Los Angeles Convetion Center, Los Angeles. Westec returns to California amidst an encouraging environment that has seen a measurable increase in exports, production, overall employment growth, and recent legislation designed to enhanced the state’s manufacturing sector. While California has long been the nation’s leading industrial state, recent economic gains have been powered by new technologies, many of which will be on display during the show. Produced by SME, Westec has built a reputation as a technological showcase for the manufacturing industry for nearly 50 years. Generations of manufacturers have used the event as a forum to find cutting-edge equipment, explore advanced technologies, and learn innovative new production methods to help grow their businesses. Many of the industry’s top equipment manufacturers unveil technological breakthroughs at Westec–from software to cutting tools, 3-D printers to multitasking machines. Several manufacturers, such as Boeing, BYD and Ecologic Brands, all opened or announced increased manufacturing programs or facilities within the state of California recently. “We are greatly encouraged by recent developments in California, which has seen an uptick in manufacturing and production.” said Christine Longroy, Westec event manager. “The economic climate is one of the reasons why we decided to move Westec up from March 2014 to October 2013.”