The NPE2012 international plastics exposition is on course to surpass the exhibitor and attendance numbers of expositions in the past, according to SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, which produces the triennial trade show.
About 1830 companies have purchased 903,000 sq ft (83,890 sq m) of exhibit space at NPE2012, and commitments by more companies can be expected between now and opening day, according to Gene Sanders, SPI’s senior vice president of trade shows and conferences. The exhibit space total thus far is one-fifth greater than the amount actually occupied at NPE2009, which suffered dropouts and space cutbacks by exhibitors as a consequence of the recession, according to a news release.
Registrations are also far ahead of the comparable NPE2009 and NPE2006 figures (those recorded the same number of weeks before the event) by 10% and 8%, respectively. Total registration for NPE2012 will exceed 50,000—or 16% more than in 2009—and could approach 60,000, according to Sanders.
Another indicator of attendance is the number of room nights reserved at participating hotels.
“At NPE2009, we utilized 32,000 total room nights, but we are currently closing in on 50,000 room nights—a 56% increase—with five more weeks to go,” Sanders stated. “This means not just more visitors but longer stays.”
Of registrations to date, about 26% are for individuals coming from outside the United States. By comparison, the corresponding final figures for NPE2006 and NPE2009 were 16% and 18%, respectively. The increase includes a substantial showing by visitors from Latin America, who account for half of international registrations thus far.
Expect more equipment to be on display and shown in actual operation at NPE2012. Sanders stated there will be more participation by resin manufacturers than the exposition has seen in the last four or five NPEs.
The 35 largest exhibitors at NPE2012 are averaging 20% more equipment than they did at NPE2009, as measured by the weight per square foot of exhibit space. The equipment total for the entire show will exceed the weight of two hundred Boeing 747 jetliners, Sanders said.
“Companies with a need to know about plastics cannot afford to miss the opportunities provided by NPE to discover new technologies and make business connections,” Sanders said. “That’s why we expect the number of unique companies coming to NPE2012 to be comparable to the historic highs for NPE.”
