Executive Summits · by the Future of Manufacturing Alliance
Process Cooling Summit for Manufacturing Plants
Meet the plant leaders whose chillers decide how fast the line can run.
Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors. Talk to Joe before it fills.
Who’s coming so far
21 manufacturers have confirmed they will send people. The target is 100+ plant leaders in the room by each summit.
- Honda
- GE Aerospace
- General Motors
- Stellantis / Jeep
- Procter & Gamble
- Cleveland-Cliffs
- Whirlpool
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber
- Parker Hannifin
- Swagelok
- Crown Equipment
- Lincoln Electric
- Sherwin-Williams
- + 8 very large manufacturers, not named at their request
Two days with plant engineering, maintenance, utilities and energy leaders from Midwest manufacturers who own process cooling: aging chillers, cooling towers, mold and machine temperature, and summer peaks that slow the line. Pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings. No expo hall.
The people who sign the PO for process cooling projects.
Invited from plants across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Every delegate is screened by title and plant.
1,470plant leaders from 495 manufacturers have come to past FMA summits.1,033 of them pick the vendor, own the budget or sign off.
Who decides a plant purchase, and how many came
- Step 1287Find the problem, write the specEnergy Engineer, Facilities Engineer, Environmental Engineer
- Step 2560Pick the vendorFacilities Manager, Environmental Manager, Energy Manager
- Step 3337Own the budgetDirector of Engineering, Director of Operations, Director of Manufacturing
- Step 4136Sign offPlant Manager, General Manager, President
Who we invite to this summit
Each title, and what that person owns.
- Plant Engineering DirectorSpecifies the chiller plant
- Utilities ManagerChillers, towers, pumps
- Maintenance & Reliability ManagerSummer uptime
- Energy ManagerkWh and demand peaks
- Process EngineerMold and machine temperature
Where past delegates worked
Plant leaders at past FMA summits, by industry.
Industries we are inviting to this summit: Plastics and rubber (molding and extrusion) · Food and beverage (product cooling) · Chemicals (reaction heat) · Automotive and parts (machining, welding, paint) · Metals (quench, furnaces, casting).
Counts are past FMA delegates, each counted once. They show who this audience is; they are not 2027 attendees.
Past speakers and delegates, by industry
Food and beverage
12 speakers · 161 delegates
Automotive
10 speakers · 192 delegates
Machinery, equipment and electronics
7 speakers · 209 delegates
Chemicals, plastics and rubber
6 speakers · 120 delegates
Steel and metals
2 speakers · 82 delegates
Aerospace, pharma, building and consumer products
29 speakers · 667 delegates
They came back.
Past FMA sponsors, and how many summits each one sponsored, from the printed programs.
- 8Smardt Chiller GroupProcess cooling · 8 summits
- 7LG ElectronicsProcess cooling · 7 summits
- 2Emerson Climate TechnologiesProcess cooling · 2 summits
- 2TraneProcess cooling · 2 summits
- 18US LED18 summits
- 17Kaeser Compressors17 summits
- 14Covanta14 summits
- 14Solution Dynamics14 summits
- 10Advanced Power Technologies10 summits
- 7BASF7 summits
- 7EQUIDEX Energy7 summits
- 6AgriPower6 summits
See the other 102 companies that sponsored two or more FMA summits
3M 2 · Acuity Brands 4 · Advanced Green Technologies 3 · Advantix Systems 8 · AERCO International 5 · Air Balance 2 · AmbiRad 3 · Ameresco 2 · Armstrong Fluid Technology 5 · Badger Meter 2 · Be Power Tech 2 · Bio-Reaction Industries 2 · BLUEFIN 4 · Bosch Thermotechnology 2 · Burns & McDonnell Engineering 3 · Camfil 2 · Capstone Turbine 2 · Chelsea Group 2 · Cleaver-Brooks 4 · ConDex Energy 2 · Constellation Energy 5 · Control Instruments 2 · CopperTree Analytics 3 · Cushman & Wakefield 2 · Cypress Envirosystems 5 · Doosan Fuel Cell America 3 · DTE Energy Services 2 · Dyson 4 · Eaton 3 · EcoSafe Zero Waste 2 · EDF Renewable Energy 2 · Edison Energy 2 · Energy Management Systems 4 · Energy Source 2 · EnerNOC 2 · Enertech Global 2 · EnterSolar 2 · Environmental Resources Management 2 · ERS International 3 · ETwater Systems 2 · Every Watt Matters 2 · Eye Lighting International 3 · Facility