NPE2009 Comes to a Close After a Week of Concentrated Buying Power that Defied Today's Economy
June 26, 2009
Contact:
Robert Martino
914-478-0754
pr@npe.org
NPE2009 Was a Multifaceted Array of Events, Broader in Scope and Richer in Content than Previous NPEs, with More than 1,000 Educational Presentations Alone
CHICAGO, June 26, 2009: The NPE2009 international plastics exposition ended today after exhibiting a high level of strength that contrasted with the current economic malaise and promised a better business climate to come, it was announced today by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, which produces the triennial NPE.
Also concluded was an unprecedented array of co-located events and special programs, including conferences totaling more than 1,000 presentations, moldmaking and rapid product development trade shows, the first International Plastics Design Competition, multi-exhibitor pavilions for emerging and specialized technologies, and other content. Registrations for the conference sessions totaled 3,213.
Plastics professionals from nearly 19,000 companies came to NPE2009 during the past week to discover innovations, make connections, plan purchasing, and—often enough—close deals on the spot. The trade show portion of the event had 1,851 exhibiting companies on 977,660 sq.ft. (88,000 sq.m) of paid space. The preliminary total of visitor registrations by the close of the show on June 26 was 44,000.
While this registration figure was about 30% below the corresponding number for NPE2006, the number of companies represented by registrants was down only 17%, indicating a strong level of buying power, according to William R. Carteaux, president and CEO of SPI.
“Over and over during NPE week, exhibitors and attendees rated NPE2009 a success as a showplace for innovation and a marketplace for doing business,” said Carteaux. “With very difficult economic times and travel reductions caused by concerns about the H1N1 pandemic, it came as no surprise that attendee delegations were smaller than in 2006, but those company representatives that did come to NPE2009 were typically significant players with real purchasing power.”
Carteaux cited reports from exhibitors detailing large transactions for processing equipment systems closed right on the exhibit floor. In addition, many exhibitors remarked on the high quality of booth visitors, measured by their level of interest, technical knowledge, and buying influence. A common report from exhibitors was that the number of “quality” leads generated during NPE2009 was equal to or greater than those at NPE2006.
Carteaux took note of the unique makeup of NPE2009. “SPI, along with its co-locating partners, created an event of great range and technical depth, with events and programs designed to address the interests and concerns of the entire plastics value chain, including suppliers of equipment and materials, moldmakers, designers, processors, OEMs, and other end-use companies,” said Carteaux. “This strategy has contributed to the excitement and vitality of NPE2009, and we intend to improve upon and extend it as we plan for NPE2012.”
The international character of NPE continued to be prominent at NPE2009. Attendee registrants came from 101 countries, with those from Canada and Mexico making up the largest national groups. Among exhibitors, one-third came directly from outside the United States. Of these, China accounted for the largest group, followed by Canada. There were 29 “country” delegations—that is, organized groups of attendees from various countries.
** PHOTOS: High-resolution photos taken for SPI at NPE2009 can be downloaded from the Press page at www.npe.org. See the link under “Multimedia Gallery.”
Founded in 1937, SPI is the plastics industry trade association representing the third largest manufacturing industry in the United States. SPI's member companies represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.1 million workers and provides nearly $379 billion in annual shipments.
