NPE is always a really big show, but this year's event promises to go beyond that and break all existing records. With exhibit space sales and visitor registration far outpacing the 2012 event, it is now all but certain that NPE2015 will be the largest show in NPE history, says SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, which founded the triennial plastics industry showcase in 1946. NPE2015 will take place from March 23 to 27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
SPI projects the number of exhibitors to match and possibly exceed the record of 2,009 set at NPE2000, and attendance will reach 60,000, well above the total for the successful 2012 show. The amount of exhibit space taken thus far already exceeds the previous record set at NPE2000 and is expected to total 1,060,000 net sq. ft.
International participation is showing spectacular growth, with almost half of the exhibitors coming from outside the United States. The record 43% of exhibitors coming directly from outside the United States does not include many companies based in other countries but exhibiting through their U.S. subsidiaries. International exhibitors at NPE2015 will come from 37 countries, including the largest contingent ever from China and substantial participation from Canada, Italy, Taiwan, Germany, India, Turkey, Switzerland, France and South Korea.
As for attendance, SPI projects that international visitors will account for 28% of the total attendance, including a record number from Latin America—approximately 6,500 attendees.
More than 600 exhibiting companies say they will have machinery at their booths and over 400 will be operating equipment.
For NPE2015 exhibitor previews, including information about product launches and company news, be sure to visit PlasticToday's NPE Channel.