Solutions Group 2 · FacilityConneX 2 · Fellon-McCord & Associates 3 · GDF SUEZ Energy NA 2 · GE Distributed Power 2 · GE Solar 2 · Gexpro 3 · GI Energy 2 · Green Ballast 2 · Greenstar Recycling 6 · Greenworks Energy Solutions 3 · Harris Lighting 2 · Heritage Interactive Services 2 · Hurst Boiler & Welding Co. 2 · IBM 4 · ICETEC Energy Services 2 · ICONICS 3 · Invensys Operations Management 2 · JLL 4 · Jorgensen Facilities Services 5 · K+S Services 2 · KDC Solar 2 · KERAMIDA 2 · Knauf Insulation 2 · KVAR Energy Savings 3 · LEDtronics 2 · Lutron Electronics Co. 3 · MaxLite 2 · MCEnergy 2 · MEP Associates 2 · MPC Energy 5 · Munters 2 · Newton Distributing Company 2 · Nortec 3 · North America Power Partners 2 · North American Roofing 2 · OAKLEAF 4 · Optimum Energy 2 · Orion Energy Systems 2 · OSRAM SYLVANIA 5 · Pfister Energy 2 · PowerSecure 5 · Rinnai America 2 · Rockwell Automation 2 · ROXUL 2 · Rubicon Global 2 · SAP America 2 · Schneider Electric 6 · Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure 5 · Sloan 2 · Solar UV Solutions 3 · Solatube International 3 · Steril-Aire 2 · Synergy Investment 6 · The Dow Chemical Company 2 · Thermal Energy International 3 · Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance 2 · Viridity Energy 2 · Wahaso - Water Harvesting Solutions 2 · Zurn Industries 2
In writing, from past sponsors and delegates.
Their words, not ours.
“…we have enough time to really sit down and go through what their goals and their missions are”
Past sponsorVictoria SanvilleSenior Manager, Enterprise Business Development, LG ElectronicsRead the whole quote
“What I found different with FMA Summits versus some of the other conferences that we attend is that I’m not running around and grabbing people to talk to… we have enough time to really sit down and go through what their goals and their missions are.”
“Every year we are able to find new partners to develop breakthrough projects”
Read the whole quote
“FMA Summit has been a very friendly business event for General Motors. Every year we are able to find new partners to develop breakthrough projects”
Past delegateBreitner MarczewskiDirector of Energy Engineering, General Motors“We will be partnering with a couple of the presenters at the Summit”
Read the whole quote
“…The expertise represented at this Summit (solar, lighting, etc.) was impressive and very informative. We will be partnering with a couple of the presenters at the Summit…”
Past delegateScott CullenAmericas Environmental Compliance Manager, Bostik“…full of opportunities to network with vendors I was interested in”
Read the whole quote
“I found the experience well organized and full of opportunities to network with vendors I was interested in.”
Past delegateWarren VoughtCorporate Facilities Manager, Archer Daniels MidlandSee 8 moreShow fewer
“…FMA is an extremely flexible, and very accommodating group. It’s been outstanding after I gave my presentation, the enthusiasm of the people, the questions continue even now, people wanting to know more details. It’s that sharing between people and myself. I’ve learned a lot myself so that’s been a great aspect of being here. The people that have come and I had interaction with have been the right kind of people I want to talk to.”
Past delegateKevin ButtGeneral Manager and Chief Environmental Officer, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.“The presenters were very knowledgeable and did a great job of communicating during the one on one time during breaks. I look forward to the site visits so we can learn more about what each company has to offer.”
Past delegateJohn ShewmakerFacility Maintenance Manager, Hitachi Automotive Systems“Very well organized! Great topics and great speakers. Spoke to vendors regarding current initiatives and met vendors regarding their initiatives and how they can provide guidance and services to UniFirst…”
Past delegateCarrie BertolinoEnergy Analyst, UniFirst Corporation“I am always skeptical with conferences whether they will be worth my time. This Summit was a very good blend and balance of solutions and testimonials. I will recommend this seminar to others in my company…”
Past delegateLarry GlaserAVP, Director of Operations Support, OSI Industries“…Enjoyed the Summit and met some good contacts.”
