NPE2012 breaks records; dates set for 2015 edition

The verdict is in on the NPE2012 trade show – and it’s a good one.

The event, which took place April 1-5 in Orlando, Fla., after four decades in Chicago, substantially exceeded NPE2009 in size, and it attracted more participants from outside the U.S. than any other NPE in history.

According to show producer SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, NPE2012 attracted 1,933 exhibitors, more than in each of the three previous NPEs. The total exhibit space occupied at NPE2012 was 23% greater than in 2009, which was adversely affected by the Great Recession. “There was a 26% increase in attendance, as 55,359 plastics professionals participated in NPE2012,” the SPI said. “These visitors represented 19,283 unique companies, as against 18,600 at NPE2009.”

Of total attendance in 2012, 26% came from outside the U.S., with fully one-third of these international visitors came from Latin America.  

Also setting a new record for international participation was the number of exhibiting companies from outside the United States – approximately 750, or 40% of the total. China sent the most international exhibitors to NPE2012 by far – a little over 300, or 16% of all exhibitors. Canada sent 72 exhibitors – the second-largest country total after China. Another 8% came from the rest of Asia and the Mideast, and 10% came from Europe. The 28 exhibitors from Mexico and South America represented the largest contingent ever from Latin America, the SPI said.

The organization also confirmed that the next version of NPE, to be held in 2015, will again take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. “Scheduled for March 22-26, NPE2015 will conclude ten days prior to Easter and will not overlap the traditional Spring Break period,” the SPI said.