The Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST debuts in Dallas, Texas, this November. For the first time in decades, this manufacturing event has moved from Houston to a new region of the state with a growing manufacturing presence. In fact, Dallas was ranked as the number one metro area for manufacturing in the United States in 2024.
This list cites Dallas’ significant manufacturing expansion as reasoning for the ranking. From 2019 to 2024, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro region added 9.2 million square feet of manufacturing space. Texas’ position as the largest exporter of manufactured goods and second highest in factory production of all 50 states was also a contributing factor.
Texas’ robust manufacturing ecosystem will gather in Dallas at the Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST from November 4-6, 2025. This event will expose manufacturers to the advanced technologies transforming the industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact face-to-face with manufacturers in the Southwest and contribute to the region’s industry growth.
Texas Manufacturing Industry
Though the event is moving to Dallas, the Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST works to advance manufacturing throughout Texas and the wider Southwest region of the United States. With 17,000 manufacturing companies statewide, Texas has one of the country’s largest industrial economies.
Texas is second only to California in manufacturing. The Texas industrial sector contributes over $300 billion to the country’s economy, representing 11% of the state’s gross domestic product. Additionally, the state’s manufacturing sector employs nearly 1 million people with average annual earnings of around $108,000.
The state also exports nearly $300 billion worth of goods annually, as recorded in 2024. These statistics showcase the prominence of Texas’ manufacturing sector. With leading industries like chemical, oil and gas, machinery, and electronics investing in Texas, both the state and Southwest region are poised for further growth.
Manufacturing Technology in Texas
The industrial ecosystem in Texas has drawn the interest of multiple leading manufacturing and technology companies. Among them are several semiconductor companies, including Samsung, which is constructing a semiconductor complex in central Texas. Other prominent semiconductor companies in the state include Texas Instruments and Dallas-based Texas Semiconductor Technologies.
In addition to semiconductors, Texas is also home to well-known automotive, aerospace, and energy companies. These include Tesla in Austin, Lockheed Martin in Dallas-Fort Worth, and Shell Oil in Houston.
With manufacturing advancing, these innovative companies are helping to push the Texas industrial sector into the digital age. But it’s not just businesses adopting more manufacturing technology — Texas has educational programs and local organizations committed to growing manufacturing in the state as well.
Educational Institutions
A number of educational institutions in Texas have advanced manufacturing programs and similar offerings, ranging from certifications and associate degrees at Texas State Technical College to engineering bachelor’s degrees with a focus on advanced manufacturing at Texas A&M University to an advanced manufacturing master’s degree program at the University of Texas. Higher education in Texas has fully embraced the digital shift in manufacturing and is ready to train the next generation.
More specific areas of manufacturing and engineering study also exist, such as semiconductor-focused programs at Austin Community College and the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub at Southern Methodist University. It’s not just postsecondary education either. The Manufacturing Career Cluster in Texas lays out high school courses for advancing manufacturing knowledge in the state’s secondary education classrooms.
Regional Organizations
Aside from educational institutions, organizations within the state are also contributing to Texas’ industrial ecosystem. The Texas Association of Manufacturers, for example, works to ensure manufacturing continues to prosper and contributes to the state’s economy. This is done through collaboration with local business, government, and schools.
Other organizations such as the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) help manufacturers in Texas stay competitive and profitable. TMAC also helped launch the Texas Manufacturing Network, which fosters collaboration among manufacturers across the state. Plus, TMAC will be at booth #451 at the Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST to continue to connect with Texas manufacturers and take an active part in advancing industry in the state.
What to Expect at the Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST
The Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST brings together around 5,000 professionals from throughout Texas and the greater Southwest region. Of the thousands of event attendees, 76% have a role in purchasing decisions at their company. This allows relationships made at events to go beyond simple lead generation and puts manufacturers face-to-face with actual decision-makers. These decision-makers also have large budgets to work with, as 31% of attendees have equipment budgets over $200,000.
Qualified manufacturing attendees such as these enable the SOUTHWEST event to be a place where meaningful business connections are made. Any manufacturing professional at this event — attendee or exhibitor — has the potential to enhance their knowledge and help their business become more competitive.
Aside from networking and relationship building, the Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST features dozens of technologies and products on display throughout a 70,000-square-foot show floor. Event attendees can get an up-close look at these products, see live technology demonstrations, and test out the equipment in person. This surpasses online research, enabling attendees to compare products and find solutions within the three-day event timeframe.
This event also features several showcases, including HOUSTEX and the Smart Manufacturing Experience, which focus on regional manufacturing issues and how advanced technologies are impacting industry. These topics are woven throughout different event presentations, including the Executive Perspective Keynote Series and featured talks by industry leaders and experts. The Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST offers attendees access to products and knowledge that can help them stay competitive in an increasingly advancing manufacturing industry.
Growing Texas Manufacturing
Texas is a manufacturing powerhouse with an industrial sector that is poised for further growth. The investments in manufacturing education are creating a knowledgeable workforce prepared to support the innovative companies moving into the state and the greater Southwest region. Paired with resources from the local organizations helping to advance manufacturing, these factors all contribute to making the Southwest a major industrial area moving toward a digital future.
The Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST is a pivotal event contributing to the advancing manufacturing sector in this region of the United States. From new technologies to knowledgeable industry experts to leading companies exhibiting, this event brings Texas manufacturing together to solve some of the industry’s most pressing challenges.
If you are a Texas manufacturer or manufacturing professional, don’t miss your opportunity to network with the region’s industrial ecosystem. Register now to attend the Manufacturing Technology Series SOUTHWEST, taking place November 4-6 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.