exhibitors: 391 (Expo 2002 = 160 exhibitors)
Products Displayed: Fence products (chain link, farm, ornamental, PVC, wood, etc.), gates, gate operators, fence and post installation equipment, access control devices, deck and railing materials, tools, etc.

ENTRY POINT: Between 4,000 and 4,500 attendees (not including exhibitor staff) streamed into the FenceTech exhibit hall from Feb. 25-27.

FLOOR SHOW: The tradeshow attracted 391 exhibitors, more than double the number at a typical Garage Door Expo.

WORKSHOPS: FenceTech offered 16 educational workshops, including the DASMA mock trial. This large session (pictured) offered an update on the “Volatility of the Steel Industry.”

KEYNOTE: Sally Ride, the first woman astronaut, delivered the keynote address. (Photo by Lester Austin, courtesy of AFA.)

HE’S EVERYWHERE: Technical Director Joe Hetzel explains DASMA’s work. In 2004, DASMA marked its fifth year participating in FenceTech.

TOWERING PRESENCE: With Chamberlain’s recent acquisition of Elite, Chamberlain now claims an even stronger position in the gate and access systems industry. Their exhibit may have been the largest at the show.

WORLD’S LARGEST: FAAC, based in Italy, claims to be the world’s largest manufacturer of gate operators. More than 25 gate operator manufacturers exhibited at the show.

GETTING AN EDGE: Miller Edge makes sensing edges for gates, too.

BIG BOOTH: DoorKing, a maker of gate operators and access systems, had one of the larger booths at FenceTech.

THE SHADOW: GTO/Pro debuted “The Shadow,” its new swing-gate operator.