TL;DR: California's 7 major manufacturing events in 2026 span medical devices (MD&M West, Feb 3-5, Anaheim), electronics (IPC APEX EXPO, Mar 17-19, Anaheim), aerospace (Space Tech Expo USA, Jun 2-4, Anaheim), semiconductors (SEMICON West, Oct 13-15, San Francisco), and advanced manufacturing (WESTEC, Oct 20-22, Long Beach). Most offer free expo passes. Scroll down for dates, venues, and what each event covers.
For manufacturers seeking to expand their networks, discover cutting-edge technologies, and forge strategic partnerships, attending industry events is essential. These opportunities also come with a financial consideration: new relationships formed at trade shows often lead to buyers requesting Net 30, 60, or 90 payment terms, creating cash flow pressure for sellers who need working capital now. Resolve's B2B Net Terms platform addresses this directly by providing instant credit decisions and advancing up to 100% of invoice value within 24 hours.
| Event | Dates | Location | Industry Focus | Free Pass? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD&M West | Feb 3-5 | Anaheim | Medical devices, automation | Yes |
| ISPE Facilities of the Future | Feb 2-3 | San Diego | Pharma/biotech manufacturing | Check site |
| IPC APEX EXPO | Mar 17-19 | Anaheim | Electronics, PCB | Yes |
| Digital Transformation Week | May 18-19 | San Jose | Manufacturing + digital tech | Check site |
| Space Tech Expo USA | Jun 2-4 | Anaheim | Aerospace, defense | Yes |
| SEMICON West | Oct 13-15 | San Francisco | Semiconductors | Check site |
| WESTEC | Oct 20-22 | Long Beach | Advanced manufacturing | Yes |
MD&M West is California's premier medical device manufacturing event, bringing together over 1,700 exhibitors and 13,800 attendees from across the MedTech ecosystem. It takes place February 3-5, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. The event uniquely combines five co-located shows covering medical devices, packaging, automation, design, and sustainable manufacturing.
Medical device manufacturers, automation professionals, design engineers, and plastics industry suppliers seeking cross-sector collaboration opportunities.
MD&M West creates a dense supplier-buyer ecosystem where manufacturers can showcase capabilities to qualified buyers actively seeking partners. The event's emphasis on automation aligns with manufacturers looking to modernize both production and financial operations. Medical device companies frequently operate on extended payment terms, which makes cash flow management a persistent challenge for suppliers in this sector.
WESTEC 2026 is California's longest-running advanced manufacturing technology trade show, organized by SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers). It takes place October 20-22, 2026, at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. The event covers CNC machining, 3D printing, aerospace manufacturing, medical devices, and smart manufacturing across 91,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, with 400+ exhibitors and 10,000+ expected attendees.
Manufacturing professionals in aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and industrial machinery seeking advanced manufacturing technology solutions and peer connections across Southern California's industrial corridor.
WESTEC organizes its programming across five named experiences:
Each program runs concurrently across the three-day event, allowing attendees to move between technical exhibits and educational content without leaving the venue.
WESTEC draws decision-makers from across California's manufacturing base. The primary industries represented include:
Past editions have drawn engineering managers, plant managers, procurement directors, and C-suite executives from manufacturers across the Western United States. The audience skews toward technical buyers with direct influence over equipment purchases and supplier selection.
Manufacturers who exhibit or attend WESTEC frequently leave with a pipeline of qualified prospects. The challenge: those prospects often request Net 30, 60, or 90 payment terms before placing their first order. For a manufacturer without a credit infrastructure in place, saying yes to those terms means waiting months for payment on new business.
Resolve's B2B Net Terms platform lets manufacturers approve new buyers instantly and receive up to 100% of invoice value within 24 hours, while the buyer pays on their preferred schedule. Credit risk sits with Resolve, not the manufacturer. That means a manufacturer can walk out of WESTEC, onboard a new customer the same week, and get paid before the buyer's Net 60 clock even starts.
IPC APEX EXPO 2026 is North America's premier electronics manufacturing event, bringing together PCB fabricators, electronics assemblers, OEMs, and EMS providers. It takes place March 14-19, 2026 (exhibition days March 17-19) at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. The event combines technical education, standards development, and extensive networking for the electronics manufacturing supply chain.
Electronics manufacturers, PCB fabricators, component suppliers, and EMS providers serving complex multi-tier supply chains.
The electronics manufacturing industry operates within complex, multi-tier supply chains where payment terms and credit management are critical. OEMs and suppliers routinely negotiate extended payment terms that can strain working capital for smaller manufacturers and component suppliers. Having instant business credit checks in place before engaging new prospects at IPC APEX EXPO means manufacturers can respond to term requests the same day rather than waiting days for a credit decision.
Digital Transformation Week North America 2026 takes place May 18-19, 2026, at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA. The event brings together over 7,000 professionals across co-located conferences focused on digital innovation, with dedicated content addressing the intersection of manufacturing and emerging technology.
CTOs, Heads of Digital Transformation, IT Directors, and manufacturing leaders focused on operational innovation and technology adoption.
Digital transformation in manufacturing extends beyond the production floor. Companies implementing AI-driven manufacturing processes gain the most when financial operations keep pace. Integrating AR automation into a broader digital transformation roadmap eliminates manual credit decisions, paper invoicing, and manual collections follow-up, compressing the order-to-cash cycle without adding headcount.
Space Tech Expo USA 2026 is a dedicated B2B trade show for the aerospace and space manufacturing supply chain. The event has moved to the larger Anaheim Convention Center for June 2-4, 2026, to accommodate expanding attendance. It brings together aerospace manufacturers, satellite component suppliers, launch vehicle developers, and defense contractors.
