We've decided to install a man-cave at our office here at Randall Publications. Comfy chairs, surround sound, flat screen, the works. We're going all out, because we have some important watching to do. But before you get the wrong idea, we're not goofing off and binge-watching Stranger Things. No, we're watching Gear Technology TV.

Gear Expo 2017 is your best opportunity to expand your knowledge, get answers to your technical questions and solve your toughest manufacturing challenges. The reason is quite simple. Gear Expo provides you with the greatest collection of gear expertise, know-how and experience you can find.

Summer never lasts as long as you want it to. By the time you read this, you'll be well into the hazy, lazy days, and the season will be gone before you know it. That means you're running out of time to make plans to attend our industry's most important event. Of course, I'm talking about Gear Expo (October 24 - 26) and the AGMA Fall Technical Meeting (October 22 - 24), both of which will take place in Columbus, OH.

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There are many benefits to attending Gear Expo, but if you're not taking advantage of the educational opportunities, you're missing out.

At the AGMA annual meeting last month, the association presented me with its Distinguished Service Award.

How do we educate the next generation of gear industry employees, and how do we train the ones we already have?

For many of us, 2016 was a rough year - and the results of our annual State of the Gear Industry Survey show it. 40% of respondents indicated their companies had cut staff, while only 27% indicated an increase in employment. Clearly, there have been widespread cutbacks.

No, not that president! I mean Matt Croson, the new president of the American Gear Manufacturers Association, who started in June and has been busy getting to know the gear industry and AGMA's members.

IMTS, held bi-annually here in Chicago, ended September 17. It was the third-largest IMTS ever, both in terms of registrations (115,612) and exhibit space occupied (1,370,256 square feet). Also, this year's show had more exhibiting companies (2,407) than any previous IMTS.