The Plastics Industry Trade Association (SPI) has announced that it will relocate its NPE2012 show to Orlando, Fla. The SPI had held the conference at Chicago’s McCormick Place since 1971.
The association, which holds the convention every three years, made a decision after a study conducted found that holding NPE2012 in Orlando would provide big reductions in the chief expenses incurred by exhibitors and attendees.
“After carrying out due diligence with an independent review of the bids on possible venues for NPE2012, the NPE Executive Committee determined that by moving the show to Orlando, SPI could save the plastics industry up to $20-million,” said James Buonomo, chairman of the SPI Board and CFO of Nypro, Inc. “A savings of this magnitude will play a substantial role in SPI’s mission to stimulate our industry’s economic recovery.”
SPI noted three other NPE innovations accompanying the change of venue: 1) The switch to early April from the traditional late-June dates will allow far more time for exhibitors to follow up on inquiries and leads generated before summer vacations. 2) Instead of the traditional Monday opening day, NPE2012 will start on Sunday, with educational programs and other special events; the trade show will be open from Monday through Thursday, eliminating the sparsely attended final half-day of previous shows. 3) SPI will address the longstanding wish of attendees and exhibitors that exhibits be grouped by product category.