Our VP of Strategic Growth, Mike Jennings, represented Goose Digital and attended The FABTECH 2026 event in person in Toronto last week.
If there was one overarching takeaway from his time at FABTECH Canada last Thursday, it’s this: Canadian manufacturing is experiencing a massive wave of modernization, and the energy on the show floor was absolutely electric.
From robotics to advanced operations, automation was everywhere. But the real buzzword dominating conversations across all three days was AI; specifically how artificial intelligence is being integrated into Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to drive unprecedented efficiency.
As a proud partner to the manufacturing sector, Goose Digital was on the ground to support our long-time client, Six S Partners, and their CEO, John Preiditsch. It was an incredible opportunity to see how data, technology, and creative marketing collide in the real world.
A Championship Presence: Six S Partners & The Hockey Connection
Walking up to the Six S Partners booth, you couldn’t help but feel the excitement. Timed perfectly with the NHL playoffs, the team leaned heavily into Canada’s favourite pastime. The booth staff donned hockey jerseys, gave away stress hockey pucks, and brought a fantastic, high-energy team spirit to the floor.
But this wasn’t just a gimmick; the hockey theme perfectly reinforced what Six S Partners does best as an Epicor Platinum Partner. Many attendees were fascinated to learn that Epicor ERP systems power the very companies that manufacture:
- NHL arena boards and glass systems
- Zamboni ice resurfacing equipment
- CCM hockey equipment
- Electronic digital scoreboards
- Ice making systems
Launching the Next Generation: 6S Software
Goose Digital has been working hard behind the scenes with Six S Partners, designing both their main booth displays and the branding for their new division, 6S Software.
At the booth, attendees were treated to live, interactive demonstrations of the new software interface. It was incredibly rewarding to hear that clients in the material processing sector are already reacting phenomenally well to the new website we designed. It is actively driving high-quality leads and opportunities directly to their division team.
AI in Action: Revolutionizing the Shop Floor
The integration of AI into ERP is no longer a future concept; it is happening right now. Companies like Epicor are leading the charge by embedding AI to make metal fabrication and general manufacturing more agile, predictive, and productive.
Whether it’s optimizing supply chains or streamlining shop floor schedules, AI is removing friction. But as manufacturing technology evolves, a critical truth emerges: your marketing needs to keep up with your innovation.
Looking Ahead: The 2026–2027 Outlook for Canadian Manufacturing
While Mike spent his Thursday engaging directly with exhibitors rather than sitting in lecture halls, the grassroots feedback was highly encouraging. There is a palpable sense of optimism regarding future growth into 2026 and 2027, heavily backed by ongoing government support for domestic manufacturing in Canada.
Exhibitors are ready to scale, but doing so requires a modern approach to growth. That’s where Goose Digital comes in. To capitalize on this upcoming wave of industrial growth, companies need more than traditional sales tactics; they need Intelligent Marketing that leverages data, automation, and AI to identify and close opportunities.
The Big Takeaway
Manufacturing is modernizing at light speed. We are incredibly proud to help trailblazers like Six S Partners launch new tech divisions and showcase their industry leadership. If your operational tech is cutting-edge, your marketing strategy should be too.
Let’s Build Your Growth Strategy
Are you ready to scale your manufacturing business in an AI-driven world? Goose Digital specializes in helping industrial and manufacturing brands modernize their marketing to generate measurable pipeline growth.
- See Our Work: Explore how we partner with the manufacturing sector on our Goose Digital Manufacturing Hub.
- Let’s Chat: Connect with our VP of Strategic Growth directly at [email protected] to talk about how we can supercharge your industrial marketing strategy for 2026 and beyond.
Sources
Sources are not provided for this content, as it is based on widely accepted information.
Content Integrity
This article was generated with the assistance of AI and edited by a human team member.
