Walker Group Holdings Expo ’10 Attracts More Than 100 Customers from Across North America
June 16, 2010
The Walker Group Holdings Expo '10 (formerly known as the Brenner Expo) was held June 16 and 17 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. More than 100 tank truck industry representatives attended the two-day technology conference. The annual interactive learning event gives customers access to technological developments and experts in a number of fields from transportation safety to metallurgy, and has proven to be an industry must-attend event.
"Our companies have now hosted eight consecutive Expos," John F. Cannon, Vice President - Engineering said. "Initially, we aimed to provide a means for diverse industry stakeholders from across North America to learn about the regulatory developments and pending innovations. But now, this event has also become a networking forum for our customers and a means to interactively discuss many relevant topics in a group setting. As testament to the value each Expo represents, dozens of industry stakeholders have attended at least five of these events, and attendance has grown 50 percent."
While the Expo has earned a loyal following it continues to attract new interest. Nearly sixty percent of this year's participants were first time attendees. All had the opportunity to partake in the morning program filled with industry seminars conducted on the campus of Marian University. Topics covered included regulatory updates, workers on the top of tanks issues, HazMat training, FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) matters and innovations, and food grade tank trailer product and security updates.
Arguably, the star of the event was Brenner's Lean Duplex 2. This truly innovative tank was a result of the 2007 Expo when the industry was faced with an exorbitant rise in nickel prices. A US DOT representative in attendance urged Brenner Tank, LLC to do something. And they did. Brenner filed a petition and was granted a special permit to source a new stainless steel. Today, Brenner's Lean Duplex 2 tanks reduce the total weight of a standard DOT 407 tank by 700 pounds.
Not to be outdone, the Expo's afternoon activities were also a highlight of the event with an in-depth tour of Brenner Tank's Fond du Lac manufacturing facilities, offering an up-close-and-personal observation of aluminum and stainless steel tank trailer production. Industry experts demonstrated proper technique for stainless steel pump maintenance and taught the latest on roll stability systems and parts and repair issues. Attendees had the opportunity to witness a live performance of a vacuum tank sucking-up a pond of water. Tom Jamski, Central District Manager and Director of Materials for Evergreen Tank Solutions (Kilgore, TX), was a first-time attendee. His company recently placed a large order with Brenner Tank and he felt the Expo was a good opportunity to meet the Brenner team.
"It was time well spent," Jamski said. "I'm a manufacturing guy so I really liked the plant tour. They have a really nice process and I was impressed with how they assemble their tanks. It was obvious they do a lot of the little things that make their tanks a high quality product. I also like the way [Brenner Tank and Walker Group Holdings] are taking the lead on regulatory issues. They're really spearheading a lot of activity in the right direction and that was apparent in the presentations."
Often described as "part industry trade show and part backyard barbecue", participants enjoyed a traditional Wisconsin outdoor brat/hamburger fry and sub sandwich lunch at Brenner Tank's headquarters. A dinner and evening cruise at Green Lake's Heidel House Resort and second day golf and Milwaukee tour options allowed guests to network in a relaxing and entertaining environment.
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