Swiss injection molding machinery manufacturer Netstal (Naefels) has opted not to attend this June’s NPE trade show in Chicago, citing the event’s cost as well as the low expectations for the event. “If we had expected to come home with orders, or even new projects, we still would have gone,” said Reto Morger, marketing manager, in answer to questions from MPW.   

Netstal had a large stand space reserved for it, noted Morger, but the poor business outlook, coupled with the high cost of exhibiting at the Chicago trade show, made the firm opt to exit the show entirely, rather than barter for a smaller stand.  Netstal, which makes high-end machines used for fast-running applications such as thin-walled packaging, closure molding, or PET preform production, has a relatively small customer base in North America, but Morger noted it will continue to attend shows where the company sees higher odds for its success. These include the Plast09 (Milan, Italy) and the Medtec (Stuttgart, Germany) trade shows next month, Chinaplas (Ghuangzhou) and Plastpol (Kielce, Poland) in May, Drinktec in Munich this September, and also the Fakuma exhibition in Southern Germany in October 2009.

Netstal is at least the second major injection molding machine manufacturer to cancel its NPE presence. Earlier this month, Nissei America, the U.S.-based subsidiary of Japanese parent firm Nissei Plastic Industrial Co. Ltd., announced it would not attend the event. —[email protected]