Past delegateRuss DelozierDirector of Sustainability, J+J Flooring Group“Great Summit to attend and see the diversity of industry and government. Several vendors presented new ideas to problems we all face in the industry.”
Past delegateEd HagerstromDirector EHS, Refresco Beverages US Inc.“…We enjoyed attending your event and definitely appreciated presenting our LEED gold plant and our sustainability programs. … We definitely learned some things as well.”
Past delegateGregory ClarkDirector of Construction & Facilities Management, White Castle Management Co.“I very much enjoyed participating in the summit…”
Past delegateKurtis JetselDirector - Facilities/ESH, Lockheed MartinSet up Wednesday. Two full days of meetings. Home Friday afternoon.
Same schedule in Columbus and Detroit.
- Wednesday afternoonSponsors set up their exhibits. Everyone checks in.
- ThursdayThe full day: plant case studies, booked 1-on-1s, the reception and dinner.
- FridayMorning case studies, more 1-on-1s, closing lunch. On the road by mid-afternoon.
The hour-by-hour plan and the venues
| Time | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast at your company table | Breakfast at your company table | |
| 8:00–10:00 AM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies | |
| 10:00 AM | Coffee and shop talk in the exhibit room | Pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s at your table | |
| 11:00 AM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies | |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch with your booked 1-on-1 meetings | Closing lunch with your booked 1-on-1 meetings | |
| 1:00 PM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies, then head home | |
| 2:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s at your table | |
| 3:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Coffee and shop talk in the exhibit room | |
| 3:30 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Plant case studies | |
| 5:00–7:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Reception and dinner, with more 1-on-1s |
The full package's 15 pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s run Thursday and Friday: in the meeting blocks above, at lunch, and at the reception. Each is with a plant leader who asked to meet you, at your company table. You get your meeting schedule before you arrive, and the delegate list, with names, titles and companies, 30 days before the summit.
Venue photos via Wikimedia Commons: Hilton Columbus Downtown by Ɱ (CC BY-SA 4.0); Renaissance Center by Crisco 1492 (public domain).
The program: plant leaders come to hear how other plants fixed it.
The program is built from projects plants actually finished, presented by the plant and the company that did the work. Every process cooling category has room for more. If you've solved a problem like these, your story belongs on this program.
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Cooling towers and fluid coolersInvited
Western Pennsylvania sintered-metals plant swaps a corroded tower for plastic
A 435 gpm HDPE Paragon tower with pumps and a control panel. No performance result published (as reported by ProChemTech).
The problem: A galvanized tower on the furnace quench circuit kept rusting, and downtime was not an option.
Published result: A 435 gpm HDPE Paragon tower with pumps and a control panel. No performance result published (as reported by ProChemTech).
Invited: Delta Cooling Towers and ProChemTech · Read the published case
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Free cooling, adiabatic and heat recoveryInvited
TG Kentucky turns molding and compressor heat into paint-shop heat in Lebanon, Kentucky
Two heat recovery chillers and free cooling below 45°F. Projected to save 58,000 therms of gas a year, with more than nine months of gas-free paint-shop operation; COP expected to exceed 3.0 (as reported by Trane).
The problem: A capacity expansion needed new cooling, while compressors and molding machines threw heat away.
Published result: Two heat recovery chillers and free cooling below 45°F. Projected to save 58,000 therms of gas a year, with more than nine months of gas-free paint-shop operation; COP expected to exceed 3.0 (as reported by Trane).
Invited: Trane and M&B Mechanical, with TG Kentucky · Read the published case
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Rental, service and optimizationInvited
Ohio dairy plant adds rental cooling without new electrical service
A 230-ton rental chiller on a temporary generator, then natural gas power: $60k saved, on average, a month by switching from diesel to natural gas (as reported by Aggreko).
The problem: The plant needed more cooling at peak production but had no spare electrical capacity.
Published result: A 230-ton rental chiller on a temporary generator, then natural gas power: $60k saved, on average, a month by switching from diesel to natural gas (as reported by Aggreko).
Invited: Aggreko · Read the published case
See all 9 stories, in 5 categories, and how a session runs
- 1The problemWhat was happening at the plant.
- 2The costEnergy, maintenance, downtime or lost output.
- 3The decisionThe options they weighed, and why this one.
- 4The workWhat changed, how long it took, what went wrong.
