IMTS is a global event made up of more than 1,400 exhibitors, many of which either have roots in or are directly from Japan. The unprecedented devastation in northern Japan from the earthquake and accompanying tsunami have left us wondering: What can we do as an industry to help?

We would like to hear your ideas as to what we can do together to contribute to the rebuilding process. Please submit your thoughts and ideas by e-mailing me at peelman@AMTonline.org. Also, please consider making a donation to the Red Cross.

We will be pleased to share these ideas and we pledge to get IMTS involved in the recovery effort. Thank you in advance for your willingness to help us in our community outreach efforts.

Peter Eelman
Vice President -- Exhibitions & Communications
AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology

Day 16 — It is supposed to be raining later today in Beijing. It is supposed to be raining in Vancouver when I arrive there later today. It is supposed to be raining in Chicago tonight when I arrive there. It is supposed to be raining in DC when I get there slightly after midnight tonight. So why am I in such a sunny mood? It's been a great trip, a good show for AMT members and now its time to go home. Three flights in one day — you know there will be stories to come.

Day 15 — The move-out of the CIMT show is now completed. With the last machines successfully loaded onto trucks, another show is now history. What started two-plus weeks ago in the cold ended on a nice warm day with a blizzard of Beijing cottonwood, so much in the air that most people are either wearing masks or holding their hands over their mouths. A funny moment from today occurred as we were finishing up one truck and discovered we needed another crate label. We called our Chinese freight manager and he did not answer, which was strange as he has always been available 24/7. A few minutes later, the phone rang and it was him, with this great line: "I am so sorry I could not answer, I was at the toilet, it was top urgent." So it goes.

Day 14 — It is amazing how fast we humans adapt to almost any situation. I have not yet blogged at all about the traffic in Beijing but after two weeks, I barely notice the number of near-collisions, life-threatening close calls and actual contact between our vehicles and the others on the road (and that's just describing the first block from the hotel). So here is a typical day count for a one-way trip from the hotel to the convention center: pedestrians nearly run down: 27; bicycles cut off: 31; brakes slammed to avoid other vehicles: 17 (does not count previous 2 categories); cut off by other vehicles: 29; we cut off other vehicles: 44; horn honked: 65 or 0, depending on cab driver personality. Then we arrive at the hall, where we generally try to run down a security guard to be allowed onto the property to work move-out, where currently the floor is covered with a thin oil film that has claimed several people falling or at least sliding around. Oh, and if you fail cab driver school here they give you another job … fork lift driver.