Proteomics grabbed the spotlight on the vast stage at the Pittcon conference in Orlando, Fla., last week. Not only did the 23,000-plus attendees have a chance to listen to plenary and special lectures by pioneers of protein mass spectrometry techniques — Nobel Laureate John Fenn and Fourier Transform mass spectrometry guru Fred McLafferty — but a number of companies chose the 15-football field-wide exhibition space at the Orange County Convention Center to be the launch pad for their proteomics products.