NPE2012 shaping up to be a big one: SPI
Canadian Plastics
Research & Development Plastics: Technology AdvancesThe upcoming NPE2012 trade show is shaping up to be a bigger event than previous stagings in 2009 and 2006, according to show sponsor the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI).
The upcoming NPE2012 trade show is shaping up to be a bigger event than previous stagings in 2009 and 2006, according to show sponsor the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI).
To date, 1,830 companies have purchased 903,000 sq.ft. (83,890 sq.m) of exhibit space at NPE2012, which will be held for the first time at the Orlando County Convention Center, in Orlando, Fla. The 35 largest exhibitors at NPE2012 are averaging 20 per cent more equipment than they did at NPE2009, the SPI said, as measured by the weight per square foot of exhibit space.
And while visitor registration is still continuing, the numbers are ahead of NPE2009 figures by 10 per cent and NPE2006 figures by eight per cent based on the same number of weeks before the event, the SPI said. Also, room reservations are up by 56 per cent, from 32,000 total room nights in 2009 to nearly 50,000 room nights so far. Twenty-six per cent of registrations are for individuals coming from outside the U.S. By comparison, the corresponding final figures for NPE2006 and NPE2009 were 16 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively. The increase includes a substantial showing by visitors from Latin America, the SPI said, who account for half of international registrations thus far. Total registration for NPE2012 will exceed 50,000 and could approach 60,000, a 16 per cent bump compared to NPE2009.
“Visitors to NPE2012 will benefit from a resurgent NPE2012 in several ways,” said Gene Sanders, the SPI’s senior vice president of trade shows and conferences. “Not only will there be more exhibitors and larger booths than in 2009, but there will be lots more equipment on display and shown in actual operation. And there will be more participation by resin manufacturers than we’ve seen in the last four or five NPEs, as these companies exhibit, host customer service centers, or sponsor special interest initiatives such as our design competition.”
NPE2012 runs from April 2 to April 5.