NPE2012 show approaches sellout: Japanese presence assured

Leaders of the Japanese injection molding machinery sector and other local plastic industry heavyweights were out in force a few nights back at a reception organized by NPE organizer SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association (Washington, DC) coinciding with the IPF show in Japan. SPI President and CEO Bill Carteaux welcomed almost 90 industry players to the event.

SPI president Bill Carteaux: NPE fast approaching a sellout

Thanking those who participated in NPE2009 during the height of the global recession, Carteaux noted that this turned out to be a turning point for the plastics market in the U.S. as sales in all sectors began to grow after the show. He also noted that, "Contrary to everything you may read in the press, the United States plastics market continues to do well.  We continue to see growth in many markets...unless of course you are in housing."

Overall U.S. plastic shipments were up to $341 billion in 2010 according to Carteaux, ranking plastics as the country's second largest manufacturing sector after auto. He added that a favorable exchange rate, and reduced rates for natural gas due to all of the new shale deposits that have been found bode very well for our exports. "For the first half of the year exports were up 11% over 2010, which was a very strong year," he added.  "We had a trade surplus as an industry of over $17 billion last year, and China continues to be our third largest export market behind Canada and Mexico."

Carteaux said that plastic product production is back up to almost 90% of 2007 levels, before the recession. "Our broad base of manufacturers is still very bullish on the future."

Carteaux also noted that there has been a resurgence of manufacturing in the United States for a whole host of reasons, not the least rising global energy costs and labor in China. "According to a recent study by the Boston Consulting Group (Boston, MA), we are at the very early stages of this and things will continue to grow over the next couple of years." Reshoring of products is happening at an increasing rate and major companies are making announcements that they are either building new plants or bringing assembly lines back to the States.

That said, Carteaux stressed that NPE was not just about the U.S.  "NPE has become an increasingly global show with over one-third of our attendees coming from outside the United States.  At the last show we had visitors from over 100 countries attend the event," he noted.

"With our move to Orlando, Florida next year we have become even more attractive to the Latin American market; one I know that is extremely important to many of you," Carteaux emphasized. "Plastics professionals from Central and South America love Florida and have told us they will be coming in record numbers.  We are spending several million dollars to promote the show there and around the world.  You don't want to miss this valuable opportunity to see your customers and prospects from North, Central and South America as well as many others from around the globe."

In conclusion, Carteaux thanked Japanese companies that had already signed up for NPE2012 and urged others to act fast because the April show was getting close to a sold out position.-[email protected]