NPE2015 space draw exceeds 2012 show’s draw numbers

By the close of the NPE2015 Space Draw two weeks ago, exhibiting companies had committed to 39% more booths and 28% more exhibit space than at the drawing for the 2012 show.

With one year to go before NPE2015, the exhibit space sold thus far already amounts to 91% of all space occupied at the successful 2012 show, according to SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, which produces the triennial NPE plastic exposition.

“By the close of the NPE2015 Space Draw – which took place on February 20-21 in Orlando, Florida – exhibitors had committed to 1,054 booths and 853,120 net square feet of space, as against 758 booths and 664,525 square feet at the NPE2012 Space Draw,” Washington, DC-based SPI said. “Of the two giant halls that make up the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, the West Hall is now sold out, as is 70% of the South Hall.”

In addition, SPI said, there are “strong indications” that considerably more machinery will be shown in operation than at NPE2012. “More than 300 exhibitors say they will be running equipment on the exhibit floor, and the number of large booths taken by the close of the NPE2015 Space Draw – 235 of them bigger than 1,000 square feet – is another signal that a great many machines will be displayed and operated.”

International companies also showed up at Space Draw, SPI said, and accounted for 28% of the exhibit spaces reserved, led by China, Canada, and Italy. In addition, 14% of the companies selecting space were either new to NPE or did not exhibit at the 2012 event.

NPE2012 had 1,933 exhibitors, 40% of which came from outside the U.S. The event attracted 55,359 participants, 26% of them international visitors.

NPE2015 will take place Monday through Friday, March 23-27, 2015, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.