MainTrain 2024 in Saint John New Brunswick Canada. city view from the water.

MainTrain Tradeshow 2024: A Memorable Mix of Innovation and Insight

by John MacSween – North American Sales Manager

The MainTrain trade show in Saint John was an unforgettable experience filled with exciting moments—like meeting a robot dog for the first time!—and valuable takeaways from longtime partners such as our site visit to J.D. Irving, that will help DMSI continue to be at the forefront of our industry.

One of the biggest highlights was the sheer level of activity at our booth! We are so grateful to all of our old friends and clients who stopped by to say hello and see what’s new, as well as excited to have met new prospects and partners who came to see what DMSI is all about. We demoed InspectMT™ and WorkMT™, and from the moment we set up, there was a steady stream of over 80 visitors of whom at least a quarter were eager to watch; a conversion rate we’re proud of for a trade show turnout!

There is something deeply satisfying about watching that lightbulb moment when the uninitiated recognize how seamlessly MAINTelligence™ can not only integrate into their operations, but elevate them. The ease of use and intuitive functionality of our tools blew away our visitors. Whether it was InspectMT™’s ability to streamline inspections or WorkMT™’s user-friendly interface for maintenance management, we kept hearing the same words: “impressive,” “powerful,” and “so easy to use.” Honestly, it never gets old watching people discover what MAINTelligence™ can do.

And yet, there was possibly one thing that drew just as much attention—that robot dog making its rounds! Capturing everyone’s curiosity as it trotted through the crowd, lending the event a sense of futuristic innovation, while MAINTelligence™ stood out for its practical, real-world impact.

Beyond the buzz of the exhibition floor, our meeting at Irving’s operations facilities (who cover everything from agriculture to transportation, hydro energy, and retail among others) has left a lasting impression on me. We had the chance to sit down with some of their top managers; professionals deeply invested in the health and efficiency of their assets who share our vision for streamlined processes that positively affect the bottom line. They generously shared real-world stories of how MAINTelligence™ has saved them from costly shutdowns. Once, when a frame wasn’t properly aligned, their team used the handheld Liberator 604 to collect and put the data through MAINTelligence™ for swift resolution.

One manager also mentioned discovering fifteen potential smaller problems that on guesstimation saved Irving in the hundreds of thousands of dollars; all simply by analyzing their MAINTelligence™ data.

It’s staggering to think that even just one of those issues could have halted production for days. These are the kinds of stories that truly validate why we do what we do.

The feedback we received during those meetings, along with our interactions on the exhibition floor, was invaluable. Not just for celebrating what works, but for pushing us to keep improving as we continually strive to be the best in our industry. We brought every single insight, comment, and question back to our tech team to help give them a comprehensive view in bettering our software, hardware, and service.

My fondest memory of the whole experience is the warmth and professionalism of the Irving team. They were not only generous with their time, but also refreshingly open in sharing their experiences and challenges. Their commitment to excellence matched our own, and it felt like a true partnership.

I left Saint John inspired and excited for the future. We’ll see you at an upcoming trade show soon. Keep an eye out for next year’s events which will be published soon!