- 5The resultsMeasured before and after. Achieved, estimated or identified, said plainly.
- 6The lessonsWhat another plant should check first.
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Process chillers and chiller plants
1 story invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
Johnson Controls upgrades the chiller plant at its Norman, Oklahoma factory
Two 600-ton YORK magnetic-bearing chillers and new controls. Energy use could drop 26% and emissions 43% (projected), with about $960,000 a year in savings for the facility program (estimated). The 2023 production target was met with no downtime (as reported by Chiller & Cooling Best Practices).
The problem: A 1960s chiller plant had to be modernized without stopping production of rooftop units.
Published result: Two 600-ton YORK magnetic-bearing chillers and new controls. Energy use could drop 26% and emissions 43% (projected), with about $960,000 a year in savings for the facility program (estimated). The 2023 production target was met with no downtime (as reported by Chiller & Cooling Best Practices).
Invited: Johnson Controls · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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Cooling towers and fluid coolers
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
Western Pennsylvania sintered-metals plant swaps a corroded tower for plastic
A 435 gpm HDPE Paragon tower with pumps and a control panel. No performance result published (as reported by ProChemTech).
The problem: A galvanized tower on the furnace quench circuit kept rusting, and downtime was not an option.
Published result: A 435 gpm HDPE Paragon tower with pumps and a control panel. No performance result published (as reported by ProChemTech).
Invited: Delta Cooling Towers and ProChemTech · Read the published case
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Invited
Bayer Crop Science replaces a 40-year-old cooling tower in Kansas City
A stainless three-cell Marley crossflow tower with VFDs: 7,875 gpm and 3,937 tons of heat rejection. Efficiency gain probably in the 5-10% range (estimated) (as reported by Midwest Machinery).
The problem: A field-erected wooden tower had worn out and the new one had to fit the old foundation.
Published result: A stainless three-cell Marley crossflow tower with VFDs: 7,875 gpm and 3,937 tons of heat rejection. Efficiency gain probably in the 5-10% range (estimated) (as reported by Midwest Machinery).
Invited: Midwest Machinery and SPX Cooling Tech (Marley), with Bayer Crop Science · Read the published case
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Invited
PTC Liberty Tubulars rebuilds quench cooling at its Liberty, Texas tube plant
A stainless crossflow tower plus two BAC closed-loop coolers, roughly 15 million BTUs per hour combined. No performance result published (as reported by Engineered Thermal Solutions).
The problem: An idle austenitizing line needed new cooling to return to production.
Published result: A stainless crossflow tower plus two BAC closed-loop coolers, roughly 15 million BTUs per hour combined. No performance result published (as reported by Engineered Thermal Solutions).
Invited: Engineered Thermal Solutions and BAC, with PTC Liberty Tubulars · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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Free cooling, adiabatic and heat recovery
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
TG Kentucky turns molding and compressor heat into paint-shop heat in Lebanon, Kentucky
Two heat recovery chillers and free cooling below 45°F. Projected to save 58,000 therms of gas a year, with more than nine months of gas-free paint-shop operation; COP expected to exceed 3.0 (as reported by Trane).
The problem: A capacity expansion needed new cooling, while compressors and molding machines threw heat away.
Published result: Two heat recovery chillers and free cooling below 45°F. Projected to save 58,000 therms of gas a year, with more than nine months of gas-free paint-shop operation; COP expected to exceed 3.0 (as reported by Trane).
Invited: Trane and M&B Mechanical, with TG Kentucky · Read the published case
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Invited
Haartz heats make-up air with process cooling heat in Acton, Massachusetts
A Trane chiller runs as a water source heat pump on the process loop. Estimated 111 tons of carbon saved a year; $749,985 project with a $562,936 utility rebate (as reported by Chiller & Cooling Best Practices).
The problem: Gas heated the make-up air while the process cooling loop rejected heat.
Published result: A Trane chiller runs as a water source heat pump on the process loop. Estimated 111 tons of carbon saved a year; $749,985 project with a $562,936 utility rebate (as reported by Chiller & Cooling Best Practices).
Invited: Process Cooling Systems, with Haartz · Read the published case
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Invited
Schneider Electric reuses process cooling water to heat its Lincoln, Nebraska plant
First full winter: approximately 6,000 MMBtu of gas ($55,000), 4.5 million gallons of water ($45,000) and 360 tons of CO2 saved; approximately $100,000 a year to date (as reported by Schneider Electric).
