With exhibition space sales and visitor registrations far outpacing those of the US show in 2012, the organiser of NPE2015 says it will be the largest in NPE’s 69-year history. Furthermore, 43% of exhibitors and 28% of visitors will come from outside the US, including a record number from Latin America (6,500 attendees).

International exhibitors will come from 37 countries, including the largest contingent ever from China with 405 exhibitors and substantial participation from other Asian countries such as Taiwan (51), India (33) and South Korea (14). Substantial participation is also expected from Canada, Italy, Germany Turkey, Switzerland and France.

The triennial event founded in 1946 by SPI, the plastics industry trade association, will take place from March 23-27 in Orlando, Florida. SPI projects the number of exhibitors to match and possibly exceed the record of 2,009 set at NPE2000, and attendance will reach 60,000, well above the total for the 2012 show. The amount of exhibition space taken thus far already exceeds the previous record set at NPE2000 and is expected to total 98,480 sq m.

“The great size and international makeup of NPE2015 reflects the importance and value of plastics and plastics manufacturing in our world,” said Gene Sanders, SPI senior vice president of trade shows and conferences. “There will be more equipment on the show floor than at any previous NPE, more machinery in actual production, more opportunities to connect with designers and material suppliers, a more extensive conference program, and timely new exhibit features such as NPE3D, the Zero Waste Zone, IDSA’s Design Center, and the Startup Garage. In plain words, this will be a show that is not to be missed.”

More than 600 exhibiting companies say they will have machinery at their booths and over 400 will be operating equipment. Among the many material suppliers taking part in NPE2015, 13 will maintain large “customer service centers” occupying a total of 5,200 sq m of space just off the exhibition floor. These centres will provide settings conducive to discussion, information exchange, and relationship building with customers and prospects.