Aerospace manufacturers, satellite component suppliers, launch vehicle developers, and defense contractors serving the space industry.
Aerospace and defense contracts are known for extended payment cycles and complex credit requirements. Government-adjacent contracts can run Net 60 to Net 90 as standard terms. Manufacturers serving these industries benefit from non-recourse financing that eliminates credit risk while providing immediate cash flow, allowing them to fund production on new contracts without waiting for payment from buyers.
Space Tech Expo's B2B matchmaking platform creates pre-scheduled meeting opportunities with qualified prospects. For manufacturers preparing for those meetings, having instant access to credit assessment capabilities means they can tailor credit offers based on real-time risk data, accelerating the sales process from first meeting to first order.
SEMICON West 2026 is the leading semiconductor manufacturing event on the West Coast, held October 13-15, 2026, at Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. The event focuses on semiconductor manufacturing equipment, materials, and process technology, drawing global decision-makers from leading electronics companies.
Semiconductor manufacturers, microelectronics professionals, materials suppliers, and supply chain leaders in the electronics industry.
Semiconductor manufacturing involves high-value transactions and complex supply chain relationships where payment terms significantly impact cash flow. Manufacturers in this sector benefit from integrated payment solutions that streamline net terms, reconciliation, and invoicing while providing immediate access to working capital. For suppliers meeting global prospects at SEMICON West, white-label payment portals enhance customer experience while maintaining brand consistency.
The ISPE Facilities of the Future Conference 2026 takes place February 2-3, 2026, in San Diego, CA. The event focuses specifically on pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing facility design and operations, combining in-person and virtual participation in a hybrid format.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotech facility managers, compliance officers, and engineering professionals in life sciences manufacturing.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities require significant capital investment, making efficient cash flow management critical. Manufacturers in this sector benefit from seller-focused financing that provides upfront payment for Net 30-60 terms, allowing them to fund facility improvements and operational enhancements without waiting on customer payments. For suppliers meeting facility managers and engineering leaders at this event, having seamless ERP integrations ensures that credit applications, invoicing, and payment processing flow through the customer's existing systems without manual re-entry.
Here is the pattern that plays out after nearly every major manufacturing event: a manufacturer meets a qualified buyer at WESTEC or MD&M West, the conversation goes well, and the buyer says they want to place an order on Net 60 terms. The manufacturer needs that revenue. But Net 60 means waiting two months for cash that's needed now to fund production, payroll, and the next order.
That gap is where deals stall or margins get squeezed. Manufacturers either absorb the cash flow pressure, push back on terms and risk losing the deal, or turn to traditional invoice factoring at rates that eat into profit.
Resolve eliminates that tradeoff. The platform approves new buyers instantly using AI-driven underwriting, advances up to 100% of invoice value within 24 hours, and assumes the credit risk on every approved invoice. If a buyer defaults on a Resolve-approved invoice, the manufacturer keeps the advance. The credit risk sits with Resolve, not the seller.
The result: manufacturers can say yes to Net 60 terms at the trade show, onboard the new customer the same week, and receive payment before the buyer's clock even starts. See how B2B sellers use Resolve to convert trade show relationships into profitable long-term customers, or calculate your ROI based on your current invoice volume.
Attending California's manufacturing events in 2026 offers real opportunities for business growth, but success requires preparation beyond showing up. The relationships formed at these events often lead to new business on extended payment terms, which creates cash flow pressure for manufacturers without the right financial infrastructure in place.
Implement a B2B Net Terms solution before attending events so you can capitalize on new opportunities immediately. Platforms that offer instant credit decisions, automated invoicing, and immediate cash advances let manufacturers confidently offer competitive payment terms while maintaining healthy cash flow.
The convergence of digital transformation and manufacturing evident across California's 2026 event calendar reinforces the value of integrated financial technology. Manufacturers who automate their order-to-cash process can scale new customer relationships without expanding their finance team. Read customer stories from manufacturers who have done exactly that.
WESTEC 2026 takes place October 20-22, 2026, at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. It is organized by SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) and is part of the Manufacturing Technology Series WEST.
Yes, a free expo pass is available for the exhibition floor. Some educational programs and professional development sessions may require separate registration. Check the official WESTEC website at west.mtseries.com for current registration details.
WESTEC covers aerospace, automotive, medical devices, industrial machinery, and consumer goods manufacturing. The event includes dedicated programming for smart manufacturing, cybersecurity in production environments, and workforce development through the Bright Minds Student Summit.
MD&M West is California's largest medical device manufacturing event, co-located with WestPack, ATX West, D&M West, and the Sustainable Manufacturing Expo. It takes place February 3-5, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, with 1,700+ exhibitors and 13,800+ expected attendees.
SEMICON West is the leading semiconductor manufacturing event on the West Coast, held October 13-15, 2026, at Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. It is organized by SEMI and focuses on semiconductor manufacturing equipment, materials, and process technology.
This list covers 7 major 2026 events across Anaheim, Long Beach, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. California hosts dozens of manufacturing events annually across its aerospace, semiconductor, medical device, and industrial manufacturing sectors.
WESTEC and MD&M West are the largest by attendance. WESTEC draws 10,000+ attendees across 91,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space with 400+ exhibitors. MD&M West brings together 1,700+ exhibitors and 13,800+ attendees at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Manufacturers often meet new buyers at trade shows who request Net 30, 60, or 90 payment terms. Resolve advances up to 100% of invoice value within 24 hours, so you can offer competitive terms without waiting on payment. Resolve also assumes the credit risk on every approved invoice, meaning you keep the advance even if a buyer defaults. Get Started to have this infrastructure in place before your next event.
This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post. Resolve assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.