The problem: The plant burned gas for heat while its process cooling loop sent heat to a tower.
Published result: First full winter: approximately 6,000 MMBtu of gas ($55,000), 4.5 million gallons of water ($45,000) and 360 tons of CO2 saved; approximately $100,000 a year to date (as reported by Schneider Electric).
Invited: World Energy Innovations, with Schneider Electric · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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Rental, service and optimization
1 story invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
Ohio dairy plant adds rental cooling without new electrical service
A 230-ton rental chiller on a temporary generator, then natural gas power: $60k saved, on average, a month by switching from diesel to natural gas (as reported by Aggreko).
The problem: The plant needed more cooling at peak production but had no spare electrical capacity.
Published result: A 230-ton rental chiller on a temporary generator, then natural gas power: $60k saved, on average, a month by switching from diesel to natural gas (as reported by Aggreko).
Invited: Aggreko · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
-
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Mold and machine temperature control
1 story invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
Eastern European auto parts molder speeds up cycles with high-flow mold temperature control
High-flow Dynamico temperature control units: +41% productivity and -27% cycle time (period not stated) (as reported by Frigel).
The problem: Mold cooling limited cycle time on automotive plastic parts.
Published result: High-flow Dynamico temperature control units: +41% productivity and -27% cycle time (period not stated) (as reported by Frigel).
Invited: Frigel · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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"Invited" means invited: none of these companies has confirmed. Results are as published by the supplier; we ask every presenter for dates, baseline costs and verified results before the program is final.
“I can talk about AT&T. We had three visits and now we're working hand in hand with them in terms of opportunities in some of their facilities. That's what this event brings. It's face-to-face time with customers.”
Andrei Hari, Director, HVAC Energy Solutions, Armstrong Fluid Technology. In the photo: Michael O’Neill, Global Manager, Corporate Events, at the Armstrong Fluid Technology exhibit at a past FMA summit.
Real FMA Summit rooms. No stock photography.
Get in front of the decision makers, not the crowd.
Full package
- 15 guaranteed pre-scheduled meetings
- A 20-minute case-study session
- A fully furnished exhibit
- Your corporate dining table
- Three people at full access
Add meetings up to 40 at $1,500 each.
- Any booked meeting that doesn’t happen is added to your next summit, written into your sponsor agreement.
- Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors, each solving a different problem for the people in the room.
Want the category to yourself? Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors. To talk about your category, .
- Plant leaders ask to meet you. We seat the ones who asked at your table.
- Your booked meeting schedule arrives before the summit.
- Any booked meeting that doesn't happen is added to your next summit: miss 3, and you get 15 plus 3. It's written into your sponsor agreement.
- You get the delegate list 30 days before the summit: names, titles and companies.
- Three people are included with full access. Extra passes are $2,900 each.
Or pick only what you wantMeetings from $15,000, talk $15,000, exhibit $15,000, dining table $10,000
One category, one summit. Prices in USD. Whatever you pick includes three people with full access. Meetings are booked on an opt-in basis before the summit; any booked meeting that doesn't happen is added to your next summit.
No vendor walks the show. Solution providers attend only as sponsors. A vendor that has not sponsored cannot register, attend or work the room, so the plant leaders you meet are not being chased by your competitors in the hallway.
The ten questions every sponsor asks.
Past sponsors answer all ten in one 5-minute film. Pick a question and the film jumps to its answer.
Now ask your own questions.
Answered on camera by past FMA sponsors. Recorded at past FMA summits.
Who's behind it.
Started FMA in Montreal in 2007 and has run every summit himself: 35 of them, 17,000+ meetings. Capped at 20 sponsors per summit, meetings booked before anyone arrives, and no vendor walks the show.
Read the full story
Process cooling sponsors were in 14 of the 35 summits. Every sponsor and speaker, as printed.
Open any programSmardt sponsored 8 times. The summit is capped at 20 sponsors.
Twenty minutes with Joe Piazza: who is coming to your summit, where your company fits among its 20 sponsors, and what the agreement says. The sponsor brief has the delegate profile, the full agenda and the itemized pricing.
35 summits since 2007. Joe Piazza, who founded FMA, runs every summit himself. The videos on this page are from past summits.